Geektastic Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

Genre: Young Adult
Sub Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: geek \gēk\ n: 1. A person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of. 2. A person who is so passionate about a given subject or subjects as to occasionally cause annoyance among others. geek∙tas∙tic \gēk-tas-tik\ adj:marked by fantastic geek qualities; a compliment of the highest regard. Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside) and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to bring together short stories from some of the best-selling and most promising players in young adult literature, including stories from the following geeks: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Tracy Lynn, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfeld, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr. With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O’’Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you’re a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

This is a compilation of short stories that are for your inner geek. For the kid who loves to go to Comic book conventions or your avid Buffy fan. This is a great group of stories written by some of the bestselling authors in young adult fiction today. I found this to be a delightful book that I couldn’t put down. It reminded me of the first time I went to a convention and wasn’t sure of what I was getting into, to my group of friends when we get together to hang out and play games. There is a little something for everyone in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316008109
Pages: 432
Series:
Volume:

Ironside by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Faeries, A Modern Faerie Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: In the realm of Faerie, the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing -- her love for Roiben. But when Kaye, drunk on faerie wine, declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye can't see or speak to Roiben unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie. Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth -- that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But once back in the faerie courts, Kaye finds herself a pawn in the games of Silarial, queen of the Seelie Court. Silarial wants Roiben's throne, and she will use Kaye, and any means necessary, to get it. In this game of wits and weapons, can a pixie outplay a queen?

The story of Kaye continues as we see Roiben in his power. How he tries to protect Kaye and at the same time has to giver her a task that would separate them forever. This was the sit on your edge page turner as things got pretty dark for Kaye and her friends. Kaye learning about her magic and what she can do with it to help her and her friends. I hope that Holly continues with this world as I would like to see more of it. I thought that it is a very compelling series. And that it is one of those must haves for your bookshelf.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689868219

Pages: 323

Series: A Modern Faerie Tale

Volume: 3

Tithe by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Faeries, A Modern Faerie Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

This is the second book in the Modern Faerie Tale series. In most of the stories that I have read about Faeries one court has always been either the good or the bad. In this one there is just different with all the intrigue of back stabbing politics. Kaye learning that she is actually a Faerie was something I enjoyed. I loved Roiben, a strong character that you couldn’t quite figure what side he was on. I found that I liked this book even more the Val’s story. Learning more about the different Faerie courts brought to life even more of what I read before. Giving it a fuller picture of this extraordinary world. I can't wait to see the next book in this series, Ironside.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689867042

Pages: 336

Series: A Modern Faerie Tale

Volume: 2

Valiant by Holly Black

Genre: Young Adult

Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy; Faeries, A Modern Faerie Tale

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system. But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

This is the first book in the Modern Faerie Tale series. I’ve always loved books on Faeries. So when I found that Holly Black wrote her own Modern Faerie tale I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. She didn’t disappoint at all. Valerie and her friends are trying to forget their pasts. Val is one of those great characters that you feel like you're going through everything with her. It has amazing visual descriptions. I loved this story and can't wait to read the next book, Tithe.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 0689868235

Pages: 314

Series: A Modern Faerie Tale

Volume: 1