Forever Doon

Forever Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon, 2016 Blink

     After fighting their way back to Doon after Addie sent them home Veronica and McKenna are again separated by the Portal. Vee is helping her people survive through Doon's bleak winter - brought on by the weak position Emily-cum-Addie's betrayal has put her in and Jamie's apparent execution.
     Kenna and Duncan have taken nearly a third of Doon's population into the modern world where they've camped in Alloway. The Witch of Doon destroyed the Bridge between worlds and Duncan has made it his mission to restore the Brig o' Doon to return home. The pair is struggling as Duncan fights the feeling of leaving his brother to an unknown fate and Kenna feels like she's his second choice, even after she's given up her whole world.
     In Doon, Veronica leads the remainder of her people as they hide from the witch and search for a way to bring those who have escaped home. The witch eats away at Doon and her people to create an undead army to hold the small kingdom against Vee and the rightful citizens.
     With a third of her people to trapped in the modern world, her best friend and oldest confidant separated from her by the veil protecting Doon, and Jamie, the love of her life, presumably dead Veronica battles her own misgivings. When they discover Jamie is alive Vee and her advisors plan his rescue. Jamie has his own concerns with his release and the abuse he suffered at the hands of Abigail, the witch of Doon.
     The pair work to create a team and guide their people despite the loss of over half of their supporters. When it appears all has been lost Veronica discovers the friendship she shares with McKenna is a calling - just as the relationships the girls have with the McCrae brothers - and she and McKenna can speak across the veil.
     Veronica's faith in her people, in herself, and the Protector grow as she goes through the challenges Addie throws at her and her followers. When it appears Doon may be lost forever Vee calls on her friend and those called to Doon to solve their problems.
     Developing her leadership skills and learning to trust the people around her, Veronica has changed form the insecure young woman into a queen worthy of her kingdom. Readers who enjoyed the first installments of the Doon Series will like this completion of Veronica and McKenna's story. With adventure, conflict and a touch of romance Forever Doon is aimed at teen readers.

Odin's Ravens

Odin's Ravens by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr, 2014 Little, Brown & Company

     Laurie, Matt, and Fen are traumatized by the loss of Baldwin - much like Baldur he was friendly and loved by all the young teens replacing long-dead gods, and seemingly everyone. The three friends travel into Hel's realm to rescue Baldwin.
     Their quest is hampered by Viking zombies, Hel the Goddess of the Dead, and various other monsters and creatures. The friends manage to escape Hel and continue on their quest to prevent Ragnarok.
     Laurie finds their quest begins to take a turn as she is gifted and her cousin Fen ignored. Again, Laurie meets Odin's representative, Owen. Owen has Odin's ability to see the future he isn't involved in and has avoided the main quest so he can help Matt, Laurie, Fen, and the rest of the descendants to stop Ragnarok.
     But Owen has been captured by the wulfenkind - Loki's wolf-descendants who are battling to cause the end of the world. Owen sends his tow ravens: Thought & Memory to be his eyes and ears in the world. To unite the descendants Laurie insists Matt and Fen help locate and rescue Owen.
     As Laurie's role appears to grow, despite his friendship with Matt, Fen begins to feel more and more left out. The young man distances himself from his closest friends.
     Saving Baldwin could change the scope of the battle, but it doesn't appear to have stopped the end of the world. As they stumble onward, the trio faces more difficulties and challenges building toward betrayal.
     Sequel to Loki's Wolves, Odin's Ravens picks up just after Baldwin's death. The story is swamped in Norse mythology and follows the thirteen-year-olds as they fight battles greater than they ever could have imagined. Readers who enjoyed Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series will enjoy another take on the myths of Scandinavia; The Blackwell Pages trio is aimed at a similar reader-base.

A Star Looks Down

A Star Looks Down by Betty Neels, 1975 Harlequin Romance

     Elizabeth Partridge works as Staff Nurse at a busy London hospital preparing patients for surgery and releasing them to Recovery. Beth is a plain girl with a younger brother to support and is intent on giving her brother his best chance.
     When William introduces her to a visiting professor Beth is amused by the reverence her brother treats him to. Professor Alexander Van Zeust is a kind man in his later thirties to Beth's fresh-faced twenties but a handsome man, nonetheless. When the professor's sister is hospitalized for appendicitis he seeks out Beth to care for his four nieces and nephews.
     Beth and the children get on, but when one week turns to three, turns to five Beth finds herself falling for the kind doctor and his family. The professor, his sister, and her children invite Beth to his country home, near where she grew up; and later to their home in Holland.
     When disaster strikes and the professor discovers Beth, as unsuitable as she believes, has fallen in love Beth decides there's nothing to be done and returns to England. Whether the professor follows her or not, Beth has made up her mind and is waiting for Alexander to change it.
     Betty Neels wrote simple love stories with predictable plots, A Star Looks Down is a refreshingly unique installment full of old-fashioned romance. Suitable for readers of romance of all ages Beth's story is a new variation of the same, favorite melody.

Long May She Reign

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas, 2017 HarperTeen

     Freya has never felt like she fit at court: she says the wrong thing and cannot master the subterfuge the gaudy court requires. Instead, she would rather be in her laboratory completing experiments and discovering answers to her never-ending questions. Freya's father is the king's advisor and treasurer. He insists she attend the king's birthday party, but the stress of the court triggers a panic attack. Freya and her best friend, Naomi, escape back to her lab.
     After a night of experiments, Freya is stunned at the news the entire court has been murdered. Freya, twenty-fourth in line, is now Queen. She is rushed from her childhood home to the Fort where the remainder of the court is taking refuge. In a country which has not been engaged in warfare for centuries, the Fort is the only truly defensible location in the city.
    Freya and her new advisors investigate the murder of the old court from the old castle. She fights to become what the court is used to a queen being, but it is a real challenge for the young woman used to lurking in the background. Naomi continues to support the new queen as she meets the court and tries to develop her own style of leadership, and their friendship sustains through the challenges. The old king's bastard son, William Fitzroy, attaches himself to their small group. When Freya's heir, Madeline Wolfe, returns to court the young woman becomes part of Freya's new entourage.
    The group makes slow progress but when the old king's closest advisor and best friend, Torsten Wolfe, accuses Freya of murdering the old court to gain power the remainder of the court is split. Some follow Torsten in his bid to remove Freya from the throne, others flee from the brewing conflict, and still others remain and support the anxious young queen in her bid to change her country for the better.
    Despite her advisors' misgivings and apparent attempts to stifle her investigation, Freya is intent on solving the problem of mass-murder to clear her name and build a cohesive country which can flourish. At the final conflict, Torsten is up against Freya and her scientific mind - the strategist and the scientist vie for the superstitious nation's support.
    Freya's story tells of a young woman trying to find her place in a world she has never felt a part of. She discovers her own ability is more than she once believed, and that there are many different ways to win the support of her people. Long May She Reign is an underdog story and a story of facing challenges despite the fear of failure.

