25 Paranormal Must-reads for 2011
25. Entwined by Heather Dixon (March 29, 2011)
In addition to being a card carrying member of the gorgeous book covers club, Entwined looks to have a gorgeous and ethereal story as well. In an attempt to distract themselves from the pain of losing their mother, the Queen, and the prescribed yearlong mourning period, Azalea and her eleven sisters step through an enchanted passage in their room each night to a silver forest to dance with the Keeper. But there is a price to pay for this escape - the Keeper likes to keep things, and with each dance, he entwines them further into his web.
Check out Heather's discussion of dances, including the "Entwine," seen here:
24. Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (August 1, 2011)
At the end of the thrillingly paced Once a Witch, Tamsin is left at the mercy of her grandmother's prophecy, and in Always a Witch, Tam is forced to travel back to Victorian-era New York to defend her family against Alistair Knight, who is hellbent on preventing the creation of the Domani, and on destroying her family in the past. She disguises herself as a maid in the Knight household, and plots how she will save her family and ensure the Domani remains unharmed. There's a reason Megan McCafferty and Cassie Clare love this series - it's romantic, time-hopping, fast-paced, and fun.
In the absence of a trailer for the sequel, here is the excellent book trailer forOnce a Witch:
23. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes (March 1, 2011)
When Theia meets the devastatingly handsome new boy in school, Haden, she has a strong suspicion she’s seen him before. In her dreams, actually (no this is not the beginnings of a crappy pick up line). Haden pushes her away one minute and calls to her the next, and when she finally discovers the truth about what Haden is, it may be too late for her to resist.
You can read chapter one here. And check out the creepy trailer here:
22. Cloaked by Alex Flinn (February 8, 2011)
Did you love Beastly as much as I did? (And the oh so yummy trailer for the upcoming movie?) Then you probably can't wait for Alex Flinn's next fairy tale mashup, Cloaked. Seventeen year old shoemaker Johnny is just living out his not-so-charmed life in Miami when he is approached by a beautiful modern day princess who asks him for a teensy favor - find her princely brother, who has been turned into a frog. Even with the magical cloak he has been given, he and his best friend Meg have their work cut out for them as they journey through fairy tale memes galore.
To get Cloaked before the masses, enter here to win an ARC! And check out the excerpt from Alex's website here.
21. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (January 4, 2011)
You've probably heard of half-human/half-angel Nephilim, but I bet you've never heard of a quarter-angel (at least I hadn't). That's exactly what Clara Gardner is - a Quartarius to be exact. Alongside the blessing of her angelic powers, she is charged with a purpose on Earth, and has fiery visions detailing that mission. Her dreams lead her to Wyoming, and to Christian, the boy who she is meant to save. But it's not as simple as recreating the visions - a budding romance with her friend Wendy's brother Tucker and some ominous Black Wing fallen angels threaten to derail her mission.
If you can't make the opening party, no worries, you can still get your copy ofUnearthly signed by Cynthia - just send her a pic of you at your bookstore with the book, and she'll send you a bookplate. And she'll choose three pic submissions and award them signed hardcovers. Look here for details on the offer!
And check out this excerpt to get a head start.
20. Afterlife by Claudia Gray (March 8, 2011)
In Afterlife, the fourth and final book in the Evernightseries, Bianca (now a wraith) and Lucas (now a vampire with a bit of a bloodlust problem) have to return to Evernight Academy, where they are granted sanctuary. But Miss Bethany may have it in for wraiths, as Bianca soon discovers - why else would there be wraith traps set up around the grounds? Can Lucas overcome his demons and learn to live with being a vampire?
If you can't wait to start, there is a pretty meaty excerpt available here.
19. Illusions by Aprilynne Pike (May 3, 2011)
After the cliffhanger ending in Spells, fans of the Wingsseries are absolutely rabid for book 3, Illusions, to come out. What will ultimately prevail - Team David or Team Tamani? What the heck is Tamani planning? Illusions promises answers (well, maybe not FINAL answers, there will be a fourth book), and I can't wait to read it.
I'm not sure what I think about Miley Cyrus being attached to play Laurel in the movie. She's not quite what I imagined, but I'll give it a chance.
18. Defiance by Lili St. Crow (April 19, 2011)
After the exciting end to Jealousy, we find Dru about to go on a suicide mission to rescue Graves from Sergej. If anyone is up to the task, it's Dru.
If you haven't seen the book trailer, check it out: it is as fierce and fearsome as Miss Anderson.
17. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (July 26, 2011)
We're in for a bit of a wait for the sequel to Andrea Cremer's fantastic werewolf debut, Nightshade. Yes, love 'em or hate 'em, there IS a love triangle, but there is also a take-no-prisoners heroine in the vein of Katniss Everdeen, and she demands your attention. Calla is strong, loyal to her pack, and exceedingly brave (if not a bit clueless when it comes to love). But most of all the world of Keepers and Guardians is fascinating, and the breakneck plot delights. Wolfsbane promises to be an exciting addition to the trilogy.
Don't miss the Wolfsbane excerpt here!
16. Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (January 4, 2011)
The eighth book in the House of Night series comes out today! Whether you're a fan of Zoey and Stark or Stevie Rae and Rephaim, you'll find something pleasing in this installment (personally, I'm hoping to get a bit more Kalona action).
If you haven't seen the sneak peek yet, be sure tocheck out these pdf and audio excerpts of the first two chapters. The ninth book comes out May 5, 2011, and of course I'm looking forward to that as well. AND book ten is expected to come out October 6, 2011. Do these authors ever sleep?
15. Everlasting by Alyson Noel (June 7, 2011)
This is the sixth and final Immortals book, and I can't wait to see what happens. Ever and Damen have had obstacles galore in their looooong relationship, but Ever is coming into her powers and her independence in this lifetime (and yeah, she may have trust issues, but at least she doesn't just sigh and bat her eyes at any immortal hot guy without pause).
The cure for their "no-touching" predicament is finally coming, right? RIGHT?
14. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton (February 15, 2011)
One of the best antidotes to my current post-Last Sacrifice Rose Hathaway withdrawal is seeking out new heroines who love and fight like there's no tomorrow (and in these books, there might not be). When Ellie awakens to powers she never knew she possessed, she discovers she has a dark duty - to hunt and kill ferocious reapers that prey on human souls. She becomes a fierce Khopesh sword-wielding warrior in the battle between archangels and the Fallen. And they are out to destroy her soul for good this time.
13. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa (January 25, 2011)
Never say Nevernever - Meghan may have thought she was finished with the fey, but they're not finished with her. She has to battle the False Iron King to try and save Nevernever for good. And though Meghan has chosen Ash, Puck die-hards expect more love triangle-goodness in book 3.
Puck fans BEWARE: this teaser excerpt may swing you over to Team Ash. Read responsibly.
12. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr (February 22, 2011)
It's the final book in Melissa Marr's gorgeous and yes, wicked, Wicked Lovely series. Love, despair, betrayal.....it's business as usual in the Faerie Courts. But in the final battle, some will win, and some will lose everything. I cannot wait to read this one, and from the whispers I'm hearing from early readers, I may need to steel myself and make sure Kleenex is close by.
Fans will be pleased to know that a movie is on the horizon, and though there are no deets on who will play Aislinn, we do knowKimberly Peirce (Stop-Loss, Boys Don't Cry) will direct.
11. Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting (February 25, 2011)
In Desires of the Dead, Violet is working hard to hide her rare gift (she can sense echoes of murder victims, and the imprint the killer carries), but it may not be so easy. When she discovers the body of young boy, the FBI take notice of her, and she becomes the object of a dangerous obsession.
I am looking forward to seeing Violet's relationship with Jay develop, and excited to see what comes of her involvement with independent supernatural crime consultants - I hope this is a setup for many more books (and hey, maybe a tv series? it's about time the CW got into procedural crime dramas).
Check out an excellent excerpt available here!
10. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (April 12, 2011)
This books kicks off a companion series to Kelley's amazing Darkest Powers books - and though I'm still wishing for more from that series, I think this is going to be a riveting read. Maya and her friends struggle to make sense of inexplicable accidents in their small island town, and to understand the new powers they are experiencing. Rafe, the new bad boy in town, may be able to help them uncover the reason, and it may have something to do with Maya's strange paw-print birthmark.
Get started ahead of the release with the prologue excerpt here.
9. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (March 22, 2011)
If you loved Catcher, Gabry, and Elias in The Dead Tossed Waves, fear not - they will return, along with Annah (Gabry's long lost twin sister) in the third book in this fantastic zombie series. The book promises plenty more action, romantic confusion (how much more confusing does it get than a love quandrangle, all points active?), and more of Carrie Ryan's deep musings on what new meaning life takes when zombies are clawing at your fences, barriers, and sandy shores.
I can't wait to see the Dark City that was alluded to in TDTW - will it be akin to a zombied out NYC, perhaps?
8. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick (October 18, 2011)
Oh Patch....regardless of how much of a "bad boy" angel you are, despite the multiple misunderstandings that seem to follow you around in each plot you ride your motorcycle through, and regardless of your generally seedy behavior, I can't help wanting to read more about you.
