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The Year of Disappearances
Synopsis: Now available in paperback, Susan Hubbard’s “smooth supernatural thriller” (Publishers Weekly) The Year of Disappearances continues the most surprising vampire story you’ll ever read.

• Hot genre: New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris likens Hubbard’s “mysterious and well-written” novels to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, whose fans “pump new blood into Hubbard’s series” (Florida Today). The devotion of readers to this category ever-expanding in popularity is a prime opportunity to showcase Hubbard’s outworldly fiction.

• Author buzz: Hubbard’s novels grab the attention of a key demographic—enthusiasts of fantasy-themed fiction. “Fans of Stephenie Meyer, I have a new author for you who is even better. meet Susan Hubbard,” proclaims the Poisoned Pen newsletter from the Poisoned Pen mystery bookstore. Booksellers have welcomed Hubbard as an important new contributor to the genre.

• The year of the vampire: Ariella Montero, the perpetually thirteen-year-old, half-human, half-vampire whose adventures began in The Society of S, here, in The Year of Disappearances must harness her special abilities of hypnotism, mind-reading, and the power to make herself invisible to contend with the fatal (for humans) cultural clash wrought by warring sects of vampires and played out against the backdrop of American national politics, whereby a leading candidate proves to be something other.
Publication Date: 06/16/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Guinevere's Gamble
Nancy McKenzie
Synopsis: The second book in the Chrysalis Queen Quartet, starring the young Guinevere.

Much has changed over the last few months in Gwynedd, but Guinevere is still uncertain where her future lies. She recently made the unsettling discovery that she has been guarded all her life by a pagan tribe who believes she is destined to save them—they believe she and the great king will one day wed. But this prophecy is so at odds with her inferior position in the castle as Queen Alyse and King Pellinore’s lowly ward, she can’t believe it’s true. Now more complications arise as Guinevere and her cousin accompany Alyse and Pellinore to a meeting between Welsh kings, presided over by one of the High King Arthur’s knights. While there, Guinevere discovers she has a powerful enemy: King Arthur’s sister, Princess Morgaine. But why would Morgaine hate her?

Guinevere is tumbling into her destiny in ways she never imagined, and she may soon have to face the prophecy with new eyes. . . .
Publication Date: 06/09/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Green Dragon Codex
R.D. Henham
Synopsis: Fall in love with an evil baby dragon in the next dragon codex!

When ten-year-old Scamp Weaver finds a locked chest in a forest clearing, he feels like his life is finally about to change for the better. But he doesn't bargain for just how much change the chest will bring. Inside he finds a dragon egg and a mysterious ancient scroll, which set Scamp and his best friend Dannika off on a harrowing adventure, chased by dragon hunters who want the contents of the chest for themselves. Life gets ever more complicated when the baby green dragon hatches. Will this cute, mischievous hatchling really grow up to be an evil green dragon?

R.D. Henham's series inspired by The New York Times best-seller A Practical Guide to Dragons hatches a gripping story of a green dragon who might--or might not--be evil as the day he was born.
Publication Date: 06/09/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
World's End
Erica Verrillo
Synopsis: Have you ever been inspired to be more?

Elissa used to daydream about being a princess. Now the reality of what it brings is clear: stiff, courtly manners, dresses like cages, tortuously high shoes, and betrothal to an aging duke to secure her father’s kingdom! Elissa wants no part of it and makes her escape to be with her devoted friends, who the King has no use for. But the unseen hand of the Ancient One once again guides Elissa toward a fate she does not wish to acknowledge—the culmination of the prophecy of the Phoenix!

This bright and satisfying conclusion to the Phoenix Rising Trilogy includes riveting adventure, the testing of loyalties, and the return of two old enemies . . . not to mention surprising revelations for our heroine, Elissa—and her fans. It’s not to be missed!
Publication Date: 06/09/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Phantasm
Phaedra Weldon
Synopsis: Read Phaedra Weldon's posts on the Penguin Blog.

The newest in a series that's "part paranormal whodunit, part urban fantasy"(Publishers Weekly) by the author of Wraith and Spectre.

Just when Zoë Martinique, formerly ordinary twenty-something, was getting used to the idea that she was possessed of extraordinary powers, she lost them. Without cause or warning. And at the worst possible time.

