Sasha's Recommends

Paris at the turn of the century -- city of light, city of decadence, poised on the cusp of modernity.  This book is about the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, but the authors also explore in detail many related -- and intriguing -- topics: forensic science, art history, detective fiction, and the character of Paris itself at this unique point in history.  The atuhors' engaging style -- scholarly in scope yet compulsively readable -- brings the setting alive through fascinating details and stranger-than-fiction anecdotes.

This is one of my top fantasy books of the year, for sure.  It's set in Tombstone, AZ, and the unique Wild West setting -- drawn with vibrant, gritty detail -- makes the seemingly conventional central characters -- a young man somewhat resistantly diescovering his magical powers, an independent-minded young woman -- interesting and fresh.  The wonderfully developed setting and characters make for a book that is by turns heart-poundingly gripping and heart-wrenchingly sweet...oh, and delightfully humorous too!  Read it today!

Another very enjoyable fantasy/adventure/romance from Sharon Shinn!  Whether you're already a fan (like me!) or have yet to sample Shinn's delightful YA romances, you should give this one a try.  It's unique and fully engaging and features a likeable young heroine, a loveable romantic hero, and a creepy villian!  Far from predictable, though, this book will keep you guessing -- once I'd started it, it absorbed literally every spare minute I had until I'd finished it!

If you loved The Lord of the Rings and especially The Silmarillion, you have to read this book!  Mythic in feel but focused on the life story of a single character, Turin, this beautifully-written book reads like a cross between these two.  The story ifs full of adventure, romance, and tragedy -- a powerful new book finally released over 33 years after Tolkien's death.  Don't miss it!