Belle's Song

Belle's Song by K. M. Grant, 2010 Quercus Publishing

     Belle's father is a bell founder and named after the bells he has devoted his life to. Belle' smother made their home run smoothly while Belle is absorbed by the stories in her head. When her mother dies, Belle is hopeless as a housekeeper and one of the widows in their London neighborhood moves in to care for the young woman and her father.
     She does take part in her father's work and while helping the men raise the bells, Belle is distracted and her distraction results in the large bell falling and breaking both of her father's legs. Belle's father is crippled and his work begins to fall off, but the neighborhood helps keep Belle's little family running.
     After her father's accident, Belle feels she caused the incident and she starts searching for a way to make it right. When a pilgrimage leaves from the local tavern to Canterbury, Belle decides to join and pay penance at the shrine, hoping to heal her father's injuries. Belle discovers that one of their party is the famous Chaucer.
    On their way to Canterbury Chaucer's assistant, Luke catches the pretty girls' eyes. Luke is the son of an alchemist who no longer wants to deceive audiences and is traveling to become a monk as penance. Belle is fascinated, though the squire traveling with the party seems to be just the right amount of courtly charming. Walter is a flamboyant young man on pilgrimage with his father as recompense for his sister's elopement against the church's doctrine.
     The trio become friends, though Luke is wary of becoming too attached to the pretty girl when he is meant to become a monk. When Walter and Belle appear to be more than mere friends Luke begins to distance himself from their interactions. Both Belle and Walter are concerned that their actions have pushed away the boy they're both falling for. Walter confides in Belle as they discover one of their party may be dipping into nefarious activities.
    A Catholic priest who gathers sins for the church is called the Summoner. The Summoner traveling with the pilgrimage has some sins of his own. When the Summoner blackmails Belle, she and Walter uncover a political plot against the king. They discover an unknowing Luke at the center and the pair work to untangle the knot around him.
    When her life and immortal soul are threatened by the Summoner, Belle is unsure what to do. She struggles with self-harm and an obsession with the number three. Her friendship with Walter and budding relationship with Luke driver her to challenge the Summoner and bring the nefarious plot into the open.
    Belle's Song deals with mature topics in a way younger readers may not understand including self-harm and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The tale is a retelling of Chaucer's famous Canterbury Tales with political intrigue and an unanticipated love triangle. Teen and young adult readers who enjoyed A Golden Web and In the Shadow of the Lamp will enjoy this tale.

Wait 'Til Helen Comes

Wait 'Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn, 1986 Harper Collins

     Molly is twelve, along with her ten-year-old brother, Michael, she aims to avoid their new seven-year-old step-sister Heather. Molly and Michael's mom married Heather's dad and the new family moves to a creepy old house - which used to be a church.
     Heather makes Molly and Michael's lives miserable, especially when she insists on playing in the cemetary in the back yard and Molly becomes responsible for looking after her step-sister.
     Young Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen. She tells her step-siblings Helen will come for them and Molly begins to worry something is wrong. Every time she tries to say something to their parents, Heather twists the story around to get Molly in trouble.
     Molly's worries seem to be unfounded, until Helen comes and Heather is in bigger trouble than anyone could have guessed.
     Readers who enjoyed The Dollhouse Murders and other children's ghost stories will find a continued trend in Wait 'Til Helen Comes. With some concerning themes, including a homicidal history the story is aimed at elementary readers. Most young readers discount the darker elements of Hahn's writing, but when in doubt, please read the story before suggesting it.

Frogkisser

Frogkisser by Garth Nix, 2017 Scholastic

     Anya is a second daughter: the younger princess behind her sister Morven. The two girls lost their mother quite young, and their father remarried. Their stepmother had little to do with the girls leaving much of their education to the Royal Dogs. When the king died their stepmother remarried Duke Rickard. Neither their stepmother nor their stepstepfather could hold the throne and have been waiting for Morven's birthday.
     Morven is soon to come of age, but the Duke has plans for the little kingdom which preclude her coronation. Duke Rickard is a sorcerer of wicked intent. He has been biding his time and building his power until he can take over Trallonia. When it looks like Morven may fall in love with a visiting prince Denholm, the duke transforms her suitor into a frog.
     Anya, though young, has been studying sorcery and Morgen turns to her sister when Denholm is turned. Anya makes a sister-promise to turn the frog back into a prince. Thus begins her quest. Anya takes Ardent, an overexcitable new member of the Royal Dogs, and prince Denholm in his frog cage and they go searching for ingredients to create a transmogrification lip balm. Along the way, they encounter a boy-turned salamander thief-in-training, a Good Wizard, a band of brigands who steal from the rich and give to the poor, and an otter-turned-girl.
     As her quest becomes more and more complex Anya's patience and desire to take on more responsibility are tested. When the band of brigands introduces the concept of an All-Encompassing Bill of Rights and Wrongs, Anya challenges the idea that a second sister can make policy changes and considers what it could mean.
     Duke Rickard announces his plans to take over the small kingdom and Anya must hurry her quest to a quick conclusion, find the ingredients for Denholm's transmogrification lip balm, and return to Trallonia to save Morven and the rest of her subjects.
     Frogkisser is meant for middle-aged readers and is a twist on traditional fairy tales. Readers who enjoyed The Wizard of Oz and the Percy Jackson books will enjoy this upbeat tale.

Rascal

Rascal by Sterling North, 1963 E.P. Dutton

   Eleven-year-old Sterling North and his good friend Oscar manage to capture a raccoon cub and Sterling raises Rascal. The boy has no idea of the chaos a baby raccoon can cause.
     Sterling lives with his widowed father after his mother's death and his sisters' marriages. During World War I Sterling's older brother serves and fights in Europe. Along with the rest of the town, Sterling helps with the war effort but misses and worries for his brother.
     Rascal and Sterling adventure through their Wisconsin town participating in everything from pie eating contest and fishing. The raccoon is charming and curious, but like other wild creatures Rascal has no boundaries. After several unexpected incidents Sterling is forced to allow Rascal to return to the wilderness.
     Following Rascal's first year and Sterling's adventures through their small town, Rascal looks at loss through embracing life. In autobiographical style, Sterling examines his past and the changing times he grew up in. Middle-grade readers will enjoy the raccoon's antics and easily follow North's narrative.

Eclipse

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, 2007 Little, Brown & Company

    In the third episode of Bella and Edward's story, they are applying to colleges together. They've reconciled and decided to maintain a relationship. The strain between Bella and Jacob Black reflects the strain between vampires and werewolves as the tribe worries that Bella's relationship with Edward.
     The werewolves worry the vampires will break their truce and turn Bella. Edward continues to refuse her requests to change her; Bella still cannot bear the idea of life without Edward and continues to ask Edward to bite her. When Edward proposes Bella takes the chance to extract a promise that he'll take the need to step while she's still human - Rosalie gives Bella a new perspective on humanity.
     Alice has a vision that a vampire army is moving toward the family in Forks. They are led by Victoria who, again, is after Bella, this time for James's death. Victoria creates an army of newborn vampires who cannot control the hunger and are murdering innocents in Seattle.
     The Cullens call on their longtime allies to assist as Victoria's army moves on Forks. When they declined the LaPush werewolves stand with the Cullens. Jacob, Edward, Bella and a young wolf are sent into the mountains to wait out the battle.
     In the mountains Jacob overhears Bella and Edward discussing their engagement. He threatens to join the battle leading to his death; Bella fears for her friendship - but when Victoria tracks them to their mountain hideout the question of who will fight for her becomes null.
     Bella and Edward continue to plan their future while her relationship with Jacob collapses. Victoria's attack draws the Volturi's attention yet again as their demands are renewed.
     Eclipse introduces the idea that not all the vampires wanted their conversion and sets monstrosity against humanity. As Bella makes her choice between the two love interests clear the fallout is similar to many teen romances. Teens who enjoyed the first two novels will understand the drama of Eclipse.

