I have a confession to make: I am an escapist. When I sit down to read, I want a good, gripping adventure that is fun and keeps me turning the pages. The greatest thing in the world is to lose myself in a fantastic world, whether it's just a twist on our own or another realm altogether.
All of the books here hail from the Young Adult section of the bookstore, but don't let that scare you! Some of the best fantasy stories out there are YA - they just tend to have protagonists who haven't made it out of their teens yet. The YA section is a great place to find fun, innovative, and gripping fantasy stories without having to worry about running into graphic "mature" scenes. On this lens, you'll find a sampling of my favorites, what I'm hoping to read soon, and reviews of my latest reads, and a few other fun things.
Looking to get out of YA? Check out the standard fantasy version of this lens, Fantasy Fiction Novels! Like my taste in books? Then find out what I think are the best urban fantasy books out there at Kit's Favorite Urban Fantasy Books
What Kit's Reading Now
Flipping Through the Pages as We Speak...
The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Book 5)
Amazon Price: $10.52 (as of 01/08/2010)
Whahaha, it's finally here! It's been over a year since the last Percy Jackson book, so I have been waiting for this one. Things have really been heating up in the last few books, so I have high hopes for The Last Olympian.
Kit's Review: Hawksong
Hawk vs Snake, Romeo and Juliet-Style
Generally, I'm not too big on books that start with the heroine roaming the battlefield in the wake of war, looking for dying soldiers to comfort - in fact, that almost kept me from reading the book at all. Of course, then I would have had to kick myself for missing out on this one!
Hawksong takes the old Romeo and Juliet idea of love against all odds, turns it on its head, and ramps it up to the nth degree. Set in a vibrant world where cultures clash and old prejudices are firmly entrenched, the chances of Zane and Danica's marriage being anything but cold and political seem slim at best, and that's not even taking public reaction into account. Being written from Danica's point of view, we get to experience that culture clash first-hand... but we also get to slowly understand Zane and his people along with Danica, and that understanding is what truly makes this book special.
Sure, it's about a political marriage, but there are a lot of relevant themes here, ranging from the more personal ones like peer pressure, family issues in the form of Danica's relationship with her domineering and disapproving mother, and finding and defining one's self, to broader, more philosophical issues like prejudice, dealing with war and peace, and embracing people different from yourself. One of my favorite things about Hawksong is that you never get the sense that peace is going to be instant or easy - it starts with one big step, a willingness to work towards peace, and then lots of little steps and a whole lot of time.
Is the book perfect? Not nearly - Atwater-Rhodes is a young writer, and there are several places where it shows (setting's a big one - where exactly DOES all this take place). Does that stop this from being a good book well worth the read? Not at all! Plus, it's an ongoing series, with each book taking place from a different character's point of view and adding more to the story of the Avian and Serpiente search for peace. The books are fairly short, and once you get into them, the pages will just fly by.
So, if you're looking for a good, short foray into a high fantasy world, I definitely recommend Hawksong.
Hawksong: The Kiesha'ra: Volume One
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Read More of Kit's Reviews
For Those Who Want to Get Right to It
- Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones.
- The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan.
- Young Warriors, a short story anthology.
- The Amulet of Samarkand, by Jonathan Stroud.
From Page to Screen:
Books That Have Recently Made the Jump
The Vampire's Assistant and Other Tales from the Cirque Du Freak (The Saga of Darren Shan)
Collected here for your perusal are the first couple books of Cirque Du Freak (The Vampire's Assistant is actually the second book). Check it out before you see the movie!
Amazon Price: $9.35 (as of 01/07/2010)
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle
Yet another vampire series snapped up in the wake of Twilight, this one by the CW for the TV series. Vampire Boy meets Human Girl, Other Vampire Boy objects. You know you want to read it!
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 01/07/2010)
Inkheart (Movie Cover) (Inkheart Movie)
I'll confess - I loved the movie, and not just because of Brendan Frasier. I'll be picking this one up as soon as I get the chance!
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 01/07/2010)
The Chronicles of Narnia Movie Tie-in Box Set Prince Caspian (rack)
I'm not sure how far Disney plans on going with the Chronicles of Narnia, but this is one of the staples of fantasy, right up there with Lord of the Rings. Best thing about older series: you don't have to wait for the author to hurry up and write the next one!
