The Outlaw Demon Wails

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison, 2008 Eos

    Rachel is back! It's been a couple months since her boyfriend's brutal murder and she seeks resolution when she isn't struggling to get out of bed. Rachel and Ivy share their grief and struggle to find a new normal. 

     Unfortunately, Rachel has voluntarily practiced forbidden demon magic and is experiencing the effects of working with a demon. Someone is releasing Algaliarept from his prison in the Ever After to hunt down the witch. Rachel and her family (both chosen and given) must hide from Al's revenge. In keeping her friends and family safe Rachel discovers her mother has been keeping secrets. 

     David, a friend, coworker, and Rachel's were alpha, encourages Rachel to develop her relationship with their pack and by extension her witch family. He helps her investigate who is releasing Al from his cell and endangering all of Cincinnati. 

     Trent returns and Rachel faces his criticism for dabbling in demon magic, but elven princess Ceri's friendship and support help Rachel stand strong. Ivy and Jenks are still the foundation for Rachel's continued fight even as they deal with their own loss and angst. Ivy has lost her childhood friend and Jenks is dealing with his growing awareness of his limited lifespan. 

     Not only does Rachel uncover personal secrets, but also secrets as to the history of the race of witches. The black and white nature of her relationship with Trent becomes more nuanced as Rachel works with Ceri, Quen, and Trent to solve not just the problem of the Rosewood babies, but also the elves. 

     In The Outlaw Demon Wails Rachel and her friends deal with the loss of one of their closest companions. As an adult novel, the story deals with death and ambiguous morals which create depth in the characters and their universe. 

Superior Saturday

Superior Saturday by Garth Nix, 2008 Scholastic Books

     When Arthur returns from his grapple with Lady Friday he discovers Saturday has unleashed the human army on his hometown. With five keys in his possession Arthur is over halfway to  being an immortal Denizen of the House. He leaves Leaf in the human world to sort out his home and hurries back into the Lower House where Nothing is on the verge of destroying everything.
     Arthur goes into the Great Coal Mine where he is partially protected by the sorcery around the Old One. The Old One provides cryptic direction, but Arthur doesn't fully understand it. He makes his way into the Citadel hoping to strike at Saturday before she has a chance to summon the sorcery she has been amassing in preparation for the Will's escape and the appearance of the Rightful Heir.
     Saturday has plans to reach Sunday's realm in the Incomparable Gardens and hopes to slow the growth by destroying the Lower House with Nothing. The Will, in the form of Dame Primus, urges Arthur to return with the final two keys before there is nothing left of the Lower and Middle House. The young man, along with several old friends, travels into the Upper House where Saturday has begun her assault on the Incomparable Gardens.
     The tale ends on a cliffhanger as the battle rages between portions of the Upper House. Saturday and Sunday, their portions of the Will, and their Keys are the last obstacle between Arthur and his place as Rightful Heir. Back at home Leaf calls to Arthur as all appears lost. The story is written for middle grade readers, though those who enjoyed the preceding books will enjoy this penultimate book of the series.

The Secret of Red Gate Farm

The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene, 1961 Grosset & Dunlap

     Nancy Drew and her friends find it strange when an exotic saleswoman refuses to sell Bess a particular fragrance while shopping. On their way home Nancy, Bess, and George encounter a young woman looking to find work in the city. The girls become friends and decide to help Joanne in whatever way they may. When Nancy joins Joanne on a job interview she finds what appears to be a mysterious code.
     Nancy sets aside the code until, when visiting Joanne's grandmother for a working vacation, she and her friends discover a mysterious secret society on Red Gate Farm. The "Black Snake Colony" is a nature cult residing on the outlying edges of the farm.
     All is not as it seems, when Nancy is accused of counterfeiting money. She presents the code she discovered and the strange cult to the authorities. The four girls are asked to go undercover in aid of the federal agents on the case.
     Nancy and her friends find adventure in seemingly simple situations. Readers become more acquainted with Bess and George through the book, with mystery and adventure around the corner.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, 2005 Scholastic