Firewalker

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini, 2015 Fiewel & Friends

     Lilly and Rowan made a successful journey across worlds to Lilly's homeworld. Rowan helped her family put Lilly's broken and burnt body back together. Though she still has her magic, Lilly must hide her power to protect her family.
     The government is investigating Lilly's months-long disappearance. The FBI agent in charge of the investigation isn't the only one fascinated and compelled by Lilly's return. Tristan is angry and upset at how their relationship left off. Rowan is interested in Lilly's Tristan compared to the Tristan from his world - but even better, the information he can access through the internet.
     When Lillian calls across the divide between worlds Lilly responds. Lilly is angry and hurt at the extent of pain her alter-self has inflicted and refuses to return. At home, Lilly begins to recruit a new group of mechanics who help her manage her magic and prevent her from becoming ill.
     Lillian attempts to force Lilly back to the world ruled by witches and imparts revelations which Lilly fights. The romance between Lilly and Rowan grows in the less tense environment of Lilly's world. But when Lillian broadcasts her story Lilly distances herself from her friends and tension grows in the gap. The coven begins to question whether staying safe at home really is the best course of action.
     Following what she believes is right leads Lilly to the great conflict of Firewalker: Lilly's friends clash with their parallel selves in Lillian's world and the expanded team suffers a devastating loss to the coven. This second installment in the Worldwalker Trilogy shows Lilly's growth from fish-out-of-water to the strong and confident leader of her coven which she will need in the ensuing events of Witch's Pyre.

Poison

Poison by Bridget Zinn, 2014 Hyperion Books

     Kyra is sixteen years old and on the run after she tries to kill the crown princess. She's a highly skilled and very gifted potions master but life in hiding is not her preferred state of affairs. No one seems to understand that Kyra had a reason - a very good reason - for trying to kill the heir apparent, so now she's avoiding the King's Army and trying to regroup and save her kingdom.
     Leading the hunt is Kyra's ex-boyfriend, Hal. He is also a skilled potion master, though thankfully not as good as Kyra. When she tried to murder Princess Ariana Hal followed along with the rest of the court to hunt her down and continues trying to keep her from finishing the job.
     In escaping from Hal and the King's Army Kyra runs across a magic pig and inept adventurer who help her along the way. Fred and his dog help against the usual dangers: goblins, thieves, and witches - even surviving the threat of being eaten. But they're no help against the attraction Kyra feels for her companion.
     She doesn't let her charming, if sometimes bumbling, companion distract from the quest at hand: find and kill the princess. Kyra is relentless and the reader discovers the reason behind her single-mindedness in a flashy conclusion.
     Poison is a fantasy of spunk and snark with a strong female lead. Kyra does experience romance in the traditional fairytale mold, though she refuses to allow it to subvert her plans. This is a fun read for young teens and Zinn's only novel as she succumbed to colon cancer prior to the novel's release.

The Outsiders

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, 1967 Viking Press

     Ponyboy Curtis lives with his two older brothers in the lower-class east side of town. The three boys are orphans and part of a street gang calling themselves the Greasers. Ponyboy's oldest brother Darry took responsibility for him and their middle brother called Sodapop when their parents were killed in a car accident. 

     Walking home, one day, Ponyboy is attacked by members of the Socs--Socials from the uptown, west-side of their Oklahoma town--who threaten his life. The Greasers come to the fourteen-year-old's rescue: Johnny, Dally, Steve, Two-bit, and Ponyboy's two brothers. After a scuffle the two groups separate. 

     The Socs and Greasers clash again when Ponyboy and Johnny run into a couple of the Soc girls and, later, their boyfriends. The clash ends with Ponyboy regaining consciousness next to a beaten Johnny and Soc corpse. Fearing for their lives Ponyboy and Johnny escape to a nearby town where they hide out in an abandoned church. 

     Johnny and Ponyboy have a change of heart, but before they can face the music at home they discover schoolchildren in the abandoned church which has caught fire. Again, Ponyboy passes out; when he wakes he, Johnny, and Dally are in the hospital. They check out to partake in a rumble between the Socs and Greasers which has lasting consequences. 

     The Outsiders is a classic tale about teenagers struggling to make their way in a world that doesn't care about their potential, only their choices. Teen readers can relate to the boys' struggles in a story aimed at readers the same age as the characters: mid- to late-teens with violence and moral challenges Ponyboy must face on his way through trial and tribulation. 

City of Ships

City of Ships by Mary Hoffman, 2010 Bloomsbury

    Most of her friends have become withdrawn over the last few months when Isabel finds a small pouch of mosaic stones. The tesserae transport her into Classe, a coastal town in Talia. 

     Isabel befriends the prosperous merchant and secret Stravagante, Flavia. The kind woman helps Isabel find her feet and connect with other Stravagante both in Talia and at home in England. 

     As she's getting used to nightly adventures, Isabel discovers her beloved Classe is under threat from the Gate People and their fleet. While she is shadowed by her twin brother at home, in Classe she has purpose and feels important. She helps Flavia prepare for the coming invasion, but her plans are thrown out of sync when her brother, Charlie, takes her talisman and accidentally stravigates too. 

     Charlie is caught in the invasion and Isabel faces the chance that her plans in Classe will fail and her secret will be revealed putting her adventures on indefinite hold. But her new friends from school help Charlie see that Isabel and the people of Classe have much to do to save their beloved city from attack - both by land and sea. 

     Much like Italy's Ravenna, Classe has a deep connection with the art of mosaic. The beauty draws Isabel as the drama and political instability give her purpose. With one more member of their Stravagante club the teens begin to notice a pattern in who is chosen. The mystery of how and why remain unsolved, but their mission in Talia continues. 

     City of Ships is the fifth in the Stravaganza series following City of Secrets and preceding City of Swords. Classe has a new element: International trade; and the Di Chimi family have opened a door they cannot hope to close alone. Teen and young adult readers will enjoy this story independently or as an installment in the series. 

