River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Emily's comments:

Mercedes Thompson, a shifter who takes the form of a coyote at will, has battled everything from vampires and werewolves to witches and faeries.  She is this no-nonsense mechanic who isn’t afraid to stand up to evil and fight for her friends and family.  Recently married to Adam Hauptman, the alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack, Mercy finds herself once again in the middle of a mystical upheaval, but this time, in order to protect her future, she must explore her Indian heritage and accept truths that she has long avoided.

I’m a big fan of the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.  I devour the books when they come out, and I’ve been waiting all winter for the latest installment to reach the shelves.  Is this quality literature?  No, definitely not.  But is it fun?  Absolutely!  The characters are memorable, the story lines interesting, and the pacing is quick.  For a quick weekend read, try diving into the world of Mercedes Thompson.

Call # 

Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy Fiction BRI

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Kendra's comments: 

I knew Jasper Fforde was an extremely gifted fantasy writer when I read several books in the Thursday Next series several months ago.  I just finished listening to the audio version of Shades of Grey, a new series for Fforde, and have only positive feedback to offer about his writing.

I appreciated the witty, fast pace of this novel.  In Fforde’s fantasy world, Eddie Russett is living in a world with a skewed vision of color.  The classes are determined by the color each individual is able to see naturally, without the use of artificial additives.  Eddie can only red, for instance.  Purple is the highest color class of all.  Marriages are designed to create the best color combinations, and the leaders of this world force everyone to operate by a very strict set of rules that provides no opportunities for creativity, individual thought, or innovation. 

This creative novel forces one to think about humanity and the power of individual choice.  Greenwood Public Library owns the audio version of this book and it is available for checkout.  The British reader for this title, John Lee, is very talented and is entertaining to listen to.

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede

Emily's comments:

Book One: Dealing with Dragons


Cimorene is not your average princess. Tired of etiquette and embroidery, she runs away from home and elects to be a dragon's princess. Normally a dragon's princess must be captured and held hostage until the day a prince comes to challenge the beast for her safe return. But not Cimorene. After convincing the dragon Kazul to "capture" her, Cimorene spends most of her days cleaning caves and organizing her new friend's library. She also spends a great deal of time avoiding the advances of each and every prince that comes to "rescue" her from "danger." When Cimorene uncovers a wizard plot against the kingdom of the dragons, she will do whatever it takes to save her new scaly friends and the life she has created for herself.


Check status at GPL / place book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook).


Book Two: Searching for Dragons


In the second installment of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Zemenar, Head Wizard of the Society of Wizards, is causing more trouble for Cimorene and the dragons. After discovering that part of the Enchanted Forest has been destroyed and Kazul has been captured, King Mendenbar teams up with Cimorene to rescue the beast and save the kingdom. This exciting adventure is filled with unruly magic carpets, dissatisfied giants, and Herman, a descendant of Rumplestiltskin.

Check status at GPL / place book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook). 

Book Three: Calling on Dragons


Morwen, a witch living in the Enchanted Forest, discovers that the Society of Wizards have stolen King Mendenbar's magical sword, and the power of the Enchanted Forest is in grave danger. With the help of Cimorene, Kazul, and the magician Telemain, Morwen sets out on a journey that takes her beyond the borders of the forest to retrieve the sword and stop the Society of Wizards from destroying the Enchanted Forest.

Check status at GPL / place book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook). 

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles are filled to the brim with adventure, friendship, and magic. Author Patricia Wrede cleverly mixes common fairy tales and mythical stereotypes into each story. Cimorene is a welcomed strong, independent protagonist that fits well into the fantastical genre. If you want a quick, fun read, definitely consider Wrede's series. Or you can pick up the audiobooks. Most of them are only five discs long and are read by a full cast which is a lot of fun. I've really enjoyed listening to each title on my way to work in the morning, and I can't wait to start Book Four, Talking to Dragons! 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2009 Newbery Medal winner)

Taryn's comments: 

When Bod was a tiny child, his entire family was murdered one gruesome night. Miraculously, Bod escaped and wandered into a graveyard. It was then that the ghosts of the graveyard promised to raise Bod as one of their own, giving him the name "Nobody Owens" (Bod for short).

This book has a really great opening line – “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” This statement grabs your interest and makes you want to know what will happen next. It also sets the tone for the book. Immediately you know that someone is in danger.