Now, unless she can figure out how to go Wraith again, she won't be able to rescue her mother, whose soul is trapped on the Abysmal plane.

Her only hope is to join forces with an old enemy, who has his own dark reasons for helping her. From him she learns that only a traumatic experience can bring the Wraith back. To get out-of-body, Zoë will have to look for big, dangerous trouble-and fast.

For there is a deadly and powerful being within the Abysmal that wishes Zoë never existed...and it's coming for her.
Publication Date: 06/02/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
The Enchantment Emporium
Synopsis: The bestselling author of the Blood Books delivers a masterful new urban fantasy.

Alysha Gale is a member of a family capable of changing the world with the charms they cast. Then she receives word that she's inherited her grandmother's junk shop in Calgary, only to discover upon arriving that she'll be serving the fey community. And when Alysha learns just how much trouble is brewing in Calgary, even calling in the family to help may not be enough to save the day.
Publication Date: 06/02/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Valor's Trial
Tanya Huff
Synopsis: The fourth book in Tanya Huff's action-packed military sci-fi adventure Confederation series

After surviving the perils of the Crucible, the Marine Corps planet where a routine training assignment had taken a deadly twist—Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr returned to Ventris Station just in time to link up with her old platoon and head out to a new war zone, an area of space where the enemy known as the Others appeared to be building up its forces for a preemptive strike.

Sent to pull back troops who’d moved up to an indefensible position, Torin was caught in the heaviest fighting just as a devastating air strike reduced the whole area to slag. The Corps concluded that she was dead. But despite irrefutable evidence, neither Torin’s father nor salvager Craig Ryder agreed.

And the truth was that Torin had survived. She woke to discover that she was trapped in a series of underground caves that appeared to be an enemy-run POW camp. But everyone knew the Others never took prisoners—or did they?

Could Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr escape this prison that shouldn’t even exist, taking as many Marines as possible with her? Though she was determined to get herself and her Marines back to the Confederation, Torin had no idea how crucial her attempt could prove, not only to her own well-being, but to the course of the entire war.
Publication Date: 06/02/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Swordplay
Denise Little
Synopsis: Seventeen rapier-sharp stories of swordplay, magic, and adventure...

From a samurai's sword to an assassin's blade, from Custer's cavalry sword to D'Artagnan's deadly weapon, from the sword of Damocles to the legendary Excalibur, these all-new spellbinding tales get straight to the point. Whether it's a sword bespelled to crave blood, cold steel that magicks its wielder into a video game, or a dwarf-crafted blade meant to slay a dragon, these weapons each come sheathed in their own fascinating story that cuts right to the heart of fantasy adventure.
Publication Date: 06/02/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
The Sorceress
Michael Scott
Synopsis: Read the third book in the New York Times bestselling The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, perfect for fans of The Maze Runner and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
   Nicholas Flamel's heart almost broke as he watched his beloved Paris crumble before him. The city was destroyed by Dee and Machiavelli, but Flamel played his own role in the destruction. Sophie and Josh Newman show every sign of being the twins of prophecy, and Flamel had to protect them and the pages from the Dark Elders.
   But Nicholas grows weaker with each passing day. Perenelle is still trapped in Alcatraz, and now that Scatty has gone missing, the group is without protection. Except for Clarent—the twin sword to Excalibur. But Clarent’s power is unthinkable, its evil making it nearly impossible to use without its darkness seeping into the soul of whoever wields it.
   If he hopes to defeat Dee, Nicholas must find an Elder who can teach Josh and Sophie the third elemental magic—Water Magic. The problem? The only one who can do that is Gilgamesh, and he is quite, quite insane.

Praise for The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series:

The Alchemyst

[STAR] “[A] A riveting fantasy…While there is plenty here to send readers rushing to their encyclopedias…those who read the book at face value will simply be caught up in the enthralling story. A fabulous read.”—School Library Journal, Starred
 
The Magician

[STAR] “Readers will be swept up by a plot that moves smartly along, leaving a wide trailer of destruction and well-timed revelations.”—Kirkus Reveiws, Starred
 
The Sorceress

“Master yarnspinner that he is, Scott expertly cranks up the suspense while keeping his now-large cast in quick motion….This page –turner promises plenty of action to come.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
The Necromancer

“Unrelenting forward momentum….This book will thrill fans.”—School Library Journal


From the Hardcover edition.
Publication Date: 05/26/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Pulse
Jeremy Robinson
Synopsis:

HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD YOU KILL TO LIVE FOREVER?