Amazon Price: $32.40 (as of 01/07/2010)
The Golden Compass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 1)(Rough-cut)
The Golden Compass is the first book of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Fantastic movie, but alas, they don't seem to plan on continuing the series... fortunately, you can still read the books!
Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 01/07/2010)
Which Do You Prefer....
This is one of those issues that can have people debating for years: which was better, the book, or the movie? Seeing how many books are made into movies, this is an important question! Some people love the thrill of the theater, of the music and the special effects and the way the actors bring their favorite characters to life. Others prefer the book, where they can imagine what their favorite characters look like and how scenes play out, say nothing of actually getting all the scenes.
So...
The Latest to Make the Leap
The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Trailer
From the director of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone comes the upcoming 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.' Due out in Feb. 2010, and adapted from 'The Lightning Thief,' the first novel in the 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians' series by Rick Riordan. Its young leading man, Percy, discovers that he's the son of a Greek god ... and the adventure begins.
Runtime: 97
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What Kit's Waiting to Read
Sometime in the near future...
Nobody's Princess
If you've looked at my other lens, Kit's Guide to Greek Mythology, you know that I've got a love of Greek myth and the ancient world. So how could I resist a new take on Helen of Troy? This is no weak-willed princess - and she's going to prove it!
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
So You Want to Be a Wizard (digest): The First Book in the Young Wizards Series
I've eyed this book several times on the shelf, and I finally gave in and picked it up. I mean, come on - how great would it be to actually run into a how-to manual for becoming a wizard in your local bookstore? Young protagonist Nita couldn't resist... how could I?
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 01/08/2010)
The Last Knight (Knight and Rogue)
I loved Hilari Bell's Farsala Trilogy and Goblin Wood, so you can imagine how excited I was to spot the start to a brand new seried from her on the shelf. This is why I should keep up better on what my favorite authors are doing!
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Unexpected Magic: Collected Stories
I've taken a liking to Diana Wynne Jones, so hey, an entire anthology of short stories by her has got to be good, right?
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
The Lives of Christopher Chant (Chrestomanci Books)
What can I say? I like her writing, and this sounded like a fantastically complicated premise. Of course I had to see how it went!
Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2010)
Kit's Favorites
Books I've Read, Re-Read, and Recommend!
In my case, I love a great mix. Give me a great story, good writing, and characters I love, and it will make my favorite's list. Occasionally, a book that just has one element - either a fantastic plot or a character I absolutely adore - is just great enough to make it, too.
Though it was hard to narrow them down, I've chosen a few of my personal favorites and listed them below. Perhaps they'll become a favorite of yours, too!
Fall of a Kingdom
by Hilari Bell
Fall of a Kingdom (Farsala Trilogy, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Take your average fantasy world, give it a heavy dash of classical history, add in three compelling main characters, and what do you get? The fascinating first book of Hilari Bell's Farsala Trilogy, Fall of a Kingdom! Bell weaves an intricate tale of war, conflict, personal and family honor from the three intertwined stories of Jiaan, Soraya, and Kavi, three teenagers trying to find their place in a rapidly changing world. This book kept me turning the pages, and books 2 and 3 are just as good!
Wild Magic
by Tamora Pierce
Wild Magic (The Immortals)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Tamora Pierce is a prolific writer with a few different series... and she likes to write in quartets. The Immortals Quartet is actually the second series to take place in her fantasy kingdom of Tortall, following The Lioness Quartet. But, I started with Wild Magic, and it's still my favorite of her books. No need to read The Lioness Quartet first if you want to dive right in, but they're a good read, too.
In any case, the quartet starts with Wild Magic is the story of Daine, a girl with the gift to speak to and understand animals, among other things, and her journey to accepting herself and finding people who love her while thwarting a major threat to the kingdom. Besides a great plot, I really do love the characters of Daine and Numair. Plus, it's a great introduction to the world of Tortall, and with new series being added all the time, it's a world well worth knowing.
Mister Monday: The Keys to the Kingdom, Book I
by Garth Nix
Mister Monday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Arthur, the asthmatic new kid at school, has a dream that a strange man in a wheel chair handed him a key shaped like the hand of a clock. Of course, he has to wonder about the dream part when he still has the key when he wakes up! Things get progressively worse when strange dog-faced men attack the school, a strange sleeping sickness spreads over the town, and a new house appears that no one else seems able to see. When his sister falls prey to the mysterious illness, he has only one choice: enter the house and put a stop to all this by facing Mister Monday!
