If you’ve read Caravel, I think you’ll like Daughter of the Burning City (Harlequin Teen, 2017) by Amanda Foody, as they have a similar flavor.
Sixteen-year-old Sorina is the only illusion worker in the Gomorrah Festival, a traveling carnival, and she runs the Freak Show. All the freaks, except for Sorina herself, are her illusions come to life. They’re one happy family until one of her illusions in murdered. Her adopted father, Villiam, the proprietor of the festival, is investigating the death, but he has too much else on his mind. So with the help of a new friend, Luca, Sorina starts her own investigation. Will she be able to protect her family?
This compelling book was Amanda Foody’s debut novel. Ace of Shades comes out next April and is the first in The Shadow Games series. Read more about Amanda here.
Tag: YA fantasy
Red Queen
Red Queen (HarperTeen, 2015) by Victoria Aveyard takes us into an interesting and unfair world of those born with silver blood, privilege, and powers, and those with red blood who mostly have hardship.
A Red, Mare Barrows, like her older brothers did, is headed to fight in the Silver’s war when she turns eighteen. The only way she can help her family now is by pick pocketing, whereas her younger sister Gisa has a talent with sewing and even works for the Silvers. When Mare’s best friend Kilgorn only has a week until conscription, she’s determined to find a way to help him escape. Her search leads her on a path that changes her whole life.
There are surprises, death, betrayal, loyalty, romance, sorrow, and more. Mare is definitely a heroine to care for.
This book is the first in a series that includes some novellas. Read the details here. Meanwhile, I’m off to order the second book. Oh, and by the way, the series is currently being translated into 37 languages!
Victoria Aveyard is a NYT bestselling author. Read more about her here.
The Reader (Book One of Sea of Ink and Gold)
The Reader (Book One of Sea of Ink and Gold) (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2016) by Traci Chee is a compelling fantasy told in multiple viewpoints and with stories within the story.
And isn’t that a lovely cover?
Here’s a brief overview:
Sefia has a precious item that someone is trying to find. She and Auntie Nin have been on the run for six years after Sefia’s father was murdered and now Nin has been taken. Sefia is determined to find her. On her own she risks looking at the rectangular object she carries and is disappointed to see that is only paper with scribbles. Through hard study she finally deciphers a line of the squiggles: “This is a book.” After she realizes book is the name of the rectangle object, it hits her that everything she sees might have a sign too. Knowing the book has answers to the death of her father and where Nin is, Sefia teaches herself to read it. The cover of the book has a symbol which Sefia uses as a map on her dangerous journey.
We have glimpses into other viewpoints, Lon and Tanin, but it takes a while before we understand how they are connected to Sefia.
I feel inadequate describing the magic of this story. It’s unusual, mysterious, heartbreaking, wonderful.
I’m really looking forward to The Speaker, book 2.
The Reader is author Traci Chee’s debut book and has become a NY Times bestseller. You can read all the starred reviews here and see the covers of the five translations.
Traci’s bio is here with links to a number of interviews.
The Girl of Fire and Thorns
The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Greenwillow Books, 2011) by Rae Carson is a wonderful YA fantasy. I just discovered book one of this trilogy and raced through it.
Sixteen-year-old Elisa has been chosen to be the Godstone bearer. But as the younger princess, the princess who keeps getting bigger and bigger because she eats when she’s upset, she doesn’t see how she can ever be used. Married off to a neighboring king, at risk from the enemy, Elisa goes on a journey that changes her and her whole world.
Loved this book and am looking forward to reading book two, The Crown of Embers (2012) and following it up with The Bitter Kingdom (2013). Why didn’t I hear about this New York Times bestselling trilogy earlier?!
This was Rae Carson’s debut novel and was a William C. Morris Award Finalist. The trilogy has been translated into other languages. See covers here. She’s also written other stories in the universe, The Girl of Fire and Thorns Stories (Girl of Fire and Thorns Novella). 
Like a River Glorious, book one in the Gold Seer Trilogy, came out in September 2015 and is a YALSA 2016 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. More to add to my TBR pile. 😉
Enchantress Sacrifice
Enchantress Sacrifice (Amazon Digital Services LLC, 2016) by Denice Hughes Lewis is a YA fantasy with an interesting premise.
