Teen Fantasy . . . Not Just for Teens
I have always been one to read a lot of teen fantasy (because I'm what's traditionally known as a "nerd"), and so I'm delighted by all the attention it's gotten over the past couple years. Harry Potter opened the door for a lot of adult readers, and then the Eragon and Twilight books drew in a lot more fans. Here are some great fantasies you might not have heard of . . . 
Flame, by Hilari Bell, is the first book of her Farsala trilogy, and it introduces the characters who are going to decide the fate of their land. As Farsala is invaded by the Hrum army, three young people with wildly different backgrounds--a spoiled rich girl, the illegitimate son of a Farsalan military leader, and a scarred orphan thief--find that their lives intersect in the most surprising of ways. The Farsala trilogy is based on Persian poetry, and has a lot of great characters who have to learn to trust both themselves and each other. Bell has several other series, as well as some very popular stand-alone titles.
I suppose it makes sense to go from Flame to Fire. Author Kristin Cashore set the teen publishing world abuzz last year with her debut novel, Graceling. This beautifully written and intricate tale with an engaging premise and a strong female main character was, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2008, and one of the best fantasies I've read in years. I can't wait until October, when her latest, Fire, will be released. Billed as a companion novel to Graceling, Fire focuses on an impossibly beautiful girl who can control the minds of others. Chock full of rebel lords, thieves and spies, a troubled young king, and a rugged land, I have high hopes for this title. 
I hadn't realized that there was a third book about Icemark until one of our teen patrons had it sent over from another library (I probably startled her a bit with my exuberance). This series by Stuart Hill, which also includes Cry of the Icemark and Blade of Fire, centers on Thirrin, who is only 13 years old when her father dies and leaves her in charge of a small but embattled country. As she struggles against an arrogant invader and attempts to form alliances with the vampires, werewolves, and giant snow leopards that border her land, she grows up. These books are particularly good for those who enjoy rousing and action-packed battle scenes.
And I just can't talk about my favorite fantasy books without mentioning Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea, which is one of my all-time favorites. Granted, it's old and it's so incredibly bulky (particularly in its paperback form) that it's hard to convince anyone to read it, but it has everything that good fantasy should. Endearing and relatable young protagonists? Check. Evil yet beautiful villian? Check. Seemingly insignificant good deeds being handsomely rewarded? Check. Based on Irish mythology, this book is almost Dickensian in scope, and is an all-around rollicking good read.
Flame, by Hilari Bell, is the first book of her Farsala trilogy, and it introduces the characters who are going to decide the fate of their land. As Farsala is invaded by the Hrum army, three young people with wildly different backgrounds--a spoiled rich girl, the illegitimate son of a Farsalan military leader, and a scarred orphan thief--find that their lives intersect in the most surprising of ways. The Farsala trilogy is based on Persian poetry, and has a lot of great characters who have to learn to trust both themselves and each other. Bell has several other series, as well as some very popular stand-alone titles.
I suppose it makes sense to go from Flame to Fire. Author Kristin Cashore set the teen publishing world abuzz last year with her debut novel, Graceling. This beautifully written and intricate tale with an engaging premise and a strong female main character was, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2008, and one of the best fantasies I've read in years. I can't wait until October, when her latest, Fire, will be released. Billed as a companion novel to Graceling, Fire focuses on an impossibly beautiful girl who can control the minds of others. Chock full of rebel lords, thieves and spies, a troubled young king, and a rugged land, I have high hopes for this title. 
I hadn't realized that there was a third book about Icemark until one of our teen patrons had it sent over from another library (I probably startled her a bit with my exuberance). This series by Stuart Hill, which also includes Cry of the Icemark and Blade of Fire, centers on Thirrin, who is only 13 years old when her father dies and leaves her in charge of a small but embattled country. As she struggles against an arrogant invader and attempts to form alliances with the vampires, werewolves, and giant snow leopards that border her land, she grows up. These books are particularly good for those who enjoy rousing and action-packed battle scenes.
And I just can't talk about my favorite fantasy books without mentioning Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea, which is one of my all-time favorites. Granted, it's old and it's so incredibly bulky (particularly in its paperback form) that it's hard to convince anyone to read it, but it has everything that good fantasy should. Endearing and relatable young protagonists? Check. Evil yet beautiful villian? Check. Seemingly insignificant good deeds being handsomely rewarded? Check. Based on Irish mythology, this book is almost Dickensian in scope, and is an all-around rollicking good read.
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