By Piranha T.

Nathaniel is apprenticed to one of the magicians who forms part of London’s government. Although he isn’t entirely content, he’s happy enough to stay that way. But things change when one of the most skilled magicians in London, Simon Lovelace, humiliates him. Keen on revenge, Nathaniel learns spells necessary to get him back—and summons a five-thousand-year-old djinn called Bartimaeus.

Bartimaeus isn’t particularly pleased at being summoned by an eleven-year-old boy, but he’s forced to do Nathaniel’s bidding. He’s sent to steal one of Simon Lovelace’s most prized possessions—the Amulet of Samarkand, which authorities have been searching for for years. Nathaniel’s plan is to use it to show the public what Lovelace is really like—but instead, it pulls him and Bartimaeus into a tangle of complex politics, the rebellion known as the Resistance, and the plans of Lovelace—which may be much more ominous than either of them realize.
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The Amulet of Samarkand was an engrossing read, with lots of complicated plot twists so it read like a mystery. Although it alternates between Bartimaeus and Nathaniel, it isn’t confusing. Nathaniel’s narration has more of an upper-class tone, while Bartimaeus has five thousand years of experience and an extremely snarky narrative, which makes the book even better—and much more amusing. I would highly recommend The Amulet of Samarkand to readers ages ten and up, but older readers would enjoy it as well!

By Piranha T.

Rose is the youngest of eight children, subject of many of her mother’s superstitions. Despite what her family would prefer, she has always loved to explore. She has always dreamed of a white bear who would explore the northern regions of the world with her.

But when such a bear comes, he has a different request. In exchange for her family’s well-being, Rose must come with him and leave the world she has always known. When she goes with him, Rose discovers a world of ice and snow, where magic is real—and enchantments can bind a life. The bear has secrets of his own, and Rose’s choices will decide his fate.

East is a retelling of the classic fairytale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Unlike many other books like this, Edith Pattou doesn’t completely change the classic tale. Instead, she adds to it, weaving the story’s threads in unexpected directions while still holding to the normal course of the story. Yet at the same time, it’s much more multilayered, with all the characters seeming real. Rose is an exceptional heroine who I could completely relate to. Many of the things which might seem rash or odd in the original fairytale are explained fully, and though a part of me knew a few things weren’t great decisions, I could understand why Rose did them.
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This book is set in Norway, with many of the names Norwegian, but it wasn’t confusing to me. Likewise, although there are several different narrations in this book, it didn’t feel awkward or confusing. This is an excellent fantasy novel which I would recommend for ages twelve and up.

By Contributing Reviewer FalconX, Age 11

Orïsha was a kingdom that hummed with magic. Different people possessed different powers and talents that commanded the elements. That all changed. Zélie Adebola's mother was a maji. This meant that Zélie's mother was magical; and she could summon souls. Under a ruthless king's order, all maji were killed and hung from trees to display to the world the true death of magic. Zélie's mother was among them. No matter what Zélie does, her mother will never return. Then, Zélie's powers begin to manifest. She must keep it a secret. The princess, the daughter of the king responsible of the murder of magic, embarks on a quest with Zélie. Zélie's brother Tzain, the princess, and Zélie set out on a quest to bring magic back. However, the crown prince (the princess's brother) is onto them, and catching up. He has one goal: kill Zélie and kill magic. Zélie is in more danger than she thinks. The crown prince is capable of hunting them down and killing them quickly, but not with Zélie's powers. Tzain tries to protect the princess and Zélie, but they are no match for an army of trained soldiers. Even with Zélie's newly manifested powers. But perhaps the most challenging thing for Zélie is suppressing her growing feelings for the supposed enemy. Will they succeed in bringing magic back to Orisha and returning it to what it was always meant to be? Or will they fail and magic will be lost forever?

This book was so intriguing, good, and cleverly written. I picked it up and could not put it down. Tomi Adeyemi weaves a vibrant and imaginative world. Join Zélie and her companions on a quest to bring the true Orïsha back. I love the plot twist at the end. It is not at all what you expect. The story is rich and full of interesting side plots and different perspectives. By the time I'd gotten the book in my hands, it had been recommended to me by at least eight different people. I love how Tomi Adeyemi makes you feel like you are standing next to the characters, that you are fighting and celebrating and mourning right along with them. This is the first book in a trilogy that the second and third book has not yet come out. I would recommend this book to grades 6-9 because there are very violent parts. 

