Best of 2010 – Middle Grade and YA Fantasy
I read a ton of great Middle Grade and YA fantasy this year. My favorites are listed below.
Fablehaven series
by Brandon Mull
by Brandon Mull
(This was an excellent series and Keys to the Demon Prison wrapped up the series in a fantastic way! If you haven’t read this series you should.
The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
by Chris Wooding
by Chris Wooding
This was an excellent book. Set in a dark Victorian London it tells the story of a Wych hunter and the young possessed girl he is struggling to save. With an intricate plot and wonderful characters it was a great read.
The Bone Magician (Tales of the Sinister City, Book 2)
by F.E. Higgins
by F.E. Higgins
This was another dark Victorian London book about a boy working for an undertaker and a hunt for a serial killer. Full of interesting plot twists and wonderful characters this was definitely a winner. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series.
Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix
by Garth Nix
(This was an excellent series and Lord Sunday was a fabulous conclusion to it. Everyone has probably heard of this series. It is incredibly creative and a wonderful read. Nix is an excellent writer and I am a big fan of his.
Moon and Sun series by Holly Lisle
by Holly Lisle
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(An excellent adventure/fantasy series, these two books were incredible. Lisle is great at building wonderful worlds and realistic characters. My only problem is that the second book leaves a lot of issue hanging and I haven’t been able to find info on when the next book will be released.
Rise of the Darklings (The Invisible Order, Book 1) 
by Paul Crilley
by Paul Crilley
This was a great book. Another one set in Victorian London, this involves a girl and boy who have lost their parents and get entangled in the world of fairy in efforts to find them. Very well written, great world and characters…I loved it!
Ilyria
by Elizabeth Hand
by Elizabeth Hand
This book is more appropriate for YA audiences than middle grade. It follows a pair of cousins through a journey of star-crossed love. Beautifully and intelligently written it was impossible to put down. I absolutely loved it.
Pegasus
by Robin McKinley
by Robin McKinley
This book reminds of McKinley’s older works like The Hero and The Crown
. This was a wonderful book, targeted at the young (teen) female audience. Just a warning this is part of a duology and this book leaves you in a terrible spot. It was a wonderful book though and I would definitely give it a read if you are a fantasy fan.
. This was a wonderful book, targeted at the young (teen) female audience. Just a warning this is part of a duology and this book leaves you in a terrible spot. It was a wonderful book though and I would definitely give it a read if you are a fantasy fan.