Ghost of a Chance

By Simon R. Green

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2010

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal, adventure

Series: Ghost Finders Novel; 1

ISBN: 9780441019168

Audience: Adult

Number of pages: 260

Setting: London, England

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: The Carnacki Institute specializes in getting rid of ghosts and other unwelcome supernatural  beings.   When the Oxford Circus Tube Station of London’s Underground becomes haunted by an exceptionally evil force, the Institute sends in its best B-Team to deal with the situation.  (The A-Teams were too far away).  This trio of misfits must save London (and the world) from pure evil, even as agents from a rival institute attempt to kill them.

Who Fears Death

By Nnedi Okorafor

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Daw Books, Inc., 2010

Genres: Fantasy, dark fantasy, science fiction, magical realism

ISBN: 9780756406172

Audience: Adult

Number of pages: 387

Setting: Jwahir & Seven Rivers Kingdom, Africa

Time period: An unspecified time in the future

Plot summary: In a post-apocalyptic Africa, Onyesonwu is born to an Okeke mother.  As a child of rape with a biological father who is Nuru, Onyesonwu is considered an Ewu.  As such, she is despised and mistreated by most people whom she encounters.  As the Nuru continue their warfare and genocide against the Okeke, Onyesonwu struggles to learn about her own special abilities, while teaching others that she is not evil.  She is, in fact, the one who will lead both Nuru and Okeke to peace and healing.

Dead and Gone

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2009

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, faerie tale, paranormal, paranormal mystery, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 9

ISBN: 9780441017157

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 312

Setting: Bon Temps, LA

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Werewolves and shifters have finally come out to the rest of the world about their existence, which sparks fear and violence in various parts of the world – including Bon Temps, where a werepanther is found crucified in the parking lot at Merlotte’s.  Meanwhile, trouble brews amongst the fae, which has significant repercussions for Sookie.

Bones of Faerie

By Janni Lee Simner

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Random House, 2009

Genres: Fantasy, dark fantasy, faerie tale, dystopian

Series: A sequel – Faerie Winter – is due to be published in April, 2011

ISBN: 9780375845635

Audience: Young adult

Number of pages: 247

Setting: St. Louis, Missouri area

Time period: About twenty years in the future

Plot summary: Many years after the war between humans and Faerie has ended, humans are still wary of any kind of magic.  Everyone knows that magic is evil – at least that’s what fifteen year old Liza has been taught.  This is why when Liza’s sister was born with Faerie clear hair, she was left on a hillside to die; shortly after this, Liza’s mother disappeared.  When Liza starts having magical visions she must leave her village immediately, or risk putting herself at great harm.  Unfortunately, there is no place safe for Liza to go, for magic lurks everywhere.

Spirits that Walk in Shadow

By Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Viking, 2006

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, dark fantasy

ISBN: 9780670060719

Audience: Young adult

Number of pages: 306

Setting: Spores Ferry, Oregon

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Jaime Locke is worried about starting her first year of college.  As a member of a magical family, she has been told to keep her abilities secret from everyone outside her family.  She soon realizes that this will be impossible with her new roommate, Kim, who is being preyed upon by a malicious being.

Death Masks

By Jim Butcher

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Roc, 2003

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, mystery, paranormal mystery, paranormal, vampire

Series: The Dresden Files; 5

ISBN: 9780451459404

Audience: Adult

Number of pages: 374 (378 including an excerpt from Blood Rites).

Setting: Chicago, IL

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Harry wanted to get some information about his ex-girlfriend, Susan, he was forced to meet his informer on a television show.  Between his lack of friends on the White Council and his status as a wanted man among the Red Court vampires, most of the people affiliated with the paranormal community, prefer to keep their distances form Harry.  This is all about to change.  Before the night is through, Harry will be sought out by a client, professional hit men, Special Investigations with the Chicago Police Department, his ex-girlfriend, members of the Knights of the Cross, and a very nasty demon.

From Dead to Worse

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2008

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 8

ISBN: 9780441015894

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 359

Setting: Bon Temps, LA

Time period: Contemporary (post Hurricane Katrina)

Plot summary: Sookie has recently returned to Bon Temps from the vampire summit in Rhodes, where many of the attendant vampires were injured or killed.  While Sookie yearns for life to return to how things were prior to the summit, she knows that this is unrealistic.  The vampire community of Louisiana was heavily impacted by both Hurricane Katrina and the Rhodes summit.  She also has not seen or spoken to her boyfriend, Quinn, since Rhodes.  On the bright side, however, a mysterious stranger appears in town who wants to meet Sookie and may have a positive impact upon her life.

All Together Dead

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2007

Genres: Mystery, paranormal mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 7

ISBN: 9780441014941

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 323

Setting: Bon Temps, Louisiana and the city of Rhodes (located on Lake Michigan)

Time period: Contemporary (post Hurricane Katrina)

Plot summary: Sookie is on her way to the vampire summit in Rhodes, even though she doesn’t want to go.  She told the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq, that she would assist her a long time ago and she can’t go back on her word now.  Among other things, she may be needed to help the Queen with a vampire trial.  The Queen has been accused of assassinating her former husband, the King of Arkansas.  Sookie’s not looking forward to spending time with either Bill Compton or Eric Northman – both of whom are also attending the summit as a part of the Queen’s entourage.  On the bright side, though, she may be able to squeeze in some alone time with her new boyfriend, Quinn, since his company is organizing many of the events at the summit.

Summer Knight

By Jim Butcher

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Roc, 2002

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, mystery, paranormal mystery, paranormal

Series: The Dresden Files; 4

ISBN: 9780451458926

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 371

Setting: Chicago, IL & where it meets Faerie

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Harry Dresden has been feeling guilt ridden and depressed ever since his girlfriend Susan left town.  Instead of working on paying cases, he’s been devoting his time to wallowing in misery while seeking to rectify Susan’s situation and falling behind in rent payments.  He’s also had to dodge a few assignation attempts.  The Red Court still wants Harry dead.  Unfortunately, many of the wizards of the White Council would be willing to give Harry to the Red Court to stop the war between the Red Court and the White Council.  These aren’t the worst of Harry’s problems, though.  Those come with the Winter Faerie Queen, Mab, who wants Harry to do a job for her – find out who killed the Summer Knight.  Harry knows better than to deal with Faeries, especially Sidhe queens, but it turns out that he really has no choice in the matter.

Definitely Dead

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, c2006, 2007

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 6

ISBN: 9780441014910

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 324 (342 including an excerpt from the next book – All Together Dead)

Setting: Bon Temps and New Orleans, Louisiana

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Sookie’s long lost, vampire cousin was murdered in New Orleans, the vampire queen of Louisiana – Sophie-Anne Leclerq – came to Bon Temps to tell Sookie the news.  Hadley and Sophie-Anne had been lovers.  Sookie knows she has to deal with Hadley’s estate in New Orleans, but she puts it off as long as she can; life has been fairly busy in Bon Temps.  When a demon comes knocking at her front door, though, Sookie knows it’s time to go.