By Piranha T.

The daughter of the famous warrior Alanna the Lioness, Alianne (known as Aly) has inherited none of her mother’s dreams of knighthood. She has a different passion: she wants to become a spy. It seems, in some ways, a likely dream. Her father is the head of the realm’s spies, and has taught her secrets of the trade from a young age. But he refuses to let her become one, insisting that it’s much too dangerous. Soon, though, Aly gets her chance—though it’s not where she expects it. She is captured by pirates and sold into slavery in the Copper Isles, islands known for political tensions between the native people and those who invaded three hundred years before, tensions that are ready to break.

At first, all Aly can think of is trying to escape, even after she has been sold at auction to a noble family known as the Balitangs. But she gets her chance without having to risk her life. The patron god of the isles, known as Kyprioth, offers her a deal. If she can protect the two oldest girls of the Balitang family over the summer, he’ll get her out on the Autumnal equinox.

But the deal isn’t as simple as it seems. Kyprioth, often called ‘the Trickster’, has his own plans for not just Aly, but everyone in the Isles as well. Rebellion stirs among the natives, who have been oppressed and enslaved for generations. Aly gets her chance to test her skills as a spy—but at the same time, she must test her life.
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Trickster’s Choice (and its sequel, Trickster’s Queen) is an excellent, well-plotted book. The Copper Isles offer a rich setting full of hidden conspiracies and well-concealed secrets. Tamora Pierce has written three quartets also set in this world (including the Song of the Lioness Quartet and the Protector of the Small Quartet), which I would highly recommend, but Trickster’s Choice was different from them, because Aly was different from those heroines. She is a funny, sarcastic, and clever character who won’t let anything stop her, with the personality of a spy. I would recommend Trickster’s Choice to readers ages thirteen and up.  

By Super Kitty
 
The city of Ketterdam is the center of world trade, an industrious city of merchants, ships, banks, embassies, and the like, along with theaters and festivals to delight its many visitors. But Ketterdam has another side, too: one home to ruthless crime bosses, competing street gangs, and a notoriously talented young thief by the name of Kaz Brekker.

When Kaz, who has a gift for the impossible, is offered a deal involving his breaking into one of the most secure buildings in the world, located in distant enemy territory, he shocks everyone by accepting. But as always, he has more prepared than it appears, and he recruits a team that most people would never dream of. A legendary spy, a disgraced elite warrior, a runaway Grisha, a sarcastic sharpshooter, and a fugitive with a flair for chemicals join the master thief himself on a dangerous mission destined to change the fates of Grisha everywhere.

There are several things about this book which really struck me. The characters and character development is outstanding: for most books six different points of view would be confusing and awkward, but instead readers are able to understand each character intimately, and sympathize even with Kaz, who is so cold and ruthless that rumor has it he isn’t even human. Indeed, at first all of the crew members appear heartless and unfeeling, but slowly readers begin to appreciate what they’ve gone through, and also how, despite all appearances, each member of the cast is still incredibly human. Each seems totally different, but as the journey continues, it becomes clear that they may be more similar that they had thought. Each has lost something more precious to them than anything else, and the mission might just give each of them a second chance. But how far are any of them willing to go? And, ultimately, at what cost?

Also, I just want to say that this is definitely on the older side of what we review (think young adult section as oppose to middle grade). I would recommend it for ages 14+, largely because of the fact that there were some pretty violent scenes. However, if you are old enough, trust me and read it—it’s honestly not even the sort of thing I would usually read (I picked it up because I liked the original trilogy*), but the way the story unfolds is completely mind-blowing. Not only does Leigh Bardugo, who is a master of brilliant twists, create a story which gets progressively deeper and more complex as the stakes grow higher, but readers also get flashbacks from each of the six main character’s pasts, revealing their entwined stories as the author builds up to a climax which is impossible to put down. Overall, Six of Crows is an intense but spellbinding read that’s sure to appeal to fans of sophisticated and action-packed fantasy.
 
*The Six of Crows duology (there’s a sequel as well, and I highly recommend it too) takes place in the Grishaverse, the setting of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and The Language of Thorns. However, there is little overlap, and while I think you can appreciate the duology the most having read the previous books, it’s perfectly fine to start here. They’re very different, but both are really good.     
 

By Piranha T.

