Book Recs

The Shape of Desire by Sharon Shinn. I really enjoyed this one. It's technically categorized as urban fantasy, because it's set in modern day, and the main character is a woman who is in love with a shapeshifter. But it's not an action-packed story about killing demons, etc, though it is a mystery. The shapeshifter can't control what animal he turns into or when he transforms. It's on a cycle that has been getting increasingly short, so his periods of being human are getting shorter. Maria (the main character) has close relationships with the other women in her family and with friends at work, but has become an excellent liar to conceal her longterm love affair with the shapeshifter. Her relationship is contrasted with others, including a co-worker who has a violently abusive spouse. It's a very dark, sexy book, and a very realistic story about what it would actually be like to love a person who spends most of his time as something else. It's about love, obsession, lust, power and control, and being willing to do anything to keep the person you love/want. I think it's a series and I can't wait for the next one.

Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner. I missed this when it originally came out several years ago. It's basically what would happen if Buffy grew up, quit slaying, got married, and had two kids, then the demons came after her. It's funny and light and I really liked it. I'm in the process of tracking down the others in the series.

Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel. This a new fantasy YA, set in Kansas during the Dust Bowl, and it sounds really good.

links:

Black Gate: The Best of Modern Arabian Fantasy by Judith Tarr interview by Emily Mah.

Atlantic: The Ongoing Problem of Race in YA