A Girl to Love

A Girl to Love by Betty Neels, 1982 Harlequin Romance

     For several years Sadie Gillard had cared for her invalid grandmother, and when her grandmother dies Saide is left with nothing to her name. Her grandmother has mortgaged the house to pay for their lives and the cottage must be sold to pay the debts. Sadie makes plans to find a job as a mother's help or household help to make a living.
     The cottage is sold to a television writer who uses the cottage as a writing retreat. Sadie's solicitor secures the position of housekeeper for her allowing the young woman to live and work in her own home. The man is a widower with two small daughters. Mr. Oliver Trentham brings his daughters to the cottage Sadie is concerned the girls are too quiet and fearful of their father. The girls' governess, Miss Murch, does not approve of Sadie or how she interacts with Anna and Julie, and Miss Murch strives to paint Sadie in the worst possible light.
     Mr. Trentham notices that his daughters are not as he imagines children should be and catches Miss Murch as she plots to Sadie's face. Mr. Trenham releases Miss Murch from her position and Sadie takes on the role of governess in addition to her housekeeping.
     Sadie falls for the two children and joins them when the little family goes back to London. In London, Mr. Trentham takes the advice of his daughters and dates "pretty ladies" to find a new wife. Sadie discovers feelings she wasn't expecting and the dates begin to rankle.
     In true Betty fashion, the story is a sweet old-fashioned romance suitable for readers of all ages. Trentham is a television writer and somewhat neglectful father and Sadie is the answer to their unasked question.

Made to Last

Made to Last by Melissa Tagg, 2013 Bethany House Publishing

    Miranda Woodruff has been running a home improvement show for three seasons, but the network has mentioned there are no guarantees of a fourth - despite being halfway through filming. Randi's manager and her show's producer suggest they solve a mystery the show has been hinting at since its beginning. Randi is reluctant to provide a face to the husband she mentions because there is no husband.
     She had met the man she nearly married on a mission trip to Brazil. Robbie was a leader in the team working to build houses for locals and the relationship between Randi and Robbie progressed until Robbie proposed as they prepared to return to the United States. Miranda struggles to reconcile their relationship with her faith and eventually her fiancee leaves and Randi throws herself into the show. Randi's manager and the show's producer convince her that a replacement husband to show her fans will be the perfect stunt to convince the network to keep the production running. They find Blaze Hunziker to play her husband.
     Blaze has his own demons but agrees to help the woman and, hopefully, her show. Randi is blind-sided when a national gossip magazine reporter is scheduled to follow her every moment through this tumultuous time. While Miranda can handle the over-the-top personality Blaze brings, it is Matthew's calm and quiet observations which get under her skin.
     Trying to maintain the facade she's built on her show for the last three seasons, Randi allows Matthew to see her commitment to her community and a struggling faith. At pressure from the show's producer and her manager, Randi continues to pretend a relationship with Blaze while getting to know Matthew and show him her high-mountain life. The two develop a friendship which threatens to become something more despite her supposed marriage.
     When the real Robbie reappears and threatens the whole charade, just as everything seems set. The tension of having the real man who inspired so much feeling back is compounded when the reporter is brought in on the secret. Though the relationship between Blaze and Randi was revealed as fiction turned to real friendship, Robbie's return jeopardizes even the possibility of something between Matthew and Randi.
     The facade crumbles around her and the media discovers Miranda's secret. But she is worried about what her fans will think and how her friends and family will deal with the years of lies. In a romance which centers around the myth of Randi's marriage and keeping her secret, her Christian faith and hopes for the future drive her decisions. Followed by Blaze's quest for forever, Made to Last is a story of forbidden love, which may not be so ruinous when the dust settles.

Anna of Byzantium

Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett, 1999 Laurel-Leaf Books

     Anna Comnena is the firstborn child of her father and chosen to inherit his Byzantine Empire. She has no worries when a baby brother is born because she has been training for this her entire life.
     Neither the selected princess, her father, or her diplomacy instructor - her father's mother, Dowager Empress Irene - put much store in visiting envoys and their insistence that only a male heir can rule the empire. Anna and her grandmother continue her education and the princess becomes a talented statesman.
     As she grows, Anna's talents soon threaten her grandmother and the Dowager Empress uses her pull with the Emperor to remove Anna from succession. When she discovers the betrayal Anna Comnena must use the skills her grandmother helped her develop in order to take back that which is her birthright.
     Anna faces her grandmother, the influence of the barbarian envoys, and an ever-changing political landscape while fighting to win back her kingdom. But will she succeed, or with the political machinations take away everything she's work her entire life for?
     Readers who enjoyed The Royal Diaries series will follow the fiction of Anna's story as she goes through significant life changes.

New Moon

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, 2006 Little, Brown, and Company

     Bella and Edward have decided to give a romantic relationship a chance, however, Edward refuses to turn Bella into a vampire. When Jasper - one of Edward's adopted brothers - attacks Bella at her eighteenth birthday party Edward begins to withdraw. Believing leaving town will keep her safe, Edward and the rest of the Cullens leave Forks, WA.
     Devastated, Bella checks out for several months. What brings her back from the fugue-like state is Edward's voice in her head. She can only hear him, though, when she does something reckless enough to endanger her life. Bella finds a supportive friend in the son of her father's best friend.
     Jacob Black had a crush on Bella and is more than happy to be her emotional support as she begins to heal. Though Jacob obviously wants more than friendship, Bella allows some of his advances to make her feel better about Edward's leaving despite adamantly wanting Edward back.
     In the forest outside Forks Bella runs into Laurent, a vampire from a clan she had previous run-ins with. He warns Bella that the mate of the vampire the Cullens saved her from is out for blood, literally. Laurent decides to save Victoria the trouble, but he's chased away by several large wolves.
     Bella discovers Jacob is a werewolf set to guard the humans against vampires. Jacob and his pack vow to protect Bella from Victoria, and Jacob still seeks more from her. But Bella still yearns for Edward and in a cliff-jumping exercise to hear his voice nearly dies.
     Edward hears a false report of her death and decides to provoke the Volturi to end his existence. Alice is surprised to find Bella alive and enlists her aid in stopping Edward. With the vampires ruling body watching the Cullens Bella and Edward risk a war with the wolves or the wrath of the Volturi no matter their choices.
     LIke Twilight, New Moon follows a teenage romance through the ups and towns of teen-aged love. Early high school readers looking for teen angst will easily follow as Jacob is introduced to Bella and Edward's love triangle.

All Else Confusion

All Else Confusion by Betty Neels, 1982 Harlequin

     Annis is from a large family full of love. When her childhood friend introduces her to Jake Royle she cannot stand the man. Jake likes the pretty girl and maneuvers to get her a position as companion to his godmother. Annis adores the old woman and in the few weeks she cares for the woman she develops a strong rapport.
     Jake Royle and his godmother do not reveal to Annis that she is dying. An over-excited and over-filled schedule reveal it to Annis as the lovely old woman dies. Jake asks Annis to stay on and help him settle the last things and after a couple weeks of companionship Jake asks her to marry him.
     Annis realizes she loves the financial mogul desptie his wealth and the arrogance it gives him. Knowing he may never return her feelings to teh same degree, the young woman agrees. Their marriage starts on a good foot - Annis gets along with Jake's family and housekeeper, she fits into his life easily.
     But some time through their honeymoon Jake's business interrupts a peaceful vacation and Annis begins to doubt how well she can love a man who shows no inclination to love her back. When Jake suggests she stay with her family in the country rather than their flat in London his new wife despairs of their marriage becoming anything more.
     Annis and Jake Royle must decide if tehir marriage is to continue when one loves the other withotu any hope of reciprication. The pair travel to more exotic locations than many of Betty Neels's characters: Spain and Italy rather than her usual Dutch excursions, but like most of her stories, Betty's characters hold with her old-fashioned values.

