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The Monster Librarian Presents:
Reviews of Dark Fantasy for Young Adults
Below are reviews of fantasy titles that have a horror theme or horror elements to them. They can act as gateway titles to both horror and/or fantasy genres.
Pure
by Julianna Baggott
Grand Central Publishing, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1455503063
Available: New and kindle
Less than a generation ago, radioactive detonations destroyed civilization.
Instead of the survivors dying of radiation sickness, though, they were “fused”
to whatever they were holding or touching at the time. The only ones to escape
mutation and deformity were saved by enclosure in a protective environment, the
Dome, and are known as Pures, alternately worshiped and hated by those left out
in a chaotic, deadly world.
Pressia is a sixteen year old girl with a doll’s head fused to her hand who
lives outside the Dome, who is soon to be forcibly recruited by a violent
militia, and longs for a romanticized past. Bradwell is an underground radical
with birds fused to his back, who remembers the ugliness of the time before the
Detonations. Partridge is the son of the leader of the Pures, has just learned
his mother is alive outside, and escapes so he can find her. The three teens
join forces to discover his mother’s whereabouts, but this is an uncharted,
broken, and stitched-together journey, rather than a tradtional “hero’s quest”.
The strength of Pure comes from Baggot’s creation of a fantastical
post-apocalyptic world, and, in particular, of the way that apocalypse and its
aftermath have shaped its inhabitants. The tragedy of mothers and children fused
together; the fluttering of birds’ wings fused to Bradwell’s back, permanently
scarring him but suggesting that he could almost take flight; the doll’s head
fused to Pressia’s hand, with lashes gummed shut by the ash in the air; the
violent and carnivorous Dusts, creatures fused with the earth that make every
step treacherous. The world-building and character development are intertwined
in a way that brings vividness and three-dimensionality to the story. Once
you’re inside it, Pure is truly an immersive experience.
What’s most frustrating about the book is the way it’s plotted. For instance,
Partridge’s mother leaves such obscure clues to her whereabouts that it is
amazing that he, even with Bradwell’s and Pressia’s help, is able to discover
and interpret them. Unlikely coincidences that turn out to “happen” to have been
planned are frequent, as well. Most importantly, though, is that Pure is clearly
the first book in a trilogy, and it ends very abruptly. I don’t mind endings
that leave me wondering (The Hunger Games is an excellent example of a book that
is part of a series but can stand alone) but I do mind when the story just ends,
leaving me hanging practically in the middle of a sentence.
Even so, Baggott has created a vivid world worth visiting, and a journey worth
taking for readers of postapocalyptic science fiction, or teens looking for
something along the lines of The Hunger Games. Highly recommended.
Contains: murder, suicide, mutilation, torture.
Reviewed by: Kirsten Kowalewski
Abarat
by Clive Barker*New Review
HarperCollins; Revised edition, 2011
ISBN: 978-0062094100
Available: New, Used, and digital
Abarat is the first book in a new series by Clive Barker. Clive Barker is a renowned master of horror novels, and has even made some wonderful horror films. Here he takes us on a wild, strange, and creepy ride through the magical islands of the Abarat. Seen through the eyes of young Candy Quackenbush of Chickentown, Minnesota – a place known for its business in processing chicken parts – the Abarat is a set of islands, or archipelago, in which each island exists at a different hour of the day. For example, there is an island called The Nonce where it’s always 3 in the afternoon, and another, called Gorgossium where it’s always Midnight.
In these weird and fascinating islands live such strange people as John Mischief and his brothers. The brothers Mischief are all master thieves, and seven of them live in John Mischief’s antlers. Christopher Carrion, the Prince of Midnight, wears a huge collar around his neck where his nightmares live: they’re his pets. Such strangeness fills the adventures of Candy as she learns that this is the land where she belongs, although its fate is in serious question, due to a fiendish plan of Christopher Carrion and his grandmother, Mader Motely. This book is Highly Recommended for readers of the strange, fantastic, weird and dark fantasy adventures. Warning: once you pick it up it’s hard to put down.