This is one author with a fantastic imagination, and just about anything is possible in the fluid reality of the House, making for an exciting romp and a great read.
Fantasy Author Links
Because Authors Have Websites, Too...
- Hilari Bell
- Want to keep tabs on where Hilari Bell's going to be or what's new from her? Check out her website! She also has some interesting and helpful tips for serious writers - a definite plus!
- Jonathan Stroud
- The creator of the Bartimaeus Trilogy's official website! Want to learn more about him or where he'll be making his next appearance? This is your stop!
- The Bartimaeus Trilogy
- Want to find out more about Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy? Then visit the official website! Features information about the books, excerpts, references, trivia, and more.
- Rick Riordan
- The creator of Percy Jackson and the Olympian's homepage. Features information on his books and himself, as well as his own section of hints and tips for aspiring writers.
- Garth Nix
- Garth Nix finally got himself a decent website. Here you'll find a short bio, contests, lists of his books, and a forum where you can chat with other fans.
- Tamora Pierce
- A very nice, if rather... glaring, site devoted to Tamora Pierce. Includes her public appearances, bibliography, sample scenes from her novels, her biography, FAQ, recommended reading from her, and more!
- K.A. Applegate
- Scholastic's site devoted to the author of such excellent fare as The Animorphs and Everworld. Has biographical information and information on her series.
- Diana Wynne Jones
- The official website of one of the classic, and still beloved, authors of fantasy for children and adults. And she's got a lot of books out there! Check out her site for more information on them all.
- Diane Duane
- Keeps tabs on what Diane Duane's up to, including her newest books, her biography, and her upcoming appearances. Beautiful, easy to navigate site. ^_^
Kit's Review: Howl's Moving Castle
A World of Magic, Worlds Apart From the Movie
Boy, was I wrong.
Sure, they're drastically different, but that's what makes it possible to love them both. Miyazaki's world is wracked by war and has a vaguely steampunk feel to it, while still having that sugary sweet heart that beats within all his works. How he got that out of Diana Wynne Jones's quaint world of magic, misguided souls, and mild mayhem, I'll never know. The bare bone elements were all there: Howl and his mess of quirks and flaws, Sophie's journey into the geriatric world, Calcifer's job keeping the castle moving. Beyond that... Well, this is a book lens, so let's focus on the book!
I'm ashamed to say I've never read Diana Wynne Jones before. Her works are older and very British in the way they're told - that is, they read like they're meant to be read aloud at bedtime. Normally, this style takes me a little while to get into, but in Howl's Moving Castle, I found myself ploughing well past my one chapter a day quota. Something about the story just grabbed me and kept hauling me along. I've no idea what it was - I usually prefer getting into characters' heads a little more, while the prose always seemed a little distant - but for a story where the majority of the action involves cleaning, I was completely hooked.
Overall, it had magic. It had whimsy. It had characters I really wanted to root for, and it made me completely forget the movie. That's more than good enough for me, and I'll be looking into her other books for sure.
Howl's Moving Castle
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Howl's Moving Castle
I know, I know, this is a BOOK lens, but in this case, I gotta direct you to the movie, too. If you like the book and/or like movies with that feel-good Disney-like core, definitely give this one a try!
Amazon Price: $23.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Kit's Review: The Lightning Thief
Book One of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
That's exactly the kind of earth-shaking revelation that Percy Jackson has in Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief. Percy is essentially your normal, average kid - if you ignore the fact that he's ADHD, dyslexic, and has been to six schools in six years. He certainly never thought he was anything special... until the day his pre-algebra teacher turned into a vicious winged beast bent on taking him straight to Hades the fast way. Shortly thereafter, he discovers that his real father is one of the Olympians and that Percy himself is being framed for the event set to spark World War III.
The Lightning Thief is a clever, fast-paced tale of friendship and courage with a sense of humor that kept me laughing and enough nail-biting tension to keep me turning the pages. I love Percy's character, and the twists kept me guessing.
If you're a mythology fan, or even just looking for a great adventure, you'll love this book. I've read books two and three, and the series just keeps getting better!
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 01/07/2010)
Kit's Review: Young Warriors
Stories of Strength
This fantastic collection of short stories from some of the greats in YA fantasy fiction explores those very questions. From a young sailor and a mermaid to a boy hunting a dragon to an African princess fighting back the Romans and three girls in WWII Ireland, the authors present a wide variety of heroes and definitions of heroic acts in a wide variety of magical realms (and a few versions of this world with a twist).