Imagine a world where soldiers regenerate and continue fighting without pause, where suicide bombers live to strike again and again. This is the dream of Richard Ridley, founder of Manifold Genetics, and he has just discovered the key to eternal life: an ancient artifact buried beneath a Greek-inscribed stone in the Peruvian desert.

When Manifold steals the artifact and abducts archeologist Dr. George Pierce, United States Special Forces Delta operator Jack Sigler, call sign King, and his “Chess Team” —Queen, Knight, Rook, Bishop, and their handler, Deep Blue—give chase. Formed under special order from President Duncan, they are the best of America’s Special Forces, tasked with antiterrorism missions that take them around the world against any threat, ancient, modern, and at times, inhuman. With cutting-edge weapons, tough-as-nails tactics, and keen intellects, they stand alone on the brink, facing the world’s most dangerous threats.

Ridley’s plan to create unstoppable soldiers has just made him threat number one. Tension soars along with the body count as the team faces high-tech security forces, hordes of “regens,” the horrific results of Manifold’s experiments, and a resurrected mythological predator complete with regenerative abilities, seven heads, and a savage appetite. The Chess Team races to save Pierce and stop Manifold before they change the face of genetics—and human history—forever.

Heart-pounding action combines with adrenaline-charged suspense in the first of Jeremy Robinson’s smart, sharp series featuring the Chess Team.

Publication Date: 05/26/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Royal Blood
Ellen Schreiber
Synopsis:

Summer break is over, and Raven is hardly eager to be returning to Dullsville High. Not only does school mean daily interaction with preppy pest Trevor Mitchell, but her sleep-filled days and romantic nights with her immortal boyfriend, Alexander, must come to an end. Plus the shock of morning classes isn't the only change in store.

An unexpected letter turns up at Alexander's mansion—announcing his parents will be coming to town. And once they arrive, just about everyone has had a sighting of the macabre couple except Raven. What could be delaying Alexander from introducing Raven to them? Could Alexander be hiding something about his parents' homecoming?

When Raven is finally invited to the most thrilling dinner party of her life, the next turn of events could transform her entire future with Alexander. The sixth book in Ellen Schreiber's bestselling Vampire Kisses series takes an unusual twist in the continuing romance of Raven and Alexander.

Publication Date: 05/19/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Death By Denim
Linda Gerber
Synopsis: Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom?s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she?s in Paris?the most romantic city in the world? When her mom?s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth?s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .
Publication Date: 05/14/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
The Circle of Friends:  Book 2
Synopsis: No awards for second best... A student at Georgia Tech, Sarah Martin is bold, intelligent, and appears destined for a career in biochemistry. But her poor self-image has been masked by behavior unbecoming to a young lady brought up in an affluent Southern family. Estranged from her father, envious of her best friend's perfect life, Sarah feels inadequate and unable to measure up to expectations. When a friendship suddenly turns romantic, Sarah questions herself even more. A future NFL receiver, Matt's joyful spirit and social status appear beyond her reach. Yet beneath his eager smile and playboy antics lies a young man hiding in shadows and desperate to trust again. Faced with challenges, they must help each other come to terms with past disappointments before insecurities and doubt threaten to sabotage their future. Described as "encouragement personified", Wolfe's five-book Southern-based series portrays love and friendship overcoming all obstacles.
Publication Date: 05/05/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series
Crouching Vampire Hidden Fang
Synopsis: For a woman married to the vampire of her nightmares, the honeymoon's over- and reality bites...

Pia Thomason is torn between two Dark Ones: her husband Kristoff-who doesn't trust her-and his best friend, Alec, who is MIA. So Pia goes back to her humdrum Seattle life, but fate has other plans. And she realizes that if she and Kristoff are going to be shackled together for better or worse, she may as well start to enjoy it...

Read Katie MacAlister's posts on the Penguin Blog.
Publication Date: 05/05/09
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Series
Magic in the Blood, Devon Monk
Synopsis: Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.
Publication Date: 05/05/09
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Series
The Jewel Keepers
E.J Bousfield
Synopsis: The first book of a trilogy. A fantasy fiction historical timeslip epic set in the 1st century AD and the present day Britain
Publication Date: 05/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Series

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