Contains: Violence, Scary Imagery, Profanity, Gore.
Review by Benjamin Franz
Abarat:
Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker*New Review
2011(revised edition) HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780062094117
Available: Paperback, Kindle, Audiocassette, Hardcover
Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War is the second book in the Abarat series by Clive Barker. In this amazing book, Candy Quackenbush learns several important things: what the Carrion family wants to do to Abarat; who she really is and why Abarat feels like where she belongs; and finally, what it is that she must do for the Islands of the Abarat. As in the first book, we see very strange and weird things. Take Finnegan Hob, as an example. He’s this dashing hero type, but as this is Abarat he looks a little different. Finnegan is the child of a person from the Night Islands, and a person from the Day Islands. As such, he is dark of skin, red of hair, and has very strange things going on with his body. Yet, he’s bold, fearless and one of the best fighters ever.
In Days of Magic, Nights of War the story moves along in very fast pace. It’s kind of amazing how brilliant it is, this weird dark version of Narnia, Oz, and other fantasy worlds Will Candy Quackenbush be murdered by Christopher Carrion? Will the Sisters of the Fantomaya (good witches) tell Candy the secret information she needs most? Will Candy ever get back home? All these questions are answered in this second book. Although so many more are then asked. Before I end this review, I must note the incredible paintings of Clive Barker. He paints wonderful illustrations in each of these books, however you only get to see all of them in the hardcover version. Highly recommended for readers of the strange, weird, creepy and dark fantasy.
Contains: Profanity, Scary Images, Violence, Gore.
Reviewed by: Benjamin Franz
Abarat:
Absolute Midnight by Clive Barker*New Review
2011, HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0060291716
Available: New and digital.
Abarat: Absolute Midnight is the third book in the Abarat series by Clive Barker. If you’re coming to this book fresh, without reading the first two, you may be a little lost at first, but Mr. Barker does a wonderful job of bringing you up to speed. To sum up briefly: Candy Quackenbush, a sixteen year old from Chickentown, Minnesota, finds herself transported to the islands of the Abarat, an archipelago – or island chain - where every island exists at a different hour of the day. Here she has had adventures made great friends, like Malingo the geshrat – a reptilian creature who walks on two legs and has ears that act as large leather wings – as well as many others.
Two of the people Candy has encountered are Christopher Carrion, lord of Midnight, and his grandmother Mater Motely. At the end of Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War Mater Motley has risen to full power of the kingdom of Night. She wishes to become Empress of the Abarat, and to that end she hatches and brings forth a plan to create an absolute midnight, darkening the skies of the Abarat forever. Will she be successful? Will Candy Quackenbush and her friends save the Abarat? To find out you must read this. This is highly recommended for fans of the strange, weird, dark fantasies, and a good old fashioned adventure story. The paintings in the hardcover version, are truly spectacular and all painted by Clive Barker himself!
Contains: Gruesome Imagery, Violence, Profanity
Reviewed by: Benjamin Franz
Dawn of War (Blood War Trilogy)
by
Tim Marquitz*New Review
CreateSpace 2011
Available Kindle edition
ISBN N/A
On the planet Ahreele a devastating war has begun. The savage and animalistic Grol have recently acquired very powerful magic weapons from the land of the Sha’ree, a mystical people long thought to be dead. Arrin, a man living in exile for the last fifteen years has seen the devastation first hand and has gone back to his home of Lathah to warn them of the approaching doom.
Cael is a young boy whose home of Nurin has been overrun and destroyed by the Korme, who are loosely allied with the Grol, using the same magic weapons. While making a desperate run into the Dead Lands, he meets two Sha’ree who are on a mission to warn civilization, as well as gather together the bearers of far older magic to defeat the enemies of peace. Cael carries one of these ancient devices.
Domor of the Vel attempts to make his way through the Dead Lands as well, to find his family in Nurin. He, along with his blood companion, run into other enemies with magic weapons but are saved by the two Sha’ree and the Pathra, cat people who are allies of the human Lathans.
