Fantasy. In Tracing the Shadow, religious fanatics are conducting an inquisition and purging the kingdom of Francia of all its magi. Just about everyone at the College of Thaumaturgy is killed, but two men escape: an alchemist and his apprentice. The alchemist makes his way to a neighboring land with his odd radio-like invention while the apprentice forges a strange partnership in his own land. Meanwhile, an orphaned child is rescued by a holy warrior--but he has no idea that her magus father met his end on the inquisition's pyres and that she desires revenge. "Graceful prose and well-drawn characters" (Library Journal) populate this 1st book in a new series.

Urban Mystery Fantasy. If you owe a queen a favor, you're probably going to have to oblige. If the royal female in question is Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, you'll do so or else. In the 10th book in this wonderful series, Mab wants a dangerous man rescued and thinks Harry is just the man for the job--but the Summer Queen doesn't want the man saved... Missing the canceled TV version of The Dresden Files? Pick up the books, starting with Storm Front. And if you've read all of them already, grab Dead Witch Walking, the 1st in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series about a witch in modern-day Cincinnati.

Historical Fantasy. Debut author Jo Graham creates a fascinating retelling of Virgil's The Aeneid by using a woman's point of view. Gull is just an innocent slave child who's been brought across the sea from Troy, but a chariot accident damages her leg and changes the course of her life. Since Gull is unable to work and likely will be killed, her mother gives her to Pythia, the oracle who speaks for the Lady of the Dead. Gull has supernatural talents and eventually she takes on the role of Pythia. As Pythia, Gull embarks on a journey, reunites with her people, and becomes a counselor to Trojan Prince Aeneas. Readers who enjoy subtle, well-woven fantastic elements will enjoy this historical tale.

Urban Fantasy. Sexy and sassy white witch Rachel Morgan returns in her 6th outing, The Outlaw Demon Wails, and her past is catching up with her. Having trafficked in forbidden demon magic in order to save the lives of her friends, Rachel is now paying the price as Al, a demon who's supposedly safely behind bars in the ever-after, somehow comes after her. Still upset over the death of her lover, Rachel does what she can to save the other people (such as her mom) and creatures (including her pixy roommate) in her life before she loses them. This is a series that is best enjoyed when read in order, so start with Dead Witch Walking.

Hired by Venice's ruling Council of Ten to uncover a foreign spy, legendary seer Maestro Nostradamus, aided by his apprentice, Alfeo Zeno, soon discovers that the clever spy can only be caught by occult means and must turn to Alfeo, a young swordsman in possession of some unique talents, to solve the dangerous mystery, in the sequel to The Alchemist's Apprentice. Original.

Fans of high-spirited adventure, intrigue and romance will celebrate the third book (after 2007's Magic Study) in the saga of reluctant mage and diplomat Yelena Zaltana. The news that Yelena is a Soulfinder, able to manipulate the spirits of the dead and the living, hasn't made her popular with the inhabitants of Sitia's Magician's Keep, since the last Soulfinder turned people into mindless slaves. First Magician Roze Featherstone's hostility toward Yelena increases until the Sitian Council decides to send Yelena north as diplomatic liaison to the rival nation of Ixia. When Roze takes over the council, imprisoning her rivals and driving the nation to the brink of war with Ixia, Yelena is caught between her duties as liaison, her love for Ixian intelligence officer Valek and her fear of her own power, which she must embrace fully to defeat Roze and restore the council. Snyder delivers another excellent adventure, deftly balancing international and local hostilities against Yelena's personal struggles.  - Publisher's Weekly

Epic Fantasy. Prince of the Blood, first published almost two decades ago and set 20 years after the events of the Riftwar Saga, chronicles the adventures of royal twins Prince Borric and Prince Erland. The two were formally fun-loving young men, but their uncle hasn't produced any children, and their father, instead of taking the role himself, has named his first-born twin, Borric, the Heir to the Throne. Now the brothers must attend to their first duties by being ambassadors to Kesh to honor the Queen's Jubilee celebration. But before their travel party makes much distance, someone attempts to kill Borric. This "well-written, lavishly detailed fantasy" (Library Journal) should please newcomers looking for a light-hearted read.

Historical Fantasy. During the reign of Henry VIII, two sets of elven twins are each told about two versions of England's future--in one vision, a ruler takes the throne and turmoil follows; in another, a red-headed babe grows up to rule and ushers in a golden age. Rhoslyn and Pasgen Silverhair, who were kidnapped and raised by the evil Unseleighe Sidhe, try to prevent the rise to the throne of the red-haired child (but Henry had three babies with red hair!), while the other set of elven twins, Denoriel and Aleneil of the Seleighe Sidhe, endeavor to ensure that the red-haired child does become the ruler. This fun read is sure to please anglophiles--especially those interested in Queen Elizabeth I.

Romantic Fantasy. As the powerful vampire Lilith prepares to unleash catastrophic destruction upon the world, the Goddess Morrigan enlists the help of Hoyt Mac Cionaoith, a 12th-century Irish sorcerer whose twin brother, Cian, was turned into a vamp by Lilith. Hoyt journeys to 21st-century New York in search of five other warriors, and there he meets a redheaded witch...as well as his bloodsucking twin. Can Hoyt, Glenna, and four other brave souls defeat the dark forces that threaten the earth? The answer lies in this magic-, myth-, and love-infused book. Don't be confused by bestselling romance writer Nora Roberts' name on the cover; Library Journal says "the story is a bit more fantasy than romance...[though it] should satisfy readers of both genres."

Twin boys are born to the dragon king of Ippa, though only one-Karadur Atani-is born of dragon blood. But Karadur Atani will never become a dragon, for his bitter twin brother steals his talisman and leaves him trapped in the body of an ordinary man. As a powerful wizard rains death and destruction on the people of Ippa, Karadur Atani leads his warriors into war-to challenge his wizard brother and to reclaim his destiny.

High Fantasy. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, royal twins Prince Barrick and Princess Briony must save Southmarch Castle and the surrounding lands from their fairy-like enemies, the Qar. But the two are only 15 years old, their father is being held hostage, their older brother has been killed, and castle insiders may be plotting against them. Oh, and the Shadowline, a mist-like divider between their land and the Qar's, is moving. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly calls this 1st in the Shadowmarch trilogy (Shadowplay is next) an "impressive opening installment" and says it is "packed with intriguing plot twists."