This was an engaging reading experience for me. I felt wonder, amusement, sadness, fear, and anger along with Bod as he grew up. I loved the twist in this ghost story. Usually ghosts are not desirable companions, but these ghosts are Bod’s family and friends. They protect him from the danger of the world outside the graveyard. They say it takes a village to raise a child. In Bod’s case, it takes a graveyard.

I’ve heard that Neil Gaiman drew inspiration from The Jungle Book. Both books tell a coming-of-age tale about an orphaned boy raised in a strange environment. It would be interesting to read the books together. 

I listened to the audiobook version, which was read by the author. The print version of the book has some fantastically creepy illustrations that are not to be missed out on, though. I recommend reading both!

Check status at GPL or place the book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook.)

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Emily's Comments: Everyone knows the story of Alice in Wonderland. After following a white rabbit with a pocket watch down a hole, Alice finds herself in a strange land filled with talking caterpillars, mad hatters, and obstacles around every corner.

But who is Alice really? Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars is the “true” story of Alice and the Wonderland kingdom. After her mother is beheaded by her traitorous Aunt Redd, Alyss Heart, heiress to the throne, flees the kingdom through a magical pool and finds herself in Victorian London. No where else to go, Alyss is adopted by the Liddell family and meets Charles Dodgson (a.k.a Lewis Carroll), an aspiring author and the only person who seems to believe her heartbreaking story. Meanwhile, back in Wonderland, Aunt Redd has taken over the kingdom forcing the followers of the late Queen of Hearts into exile. Alyss (now Alice) must find a way to return to Wonderland and defeat her murderous Aunt to reclaim the throne.

If you’re a fan of the Lewis Carroll classic pick up this fresh, creative new take on Alice and her adventures in Wonderland. The Looking Glass Wars is the first book in a trilogy by Frank Beddor. Check status at GPL

Alice in Wonderland

In honor of the upcoming release of Disney's Alice in Wonderland on March 5th, Greenwood Public Library is celebrating with two days of special events!

Teen Activities - March 3
11am & 3pm: Watch the Disney animated version of Alice in Wonderland
4pm: House of Cards stacking contest in YA room
All Day: Games, Raffles, Prizes & More

Children's Activities - March 3
9am - 6pm: Take a trip down the Rabbit Hole with Alice for a day of activities, crafts and fun in the Children's Room. Mad Hatter scavenger hunt, Doormouse bowling, House of Cards, Fish for the Queen of Hearts, puzzles, coloring pages and more! No registration necessary.

Grownups - March 4
Mad Hatter Tea Blending: 6-8pm
Donna from Teapots n' Treasures will lead us in a 'mad' evening of tea blending.  Whether you are a tea lover, an Alice in Wonderland fan, or just celebrating an unbirthday, join us for an amazing and tasty evening of tea blending. $10 per person, registration required.

Before you see the movie, be sure to read the original classic tale:

Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Rachel's Comments: Curiouser and curiouser-it is strange how Alice in Wonderland has invaded our collective consciousness. How often have you heard the terms "white rabbit" or "unbirthday" in everyday conversation? (Even when this conversation does not involve Jefferson Airplane.) The mystique around Alice in Wonderland has probably evolved from Carroll's creation of a dream--a dream we all feel as if we have had before.

The book will seem very familiar--especially if you have seen any of the movie versions of this tale. Having this visual of the Dormouse, Caterpillar, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum may make it easier to take in the hallucinatory poetry that accompanies their tales in the books. I always felt an uneasiness around this story as a child because none of the characters act they way they should. What does this mean anyway? My next read will probably have to be the Annotated Alice. This may be fruitless, however, because as Alice said, "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"  Check status at GPL

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Emily's Comments: Patch was definitely not Nora’s first choice as a Biology lab partner. He was arrogant, overly confident, and seemed to know exactly how to get under her skin. As much as she hated him, she found herself strangely drawn to his mysterious black eyes and bad boy attitude. Nora’s life was normal until she met Patch. After that fateful day in Biology when they were teamed up, Nora’s life has gotten weird, very weird. She’s convinced someone’s following her, her memories are being tampered with, and the new school psychologist gives off a scary vibe. The only person she can really trust is the one person she can’t stand.

Hush, Hush is the latest supernatural thriller to reach the book shelf. Angels, demons, mysterious powers, ancient vendettas, it is filled with everything teens have come to adore about the genre. If you’re a Twilight fan, or just looking for a fun, quick, romantic supernatural read, pick up Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush (check status at GPL). (I read it in one evening, but I still can’t figure out the title…if you have any thoughts, please let me know!)

