The Ninja Reviews. . .Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside by Holly Black

Holly Black is known mostly for co-writing The Spiderwick Chronicles, but I knew her first as an author of young adult books about a very dark version of our world inhabited by faeries.


The first of these books is Tithe (the cover has been re-done a number of times, which I've always found an interesting thing for a publisher to do). Kaye is 16 and has always felt like a freak. She is a blonde-haired Asian, which is strange enough, she grew up in seedy bars because of her rocker-wannabe mom, and she has vague memories of conversing with faeries when she was a little girl. When she ends up back at her Gram's house, she rescues a wounded man who is obviously not of this world. Her faerie friends from childhood reappear to warn her, but Kaye is quickly sucked into the world of faerie.

This is actually a re-telling of the Scottish legend of Tam Lin, but it is incredibly dark, very edgy, and not your typical faery story. In traditional folklore, faeries were not usually beautiful creatures who performed good deeds; They were something to be feared. Holly Black definitely uses this in her novels, and to great effect. I have read some reviews online in which readers have complained about the language and some of the contest in these books. However, it all serves to build the Kaye's character and explain what type of life she has had. If you keep in mind that she's led a really rough life around rough people, you just might come to understand her and her eventual involvement in the macabre world of the fae.

I highly suggest these books to fans of Melissa Marr. If you love her books, then you will certainly enjoy Holly Black's. Here are the two books that follow Tithe:

Valiant by Holly Black

Ironside by Holly Black

The Ninja Reviews. . .Captivate by Carrie Jones

Pixies, Werewolves, & Valkyries, Oh My!

Carrie Jones takes us back into her world of Pixies and snow in Captivate, the sequel to Need.

Zara and her friends have successfully imprisoned the King of the Pixies (who just so happens to be her biological father) and his minions in a house in the woods of Maine. Little do they realize that their Pixie trouble is just beginning. A great battle is brewing for control of Zara’s father’s kingdom that will ultimately pit good against evil. Luckily Zara has her friends to help: her boyfriend, Nick (who is a hot--is there any other kind?—Werewolf), Devyn (her Were-Eagle friend), Betty (her Were-Tiger grandmother) and Issie (her human sidekick).

Just when they think they are holding their own, along comes a Valkyrie taking wounded warriors to Valhalla (Viking Heaven to us mortals) to ready for the great battle. Will they be able to keep everyone safe from the Pixies, or will Zara be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect those she loves?

Captivate, a book you’ll Need to read!

The evil pixie in me must tell you that Captivate won’t be published until January. I just so happened to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) hate me if you must!


review by Angela, a.k.a. Woodland West Super Ninja

While you're waiting for Captivate, try these books about the fae:

Need by Carrie Jones Captivate in January!

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr Check out her other books!

Kin: The Good Neighbors book 1 by Holly Black illustrated by Ted Naifeh

The Ninja Reviews...Melting Stones by Tamora Pierce

A small island has requested help from the mage temple Winding Circle. Plants have been dying all over the island, especially near its lone mountain. Dedicate Rosethorn, a plant mage, drags Evvy with her after convincing the temple council that the parents of those boys would calm down with Evvy out of the picture for a while. Even though Rosethorn admits, they really did deserve it. Stone mage Evvy, however, considers the long trip across the water more like a punishment. Yet, as Evvy, Rosethorn, and Dedicate Myrrhtide arrive on the island, having her along seems like foresight.

What is really interesting is how Ms. Pierce melds actual scientific phenomena with a realm of magic. She seamlessly explains actual scientific events with a world unseen by normal human eyes. Melting Stones is a feast for the senses.

For readers who have read other Tamora Pierce novels, Evvy is recognizable from the Circle Opens Quartet book two, Street Magic. Though having the background knowledge of other characters mentioned in Melting Stones is nice; it is not absolutely necessary. The novel can stand on its own.



Don't forget to enjoy Melting Stones' first incarnation as a full cast audiobook. Full cast audio is where every character and the narrator are all voiced by different actors.




