Genre Post: YA Fiction
As a teenager, I lived and breathed YA fiction (who didn't?!) Action, magic, adventure, romance - YA has the lot! Here are some of my favourites.
Ruby Red Trilogy - Kerstin Gier
Gwen has had a relatively normal life so far. But she unexpectedly discovers she's inherited the time-traveling gene. Totally unprepared, she is thrown into a world of mystery and secret brotherhoods. And to make it worse, her time-traveling counterpart is the obnoxious and totally gorgeous Gideon.
This series follows Gwen, a relatable teenage girl who suddenly has to learn the art of time-travelling. To add to the mystery, time-travel is regulated by a shady organisation full of stuffy old men and shrouded in mystery. Each book is fast paced, with adventure, romance and secrets - a recipe for a cracking YA series!
The books were also turned into films (they're all in German, the first and last have subtitles, the second doesn't - you'll have to look online!). The first film is close to the book, then gradually the plots diverge, but they're all enjoyable. If anything, Gwen becomes real kick-ass in the last film which I love! Definitely worth a watch.
The Shadowhunter Chronicles - Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments: Clary Fray thinks she's normal. Then her mum disappears. Soon, she is pulled into the world of Shadowhunters, where an old enemy is threatening to return.
The Infernal Devices: Tessa Grey descends into dark supernatural world of Victorian London. With the Shadowhunters as her allies, she discovers a secret organisation that must be stopped at all costs.
The Shadowhunter books are a must read for teenagers or anyone who loves a bit of fantasy. There are 4 series so far, but I recommend starting with one of the two I've mentioned above. They follow Clary and Tessa (respectively) who are suddenly thrown into a hidden supernatural world. Both become involved with the Shadowhunters - who doesn't love bad-ass demon hunters - and try to work out where they fit in this world of demons and magic. A warning: Cassandra Clare knows how to break your heart, piece it back together and break it all over again!
Darkest Powers Trilogy - Kelley Armstrong
All Chloe Saunders wants is a normal life. But when she starts seeing ghosts, she knows that her life will never be the same. Chloe is admitted to a group home for disturbed kids, but she begins to realise that something sinister and strange binds all the residents together.
This is a YA spin-off series from Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series (which is also amazing!). The series follows Chloe, who can see ghosts, and the other kids in Lyle House, who also happen to have odd abilities. They all realise something is off with the group home they're in and have to accept the supernatural world they didn’t know existed. The whole series is really fast paced, with each book flowing seamlessly into the next. The world this series is set in is really cool - lots of different types of supernatural species. Really thrilling and one of my favourite YA series!
The Host - Stephenie Meyer
The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts. Wanderer has been given the body of Melanie Stryder, but she did not expect her host to fight back. As Melanie's memories flood her mind, Wanderer finds herself yearning for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.
This book follows Wanderer as she tries to settle in her new human body and deal with Melanie - the original owner. I love the concept of this book, of losing control over our minds and whether you can love people just from inheriting memories. It really questions what it means to be human. The alien species focus on the downsides of humanity: the war, pollution, crime, etc. But through Wanderer and Melanie, we see the positives: emotions, fierce love, community, survival. The film is also very well made and follows the book closely - worth a watch!
Slated - Teri Terry
Kyla's memory has been erased. The government claims she was a terrorist and that they're giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla's mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems.
This trilogy follows the rehabilitation of Kyla. She's continually wondering what she did to get her mind wiped and who she's been forced to leave behind. The dystopian world of this series is interesting - the idea that you could have a second chance rather than a life in prison. But there's the issue of ethics and corruption. There is also this question of whether you can train your brain to hide memories, to protect them. A good series.
More YA books I recommend
- Soul Screamers (Rachel Vincent)
- The Hollow (Jessica Verday)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J Maas)
- The Name of the Star (Maureen Johnson)
- Twilight Saga (Stephenie Meyer) - yes I know, it's a guilty pleasure!