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Tess, in servitude to a rich, unfeeling matron, plans to escape once the Titanic lands in New York City. The night before boarding, she is bullied by a frightening man on the streets of Southhampton, being saved by an equally unsettling, but handsome, young man. As bad luck would have it, both were in first class on the gigantic ship’s maiden voyage. Without much fanfare, Tess finds herself in the middle of a werewolf supremacy battle, and in love with one of them, mysterious, handsome, rich Alec. Paralleling the amazing Titanic movie, these star-crossed lovers transverse 1st to 3rd class navigating the tense war between werewolves. Tess is saved from death, even her beautiful BLONDE locks, which the cover does not depict. (Old cover, new cover seen here is correct. But does she looks like a servant?) Though Alec and his nemesis lie with the dead for identification, can she be sure of their state? I can see another series brewing. Gothic/ supernatural/love fans will enjoy the book.

ENDERS' Rating: ****
Claudia's Website

Move over zombies, vampires and werewolves for the capaill uisce, the sea monsters that are faster than the winter wind and blood-thirsty for whatever throbs with blood. Well, there goes a girl’s romantic dream of horses! Actually the novel has been the dream of Maggie Stiefvater for years, and we all should cheer that she followed through with writing her finest novel to date. On the isle of Thisby water horses come ashore. Some are captured and trained for the Scorpio Race each November, full of blood, mayhem, death and a prize. Sean Kendrick is the undisputed king of four of the races and trains a capall named Corr, the other half of the team that is to be beat. Another orphan on the island, Puck Donelly, enters the race to pay off the back rent owed by her and her two brothers, to the horrid landlord threatening eviction. Of course the race is the climax of the story boiling with hatred, sexual prejudice, intimidation, attempted murder, and love. The narrative is shared by Sean and Puck. What I love about the writing is that Maggie allows the reader to incrementally piece the stories of these characters together from the evidences of the narration with zero omniscient presence. It is brilliant! I didn’t want to put it down, but I did. I wanted the story to also last longer. I want it to win awards.

ENDERS' Rating: *****
Maggie's Blog

For those who think there is no creativity any more in fantasy writing, you obviously need to read Chime! For those who think that young adult lit has no meat, you obviously need to read Chime! For those who think there are no more deliciously creepy stories, you obviously need to read Chime!

Biony is a beautiful teenager who blames herself for the death of her wonderful stepmother, the condition of her twin sister Rose and the fire that destroyed all her stories in the library. When lion-maned Eldric becomes a boarder of her father she slowly begins to turn on the switch about herself, the Old Ones in the swamp, and other amazing revelations.

Rose's outbursts and commentaries made me laugh out loud. Biony's musings were innocent, complex, amazing. Here is a sample: "Slicing yourself is harder than you'd think. Your skin doesn't slice, not like bread or cheese. Your flesh pushes back. It's resilient, like the skin of a mushroom."

The swamp was creepy and mesmerizing at the same time. I may never walk on a boardwalk at the beach again. But at least the beach will not give me a deadly cough...

This is no book to rush through. You need to take a bite and chew sixty times. Be prepared for each bite to have another literary flavor.

ENDERS' Rating: ***** Franny's Website

A girl is decapitated. A young man in imprisoned and beaten senseless. A hot werewolf girl is autopsied while alive.

I haven't read such a funny book in a long, long time!

The most powerful necromancer in the Seattle area is very put out that a young upstart may take over his region. But Sam, the young upstart, hasn't a clue as to his powers or why this freak is after him. But the werewolf girl is hot. Brooke still talks and harasses him even though her head is in a bowling bag. It could be worse. Bingo.

Laugh when you read this sick book. It is okay. I give permission.

ENDERS' Rating: *****

Lish's Funny Website

Tiffany the witch: when I read about her I really want to be one! She has all the great attributes of someone who really loves and serves the people around her. She is tolerant and forgiving of little blue warriors nudging into her affairs, privacy and banquets. She is loyal to old friends even when they are not loyal to her. She faces her enemies head-on. I like this 16 year old girl/witch! In the fourth and last novel about Tiffany and her wee blue men and kenda, she attacks dark acts of violence at home and faces the ultimate darkness that is searching to destroy her. Luckily the Wee Free Men lighten the heaviness of the dangers for the readers. They know that they have to watch out for their “wee big hag o’ the hills.” As Tiffany prepares for the ultimate showdown with the darkness closing in on her, she discovers secrets about Roland’s bride to be and her mother. She administers to his father, the Baron. In a strange turn of events involving fire and a hare she saves the day for herself, Roland, and her hills. I wish there were a fifth novel!

Terry was just awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from AASL and he has received numerous honors in the UK.

Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. He spoke to the Alzheimer's Research Trust Conference in the UK earlier this year, where he donated $1 million to aid Alzheimer's research.

ENDERS' Rating: *****

Terry's website

Haven Moore has always lived in Snopes City, Tennessee, the granddaughter to a controlling matriarch who sees Haven’s dead father and Haven as “of Satan.” Despite the counseling of the esteemed pastor of the local church, Haven continues to have graphic, sensuous dreams involving Ethan and Constance who lived and loved during the 1920s. Haven knows minute details about New York City though she has never traveled there. Haven is Constance, reincarnated. When the gossip fallout from her latest vision makes life unbearable for Haven and when a bland, mysterious man torches the family mansion, Haven escapes to NYC with the help of her dress design partner, Beau (who is my absolutely favorite character). She is drawn to a secret society that harbors people with useful talents to exploit and is drawn to a society playboy who is the reincarnation of Ethan. Cat and mouse chases, trips to Rome, the freaky gray men and even the devil himself create a tense reading experience. I was eager for the climatic conclusion and was not disappointed. Keep reading to the last page. Teen gothic romance readers will love the story. Yep, a sequel: All You Desire is due August 2011

ENDERS' Rating: ****

Q&A with Kirsten

Blog and Website

I was enthralled with the beautiful cover of the sequel to Fallen, about a difficult love between an angel, Daniel, and a mortal, Luce. Daniel has picked true love over residing in heaven and he enters an uneasy truce with the head of the demons, Cam, for eighteen days. Within that time they both will hunt and kill as many of the Outcasts of Heaven as possible to save Luce from them. Why do they want her? That I will not divulge! Luce is hidden in a high school on the California coast for Nephilim, descendants of angels and humans. I was disappointed by the separation of Luce and Danie, and Luce’s complaints. Fallen angels, demons, half-mortals...their lives are complicated!

ENDERS' Rating: ***

Lauren Kate's Website