Review of Snow Like Ashes-Sara Raasch

A wonderful, epic fantasy, this debut novel has it all: a fascinating world controlled by magic, an orphan soldier girl on the run for her life, and two young courageous men, one a king and the other a prince.  Our heroine, Meira, has been in hiding from an evil magician who conquered her kingdom sixteen years ago and enslaved the citizens, except for a small band of soldiers hoping to win their kingdom back.  In this fantasy world, there are 4 kingdoms relating to the seasons and 4 kingdoms relating to rhythms; the most powerful kingdom is Spring, with the evil king who wants to rule and enslave all the others.  But, the ruler hasn't counted on Meira's bravery or magic powers... The ending is satisfying, while leaving room for a sequel.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens & pre-teens (and all adults who love fantasy)

Review of Talon-Julie Kagawa

I was so excited to read a new series about dragons, and this book didn't disappoint.  Ember and her brother, Dante, are dragons that can take human form.  Hunted by the human soldiers of St. George, the dragon organization called Talon sends the siblings on a mission to infiltrate human society in a beach town in southern California.  Ember is thrilled to act like a teenager for once in her life and instantly takes to the beach, new friends and surfing.  While their training to fight St. George continues, Ember has time to fall in love with a human (which is forbidden).  When this human turns out to be a soldier for St. George searching for Ember and her brother, their love seems doomed... or is it? Please hurry with the sequel!  4 Elves - Highly recommended for pre-teens and teens

Review of Love Letters to the Dead-Ava Dellaira

Laurel has just started high school, and her first English assignment is to write a love letter to someone dead.  Having recently lost her beloved sister and starting school away from childhood friends, Laurel starts writing love letters to Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Amelia Earhart  and Heath Ledger, and we learn her story from these letters.  With a broken family and a tortured adolescence, Laurel has a lot to say, and more of her life is revealed with each letter.  This novel is haunting and lyrical and wonderful.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens

Review of The Winner's Curse-Marie Rutkoski

This epic fantasy is beautifully written & fearlessly plotted, with wonderful characters.  The author has created a believable world full of conquerors and slaves who rebel.  Kestral, the general's daughter, buys a slave, Arin, and that act changes her life and his.  I hope there will be more books in this world because I wasn't ready to leave when it ended.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for pre-teens and teens (and adults)

Review of Glory O'Brien's History of the Future-A.S.KIng

Wow!  This was a crazy book but strangely compelling.  Glory & best friend, Ellie, drink a potion made from a dead bat & suddenly see the future in everyone they meet.  Or is it really the future?  Glory has just graduated from high school and since her mother committed suicide when Glory was a small child, she & her father have been lost - not able to see their future.  King's writing style is fresh & original, jumping between the present and ahead to what may be the future.  3 Elves - Recommended for teens

Review of I'll Give You the Sun-Jandy Nelson

Another amazing YA novel!  Noah & Jude are twins who have drifted apart after a tragedy.  The structure of the book has Noah taking the early years and Jude recounting the present.  It's a fascinating, unique way to tell the story.  The world of art eventually brings them to new characters; Noah is falling in love with the boy next door, and Jude is being mentored by an important artist (and also falling in love).  If the twins can find their way back to each other, their world will be mended and whole again.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens

Review of We Were Liars-e.lockhart

Haunting, disturbing, smart and unforgettable, this novel is unlike anything else written by the author.  It's the kind of book that you want to talk about but can't because you don't dare discuss the ending.  So, all I can say about it is to read it.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens and adults