Destined to save her world, Elandra is born aware. She doesn’t breathe air, but light. (It sounds odd, but works.) Her mind and body grow fast under the protection of her two guardians. When she has 16 seasons, it’s time for Elandra to go out of the caverns and learn about the island. She must also learn how to control her sense of other’s feelings, and discover her powers to save everyone from Aru. But there’s other danger awaiting her–from her mother’s tribe, the Kepyrs, and from her father’s tribe, the Ice Lords. Sworn enemies, either tribe will kill her if they see her. Elandra wonders why she has to be the one to sacrifice herself to save everyone. Can’t she just be a normal girl?
Told in present tense, the book is fast paced and compelling. A sequel is in the works–I can’t wait for it to be done.
An interview with the author
1. Where were you when the idea for this book came to you?
At home. I always seem to have a dozen nebulous ideas for stories roaming around in my head. The idea of a baby being left in a forest and being raised by a monster was one of them. It wasn’t until Suzan Noyes, playwright, screenwriter and artist extraordinaire, talked me into going to a writing retreat with her that I decided I needed something to read aloud. I wrote the first few chapters and the ideas kept nudging me to continue.
2. What inspired you to write this story?
I love fantasy–the unique and different. I wanted to write a story for teens who feel isolated and those who struggle with emotions and how to control them. I set it in a more confined world with higher stakes to highlight Elantra’s choice between being selfish or sacrificing herself for the greater good.
3. How long did it take you to write this book?
That is a difficult question. Five years on and off. It was not a project at the top of my priority list. I also co-wrote two screenplays, directed three plays, worked on my picture books, attended writing conferences online and off, and added a middle-grade ebook to Amazon during that time. That doesn’t count life that always sidetracks writing goals.
4. What challenged or surprised you about writing this story?
It’s always interesting to see how a novel evolves and how our creative muses inspire us.
I just started putting words to paper for this book. It was the first piece of writing I
had ever done without an outline or plan other than how I wanted to start it and end it.
Later, I made a basic fifteen point outline described in Blake Snyder’s book, Save the Cat. Although he wrote for screenwriters, his methods work well for any kind of writing. I used these points for the direction of the plot elements and the changes necessary for the
evolution and emotional growth of the character.
The most surprising was the change in the Daniel character. In the beginning he was not from the modern world. By changing him, I had the much needed conflict and a more interesting, stronger love interest. It didn’t hurt that his desire to return home became the impetus for a sequel.
5. Why did you decide to self-publish?
I was a two-time graduate of the Institute of Writing Children’s Literature before the onslaught of the internet. Although I submitted for years, I got the usual rejections. This was a time when I was the mother of two children and life was more important than a career. When they left home, I decided to devote my time to writing and screenwriting. It just seemed logical to self-publish due to the financial benefits and the differences in the time frame for reaching the public. Marketing is the major consideration for all writers, but these days, a writer is often responsible for most of the publicity surrounding his work even if he is published traditionally. All writers who want their works read have to learn marketing, whether or not they want to. Self-motivation and initiative are two other requirements to self-publishing due to the decision-making process. It is also important to me to have control over the physical appearance of the book after spending so many years with my mental image.
6. Who are some of your favorite authors?
As a teenager I liked mystery and only read Nancy Drew books. I grew up loving movies and Disney. They made my imagination soar. I read the classics in school, but it wasn’t until I was married that I started reading fantasy. I find my greatest favorites belong to the English writers who write for young people. They have so much more history, geography and myth to draw from. C.S. Lewis, Susan Cooper and J.K. Rowling are some of my favorites. I write full-time and don’t read as much as I would like. Marissa Meyer has my awe for her Cinder series. To escape and laugh, I enjoy Janet Evanovich and her mystery-numbered series. There are so many good writers in all genres, that it’s a feast for all readers and I do regret not being able to read more. Right now I gauge my reading choices on what my 14-year-old granddaughter is reading since she’s in tune with the most popular fantasy writers who are very good.
About Denice
Denice Hughes Lewis is a wife, mother and grandmother who loves kids, animals, movies, theater, nature and especially adventures in unlimited imagination. She’s an award-winning ebook author and screenwriter. When she isn’t writing, she’s walking her Pomeranian dog, taking care of her 31-year-old blind pony and her 150-pound goat. Her other interests include writing plays and music, art and directing for the stage.