Epic Fantasy. In a plague-ridden America where demons and their followers wreak havoc, two Knights of the World are fighting to save innocent lives. While Logan Tom leads a group of orphaned street kids, Angel Perez seeks to protect the elfs, even though they mistrust humans. Meanwhile, Hawk, who possesses untapped powers, and his friend, Tessa, are mysteriously saved from certain death. This 2nd book in Terry Brooks' Genesis of Shannara series combines the unique world of Shannara with the apocalyptic world of his the Word and the Void trilogy; Library Journal says Brooks unites the "two popular story cycles in a surprising and ingenious fashion."

Dark Fantasy. Comic book fans may recognize author Mike Carey's name--he is, after all, an Eisner-nominated writer who currently works on the X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four series. Now he's written his first novel, The Devil You Know, and the critics love it. Hating his job but needing money, Felix Castor, a freelance exorcist, agrees to rid a London archives of a not-so-nice female ghost--even after he's warned not to. Maybe he should have listened, since he's soon fighting for his life and dealing with a werewolf and a pimp. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly says Felix is "the perfect hardboiled hero for a new supernatural noir series."

Fantasy. With personal demons and troubles in tow, two half-brothers, gay wizard Felix Harrowgate and ex-assassin Mildmay the Fox, return to the Mirador, a citadel of magical power and wizardry located in the city of Melusine. But someone close to the two men is spying for their enemies at a rival school of wizardary, the Bastion. The Mirador is the 3rd and penultimate book in author Sarah Monette's Doctrine of Labyrinths series; fans of diverse, well-drawn characters who haven't read the prior two books, Melusine and The Virtue, should start with those.

Epic Fantasy. What happens after the brave champions defeat the evil doers? That question is answered in The Well of Ascension, the 2nd book in the Mistborn trilogy after Mistborn: The Final Empire. Vin, a petite former street urchin who helped kill the brutal former Lord Ruler, finds herself dealing with the loss of her mentor and worshipped for her Mistborn powers. She's also working to stabilize and rebuild the city of Luthadel together with Elend Venture, the new king and her love, even as three armies--one led by Elend's own father--eye it. Booklist calls this an "engaging epic."

Urban Fantasy. The faerie world mets rock and roll in Emma Bull's 1987 award-winning debut novel, War for the Oaks. Struggling Minneapolis musician Eddi McCandry is at loose ends--her band has broken up and so has her relationship with her boyfriend, the band's leader. Things get even more chaotic when she learns that she's been chosen to aid the Seelie faerie court in their bitter, age-old battle against the Unseelie court; and, since she's dealing with the fey, it's an offer she can't refuse. With a faerie guardian who can take the form of a dog or a man, Eddi tries to help--and put her life back together. Music and its power are so integral to this novel that de Lint fans will feel right at home.

Contemporary Fantasy. A regular Joe named Richard Mayhew finds that his life in London is forever changed when he helps an injured young girl named Door. Poor Richard finds himself virtually nonexistent after the encounter--even his fiancée doesn't remember him--and he goes in search of Door to try and right things. He soon finds himself living in an alternate London (a city of monsters, saints, and murderers), and helping Door discover why her family was killed. Neverwhere, the first full-length novel Neil Gaiman wrote, has a dark fantasy edge that will resonate with de Lint readers, as will Gaiman's setting and his writing style.

Dark Mythic Fantasy. Poor Oliver Bascombe is having doubts about his impending marriage when Jack Frost (yes, that one) enters his life begging for help. Oliver, suffering from cold feet, readily agrees to help Jack, and he soon finds himself crossing the veil into another world where myths are real--and where he may be stuck. Meanwhile, Oliver's sister misses him and sets out to solve the case of his disappearance only to find that their father has been murdered. De Lint fans should enjoy this myth-laden modern tale as should those who like their fantasy with a bit of mystery.

Contemporary Fantasy. In A Fistful of Sky, Gypsum LaZelle, an average Southern California young woman in a family full of spellcasters, resigns herself to a nonmagical life since she never "transitioned" during her adolesence like her brothers and sisters did. But at the ripe old age of 20 she falls dangerously ill and awakens with a frightening power, the "unkind" gift of curses...a power she must use or it will destroy her. De Lint fans should enjoy author Nina Kiriki Hoffman's well-drawn setting and her use of language (Publishers Weekly says her "lyrical writing flows at a perfect pace and is as engaging as the characters").

Fantasy. Revisiting the world she created for her young adult Wizard series, author Diane Duane leaves humans behind (mostly) to focus on felines. Four Manhattan cats, who also happen to be wizards working in concert with human sorcerers to protect the world, need to repair a magical gate located underneath Grand Central Station. Realizing that the situation is more than a simple malfunction, the cats travel to another world in order to face an ancient evil power that threatens to invade the city--it's a good thing these cats have nine lives. Kirkus Reviews says "fantasy-loving ailurophiles will curl up and purr."

Fantasy. Cat fanciers intrigued by Japan should lap up this story-within-a-story about a nameless tortoiseshell cat told by an elderly Japanese royal. As Princess Harueme sorts through her belongings, she finds empty notebooks and fills them with the tale of a little cat whose entire family is killed in a terrible earthquake and fire, taking with them the cat's fudoki ("self and soul and home and shrine, all in one to a cat"). Embarking on a remarkable journey in search of herself, the feline wakes up one day as Kagaya-hime, a woman-warrior with the soul of a cat. "This tale of life and dying, of love and humanity, soars with feline grace" (Publishers Weekly).

Romantic Fantasy. After the death of the talented and popular regent, Mangan Tighe, power passed effortlessly to Prince Jamas. Mangan had taught Jamas the ins-and-outs of ruling, and he also, unbeknownst to anyone, left behind Niffy, a special advisor in feline form to help the young prince. Now, with members of his kingdom restless, a dangerous enemy seeking power, and Jamas in love, the extraordinary Niffy has her hands...er, paws full trying to guide Jamas and save the land. Bestselling author Anne McCaffrey has written "an enchanting and sophisticated fairy tale for adults and intelligent children alike" (Publishers Weekly).

Historical Fantasy. In a land reminiscent of 16th-century northern England, the triplet princess daughters of a border lord are kidnapped as part of a plot to ruin their father. The three telepathically linked sisters--Drucilla, Sabina, and Tamara--are then left to die in an underground realm, the Dismals. Encountering bizarre creatures and a strange young man and his cat-like companion in their dangerous new home, the three must use their mental powers and intelligence to survive. Filled with "Andre Norton's charm and vigor" (Booklist), Three Hands for Scorpio is the late, great author's last solo novel; in 2005, she passed away at the age of 93 at her home in Tennessee.