     Harry has escaped Voldemort's clutches once again, and there is no chance the wizarding world cannot accept the return of the dark wizard--he has appeared in the Ministry of Magic itself. But Harry has been branded a spoiled attention-seeker and his reputation, along with those who support him, has been trampled in the muck. Some still doubt Voldemort's return.
     Alongside Ron and Hermione, Harry returns to Hogwarts for his sixth and penultimate year of school. Despite the chaos outside the walls, it appears not much has changed. But with Snape as his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and a new Potions Master, Harry finds himself itching to get away.
     It is that new Potions Master that gives Harry his change of scene. Horace Slughorn knew Lord Voldemort when he was young Tom Riddle and first began his quest for supremacy and immortality. Dumbledore's invitation to return to Hogwarts begins a search for Voldemort's defeat--beginning with information Slughorn may have provided the young man. But the professor is hesitant to reveal information which may paint him in a less-than-desirable light.
     Dumbledore begins to entrust Harry with a more pivotal role in the rebellion against Voldemort and his forces. While still participating in his schooling and navigating changing friendships, as well as burgeoning relationships, Harry joins the Headmaster in his search for Voldemort's horcruxes and defeat.
     The war continues to rage around Hogwarts and even the school is not the safe haven it once was. As Voldemort's power increases and the dangers surrounding their questing mount, Harry discovers something more to his fight than just the hope for peace. The second-to-last novel in the Harry Potter Series is meant for older readers and one of the darkest yet, but as outrages pile, resistance gains strength. Harry's battle becomes one the entire wizarding world can take part in.

Beauty and the Werewolf

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey, 2011 Luna

     Isabella Beauchamps watches over her young stepsisters and runs the household for her stepmother, until one night visiting Granny in the forest she is attacked by a great wolf. Bella fights back and survives the attack with no more than a wolf-bite. The next morning, though Bella wakes to find the king's guard whisking her away to the Duke's palace.
     There she learns the mystery of Duke Sebastian and his seclusion. Sebastian is cursed to become a wolf the three nights of the full moon. However, no one knows why. Bella's imprisonment forces her into close contact with the werewolf-duke until it is discovered whether or not she too will become a werewolf.
     Her capture is simply frustrating while the Godmother Elena, Duke Sebastian, Granny and other local magicians search for a solution. To fill her time, Bella takes lessons in magic with Sebastian and discovers he is a scholarly young man, but good company. He teaches her of the Tradition and its role in their lives.
     But with knowledge of the Tradition comes knowledge of the paths it fights to force Bella down. Bella, along with the duke's illegitimate brother and Sebastian himself, searches for a way out of the castle and away from the fateful force of the Tradition.
     Beauty and the Werewolf is a refreshing take on the story of the Beauty and the Beast. Dropped into a world similar to eighteenth century France, Bella is not your average woman and her fate is not that of the average Beauty. The story is suitable for readers of all ages, though some material is more appropriate for teens and older readers.

Tempted

Tempted by Kristin and P.C. Cast, 2009 St. Martin's Press

     Unlike the other stories, Tempted is told from the point of view of not only Zoey, but Stevie Rae, Stevie Rae, Aphrodite, Rephiam, Heath, and Stark.
     After Kalona rose and helped Neferet attacked Zoey and her friends the two retreated to the House of Night leaving the 'nerd herd' to gather their allies. But Stevie Rae notices that Zoey is becoming exhausted and takes the reigns to allow her time with Stark and her grandmother. Sylvia recovers from her car accident and explains the relationship between Zoey and the reincarnation of Ay-a Kalona searches for. A sliver of Zoey's spirit is Ay-a, and she has the power to re-imprison Kalona. However the part of Zoey that is Ay-a is drawn to him, despite her desire to stay away.
     Kalona, Erik, and Stark all vie for Zoey's attention, but when Erik is overly possessive and jealous she dumps him. Erik turns and starts up a relationship with Venus, Aphrodite's former roommate. Kalona takes the opportunity to sneak into Zoey's unguarded dreams, when Stark senses her panic he climbs up to her room and acts as a shield against Kalona's entry into Zoey's dreams. Aphrodite takes Darius, the group's resident Sons of Erebus Warrior and Aphrodite's love interest, to Stark's empty room where she reveals her feelings and he pledges his Warrior's Oath to her.
     When the group returns to the House of Night they find Anastasia Lankford has been killed by Rephaim, a Raven Mocker. Dragon is devastated, Jack stays to comfort him and help him through the pain. Aphrodite's visions and Kramisha's prophetic poems show the 'nerd herd' Neferet and Kalona planning to return the vampyre world to the old ways. Jack uses social media to find the pair and locate them on the isle of San Clemente with the Vampyre Council. Zoey and her friends go to Italy to have their say at the Council. Zoey has a dream revealing if she is with Kalona the world will end, if she chooses Nyx and rejects him he will "die", but Zoey feels he can still be saved and has a hard time rejecting him completely. Zoey learns she is the only one who can defeat Kalona, but he promises to change if she will have him and shows her his past as Nyx's Warrior.
     At the council Neferet claims to be Nyx incarnate and places Kalona as her consort Erebus. The council names Aphrodite a Prophetess of the goddess, but distrusts Zoey because of her age. After the Council meeting Zoey and Heath talk, then Zoey sends him to find Stark. When Heath finds Neferet and Kalona in secret conversation he is found and uses the imprint with Zoey to call her just as Kalona kills him. Zoey throws Spirit at Kalona. Her action shatters her soul and sends her to the Otherworld.
     Meanwhile Stevie Rae has stayed in Tulsa to watch over the red fledglings and finds Rephaim injured on the Benedictine Abbey grounds. She rescues him and binds his wounds, but when she discovers he is the one who killed Anastasia Lankford, she doesn't know how to deal with it. The rogue red fledglings find Rephaim and use him to capture Stevie Rae and leave her in a cage on the depot roof where she is nearly burned alive. They get free and Rephaim offers Stevie Rae his imortal blood to save her, breaking the imprint between Stevie Rae and Aphrodite.
     The revolving relationships and power structures of the House of Night change how the students grow and develop. Zoey stands her ground and fights for what she believes, despite her friends' disbelief and the discouraging response of those in power. She finds inner strength and the changing world around her only adds to her convictions. Aimed toward middle teens, Zoey's story and that of her friends takes the age-old struggle of the average high schooler and puts it in an epic-quest format.