Lady Thief

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen,  2014 Walker Children's Books

    Robin and Scarlet have risked everything to save the people of Nottingham. Scarlet is now married to Guy of Gisbourne and her desire to be rid of his connection wars with her faith, and the fear of damning her soul prevents her from acting on her attraction to Robin.
    Prince John plans to name a new sheriff. The royal progress reaches Nottingham and Gisbourne demands his wife appear at his side. Scarlet is fresh from a beating brought on by Robin's nightmares of war and the residue of the torture he endured under Nottingham's control. The people of Nottinghamshire still guard Robin despite the thief-hunter and prince's attacks.
     Scarlet is given the choice to comply with Gisbourne's demands to secure her annulment or to be tied to the man for the rest of their lives. In playing the lady of the manor Scarlet meets the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine: King Richard and Prince John's mother. Prince John shows a deep dislike for the girl he shouldn't know, one which stems from more than her crimes perpetrated to provide for the common people.
     In a twist of fate, the people's champion is injured and Rob puts his hat into the tournament to win the seat of Sheriff in his own fief. Robin is allowed to compete by the queen's intercession, but he is blocked at every moment by the lords and gentry.
     When Robin wins the tourney and it appears everything is set for the couple to finally be together, Guy of Gisbourne reveals a secret to Scarlet which could keep her from Robin forever. Tragedy strikes and upsets their plans; Prince John gains the power to hide Scarlet from her new and powerful allies. The life Scarlet has fought for is ripped from her grasp and she has no hope of rescue.
     Embroidering on the legends of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Scarlet's continued story has humor and a lighthearted fun through the despair of an arranged marriage and the limited reality of a lady of the manor. Older teens will find Lady Thief a gradual transition from the family-friendly Robin Hood legend into the darker tale of Lionheart, the final installment in the trilogy.

The City of Ember

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, 2003 Yearling Books

     For generations, the people of Ember have lived in a well-equipped underground city. The Builders planned for the citizens to live in Ember for 200 years and the storerooms are empty, the crops are failing, and the lights are flickering.
     At graduation, the twelve-year-olds are assigned their new jobs. Lina has always dreamed of being a messenger, but she's assigned to the Pipeworks. Doon, who doesn't have a real preference, offers to trade with Lina and the two strike up an unexpected friendship.
     Lina learns the city is worried that the lights will fail to flick back on though they aren't sure why they're even turning off. Doon discovers the generator which powers all of Ember is failing. When Lina's grandmother presents her with an ancient parchment with strange writing on it, the two teens work together to discover what it could mean for their dying city.
     When the friends discover the mayor and his corrupt clerk hoarding supplies the mayor attempts to turn the city against the children. Lina and Doon decide to prove their integrity and their theory of the parchment and try to escape as Ember dies. The only problem is they don't know what they'll be escaping to or if they'll even survive the attempt.
     An adventure for younger teens, The City of Ember follows Lina and Doon's unexpected friendship through the end of the only world they've ever known into the hope of a better future. DuPrau's novel is aimed at middle readers and has been adapted into a movie. Readers who enjoyed the 'Hidden Children' series will find The City of Ember a compelling read.

Loki's Wolves

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr, 2013 Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

     Blackwell South Dakota is full of people who are a little bit different. Matt Thorsen is well aware of what makes his extended family different: they're descended from the Norse god Thor. To Matt this simply means he's a disappointment when he cannot meet his parents' expectations in controlling the gift of Moljnir. The Thorsens run Blackwell and Matt's dad is the sheriff holding him to a higher standard.
     On the opposite end of the spectrum Fen Brekke's family is descended from Loki the Trickster god. The Brekke's are constantly in trouble: Fen's uncle and his cousin Laurie are gifted with Loki's luck while Fen can become a wolf. Fen has been protecting Laurie while she has been kept ignorant from her heritage. Laurie's only hint is a realistic dream that she became a fish.
     When Matt dreams of the beginning of Ragnarok it sets in motion the event itself. Matt and his classmates are selected as champions of the old gods: Matt as Thor, Fen as Loki, and the descendents of the other gods are to be found across South Dakota. Matt's grandfather, mayor of Blackwell and head of the high council, describes great success for his grandson, but Matt overhears a conversation which indicates the council expects him to die in the process of saving their world.
     Matt seeks the help of Loki's replacement, but Fen and Matt have never gotten along. Laurie convinces her cousin to help Matt and the three embark on a quest for the remaining champions. More than the question of how to find their other kids is what to do when they've collected everyone.
     The kids are only middle-schoolers and face some of the challenges thirteen-year-olds traveling alone would face. Matt, Fen, and Laurie learn to work together and even begin to develop a friendship. When they've caught up to the other champions tragedy strikes and the kids must decide how they're going to save the world and prevent Ragnarok.
     Loki's Wolves is aimed at middle readers with action, adventure, some magic and a touch of romance. The characters learn to judge each other based on their own interactions rather than how others perceive them. A quick read for older readers, fans of Rick Riordan will like this similarly-paced dive into mythology

Guinevere's Gift

Guinevere's Gift by Nancy McKenzie, 2002 Knopf

   Guinevere of Northgallis is fostered to her mother's people as her father lay dying. King Pellinor and Queen Alyse take the girl and raise her alongside this daughter Elaine. Where Elaine is bold and impulsive Guinevere is studious and patient. Gwen's caution contrasts Elaine's disregard for the rules, but the young princess knows her place. Despite a prophecy at her birth that Guinevere would marry the highest king in the land, she is a penniless orphan at the mercy of her family.
     As King Arthur battles the Saxons his vassals are eager to rally behind the young warlord and his army is successful. King Pellinor joins the battle leaving Queen Alyse to manage their lands and oversee preparations for Elaine and Guinevere's marriages. Gwen sees her freedom slowly slipping away as she grows older and must take on more and more responsibilities of a lady. Gwen escapes into the hills above the castle where she discovers the hillmen guard her from harm--Llyr, as a chieftain's son, finds the princess fascinating. His interest nearly results in his expulsion from the clans, but he has promised to help the princess if she ever calls for his aid.
     In Pellinore's absence several cattle have gone missing. A neighboring prince convinces Queen Alyse that it is the hillmen who have taken her livestock. The Queen allows the prince to return with some men to hunt the offenders down. The prince is not trustworthy in Guinevere's eyes and she seeks to warn the hillmen. Llyr helps her go before the council where their lives change forever: the hillmen know of the marsh prince's treachery and warn the princess of more sinister plots. When she returns to the castle Guinevere and her cousin walk into a trap orchestrated by the scoundrel prince.
     Queen Alyse's argument for teaching the girls all aspects of home management is borne out in the concluding conflict of Guinevere's Gift. Alyse shows Gwen that she is more than a strict guardian and she can be trusted to behave in the best interests of her kingdom and family. King Arthur is a minor peripheral character in this tale from Guinevere's childhood. Her story is aimed at middle grade readers with straightforward storytelling, but a plot which can interest readers of all ages.