This is one of the best anthologies I've ever read, with a fascinating collection of stories in a pleasantly diverse number of styles. Each of the stories was gripping in their own way, and even if you don't like the style of one, the next one would be completely different. There's also a nice balance between heroes and heroines, which may not seem like an important element, but it's nice to see. All too often, one gender is strongly favored over the other.
Another nice touch was that the settings of these stories didn't all take place in fantasy realms - a good number of them were historical fantasies. Gotta say, I do love a good historical fantasy short story, and those included here were some of the best in the anthology. In fact, two of my personal favorites were historical fantasies: Pamela F. Service's "Lioness" and Lesley McBain's "Acts of Faith."
Almost all of the stories were engaging, and I appreciated the wide variety. This is definitely one for teens and up, though - a few of these stories reminded me just how dark YA can be. I'm not a big fan of real dark stuff, but Young Warriors had enough fun stories to keep me going. Overall, a great read!
Young Warriors: Stories of Strength
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 01/08/2010)
Kit's Review: The Amulet of Samarkand
The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1
So, what's this book about? Well, our hero (well, MY hero, anyways) is a sharp, witty djinni by the name of Bartimaeus. When a 12-year-old magician-in-training summons him to take revenge on an arrogant magician who humiliated him, Bartimaeus and his summoner, Nathaniel, are drawn into a web of political intrigue and danger.
The structure of the book is an interesting mix of first- and third-person narratives. The chapters dealing with Nathaniel are told from a third person POV. This distances the reader from him a bit, and thus creates a bitter, dreary atmosphere. I'll admit it - each time I reached a set of Nathaniel chapters, I had to resist the urge to flip right through them. However, the further on in the book I read, the more tolerable Nathaniel became. This is definitely a character with room to grow, and I look forward to seeing what exactly becomes of him as the trilogy progresses.
Don't be fooled, though. I didn't stick with this book for Nathaniel. So, why did I stick with it? Why, for Bartimaeus, of course! When we're with Bartimaeus, we're given the pleasure of his perspective from his POV, complete with helpful (and hilarious) footnotes to supplement our knowledge of the world as he knows it. He has a sense of humor that literally had me laughing out loud and wanting to recite entire pages to share the with others. The Bartimaeus chapters are a delight to read, and a great contrast to the relatively cold and bleak Nathaniel chapters.
Overall, I am definitely glad this is a trilogy. I've got high hopes for it, and I thoroughly recommend The Amulet of Samarkand for anyone who wants a good, rolicking adventure set in a complex and tangible world and still has a great sense of humor.
The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 01/08/2010)
Escaping Reality: Reader Feedback
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Got something to say? Comments on the lens? Want to recommend a book or topic? Then here's the place to do it!
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- lostinfiction lostinfiction Aug 10, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
- your Twilight saga poll is pretty interesting haha - looks like most ppl are split quite evenly between love and hate! Must make a note of checking out some of those books that you mentioned too. *adding to book wishlist as we speak* :) Have a look at my lens too http://www.squidoo.com/author_influences - just posted about one of my new faves (although he's been writing and publishing for a while - Guy Gavriel Kay
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- Eddster Eddster Jul 3, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
- I was checking out books about 2012 but wanted a fantasy. Found exactly what I was looking for on www.bookaddiction.webs.com.
its called Stellar Wind 2012, one of the top 10 books about 2012 today. I read a few of the others but the dragged me down with too much science.
If youre looking for something to read, check out stellar wind 2012. kudos to Catherine Barber
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- SusanVillasLewis SusanVillasLewis Oct 9, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
- I have really gotten into young adult stuff lately across a lot of genres. Really nice job on this guy and I'm looking forward to trying out a few of your suggestions!
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- tandemonimom tandemonimom Jul 17, 2008 @ 9:55 am
- Hi Kit, 5 stars and a lensroll for a really excellent lens! (Cute avatar, too.)
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- FiveStarAuthor FiveStarAuthor Jul 22, 2007 @ 10:39 am
- Terrific lens, Kit. You've got a nice selection here, but you're missing MY book, THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY. Check it out at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594144516
Thanks!
Jon Baxley
http://www.squidoo.com/blackgloom/
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by Kitsune64
Hi! Kit here, also known as A. Meyer. I love fantasy writing, both doing it and reading it, and I don't let a little thing like the YA label st...
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