Elantrise by Brandon SandersonBook Description
Elantris was the capital of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened, leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and crumbling.
Arelon`s new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with Crown Prince Raoden, hoping -- based on their correspondence -- to also find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.
But neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden. Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon, and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
A rare epic fantasy that doesn`t recycle the classics and that is a complete and satisfying story in one volume, Elantris is fleet and fun, full of surprises and characters to care about. It`s also the wonderful debut of a welcome new star in the constellation of fantasy.
The Mermaid's Madness by Jim C. HinesBook Description
Hines follows up "The Stepsister Scheme," with this story that puts a whole new spin on The Little Mermaid. Hines continues his darkly humorous exposure of the fairy-tale happy ending . . . where princesses have to step up and kick ass!
There is an old Story--you might have heard it--about a young mermaid, the daughter of a king, who saved the life of a human prince and fell in love. So innocent was her love, so pure her devotion, that she would pay any price for the chance to be with her prince. She gave up her voice, her family, and the sea, and became human. But the prince fell in love with another women. The tales say the little mermaid sacrificed her own life so that her beloved prince could find happiness with his bride. The tales lie.
If you want to know what the real story, a tale not of unrequited love and noble sacrifice but one of madness, murder, and magic gone awry, Danielle, Talia, and Snow--a.k.a. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White--are the three princesses who can tell you what really happened. They were there when everything fell apart, and unthinkable tragedy struck the kingdom of Lorindar. And they were the only ones who stood a chance of setting things right, not only for Queen Bea and Lorindar, but the merfolk as well....
Moon Called by Patrica BriggsBook Description
Mercy Thompson is a shapeshifter, raised by werewolves, and subsequently ordered to leave the pack after a forbidden love affair. The first novel in the "New York Times"-bestselling series is now available in a hardcover edition.
(No this is not a paranormal romance novel not that you can tell from the cover!! Believe it or not this is an amazing book series along the lines Charles De Lint and Tanya Huff. This is an example of amazing urban fantasy!)
Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.
Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.
She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.
But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.