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Amber's Comments: This book follows Maddy Smith, who was born with a mysterious runemark on her hand. The townsfolk are suspicious of her, and of what she may be capable of doing. At the age of seven, Maddy runs into a one-eyed traveler who also has a runemark. Each year, he returns to visit her at Red Horse Hill and he gradually teaches her about runes, magic, and her own powers.

When Maddy turns 14, One-Eye returns again, and this time asks Maddy to undertake a dangerous mission for him. He wants her to go into the World Below alone and retrieve the mysterious "Whisperer". Maddy agrees to help her friend and along the way discovers that the old gods are still very much alive. Meanwhile, The Order, the new religion, has done what it can to suppress the old ways, and it is becoming strong both in numbers and in the power of the Word.

Maddy's quest becomes much more than just finding the Whisperer, and lands her right in the middle of a struggle for the fate of the Worlds.

Many of the gods in this book are from Norse mythology, but it does not require prior knowledge of the stories in order to understand it. A great read for fantasy or mythology enthusiasts! (check status at GPL)

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan

Amber's Comments: Trouble always seems to find Percy Jackson. Almost every year, he gets kicked out of another boarding school. This time, he's almost made it through a whole year at Yancy Academy. Though he struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, he does manage to do well in his Greek and Roman Mythology course with his favorite teacher. When a field trip with his class ends when his math teacher turns into a monster, Percy is sure something is very wrong.

He soon finds out that he is Poseidon's son. His mother sends him to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods, where he learns more about his powers and how to fight. It soon seems that the gods are growing very angry, and the only way to stop the fighting is for Percy to undertake a very dangerous quest.

I really loved The Lightning Thief (check status at GPL). I enjoy reading Greek Mythology and this book was a wonderful blend real Greek myths, fantasy and interesting characters. The action and pacing of the book is excellent as well.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Emily's Comments: As a child, Grace was bitten and almost killed by a pack of wolves that lived in the woods behind her home. She only survived because of the golden eyed wolf that got her to safety. In the years following the incident, Grace became fascinated with the wolves, especially her golden eyed savior that only appeared in the winter months, a comfort on those long, frigid days. Then the community begins to blame the wolves for recent attacks and the safety of her silent friend is in jeopardy. Everything changes when she learns that the wolf she slowly fell in love with is actually a werewolf, Sam, who has fallen deeply in love with her as well. With time short until Sam can no longer hold back his animal instincts, Grace will do everything in her power to save her love from becoming a wolf for good.

Fans of Twilight, especially Jacob Black, will enjoy this supernatural star-crossed love story. While the story feels familiar; the writing makes the book stand apart from other novels on vampires and werewolves available for teens today (check status at GPL).

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Amber’s Comments: Our most recent display is focused on magical mysteries. To help you get in the mood for Halloween, come by and pick up any of these mysteries with a touch of the magical or paranormal!

Dead Until Dark (check status at GPL) is a mixture of mystery, paranormal and romance. Sookie Stackhouse lives in a small Louisiana town and she has a “disability” – she’s telepathic. Her telepathy has kept her from living a normal life, interfering with everything from her schoolwork (how do you concentrate when you can hear everything all the other kids are thinking?) and her ability to have a relationship (how do you get “intimate” if you can hear everything he’s thinking about you?). So now Sookie is a grown woman, working as a barmaid at Merlotte’s, living with her grandmother and trying her best not to listen in to other’s thoughts.

A few years ago, vampires from all across the world got on TV at the same time and announced that they existed and wanted equal rights. Since this revelation, Sookie has always wanted to meet one. When vampire Bill walks into Merlotte’s, Sookie is excited – not just because of his otherworldliness, but because she can’t read his mind! Silence is golden, and soon Sookie and Bill are an item.

Murders begin to sweep through the town and the police first suspect the new vampire is responsible. Soon, suspicion rests on Sookie’s brother Jason, who is a bit of a womanizer. Sookie is concerned about her own safety and her brother’s reputation, and begins to look into the deaths herself.

Sookie is certainly a kick-butt character. She’s strong, opinionated, and quick-thinking. I really enjoy having such a great female main character. Sookie narrates the book, so you get a lot of insight into the other characters as well because she can read their minds.

It should be noted that this book is an adult read that contains violence and sex. I don’t think it detracts from the story or is too superfluous, but it is certainly not a gentle read.

I have to say that I didn’t really get into the series until I read the second book, Living Dead in Dallas (check status at GPL). By then, I was totally hooked on Sookie’s world and I have enjoyed the rest of the series immensely.

