Level Up

By Gene Luen Yang; art by Thien Pham

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: First Second, 2011

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal

Format: Graphic novel

ISBN: 9781596432352

Audience: Adult, young adult

Number of pages: 160

Setting: An unspecified town somewhere in the US.

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Dennis Ouyang is kicked out of college due to his horrible study habits and excessive gaming tendencies, four angels come to his rescue and get him re-enrolled.  They have arrived to help Dennis fulfill his destiny and go to medical school to become a gastroenterologist.

Bone Crossed

By Patricia Briggs

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

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

Series: Mercy Thompson; 4

ISBN: 9780441016761

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 309

Setting: Tri-cities (Richland, Kennewick, & Pasco), & Spokane, WA

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Marsilia, the head of the local vampires, discovers that Mercy killed Andre, one of her favorite vampires, she takes her revenge by torturing Mercy’s friend (and vampire), Stefan.  When the consequences of this action do not bring the intended results, Mercy worries that her friends’ lives are at risk.  If Mercy had known that Marsilia knew she had killed Andre, she would never have agreed to mate Adam.

Hunting Ground

By Patricia Briggs; narrated by Holter Graham

Place: Publisher & Year: [New York]: Penguin Audio, 2009

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Format: Digital download – audio

Series: Alpha and Omega series; 2

ISBN: 9781440644634

Audience: Adult

Length: 8 hours, 25 minutes, 43 seconds

Setting: Seattle, WA (opening scene takes place in Aspen Creek, MT)

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Bran, the Marrock, plans to attend a werewolf delegation in Seattle, Charles just knows that it would be a disaster for his father to be there.  Bran allows Charles and Anna to go in his place.  The delegation will allow the European werewolves to have a chance to voice their concerns prior to the Marrock’s announcement to the public about the existence of werewolves.  Charles and Anna will have their hands full during the delegation of Alpha wolves, especially after someone threatens Anna.

Miss Peregrines’s Home for Peculiar Children

By Ransom Riggs

Place: Publisher & Year: Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2011

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, time travel fantasy, historical fantasy, mystery, paranormal, historical fiction

Series: The author’s blog (8/9/2011) states that there will be a sequel to this book.

ISBN: 9781594744761

Audience: Young adult

Number of pages: 352

Setting: Englewood, Florida & Cairnholm, Wales

Time period: Contemporary & 1941

Plot summary: When Jacob Portman’s grandfather is killed in the woods behind his house, the police decide that he was attacked by feral dogs.  Jacob was in those woods that night, though, and saw something that was not a dog.  What he saw could only be described as a monster.  Of course his parents and the police don’t believe him when he tries to explain this to them.  After this, Jacob has terrible nightmares and doesn’t want to leave his house, even in broad daylight.  Jacob’s parents send him to a psychiatrist where he undergoes months of therapy.  Eventually, Jacob convinces his parents to allow him to travel to Wales over the summer.  He intends to find the home where his grandfather lived as a child.  He also hopes to find some answers to the mysteries which surrounded his grandfather.