Can a small band of people from different lands join with their allies and defeat their enemies? And who is Sultae of the Sha’ree and what of the plague that supposedly killed them all? The band of hopeful heroes must also contend with the Tumult, a time when the two moons cross paths and wreak havoc on the planet.
Dawn of War, book one of the Blood War trilogy is Tim Marquitz’s first foray into fantasy fiction and he has done an exceptional job. There is a lot going on and there are many points of view to follow, but Marquitz keeps it all tight and easy to follow. Character development is very good, keeping each race of people easily identifiable. This first book introduces the various points of view and ends on just the proper note, leaving the reader wanting to read more. I’m not generally big on fantasy, but I enjoyed Dawn of War immensely. I think you will, too. It can be had for free through the Amazon Kindle store. Recommended.
Contains: violence and gore
Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund
Stone
of Tymora: The Sentinels
by R.A. and Geno Salvatore
Wizards of the Coast, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7869-5505-3
Available: New
In this third book of the Stone of Tymora trilogy, Maimun and Joan join together in a quest to destroy the stone. Their journey takes them to the Tower of Twilight, where they spend a year honing their skills in preparation of the task at hand, with the wizard Malchor Harpel. They will need those skills, because the destruction of the stone comes at a high cost, on a path strewn with death and betrayal.
As the third book in a trilogy, this story doesn’t stand alone, but really must be read following the two preceding books. In this final story, Maimun grows as a character, becoming a force to be reckoned with. There are also several plot twists that should surprise any reader who has followed along with the trilogy. The story is entertaining, but some of it seems to be rushed and could have been fleshed out a little better, primarily the time spent at the Tower of Twilight. The characters, action and plot twists more than make up for this minor failing, though, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy stories. It is also a must for anyone who loves the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
Contains: Violence
Reviewed by Bret Jordan
The
Wall and the Wing by Laura Ruby*New Review
HarperCollins, 2006
ISBN: 9780060752552
Available: New and Used
The Wall and the Wing takes place in an alternate version of New York, where people can fly (sort of) and cats are an endangered species. Gurl is an orphan who is unable to fly, but has just discovered she has the unusual ability to become invisible. Bug, a new addition to the orphanage, has an anger management problem, and can’t remember who he is, but seems to have retained the ability to pick locks. Both of them have been chosen by a cat, Noodle, and pretty quickly both of them are on the run from a greedy matron, gangsters, giant rats, Punks, and the extremely disturbing Odd John. Toss in a mysterious Professor, a magic pen, plastic surgery, windup monkeys, and The Richest Man in the World, and some very scary chaos- or what appears to be chaos- ensues.
The major villain in all this is sociopathic gangster Sweetcheeks Grabowski, who has been searching for a Wall, an invisible girl born only once a century, so he can pull off the greatest crimes in the world. Gurl and Bug are facing some horrifying choices as they face him and his henchmen. But there’s much more going on than meets the eye, and even potentially helpful characters aren’t always benevolent. Ruby has created a unique, layered alternate world with some complex characters- Bug, in particular, grows and changes a great deal during the book- and some really bizarre creatures and relationships. Some things only hinted at in this book are fleshed out more in the sequel, The Chaos King, reviewed here previously. Lovers of urban fantasy, or readers who appreciate quirky, funny, scary, original books, will enjoy The Wall and the Wing. Highly recommended.
Review by Kirsten Kowalewski
The
Shadowmask by R.A. and Geno
Salvatore
Mirrorstone, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7869-5147-5
Available: New
The Stone of Tymora story continues as Maimun, an orphan with a mysterious past, travels from the desert city of Calimport to the icy port city of Waterdeep looking for the Stone of Tymora, which was taken from him by someone wearing a shadowmask. As time and distance separate Maimun from the stone, he slowly becomes more and more debilitated until it threatens his life. In addition, Maimun is being pursued by a demon, who is in a race against a pirate who also wants the stone. Maimun is threatened by both desert and ice and finally has to face a dragon who isn’t too keen on Maimun’s having the stone. Adding to that, he is dealing with the death of his friends, and his girlfriend is more interested in being a pirate that returning his affections. Luckily, he has Captain Deudermont and the crew of the Sea Sprite to watch his back.
