By Kristin Cashore Strong female protagonists to go along with satisfying plots and a one very evil villain. First book: Graceling
"I know this is a war, but the rest of us are trying to pretend it's a party."
Artemis Fowl (series)
By Eoin Colfer Twelve-year-old genius vs. fairies (who live underground, have advanced technology, and do not like mud-men (humans)). Time-stops, magic, gadgets, sassy centaurs, and one very evil pixie. Wait, make that three of the pixie. First book: Artemis Fowl
“It's like learning to ride a unicorn. You never forget.”
“Let us proceed under the assumption that the fairy folk do exist, and that I am not a gibbering moron.”
Chasing Alliecat
By Rebecca Fjelland Davis Some mountain biking and a character with secrets.
Forever Evermore (series)
By Scarlett Dawn
First book: King Hall
Penryn and the End of Days (series)
By Susan Ee Setting: Post-angelic apocalypse. Premise: Penryn would do any thing to find her sister, who was kidnapped by angels. Even team up with one. First book: Angelfall
The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman The story of a boy raised in a graveyard, by ghosts.
" 'Nearly' only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades."
"One and all will hear and stay Come and dance the Macabray..."
The Beekeeper's Apprentice (series)
By Laurie R. King A meeting of mind between the world's greatest detective and a modern (1920s) female teenager: Novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. First book: The Beekeeper's Apprentice
"He said nothing. Very sarcastically."
Wicked Lovely (series)
By Melissa Marr Fairies, but large as life and creepy. First book: Wicked Lovely
The Lunar Chronicles
By Marissa Meyer Just your classic fairy tales. With cyborgs, androids, spaceships, and the big bad wolf comes from the moon. First book: Cinder
Good Omens
By Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman The apocalypse is coming. The antichrist is on Earth (though slightly misplaced). Caution: Do not read if you think religion shouldn't be made fun of, or are afraid of dying of laughter.
“DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.”
The Westing Game
By Ellen Raskin Riddles. Lots and lots of riddles. Actually, one big one. That might secretly be a joke.
The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries (series)
By Dorothy L. Sayers Lots of mysteries solves in a genius manner and even more charming piffle-talking. First book: Whose Body?
"If anybody does marry you [Peter] it will be for the pleasure of hearing you talk piffle."
"Murder for the fun of it breaks all the rules of detective fiction."
The Scorpio Races
By Maggie Stiefvater Every November on the small island of Thisby carnivorous horses come out of the sea. People catch and race them. But don't let that fool you. This is everything from thriller to romance to classic literature.
The Queen's Thief (series)
By Megan Whalen Turner Just read them. Anyone and everyone. First book: The Thief