But after the cliffhanger ending in Crescendo, I want to read Silence not just for ample Patch sightings (although that's a BIG plus), I also want to know what the heck happens next with the Archangels. And what is the Black Hand going to do now that he's been revealed?
7. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Fall 2011)
Ok, so I'm still kind of getting over my anger at Lena's behavior in Beautiful Darkness, but I'm still eagerly awaiting book 3, Beautiful Chaos. Casters, Incubi, Keepers, and Waywards....I love them all, and can't wait to see what happens to the Sweetest Southern Boy ever (aka Ethan) and Lena (I'll warm up to her again, but she has an uphill battle ahead of her).
6. Clockwork Prince by Cassie Clare (September 2011)
Cassie Clare has charmed me with a new set of Downworlder and Shadowhunter characters in Clockwork Angel, the first of three prequels to the Mortal Instruments series (and speaking of MI, book 4 in that series, City of Fallen Angels, is another 2011 release- this woman certainly multitasks!). I absolutely love Tessa, Jem and Will and the steampunk twist on this world.
Will Tessa end up with Will or Jem? What is Will hiding? I can't wait to find out in book 2!
5. Passion by Lauren Kate (June 14, 2011)
In Torment (see my review here), we discover that the shadows Luce once thought were malevolent can actually help her see into her past lives when manipulated correctly. And given her uncertainty over love-of-her-lives Daniel, and the introduction of sweet Nephilim-next-door Miles, Luce (and by now allFallen/Torment readers) wants to know what all the Daniel fuss is about. Is their love as epic as he says? Just what happened between them throughout the centuries?
In addition to the obligatory hot & heavy fallen angel makeout sessions I hope we find out why Luce is so important to the Outcasts, Elders, Demons and Angels. 
4. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (TBD - pushed back)
In Graceling, after Katsa bravely rescues Princess Bitterblue from the tyrannical mind grip of King Leck (a seriously vile villain and Bitterblue's father), the little girl becomes the new Queen of Monsea. Bitterblue, the companion novel to Graceling and Fire, follows the story of the queen six years later in the Seven Kingdoms. Kristin Cashore has promised more Katsa and Po action (no Fire and Brigan though - blasted timing), and based on Bitterblue's age, we can expect a love interest to appear for the young queen.
I don't know much more than the above, and that I would read Kristin Cashore's grocery list if she'd let me, so this ranks high on my to-read list.
3. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (July 12, 2011)
The Wolves of Mercy Falls story is like the doomed love of Romeo & Juliet after both lovers got mauled in the moonlight. And man is it addictive. Will sensitive Sam and Grace overcome their latest obstacle to find enduring love? After the shocker cliffhanger ending inLinger, a July release date seems like a cruel punishment.
Maggie’s gorgeous writing is what keeps drawing me back to this series, so no matter what happens with Sam, Grace, Cole and Isabel, I’m sure I’ll enjoy the ride. But seriously, note to Maggie: Sam and Grace need to be together, sans obstacles by the end!
2. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (August 23, 2011)
Reading the last sentence of Last Sacrifice was bittersweet - though I got pretty much everything I wanted and loved every second of reading it, it was OVER. Not just the book itself, but VA as I know it. No more Rose one-liners, smoldering Dimitri looks, or dazzling displays of Lissa-spirit.
When I heard Richelle Mead was doing a spinoff series, I thought maybe, just maybe it would be big enough to fit my Vampire Academy-shaped hole, and from the sounds of it, I won't be disappointed. We know it will be told from auto-obsessed Sydney's perspective, which means more Alchemist mileage, and that Jill and a VA love interest will be around too (I won't say more for fear of spoiling Last Sacrifice fun). Bottom line: MUST READ.
1. City of Fallen Angels by Cassie Clare (April 5, 2011)
Yes, that’s right, the fourth Mortal Instruments book is COMING. And now there will be six total! (Seriously, between this and Cassie's new Infernal Devices series, how does the woman find the time to sleep, eat, etc.? Maybe Harry Potter-esque Time-turners doexist....)
If you can’t get enough of the Jace and Clary lovefest, expect to be satisfied with COFA. And we'll see Simon adjusting to his new life as a Daylighter, and doing his best to avoid Downworld politics. I'm pretty sure we need some new villains to keep things interesting in the next three books, so I'm excited to see what Cassie comes up with (I really thought we were totally done with Valentine and his bunch).
Now that there’s significant movie buzz abounding, expect this series to blow up to harry potter proportions (pretty fitting for a gal who honed her chops by writing Harry-Hermione shipper fanfic).
To get teased COFA-style by Cassie, click here.
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