Today’s young adults have grown up with Harry Potter, so it’s not surprising that many of the Teen’s Top Ten nominees fall into the fantasy category. But these aren’t your normal happy-ever-after fairy tales. With dark settings, gritty themes, and some scary moments, these books will appeal to readers who want a magical story with a little depth to it.
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
In a world where magic is commonplace, Danny worries he is a “drekka”, or non-magical person, until the day his powers finally manifest. Unfortunately, Danny turns out to be a gate mage, and gate magic, which allows the mage to create gates to instantly transport themselves from one place to another, is punishable by death. Now Danny must use his newfound powers to escape those who would have him killed, leaving behind everything he has ever known or loved as he learns to trust the powers that he does not yet fully understand.
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Meghan has always been a bit different and when she turns sixteen, she learns why: she’s actually a princess, daughter of a faery king. When her brother is kidnapped by the faery courts, Meghan ventures into their world to win him back, confronting her destiny during a deadly war. This is the first in a three book series with a fourth book due out in October.
The False Princess by Ellis O’Neal
Princess Nalia has lived a privileged life in the royal city of Vivaskari, but after her sixteenth birthday she learns that she is not the real princess – she is a decoy meant to spare the real princess from an evil omen. Kicked out of the palace, Nalia, now called Sinda, struggles to fit in and find her place in a home she doesn’t know.
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Sisters Rosie and Scarlett March have devoted their lives to hunting the Fenris, men who can take the form of wolves, to avenge the murder of their beloved grandmother, but after eight years on the job, the Fenris are growing harder to kill. With the help of Silas, a woodsman who is deadly with an axe, the sisters plan a deadly trap to exterminate a gathering of Fenris before the wolves can carry out their murderous plans.
All of these titles and more are available at the Andover Public Library. If you enjoy these titles, don’t forget to access the Teens’ Top Ten page and vote for your favorites. Voting is open until September 16th.
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