The Shadowmask is told in first person, as Maimun relays his story to a pirate to keep himself alive. The dialogue of the pirate will remind the reader of Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean. This is a true compliment to this character as the reader will easily be able to picture him interrogating Maimun - wanting him dead, but too intrigued by the boy’s story to end his life. The story is full of high adventure that will keep the reader riveted to the tale as much as the pirate himself is caught up in it. One warning though, readers should start with the first book of the Stone of Tymora series, The Stowaway. The Shadowmask is for anyone who loves story of high adventure and magic.
Contains: Violence
Review by Bret Jordan
The
Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Hyperion Voice, 2009
ISBN: 9781401340902
Available: New and Used
This book is not horror, but rather historical fantasy. The premise of this book
is interesting--what if some of the “witches” hanged in the Salem Witch Trials
actually were witches? However, the execution fails, first because the first two
hundred pages of this book are spent hinting at this concept, of which readers
are already aware.
The main character is a supposedly very intelligent woman working on her PhD
thesis. While cleaning out a family house in New England she discovers hints at
a book of shadows that might prove the Salem witches were really witches. The
story is primarily about her search and her mental growth from complete skeptic
to, um, not.
Detail, historical flavor and character building are Howe's strong points.
Storytelling, pacing and plot are her downfalls. The Physick Book of Deliverance
Dane is about a historian telling the story of this neat thing they've
researched, but with a last minute, obvious mystery plot tacked on, and some
pretty heinous and unrealistic treatment of antique books. It's less of a
fast-paced mystery and more like a book wherein a mystery plot smacks an
uninterested, and dense, main character in the head for 300 plus pages until she
finally decides to do something about it. Not without merit altogether, the
prose is pretty when not overwritten, the detail is interesting, when not
overpowering the story and the historical scenes are inspiring. This book might
have a place in the libraries of readers who love rich historical tales, but it
doesn't speak to a horror or even dark fantasy audience despite the subject
matter.
Review by Michele Lee
Harpercollins Children's Books, 2007
ISBN: 9780060752583
Available: New and Used
Georgie Bloomington can become invisible, and her friend Bug can fly. But they
are hardly the oddest people or occurences in their world, a slightly off-kilter
version of New York City. Both Georgie and Bug are friends with the mysterious
Professor, who has created a pen that, when used, has a rather chaotic and
erratic effect on the world. When the Professor and the pen both go missing, Mr.
Fuss, the operative tasked with finding them, decides to hire some freelancers
to threaten Georgie and Bug into giving up the location of the pen. A Punk
artist breaks into Georgie’s bedroom, and vampires threaten her family.
Meanwhile, Bug is forcibly dragged into a rather unusual book club whose members
have a job for him. Giant cephalopods and sloths invade the city, and, at the
New York Public Library, strange doings are afoot as Patience and Fortitude
stalk the library stacks. There really is no good way to describe The Chaos
King, and perhaps that’s Ruby’s intent. The Chaos King is an original,
intelligent, fantastic, multilayered, funny, frightening, optimistic, magical
urban fantasy with vividly drawn characters, creatures, and places. Tweens and
older readers who liked Balliett Blue’s Chasing Vermeer , but who have a
darker twist to their minds, might want to chase this one down. Note: This is
the second book in a series. Although it does a reasonably good job of filling
in the backstory, readers will enjoy the story more if they read the previous
book, The Wall and the Wing, Highly recommended. Contains: violence,
torture, death, the supernatural
The
Stowaway
by RA and Geno Salvatore
Mirrorstone, 2008
ISBN: 9780786950942
Available: New
Maiman is an orphan desperately trying to unravel his past. A mysterious elf forced him to flee from the home of the woman who raised him. He was taken in and educated by a bard who seemed to know much more about Maiman’s past but was unwilling to reveal it. Then he is given a piece of his heritage, a stone that a fearsome demon is seeking.