Meggie has never had the kinds of adventures she reads about in her favorite books. She’s lived a quiet life with her father, Mo, who binds and repairs books for a living, ever since her mother disappeared long before she can remember. But her quiet life changes forever when a man called Dustfinger comes to her home. He brings with him unwanted news. Someone who has been searching for Mo for years has found him, and Meggie and Mo must leave before he comes.

Meggie and Mo set out on an unforgettable journey. Along the way, they encounter Meggie’s book-loving great-aunt, an author with a love of his villains, and the man who Dustfinger has warned them of: Capricorn himself. Meggie is in the middle of an adventure the like of which she thought only happened in books—but what if books themselves could come alive?
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Inkheart was an amazing book. Whenever I thought I knew where the story was going, Cornelia Funke added an unexpected twist, turning the story to a direction I never would have anticipated. The characters were amazing, the writing some of the best I’ve ever read. It is a book for writers, readers, or both. I’d recommend this book for readers ages ten and up, because parts were darker, but this isn’t a book only kids can enjoy—I know plenty of adults who love this book as much as I do. It is the first book in the Inkheart trilogy (the other two volumes being titled Inspell and Inkdeath), and though there were parts in each of them where I thought the story could never end well, it does. For people looking for an incredible, well-written fantasy book, I would highly recommend Inkheart.

By Super Kitty

In the medieval kingdom of Tortall, girls are forbidden to become knights, instead learning to be court ladies, getting sent to convents, or perhaps training as mages. Alanna of Trebond, though, has never thought much of such rules. When she and her twin brother Thom turn ten, their father arranges for them to be sent away from the family’s fiefdom for the standard forms of further education: Alanna to a convent, and Thom to become a page at the palace. But Thom prefers magic to swordplay, while Alanna secretly fears her Gift. So, they do the only thing they can think of. They switch places.

Disguised as a boy, Alanna works her way through the various levels of training knighthood requires. But though she tries to blend in, her fate is far from ordinary, and there are dangers lurking which could destroy her world—dangers closer to her than anyone realizes.

Full of action and twists, villains and sorcery, the Song of the Lioness quartet follows Alanna’s journey, from a fiery young girl to the legendary hero she is destined to become.

There’s a lot of things I enjoyed about these books, but first, I just love Alanna. She feels totally human—brave, determined, and notoriously hot-tempered. The supporting cast is also excellent, from Alanna’s friends and teachers to her worst enemies, and the stories get increasingly harder to put down, eventually building to an immensely satisfying climax. Over the course of the quartet, Alanna goes from ten years old to her early twenties, and although she stays the same wonderful character, the stories do get darker and more ‘young adult’ as she ages. Overall, I would recommend the Song of the Lioness quartet to readers ages 12+ who like strong heroines, high fantasy, and action-packed adventures.  

By Super Kitty

​Sixteen-year-old Alina Starkov seems ordinary in every way, no different than any of the others orphaned from the Fold and drafted into the Ravkan army. But when she discovers that she possesses an unbelievable power, one heard of only in legend, everything changes. She is brought to the royal court, leaving her best friend Mal and the only world she has ever known behind as she trains with the strange and powerful Darkling, who believes she is key to winning the war and destroying an evil which has haunted Ravka for generations.

This is one of those books which I just couldn’t stop reading. Alina is a great character, and the world she is part of is incredibly well developed and interesting. This is the first book in the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, all of which are complex, engrossing, and really, really good. An excellent read for fans of high fantasy and vivid characters, I would recommend Shadow and Bone for ages 13+.

Note: After reading Shadow and Bone, we read some of Leigh Bardugo's other books set in the same world, which include Six of Crows and The Language of Thorns. 

By Piranha T.

In the otherworldly land of Nedarra, packs of dairnes, creatures similar to both dogs and humans, used to roam the forests and the hills. But it has been a long time since they were so plentiful. Many creatures have disappeared over the years, and the remaining dairnes can’t help but wonder: what if they are next?

Young dairne Byx has always been small, always been the last for everything. Everyone thinks that, if danger strikes, she would be the first to die. But instead, she outlives the others of her pack when hunters attack. Searching for the truth of old legends about others of her kind, she strikes out on her own.