We’d love to hear from you if you’ve been reading the Sookie novels, or any other magical mysteries. Leave us a comment!

The King in the Window by Adam Gopnik

Amber's Comments: This book serendipitously found me at the library, and I'm glad it did. Though it is classified as a children's book, I don't really think that it is. It has a great story - including lots of action, lots of thought provoking comments, and interesting concepts (like multiverses!).

Oliver is an American-born 12-year-old living in Paris. He is often lonely, as the Parisian kids are not entirely accepting of an American. After an eventful Ephiphany where he gets a golden key and a paper crown, he gets mistaken for the new King of the Window. All of a sudden, Oliver is put into the midst of a fight for not only this universe, but all the thousands of others that also exist. He must learn how to be kingly, lead others and how to think. He is assisted by a motley crew of window wraiths (all real people from the Grand Siecle, like Racine), who are a bit like ghosts or spirits that are confined to reflective surfaces. He also enlists the wonderful author Mrs. Pearson who is one of the Witty, and his best friend Charlie who has come to visit from the United States. Together, they find that mirrors can be dangerous and launch an epic battle that culminates in an amazing scene at the Eiffel Tower.

This book is a great mix of fantasy and reality. It also contains some rather funny observations on the difference between the French and the Americans and some rather astute ones about the differences between children and adults. It will also make you think twice about looking into a mirror (check status at GPL).

Spindle's End by Robin McKinley

Jennie's Comments: I just finished reading “Spindle’s End” by Robin McKinley. I really enjoyed reading about the main character in this book. It was about a fairy tale but with an unusual twist added to it. However, the beginning of the book is slow, laborious reading. But if you hang in there the book does get very interesting. However, there are some parts in the book that are really hard to understand concerning when the author is trying to explain how magic works. But overall it’s worth reading because I personally became concerned about the well being of the main character and if she would be able to overcome the evil fairy in the book. Check Status at GPL

Enchanted, Inc : a Novel by Shanna Swendson

Anna's Comments: I came across this book by pure happenstance. The cover called to me. The title and the cover illustrations screamed "Read me…you like chick-lit, I promise I won't disappoint you." Enchanted, Inc. had a lot of the elements of a typical chick-lit book. A twenty-something ordinary single girl from a little town moves to the City to make her way in the world. Then it gets interesting. She starts seeing things that are not typical Only-in-New-York sightings. She thinks the city might be getting to her until she meets cute-boy Owen, who convinces Katie that she should come to work for MSI, Inc. head by none other than Merlin. Things become very interesting when ordinary Katie had to deal with a non-ordinary magical New York City that only she has the ability to save. This was a quick, fun, whimsical read that had me wanting for more. Check Status at GPL

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

Susan's Comments: This National Book Award Finalist is a wonderful historical tale with touches of fantasy and romance. Sixteen-year-old peasant Keturah wanders deep into the forest one day where she encounters death who arrives in the form of a caped man on a dark steed. Keturah, a master storyteller, tells Lord Death a tale of love to ward off his deathly touch. She bargains for another day of life by refusing to finish the story. Lord Death, moved by Keturah's intelligence and beauty, agrees - going so far as to give her back her life if she can find her true love by the next evening.

Keturah had learned from death that the plague was soon to overtake her village. She madly uses her extra day of life to save herself, her grandmother, her friends, and her entire village only to realize that she needs more time, particularly since her true love does not appear in a timely manner. She continues to bargain with Lord Death using her stories. Read this young adult novel to find out if Keturah can save her village and herself from Lord Death's clasp. Check Status

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Kendra's Comments: Eragon is a fantasy book sure to please teens and adults alike. Eragon is a teenage youth leading a normal life consisting of farming and hunting until he finds a mysterious blue stone in the woods. From then on, his world is transformed. Once the stone hatches Eragon discovers it was actually a dragon egg. He feels an immediate bond with the dragon and soon discovers what responsibilities this now lays on him. After the death of the only parent figure Eragon ever had, he then imparts on a journey to avenge his uncle’s death, discovering to become a Rider, he must grow in mind and body. Present throughout the story is humor and beautiful scenic descriptions of fantastical lands. Eragon must learn to deal with a range of emotions along his journey including anger, fear, excitement, arrogance, depression, and love. This is a great book for someone who liked Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. The messages are softer than these other books, but still worthwhile. The fantasy elements are portrayed as believable, even for skeptics of magical lands. Check Status