Tor, 2009
ISBN: 0765319829
Available: New, used and multi format digital

With Burning Shadows, Yarbro takes on a similar situation as she did with her previous Saint Germain book, A Dangerous Climate. This time it’s the time of the Huns, not the building of St. Petersburg. But the claustrophobic, desperate scene is the same. Trapped in a monastery with hundreds of refugees simply trying to survive the destructive nature of humanity (in this tale, that’s the role played by Attila the Hun as he rises to power) Saint Germain must balance his vampire nature with his desire to help others, while not drawing the suspicion of people who can’t even trust each other.

Yarbro’s style of telling a story not by directly showing the story, but instead by setting a series of highly detailed, soulful scenes will charm some readers and infuriate those who prefer faster-paced paranormal tales that don’t share the passion with which Yarbro treats history. One can’t deny the time and effort and craft Yarbro puts into her characters and settings, bringing history and humanity alive like few others do. Recommended for libraries, especially those looking for different kinds of horror or who might be in less horror-friendly areas.

Contains: mild language, alluded violence and gore

ISBN: 067001110X
Available: New and Used

Many times in Wintergirls, the main character mentions feeling like a puppet whose strings are being pulled, which in turn is a fitting description for the feel of this book. Wintergirls is the story of Lia, who suffers from anorexia, depression, and a family who sees her as nothing but a burden. Her best friend Cassie suffered too, until she died alone in a hotel room. That’s where the book starts, and reading through Lia’s breakdown is like a series of progressively numbing slaps. Anderson weaves the strings of this story together into something fierce, beautiful and so terrible it hurts to read.

I highly recommend it, despite triggering potential, because this kind of spotlight being shed on problems is something we desperately need as a society. Furthermore, as libraries are all too often the only safe place children and teens in need have to go to try to learn more about themselves, books like Wintergirls is an essential to public collections.

Contains: extreme anorexia, depression, language, cutting, drug use

ISBN: 9780312650087

Available: new (hardback) and multiformat digital

Enclave starts on the naming day of Deuce, a young woman who has been training her whole life to be a Huntress, a protector and food gatherer for her clan which lives in an underground enclave. The tunnels mean a hard life, snaring what food can be caught, scavenging what remainders of society can be found and staying endlessly on guard against other clans and the horrific, cannibal Freaks who roam the tunnels. At her naming, a passage from child to adult, Deuce starts to learn that all is not as it seems in the Enclave. Before she’s ready to embrace the true role of a hunter she has to make a choice about what’s right and wrong, and suffer the ire of those in power.

Enclave is a perfect pot pie of a story. Take one kick-butt, but not over-done heroine, add in a hunky, tortured love interest, mix together in a savory post-apocalyptic sauce and bake until golden brown. Aguirre has done just that. Anyone who’s seen Life After People will be completely satisfied with Aguirre’s setting. Fans of her adult UF or SF series will find Deuce, Fade, and all of Aguirre’s character just as solid and complex as they’ve come to expect. Paranormal YA fans will find much to rave about in Enclave, which is dark and gritty, but maintains a fierce level of hope in the form of its survivor leads and their sheer determination. Highly recommended for public collections: this is the kind of book that keeps people engaged and reading. It grabs readers by the throat and refuses to let go.

Contains: violence, frank attitude toward sex & reproduction (but no graphic scenes)

Simon & Schuster, 2009
Available: New, used & digital (multi-format)
ISBN: 1439156786

The second in Robertson’s Persephone Alcemdi series, Hallowed Circle follows solitary witch Persephone as she deals with her new roles in life as a guardian of a friend’s orphaned daughter; caretaker of her aging grandmother, the mysterious Lustrata; girlfriend to a werewolf rock star; and a vampire-bonded contestant in the bidding for High Priestess of the area coven. The contest for High Priestess has a real Clue feel, which will draw in mystery lovers. Persephone balances magic with a day job and mortgage making for a solid, enjoyable read. Full of magic, murder and mystery, Hallowed Circle is grounded in a theme of responsibility, not necessarily to save the world, but to do the right thing for the people and community.

Less dark or brutal than other urban fantasy on the shelf, Hallowed Circle will definitely have crossover appeal to paranormal romance readers. Its price and solid readability make it a good choice for public collections and private readers who can’t get enough of paranormals.

Contains: language, sex