Yet she won’t be on her own for long. Byx is joined by an assortment of companions; a wobbyk named Tobble who is loyal to his word; Khara, a girl disguised as a boy to succeed in life; and a felivet who, though not at first, Byx slowly grows to trust. Together, they travel over land and sea, seek aid with those not altogether trustworthy, and sometimes fight to continue their journey. Byx learns that perhaps the death of her family wasn’t the only of its kind—and perhaps, it was the last.
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The Last was a delicious, exciting read. All of the characters were appealing and different, each species with its own customs and ways of living. Everyone was distinct and often intriguing. Part of what made it interesting was because it was from the point of view of a non-human main character. Byx’s take on the world was different and often amusing. It was also interesting, however, because in many fantasy books, a certain species or group in a certain species are the villains. In The Last, however, it was the king and his followers—humans—who were the ones who Byx learned were the enemies. Although there were also good human characters, this was one of the reasons that this book stood out to me as particularly excellent. Katherine Applegate didn’t dismiss a certain species as evil or villainous—instead, in doing this, she showed that there were good and bad people in every group. I would highly recommend The Last to readers ages ten and up.

​By Piranha T.
 
Nalah is the daughter of a glassblower in a land where magic is forbidden, yet she possesses it. Her own magic gift is growing stronger, and she must struggle to control it. Because there’s not just people who don’t want her to have her power. There are those who want to use it for themselves.
 
Halan is the crown princess of a desert kingdom where your magic dictates who you are. She has none, a fact that she has always struggled to understand. The royal family has always had magic, and Halan will grow to wish for it more than ever. For although there’s a rebellion against her father slowly spreading around the castle, the rebels aren’t the only ones who want to take her life.
 
They are two girls, from two worlds. Yet Nalah and Halan’s lives are about to collide, and together they will uncover secrets which someone wants to hide forever.
 
Sisters of Glass is a fun, exciting fantasy with a plot full of unexpected twists and turns. Nalah and Halan are two excellent characters with understandable and sympathetic desires. I recommend Sisters of Glass to readers ages nine and up.

​By Piranha T.
 
Tal Graile-Rerem faces a difficult choice. Unless he finds a new Sunstone, he cannot travel to the spirit land, Aenir, and bind a Spiritshadow on the Day of Ascension. It has always been the way of things to do this, ever since a veil of shadow was created over the world, upheld by the seven towers of the castle. But his mother is sick, and his father has disappeared, leaving Tal to care for his two younger siblings. And it hardly helps that Tal has somehow attracted the dislike of a powerful man called Shadowmaster Sushin.
 
Before long, Tal’s quest reaches far beyond simply finding a Sunstone. He discovers a snow-wreathed land beneath the castle and there meets an Icecarl girl named Milla. They will learn secrets which have been hidden for centuries and discover the truth about an ancient war, a war to which not all have yet admitted defeat.
 
The Seventh Tower series was an exciting, action-filled fantasy saga filled with entertaining characters, unexpected twists, and unforgettable revelations. Each of the six books had something new and surprising. They would be enjoyed by readers of Septimus Heap by Angie Sage, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. I’d highly recommend the Seventh Tower series to readers ages ten and up, because there were some darker and more violent parts.

By Super Kitty
 
“The Combination,” he muttered, “is a criminal organization. It’s a multi-headed serpent—a hydra, if you will—with an almost preternatural ability to remain invisible. Some might call it supernatural. You may see signs—the effects of their operations—but never the organization itself… And those who manage to unravel the mystery and get to the truth, well, they’re called mad. But when you know the truth, and everyone else believes the lie, who’s crazy then? Huh?”
 
Madman. Genius. Fool. Thirteen-year-old Darkus Knightly has heard all sorts of opinions about his father, the mysterious private eye Alan Knightly, but he has yet to form his own, after his father went into a coma four years ago. Instead, he’s stuck with his mom (who divorced and re-married shortly before Alan went unconscious), his stepfather (who cares about cars and not much else), and his stepsister Tilly (who’s just…weird. Very weird.) He’d give anything to get his father back—but when he does, it’s not exactly the way he planned. Instead, Darkus is pulled into a complex web of clever deceptions, following a set of cryptic evidence which seem to bear no connection to each other, yet may be the key to unlocking an ancient mystery which some might consider supernatural, some might consider a hoax, and a few—a very few—might consider a perfect first case.
 
