Must-read YA romances: 'Princess of Thorns,' 'Under My Skin,' 'Suspicion'
Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay
What it's about (from publisher Delacorte Press):
Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.
Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.
Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?
Why you should read it: I'm a sucker for a good fairy-tale retelling, but when you add in a hefty dose of girl power and tangible romantic tension that sizzles just under the surface of every moment, I'm a goner for sure.
Borrowing ideas from several diverse versions of The Sleeping Beauty tale, author Stacey Jay turns the legend on its ear and then slaps it around a bit with ignoble acts of kings, princes and prophets who are much more charming than they are good. (Not to say there isn't a good charming prince. Of course there is. *winks*) This is a dark fairy tale that would make the Grimm Brothers proud (if they were modern blokes who weren't afraid of a little girl power, that is) and builds a world in which witches, ogres, fey and humans coexist, but not peacefully; a world in which a fairy-blessed girl (or fairy-cursed girl, depending on how that blessing is responding in a particular moment!) has to, quite literally, save everything and everyone. This is an exciting and magical story that lovers of fairy tales will not want to miss!
Under My Skin by Shawntelle Madison
What it's about (from the author):
In book one of The Immortality Strain series, everyone wants to either be a member of the Guild or work for them. Little does the populace know that the Guild hides sinister secrets...
For Tate Sullivan, life in her small, coastal town is far from glamorous. The affluent lives of the Guild members and their servants isn't something she has ever wanted. But all sixteen year-olds must take a simple test, and Tate's result thrusts her into the Guild's world, one where they hide horrible plans for those they select. Tate must fight the relentless General Dagon for control of her mind, body, and soul to keep the one precious thing she has always taken for granted: herself.
Her only ally is the same handsome boy she is pitted against in General Dagon's deadly game. Quinn desires nothing more than to end the life of General Dagon who has taken over Tate's mind. While romance blooms between Tate and Quinn, General Dagon plots to eventually take over Tate's body, and love might end before it even begins.
One part Invasion of the Body Snatchers and one part Robert Heinlein's classic I Will Fear No Evil, Under My Skin blends glamour with terror.
Why you should read it: If the beginning "teen sorting" process of this indie-published novel feels a little too dystopian-familiar, don't let those comparisons stop you from reading, because whatever you might think you're going to end up with after those initial scenes, you will never guess the way this exciting, original and romantic YA series-starter actually plays out!
Author Shawntelle Madison took me by surprise with her present-but-not-present villain, the violent politics of the unfolding world, and the sweet pace at which the romance between Tate and Quinn builds as they come to trust one another. This book is an indie win!
I'm always excited to discover a new indie author, and Shawntelle Madison is one I am happy to add to my watch list (and ... yay! She has a backlist of paranormal titles I will have to check out while awaiting the next book in The Immortality Strain YA series!)
Under My Skin is a fantastically vivid story packed with action and emotion that will draw you into the characters' lives and their struggle to survive. Grab a copy for yourself!
Suspicion by Alexandra Monir
What it's about (from publisher Delacorte Press):
"There's something hidden in the maze."
Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor.
For seven years, images of her parents' death have haunted Imogen's dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.
Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford's aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.
Combining spine-tingling mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Suspicion is an action-packed thrill ride.
Why you should read it: With nearly all the markings of a classic Gothic romance, plus the addition of magical powers, this contemporary YA novel is a unique find that I am really excited to share with HEA readers!
Author Alexandra Monir does an admirable job of making us wonder who the villain is — or if there is a villain at all! — while keeping her heroine's voice real and "teen" amidst the pressures of blending in to the very adult world of England's nobility. With a good bit of upstairs/downstairs drama and threats of madness, ghosts, murders and mysterious powers, this novel will linger in your mind — especially on dark and windy nights!
A contemporary, paranormal Gothic romance that blends Downton Abbey with Victoria Holt, Charlotte Bronte and a little Cassandra Clare, this book is one to curl up with on a cold night ... as long as you are willing to be creeped out a little when the sun goes down. *winks* If you have any YA fans on your holiday shopping list who enjoy a good mystery with a little magic and a full dose of romance, this is the gift you've been looking for!
A writer, performer and accomplished partaker of dark chocolate, Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband and two daughters. Her Eyes of E'veria series — The Ryn, The Remedy and The Seahorse Legacy — is out now. You can find out more about her at serenachase.com.