The Silver Chair

The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis, 1953 Geoffrey Bles

     Eustace Scrubb has returned to school after his first trip to Narnia. When he and his friend Jill Pole are running from bullies they suddenly find themselves in Narnia, but in a place Eustace has never seen: Aslan's land near a cliff. Jill tries to show off, but Eustace falls off the cliff. Aslan appears and tells Jill they have been summoned to find the heir Prince Rilian. He tells her the task was made the more difficult when Eustace fell, now she'll have to remember the Four Signs on her own. Aslan then blows her to meet Eustace in Narnia proper with a gust of breath.
     Eustace is taken to the Owl Council who decide that if the children are going to go on such a dangerous journey someone needs to go with them. Puddleglum, a marsh-wiggle, is chosen to join them. They leave from the Narnian marshes North to Ettinsmoor where the giants live.
     They encountered a woman in a fluttering green dress accompanied by a knight in dark armor who remained silent. The woman introduced herself as the Lady of the Green Kirtle and sent the children to a castle where friendly giants supposedly lived. The group rushed there, heedless of the Signs Aslan had given them, in their desire for a warm bath and comfortable bed. When they were trying to escape Jill found a cookbook open to the page for "Man" and a section on Marsh-wiggle, the trio hurried to make plans to escape. They managed to get free, but were trapped in the Underland.
     Lost, Jill, Puddleglum, and Eustace run into Earthmen, natives of Underland. The Earthmen take them across a sunless sea and to a dark castle where they find the Lady of the Green Kirtle again: the queen of Underland. The dark knight sits with them while they wait for the Lady, but Earthmen come into the room and tie him to a Silver Chair warning the travelers to leave him there regardless of what he says. When the knight speaks the words of the last sign the children release him, for fear of messing up the fourth sign like the first three. The knight rises and destroys the chair, then introduces himself as Prince Rilian of Narnia.
     When the Lady does arrive she tries to enchant the group with sweet-smelling smoke and a stringed instrument. They do not give in, angering the witch. She turns into a green serpent and attacks Rilian; he fights her off and though she was coiled around Rilian, the group manages to kill her. A chasm opens to the land of Bism and the disenchanted Earthmen go home through it.
     The four hurry through the tunnel the Lady commanded the Earthmen to dig, a passage of conquest leading to Narnia. Rilian is able to arrive at the castle at Cair Paravel in time to see his father, Caspian X whom Eustace and his cousins had traveled with. Caspian recognizes his son and Rilian is able to take his proper place as king. The children return home and, with the help of Aslan and Caspian, frighten off the bullies chasing them.

     This is one of the less busy of Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, with much of the novel taken with travel. However, the story has important themes of identity, persistence, and faithfulness to purpose. The story is written to middle elementary, but some of the themes are better geared toward older readers--eleven to thirteen years.