I always enjoy a well-done mystery, so when I found Knightly and Son, I couldn’t resist getting it—and I wasn’t disappointed. The plot was full of twists and escapes, the characters were vivid and very original, and I particularly liked the writing style, which had a classic ‘private eye feel’ while still creating a cast which feels perfectly believable. I would recommend it for ages ten and up (although it isn’t a murder mystery, there are a few elements of the story that are more in that vein)—while that age range of readers would be fine, it is somewhat darker than most of the other mysteries we’ve reviewed here (including Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls and Book Scavenger). However, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy puzzles, action, and brilliant detectives. 

P.S. This is the first in a series, which I have been thoroughly enjoying. You can find out more about them at www.knightleyandson.com. 

By Piranha T.

In the kingdom of Kildenree, magic exists. Ordinary people can be born with words on their tongues with allow them to speak with animals or have a gift with people so that any word they speak sounds like the truth. And in the old tales it is rumored there is a third gift: the ability to speak with one of the elements. Yet most consider that only a story.

Princess Anidori of Kildenree was born with one such word on her tongue, but she has grown up without knowing what it is. Although she has all she could ever want, Anidori (Ani for short) has never felt comfortable with who she is—a princess. Her beloved aunt teaches her the tongues of the swans on the pond when she is young, but even that does not last; Ani’s mother, the queen of Kildenree, doesn’t approve of such things and her aunt leaves her before long.

Meanwhile, the Queen has a different fate in store for Ani. She has an arranged marriage with the prince of Bayern to prevent a war, someone she has never met. But before Ani reaches Bayern, she is betrayed; with everything taken from her, she tries to find a way to reclaim her crown and prevent a war that is brewing within the city’s walls.
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The Goose Girl was a fun, well-written fantasy. Ani was a well-developed character who developed further over the course of the book, and Shannon Hale’s supporting cast was amusing, entertaining and excellent. I’d recommend The Goose Girl to kids and adults ages ten and up.

By Super Kitty

Lyra Belacqua has grown up at Oxford Collage, raised by various scholars but spending most of her time running wild with her daemon Pantalimon at her side. She and her best friend Roger explore every inch of the collage together, playing games (and occasional tricks) to their heart’s content. She is perfectly happy and never wants to leave, but her world is changing. Children disappearing, a mysterious new substance, and rumors of disturbing experiments are all part of something that could bring the earth to a very dark place, and as Lyra discovers, only she can stop it. With the help of an armored bear, her faithful daemon, and a mystical tool that she only half understands, she sets out on a journey which will take her to the edge of the world—and beyond.

The Golden Compass is one of my favorite stories for several reasons. First of all, Lyra is a brilliant heroine, the sort you just can’t help but fall in love with. Second, the writing and plotting are excellent. And third, unexpected twists, clever villains, and daring escapes made it remarkably hard to put down. It’s the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy, which I have been enjoying, although each book is very different. It has some darker parts, so I would recommend it to readers ages ten and up, particularly fans of Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap series (reviewed May 2017) and Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising sequence (reviewed February 2017).

Note: This book is awesome on audio, so if you like audiobooks, this is for you!    

By Super Kitty
Aramanth is a perfect city. There is no crime, no favoritism of certain races or people. Each citizen is tested in mathematics, history, and the like in a fair and unbiased way, and it is by their test ratings that they are categorized—determining where they live, what their jobs are, and the class in which they are ranked—and nothing else matters. If someone works hard, they can rise in position; if they are lazy, they are demoted. Everyone has a job, and all jobs are considered equally important. Aramanth is, in all, perfection.

At least, that’s what its leaders say.

Twins Kestrel and Bowman Hath have lived in Aramanth their entire lives and have heard of its superiority more times than they can count. But it’s not a fair system, not a true story, and certainly not a perfect place—as Kestrel learns all to well when she revolts against the harsh laws governing her family’s lives, finding out just how flawed their world is. Without any other choices, and determined to make a difference, she, Bowman, and an unexpected (and somewhat unwelcome) ally flee the city and set off on a desperate quest to find the voice of the wind singer, a legendary object that may be the only thing capable of returning light and happiness to Aramanth. But as they journey deeper, they realize that they have taken on far more than they realized, becoming involved in an ancient conflict and drawing the attention of the Morah, an ancient keeper of powers that control Aramanth—powers that could just as easily destroy it.  

​This was one of those wonderful books which I saw at the library, flipped open, and couldn’t stop reading. Clever and entertaining, it also managed to be a thought-provoking read. Exciting, engrossing, and liberally sprinkled with clever twists, The Wind Singer is an excellent book that I would recommend to readers ages ten and up.