Black Magic Sanction

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison, 2010 Harper Voyager

     She hasn't quite accepted that she is a day-walking demon, but the Coven of Moral and Ethical Standards is after Rachel anyway. After the shunning, a woman attacks her in the grocery store while she and Ivy shop. Vivian is a member of the Coven, using her white magic with deadly consequences. Rachel is sent to the FIB and made to pay for damages while Vivian is absolved of her part.
     On her way home from the FIB offices, Rachel is summoned to San Francisco where the Coven attempts to railroad her into either being magically neutered, or literally neutered. Rachel is sent to Alcatraz when she refuses where she learns some of the ways the Coven manages trouble-maker witches. The church's gargoyle, Bis, finds Rachel and comforts her until Ivy can summon her back home to Cincinnati.
     Thus begins the tug-o-war between Rachel and the forces who want to control her. Trent Kalamack is still itching to get her under his control, Algaliarept (her demon teacher) attempts to keep her in the ever-after whenever he gets the chance, Pierce (the ghost brought back to life in a previous book) leverages attraction to influence her, and the Coven is on the prowl for her ability to kindle demon magic.
     After several near-death excursions and the loss of a close friend, Rachel makes her stand, accepting her place as a step between witches and demons but refusing to let it be the reason she dies.
     Rachel Morgan doesn't want to use black magic, but her blood is having difficulty kindling standard magic. She is becoming a different entity, and the consequences on her life spiral out of control. Through her friendships and faith in herself Rachel holds her world together and manages to get out okay. Like her reader, Rachel deals with the mess of everyday life as it comes to her and hopes what comes tomorrow won't kill her.

Stolen Songbird

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen, 2014 Strange Chemistry

     In the nearby town Cecile's mother is a famous singer and has spent years sending tutors to train her daughter in not only music, but to also provide both general and courtly education. The night before she is scheduled to join her mother and begin a promising career Cecile is kidnapped and sold to trolls who live under the local mountain.
     She is bound to the troll prince Tristan and told she will save the people of Trollus from a curse which has kept them imprisoned for over 500 years. But Cecile's new husband is not what he seems and politics among the people who cannot lie are far more complicated than the girl can imagine.
     Escape from Trollus is impossible, but it is Cecile's only hope, until she begins to know her new husband and the people of his cursed kingdom. Cecile discovers there is more to their imprisonment than anyone tells her and there is more to Cecile than anyone expects.
     Amid all their planning Tristan and Cecile discover they're more than simply allies; their bond helps them acknowledge the human myths are no less mythical than the trolls' restrictions on human-troll interaction. When it all comes tumbling down how will the prince and princess under the mountain respond?
     The beginning of a new series Stolen Songbird explores mythology and magic in an elaborate love story richly drawn along classic lines. What are the trolls really and how does their magic save them, even as the magic slowly dies. Jensen's novel is aimed at more mature readers, though teen readers can follow and enjoy its complex storyline.

A Kingdom of Ashes

A Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas, 2016 HarperTeen

     Aurora escaped Petrichor and the tower where she'd slept the last century away. But the princess has no experience with the world outside her castle. After a couple short weeks it is amazing she still lives and a surprise the King's guards haven't yet caught up to her. When a kind woman in a small-town bakery tries to help the princess it appears her luck has run out.
     King John's guards try to capture Aurora, but her newly discovered fire allows her to escape. The cost, though, is the small town. The king's men prevent the townsfolk from salvaging anything and John has a new weapon against the true heir. Nettle, the singer who befriended Aurora in Petrichor, appears to help the girl escape and survive in the wilderness. The companionship and help allow the girl to make decisions on where to go next.
     Nettle helps Aurora travel across the sea to Vanhelm and Prince Finnegan's protection. Finnegan makes a point to allow Aurora her own decisions. Their search for answers is a partnership neither can allow to drift beyond propriety's bounds. In Finnegan's home country Aurora discovers an affinity for the dragons which destroyed fertile Vanhelm.
     While Finnegan hopes the Sleeping Beauty will find a way to use her magic to save his kingdom, Nettle shows Aurora around the city which is the last of Vanhelm. When Nettle returns to her spying in Aurora's Alyssia Aurora herself is left with Finnegan and her magic to keep her company: neither which help Aurora decide how she feels or what she plans to do next.
     King John announces that he's captured Aurora on her rampages and plans to execute both the traitorous prince and rebellious princess. Aurora decides time has run out. She prepares for the final battle terrified of the tough decisions she must make to save her people.

Princess of the Midnight Ball

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George, 2009 Bloomsbury

     The king of Westfalin and his wife have twelve beautiful daughters each named after a flower. When the queen dies a strange malady takes the twelve girls: every third night the girls, though locked in their room, disappear and their dancing slippers were destroyed. The oldest is Rose; who cares for her eleven younger sisters. Rose is followed by Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet, Daisy, Poppy, Iris, Lilac, Orchid, Pansy, and little Petunia.
     The girls are swept through a portal in their floor into the Kingdom Under Stone to dance with the King Under Stone's twelve sons. Their curse compels the princesses to travel and prevents them from mentioning the curse itself. The King is worried about his daughters and offers their hands to anyone who can discover what has happened.
     Galen is a young soldier returning from war when he hears of his king's plight. On his way to help solve the kingdom's problem he encounters and aids an old woman on the road. She, in turn, gives the young man advise and a couple gifts to help him on his quest.
     At the palace, Galen is allowed to test the girls' story. Following the old woman's advice, he is able to follow Rose and her sisters into the Kingdom Under Stone. Rose hopes the young man can help them break the curse, but her faith is tested as Galen's rudimentary magic goes up against the King Under Stone's tested curses which have held more than one regal woman captive.
     With the twelve princesses and their entire kingdom at risk Galen and his skills are the only thing keeping the King under stone. A retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" Princess of the Midnight Ball tells a story of magic and romance. Readers who enjoyed Cameron Dokey's retelling swill enjoy this take on an oft-ignored classic. Followed by Princess of Glass and Princess of the Silver Wood.

