I have been meaning to read
and review these Young Adult Fantasy titles for a while. Spring break has
finally given me a chance to spend some time with them, the first two of which
are shelved in the Junior High fiction section at the local public library.
LAST STAR BURNING by Caitlin Sangster (Oct. 2017; Simon Pulse; SLJ:
Grade 6 up) received a starred review from Bulletin of the Center for
Children's Books. This dystopian
fantasy novel tells the story of Sevvy, a young girl who has been demoted from
the Firsts to the lower caste Fourths and must undergo re-education because of
her mother’s treasonous actions. Sevvy eventually joins forces with Howl (surprisingly, the Chairman’s son) in an
exciting, action-packed survival story. Interestingly, Sangster
bases her story in part on her time in China and alludes to the Cultural
Revolution. Readers will eagerly anticipate Shatter the Suns, book two in
this trilogy, which is projected to be available later this year. 
TESS OF THE ROAD by award-winning Rachel Hartman (Feb. 27; Random
House; SLJ: Grade 9 up) is a long (536 pages!) saga, but will certainly
be appreciated by fans of Hartman’s earlier work, Seraphina and Shadow
Scale, set in that Southlands world. Here, Tess (half-sister to Seraphina)
disguises herself and takes to the road after drunkenly punching her other sister’s
bridegroom. Tess’s journey is both physical – doing manual work, pretending to
be a priest, and searching for a serpent -- and spiritual; contrasting current
adventures with previous traumatic events as readers learn of her past rape. TESS OF THE ROAD is a gripping
tale with an important message and received starred review from Booklist,
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, and Kirkus. 
DEVILS & THIEVES by Jennifer
Rush (Oct., 2017; Little Brown; SLJ: Grade 8 up) is filled with plenty
of magic – most characters have their own special traits and world building
explanations are necessary. Many are members or affiliated with competing motorcycle
gangs in a “kindled world” that exists alongside humans and doesn’t deal in
money – it deals in power. Jemmie is a strong female character who is attracted
to Crowe Medici, brother of her friend Alex and leader of the Black Devils.
Once Alex is kidnapped, adventures really begin and secrets abound as Jemmie (often
muting her sensitivity to magic with alcohol) and Crowe attempt to rescue
her. DEVILS & THIEVES
is the first in a planned series which I would describe it as a not very demanding, relatively fast read; Booklist gave a starred review to this
twist on urban fantasy. 