If you like Melting Stones, read the rest of the books following the young mages taken in by Winding Circle.

Circle of Magic Quartet


The Circle Opens Quartet


This book is on YALSA's top 10 nominee 2009 books for teens. You can see the list of nominees here. During August 25 through September 18 you can vote on your favorite and help create YALSA's next top 10 list!

post written by SEB

The Ninja Reviews. . .The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

One of my favorite series is The Mortal Instruments trilogy. I'm very happy to say that book two in the series is on the list of nominations for YALSA's Top Ten

Book one begins with Clary Fray and her best friend, Simon, going to a New York club called Pandemonium. While there, Clary witnesses other three teens sporting weird tattoos and weapons attack a seemingly innocent club-goer. She soon discovers that she saw something that no normal human should be able to see: an entire world of supernatural beings that exist alongside ours.

Clary's mother soon disappears and Clary is attacked by a creature that she knows shouldn't exist. Questions begin to pile up as Clary wonders why this is happening to her and what secrets this new world carries not only about the beings in it, but about herself.


Book two (the YALSA nomination!) continues right where book one left off. Clary is now fully involved in the world of the Shadowhunters, warriors who battle to protect the world, human and non-human alike, from the darkness of the supernatural world. But how does she fit into this world and can she prove herself while also surviving and protecting those she loves?




The final book in the trilogy will keep you up all night reading so that your questions will finally be answered! What will happen with Clary and Jace? Will Simon be able to lead a life anywhere near normal? Is Clary's mother going to live? And can Clary prove that she can be the strong, powerful young woman that she really is? Will she be able to save them all?




I highly recommend this fast-paced series. It is highly addictive and full of strong and interesting characters. There are a lot of dark moments, but even some highly amusing ones, too. If you enjoy this series, try these titles as well:

The Ninja Reviews...The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Set during the turbulent times of the French Revolution, The Red Necklace follows the life of young Yann Margoza. Born into the life of a performer, he has traveled with a dwarf and a magician, helping them perform various tricks for numerous audiences across France. However, when a Count Kalliovski invites them to a special performance at Marquis de Villeduval's chateau, Yann's world becomes filled with death and shady pasts.

Sally Gardner smoothly transitions the reader to a previous time, as the reader follows the lives of Yann, a young gypsy with extraordinary gifts, and the Marquis' unfortunate daughter, Sido. The reader gets to see how, at the worst possible time in French history, the life of a simple performer gets intertwined with the realm of nobility.

The Red Necklace will draw you in with unforgettable characters.

The Ninja Reviews...The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe believed her day was going just fine, when the voices started pursuing her. She could have sworn that a man who seemed to be melting was following her down the corridor when the teachers confronted her. Why couldn't they see him too?

Group homes are for crazy teens. And there is no way that Chloe Saunders is crazy. At least, that is what she tells herself most days. After freaking out at school, though, her only option is to put up with a local group home for troubled teens called, Lyle House.

So, Lyle House it is. She only needs to bide her time and act like whatever they give her is working. If only the other teens wouldn't keep pushing her to acknowledge whatever it is that she is seeing. It can't be true what they say...can it?

Kelley Armstrong begins her Darkest Power series with The Summoning. The story follows Chloe Saunders as she discovers not only who she is, but what she has been all along. Ms Armstrong really draws the reader in to another world lurking beneath the one everyone else sees. And it may not be all it's cracked up to be, but Chloe will have to deal with it, like it or not.

The Summoning will delight horror fans as Chloe explores the hidden depths of Lyle House.

The story continues with the second book of the Darkest Powers, The Awakening.

Make magic with science!

Physics Circus for Teens
Saturday, May 9th
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Southwest Branch


Newton was inspired by an apple. Hawking was inspired by space. Find out what you can be inspired by! Come to the Physics Circus where a group of UTA students will amaze you by turning ordinary objects into magic! It’s physics! And while you are at the Physics Circus you may do something completely unanticipated.