Lost in a Book

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly, 2017 Disney Press

    Belle has traded her freedom to allow her father his freedom. She gets used to her new home and its occupants and she discovers a surprise in the extensive library. Nevermore is a reflection of the world managed by Death and her sister, Love.
     Death bets her sister that Belle will abandon the Beast, but Love holds her sister to fair play. Determined not to cheat, Death creates a living book to lure Belle to fulfill her wager. The young woman escapes the magic-soaked castle for an equally magic-infused world which appears to allow Belle to chase her dreams and have adventures. She is fascinated by the apparent perfection of the world and the people she meets there.
     Despite growing more comfortable with her imprisonment and becoming even fond of the Beast she falls under the spell of Nevermore. Belle is oblivious to the background drama between The Lady and her sister which brought her to the fictional land.
     What happens when the living book and its creator decide not to allow the young woman home? A side story within the world of 2017's live-action "Beauty and the Beast" Lost in a Book shows another step in building the relationship between Belle and the Beast. Who will win the bet? How will Belle get back to the castle and her new friends?
     The story takes place after the Beast has introduced Belle to the library and they've started to become friends, however, it happens while Belle still dreams of a life outside the castle. Lost in a Book is aimed at teen readers and those who enjoy fantastical retellings will like this spin on Belle's story.

Newt's Emerald

Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix, 2013 Katherine Tegen Books

     Regency England is imbued with magic: families have different talents including glamour, persuasion, and weather magics. The Newington family has weather magic, and the daughter of the house, Truthful Newington, has a touch of animal talent and some local weather magic. The Newington family also has an old family relic: the Newington Emerald, which has a magic all its own.
     Lady Truthful is to inherit the family jewel when she comes of age, but during a glimpse on her eighteenth birthday the jewel is stolen. Admiral Newington, Truthful's father, blames her cousins the Newington-Lacys. The three young men promise their beloved cousin Newt that they will find a replacement for the pretty bauble abroad. Truthful appreciates their aid, but makes plans of her own. She hastens a planned journey to London where her great-aunt Lady Badgery is ready to introduce her to Society.
     Newt's great-aunt is eccentric and an excellent sorceress. Lady Badgery helps her niece become a distant French male cousin in order to hunt for the Emerald in the city. Henri, as she becomes, searches for the jewel with no success. When Truthful meets a mysterious Major Hartnett the investigation begins to produce results.
     With the Major's assistance and Lady Badgery's connections Newt discovers a larger plot at hand, one the government becomes deeply involved in Newt's charade is compromised in a brief kidnapping an her confounding feelings for the Major begin to cause problems as the chase for her Emerald comes to a close.
     Action, adventure, magic, and some brief romance make Newt's Emerald a modern take on Regency fiction and will appeal to readers of all ages.

The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, 2009 Hesperus Nova

     Allan Karlsson turns 100 years old and decides he's had enough of the old-folks home where he's been living in Malmkoping, Sweden. The man is in fair health for his age and decides to leave the facility before the birthday party thrown in his honor and populated by people Allan has no intention of placating. In his slippers and with minimal funding he makes his way to the local bus station.
    At the bus station, a young man entrusts Allan with a rolling suitcase. Despite his best attempts to warn the young man of his impending departure the young man closets himself in the lavatory and Allan takes the suitcase onto the bus with him. Thus ensues the adventure of a lifetime.
    Along the way, the reader discovers the centenarian's life has been full of adventure. Young Karlsson left school to begin work at the local dynamite factory before his teen years, he became an explosives expert and traveled the world. In young adulthood, he spent time in a sanatorium and steadfastly became apolitical. Allan Karlsson took part in the Spanish Civil War, met President Harry Truman and participated in the making of the atom bomb in Los Almos, New Mexico. He traveled to China and through the Himalayas into Iran where he met Winston Churchill. Despite his lack of political or religious affiliation Karlsson has faith that the world will turn out alright, which eventually leads back to Sweden.
     In modern day Allan's adventure involves a criminal organization, several murders, a suitcase full of cash, an elephant, and the interplay between incompetent law enforcement and an overbearing press cycle. Allan Karlson truly believes life is what it will be and one should take it as it comes, acting on this philosophy leads him into some of the greatest turning points of the 20th century with humor and a devil-may-care attitude written for adults.

The Sleeping Prince

The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury, 2016 Scholastic

     After her brother goes missing and is presumed dead, Errin and her mother have struggled to survive. She must care for her ill mother and scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal remedies. Their village is evacuated because of the war with the Sleeping Prince in Lormere and Errin is slowly running out of options. 

     Leif is still missing, having disappeared when the Sleeping Prince took power, but Errin's friend Silas has stood by her and tries to help. When he too disappears Errin undertakes a journey across Tregellan to find some semblance of safety. 

     The Sleeping Prince seeks revenge on the people who cursed him to sleep for so many centuries. The science-based Tregellans discover Aurek and his history contradict everything they've believed about myth and history and the creatures which stalk ti boundaries prove there is more to the world than simply science. 

     Silas's disappearance forces Errin to leave her home and seek answers hidden across the land. She is trained as an apothecary and rediscovers happier times with her family in the places from her past. Memories of Leif and their parents provide a compass as Errin evades the Sleeping Prince and his monsters--both human and otherwise. 

    She discovers there is no safety - even Twylla hides from Aurek as the tension builds and the resistance is broken apart. 

     The Sleeping Prince draws from The Sin Eater's Daughter as Salisbury creates a new type of heroine: Twylla and Errin are distinctly different with different goals and motives. Also richly constructed is a new take on classic fantasy motifs this second installment lives up to its predecessor and lays the foundation for the conclusion of the elaborate tale. Teen and young adult readers may be jolted by the vivid violence found in this war-torn series. The Sleeping Prince is followed by The Scarecrow Queen. 

A Wicked Thing

A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas, 2015 HarperTeen

     Aurora wakes to a stranger leaning over her, kissing her! Stunned by the liberties taken by this young man has taken, it takes a moment for the Princess to register what is happening: Her family is gone, and she has slept through one hundred years of her country's history. Prince Roderick explains what has happened and that the two are now betrothed. Reeling from the shock Aurora allows this strange prince to re-introduce her to Alyssia.
     But no one seems to want to explain what has happened, beyond a fairytale explanation. Nor do they seem to care that the princess is grieving her lost life. The new King John and his queen explain to the young woman that she is in danger and must be kept isolated for her safety until she can show her support for the new dynasty by marrying their son. Aurora struggles with the restrictions and, despite warnings from her new friend and maid Betsey, escapes into the city Petrichor surrounding the castle.
     In the city Aurora meets Tristan, a young bartender who charms her. Contrasting Roderick's awkwardness, Tristan is confident and shares the city with the young princess. He seems not to recognize Aurora, allowing her to forget what awaits in the home which others have taken for their own. But Tristan has his own agenda. When he tries to encourage the princess to join his rebellion Aurora is torn--she cannot destroy the one thing she was raised and groomed to protect, but this new king and his court aren't ruling her country as it should be ruled and the people suffer.
     In the castle is another man to challenge Roderic's suit: Prince Finnegan of Vanhelm came from across the sea to see Prince Roderick's attempt to wake the Sleeping Beauty. While the queen warns her away, Aurora is hesitant to trust the prince who seems to hold her and her kingdom in contempt. But Finnegan professes to want to help Aurora and offers her sanctuary, though he believes she will flee a forced marriage rather than political upheaval.
     The queen plans her wedding as the king plots to control Aurora. When the new dynasty's daughter is killed by a dessert meant for Aurora the family uses it to imprison the rightful heir and twist her to their wishes. Aurora decides she's had enough of their management and asks for Tristan's help in escaping.
     Aurora questions herself and the decisions thrust upon her in light of the new relationships she builds. She questions history as written - she's a relic of it herself and doesn't remember as the books describe it. A Wicked Thing is led by a strong young woman who does not fit the prevailing model. She is reflective and uncertain, but stands in her convictions. When the men in her new life are dishonest or opaque on and in their reasoning she calls them to the carpet. Teen readers will enjoy this retell of Sleeping Beauty in a new light.