Maiman’s adventures take him across the Sea of Swords, with merchants and pirates. He lands in some of the biggest and brightest cities along the Sword Coast, and also meets some of Faerun’s most memorable characters. Familiar places are brought to life as Maiman travels to Baldur’s Gate and sails on the Sea of Swords, and readers who have followed the adventures of the Forgotten Realms will enjoy new encounters with characters such as dark elf Drizzt Do Urden, along with Wulfgar and Cattie Brie.
This book is a real treat for readers interested in the world of the Forgotten Realms. It is a pleasure to read, and the only complaint readers might have is having to wait until 2009 to see what happens next.
Contains: Violence
Review by Bret Jordan
The
Oak Hotel: The Chronicles of Burnam Tau’roh: Book One
by Walter G. Klimczak
Autumn Harbor Press, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-6152-0160-3
Available: Pre-order (June,2008 release)
When Kayleigh’s grandfather dies, her parents tell her that she can choose a few things for herself. Kayleigh decides this is an excellent opportunity for an adventure. She convinces her friend, Lincoln, to join her in a journey from their hometown to a mystical world, where they are pursued by the mysterious Mayor Stitch. The Oak Hotel is the beginning of an intriguing new young adult fantasy series. Kayleigh and Lincoln are appealing characters who will hold readers’ interest. Many fantasy novels depend on exposition to establish their setting, but The Oak Hotel flows well, and the pacing will keep the reader turning the pages. Unfortunately, the book has a maddening ending, with an unfinished and unsatisfying feel. Readers caught by the story will be impatient for the next installment in this series. Recommended for public and school libraries.
Contains: N/A
The
Inferior by Peadar O GuilinDavid Fickling Books, 2008
ISBN: 0385751451
Available: New(Pre-order)
Stopmouth has a speech impediment that causes others in his tribe to underestimate him. He is part of the human tribe, hunting rival alien species to survive. When he is betrayed by his ambitious brother, Stopmouth encounters a strange woman, Indrani, who seemingly falls from the sky, leading him on an adventure that will alter the fate of humanity. The Inferior is an ambitious science fiction/horror tale, and O Guilin effectively takes his reader on a grand adventure in a hostile world. Developing a new science fiction/fantasy world is always tricky and O Guilin does a fantastic job of revealing it to his reader. The novel’s ending begs for a sequel, as there is still more to be unveiled about Stopmouth’s world, and it is clear his adventures are not yet over. The Inferior is an action packed sci-fi/horror tale that will appeal to readers of both science fiction and horror. Highly recommended for public libraries.
Contains: Mentions of cannibalism, inference of rape, violence.
Hallowmere:
In the Serpent’s Coils
by Tiffany TrentMirrorstone
Books, 2007
ISBN: 9780786942299
Available: New
Corinne Jameson is an orphan, sent by her guardian to a boarding school for girls, in the post-Civil War era. Not all is as it seems, though. The students are peculiar, the teachers are secretive, and Corinne herself is being seduced by dangerous supernatural forces. As girls from the school begin to disappear, s series of incomplete love letters by a monk entangled with a race of vampiric Fey catch Corinne’s attention, and her fascination draws her further into a web of deception and destruction. Trent does a good job of painting an ominous and disturbing environment for the story, and creates sense of real unease. A flaw is that readers experience the story only from Corinne’s point of view. Unfortunately, Corrine’s thought processes are opaque and her decisions don’t make much sense. Since almost everyone is trying to keep her from finding out what’s going on, the story may leave readers shaking their heads. Still, hints of forbidden love and the strange world of the Fey will appeal to many teen girls, and the abrupt ending will keep Trent’s readers waiting impatiently for the next installment in the Hallowmere series, By Venom’s Sweet Sting. Recommended for public library young adult collections and middle and high school library media centers. Contains: witchcraft, mild kissing, mild violence.
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