Scarlet

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen, 2012 Walker Publishing Company

     It's just Scarlet, but the people of Nottinghamshire assume the small, nimble member of the Hood's band is a boy, so they call her Will Scarlet. When Robin discovered Scarlet trying to pick his pocket in London the young lord assumed she was a boy too, though he soon figured out the truth. Scarlet joined the charismatic lord as he returned to Nottinghamshire to protect his people from the Sheriff presented with his seat of Huntingdon.
     Robin of Locksley still hides in Sherwood Forest from the Sheriff and tries to help his people by robbing the rich and providing for the poor. When the Sheriff brings in a thief catcher Scarlet only worries that it will be Guy of Gisbourne who could reveal her secret past.
     When the thief catcher arrives the sheriff escalates his action against the townspeople and Rob, Scarlet, Little John and Much ramp up their efforts in response. When the townspeople discover one of their own has betrayed the rightful Earl, only Robin himself can prevent the man's demise. Gisbourne is the thief-catcher, and the force behind the new found depravity in Nottingham and Scarlet fears in saving the townsfolk she will reveal herself to Gisbourne and his tortures.
     Meanwhile, Little John has taken a fancy to his female bandmate. While Scarlet struggles to determine how she feels about John her hidden feelings for Rob become more and more apparent. The jealousy between the two boys makes Scarlet wonder if she wants to stay in Sherwood or try her luck further from Robin, John, and the threat Gisbourne presents. Before she can make a decision the Sheriff arrests more and more townsfolk scheduling their hanging leading Robin and his band to stage one more rescue attempt.
     The attempt goes fatally wrong and Scarlet decides her past, while dangerous to her future in Sherwood and relationship with the band, is not worth the lives of the people she cares for.
     Scarlet is a young woman on the run who found friendship and purpose in an unlikely corner. She fights for the people she cares for, and for their causes. Despite knowing the people of Nottinghamshire disapprove of her thievery, the young woman is pummelled to help Robin's people and to fight the injustices they face. She makes her own way when life refuses to give her a clear path and even her dreams seem to be impossible.
     Readers who enjoy a female protagonist with drive and sarcasm will like Scarlet and her spunk. Gaughen's Scarlet is aimed at younger teens with reference to more mature subject matter and blatant violence.

The Opal Crown

The Opal Crown by Jenny Lundquist, 2014 Running Press Kids

     Elara has been betrothed to the prince of Kyrenica for a whole year; Elara discovers she is the identical twin to Wilha the crown princess of Galandra who has always worn a mask. Wilha is finally experiencing the freedom of wearing her own face. Elara has fallen in love with her sister's betrothed, and the twin princesses struggle to return to life as they once knew it.

    Meanwhile, in Galandra the country is deteriorating and when the king dies mysteriously the prince, their younger brother, reveals the princesses' deception. In a bid for the throne, Prince Andrei reveals both young women as traitors to Kyrencia's royal family, unraveling the lives they've built. Elara and Wilha are on the run for their lives both in Kyrencia and Galandra. 

     The alliances Wilha's marriage would build with their neighboring nation are strained. Galandra and Kyrencia at war would serve Andrei's purposes and solidify his reign, but Elara and Wilha have developed relationships with each other and political powers in both countries. 

     Deciding who will wear the Galandrian crown is not simply a matter of who was born first, but of which twin will choose to be her nation's savior. Secrets of their past come to light while they escape one situation after another. 

     Wilha struggles with confidence and living outside her sheltered and privileged childhood. Elara is challenged by her own fears and uncertainty about her past. Each young woman's history gives her some perspective on how to proceed in rapidly-changing times as civil and international war threaten to break out. 

     Life for the princesses is difficult as they leave the protection of Kyrencia and the royal family. The world has only believed Galandra to have one princess and the appearance of a second, especially one whose face no one outside the royal family has seen adds to the dissent surrounding the king's death and political turmoil. 

     Their story carries little of the princess-perfect "happily ever after" traditionally associated with a transition of royal power - life for Elara and Wilha is messy and complicated just as normal life is messy and complicated. Young adult readers will enjoy the elaborate world-building and political maneuvering which goes into resolving an attempted coup d'etat. The Opal Crown is a continuation of The Opal Mask completing the duology. 

Red Queen

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, 2015 HarperTeen

    For generations, the world has been divided into red and silver blooded -- the red-blooded are commoners and the silver-blooded have inexplicable powers. With those powers, the silvers have placed themselves at the top of Norta's society.
     Mare Barrow is a seventeen-year-old red who is trapped in the Silts, and it doesn't appear anything is going to change. The Stilts are the poorest of the poor and Mare is fortunate to find a job at the Silver Palace to help support her family after her older brothers are drafted into the long-waging war. In the course of her duties, Mare discovers she as an unexpected talent.
     When the silvers discover Mare's ability to control electricity they decide to pass off her ability as the discovery of a long-lost bloodline and missing princess. Mare is elevated and begins training her gift with the other teens while taking history and etiquette classes to keep up the illusion.
     The royal family keeps Mare close as they watch and try to figure out how a red could have powers like any other silver. The girl goes along with their deception, her cooperation ensured by the royal family's talents and threats. Mare's family is kept from the truth, but does reap some benefit: two of her three brothers are returned from the war effort, while the ruling family perpetuates the lie of her position.
      Norta faces war with the Marshlands and continues to draft young reds into the army. Less publicly the silvers are challenged by a rebel group called the Scarlet Guard. As the truth of their world becomes more clear to Mare the Scarlet Guard approaches her. The teen takes the opportunity to expand her background knowledge and possibly to create a plan for her future.
     The two princes, Cal and Maven, vie for the new princess's attention: Maven is, for political reasons, engaged to Mare while his older brother Cal is genuinely intrigued by the young woman despite his family's plans. The queen uses her mind-reading and -control to manipulate the court as she creates the life she wants for herself and her sons. Cal's uncle Julian acts as one of Mare's tutors and reveals to her that she is not the first red to exhibit powers.
     When the ambitious and antagonistic silver court turns topsy-turvy Mare faces the silver's prison and a battle royale where her newfound powers will do nothing to save her.
     What started as a fairytale for Mare Barrow turns into a battle for her life and for her country. Her romance with the young man - not her fiance causes tension as Mare tries to sort out the men in her life and her future. Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games will find similarities in Red Queen, which is written for a similar, young adult audience.