Many of the readergirlz divas and the postergirlz advisory council are fans of the fantasy genre. This month's main pick is Ironside by Holly Black. We have drawn up this list of recommended reads to compliment it:

Fiction:

The Ferryman by Christopher Golden

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst

Non-Fiction:

At the Bottom of the Garden: A Dark History of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Nymphs, and Other Troublesome Things by Diane Purkiss

Haven't read them yet? GO GET 'EM from your library, school, or local bookstore! :)

If you have read any these books, let's talk about them here! Which have you read? What made you pick it up? Have you read other books by that author?

I picked up Libba Bray's A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY after one of my most beloved booksellers (other than Little Willow, of course) was so enthralled in it, she missed every session at the conference we were attending. Plus, there was that wonderful cover. (I know, I know, don't judge a book...blah blah blah) But it is one of the best covers I've seen. And the writing is luscious, the story creepy...

I especially loved the interplay between the four characters.

Has it been optioned for a movie yet?

Christopher Golden asked me to post this for him, since he doesn't have MySpace:

"Hey all. Just wanted to say thanks to LW for including THE FERRYMAN, and thanks Carrie for the kind words. Some great books this time around (not that I'm surprised with this group). Sarah Beth Durst is very cool (though she should come back to Necon!) and I'm looking forward to reading her book." -- Christopher Golden

I'm so glad that Chris lurked around and wanted me to post that. Thank you! :) :)

THE FERRYMAN readers:

Who are your favorite characters in The Ferryman?
Would you visit the river Styx to save a loved one?
Would you dare to live your nightmares?
Do you have the strength to swim?
If you could go into any Greek myth, which book would it be and why?

Read the prologue here.

General Questions:
What are your favorite fictional fantasy worlds?


Justina: Tell that bookseller that she has good taste! Yes, BEAUTY has been optioned and rumor has it the script has been finished but, as far as I know, it hasn't started shooting, much less been cast yet. I hope they do it justice.

AG&TB @ IMDb

Little Willow wrote:

General Questions:
What are your favorite fictional fantasy worlds?

My favorite fictional fantasy worlds......

-Definitely one where vampires exist, like from Twilight!! XD

-The wizarding world from Harry Potter, of coarse. I dream of living in a little black cottage in the middle of a forest and I can use my magic powers for anything I want! lol I'm dorky. :D

-I'd love to live in Holly Black's faerie world!!!!!

-Or live under the sea as a mermaid!!! Oh, what an adventure that would be!

-OR DRAGONS!!! I've always wanted my own pet dragon! That would ROCK!


There are so many....*sigh*.


Vampire
♥†♥

In a way I would love to see Great and Terrible Beauty made into a movie. It's one of the best YA fantasy novels out there. But a book to movie situation doesn't always work well. If it turned out as good as this fan trailer I'd be really happy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93HOOy-lSc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93HOOy-lSc

Hi Readergirlz! Thanks so much to the divas and postergirlz for including Into the Wild as a Recommended Read. I'm honored to be part of that list!

Carrie: So glad you enjoyed my book!

Chris: You're the very cool one! So nice to see you here, via LW.

Vampire: I want a pet dragon too! That would definitely rock. And he would make such a good companion for my pet griffin!

- Sarah

I just read Sarah's Into the Wild and loved it! A great companion pick for this month.

Sarah Beth Durst wrote:
Hi Readergirlz! Thanks so much to the divas and postergirlz for including Into the Wild as a Recommended Read. I'm honored to be part of that list!

Carrie: So glad you enjoyed my book!

Chris: You're the very cool one! So nice to see you here, via LW.

Vampire: I want a pet dragon too! That would definitely rock. And he would make such a good companion for my pet griffin!

- Sarah

Hello, Sarah Beth!!

I know, it would rule!! I'd also have a pet hippogriff and my own personal faerie, along with my vampire husbend of coarse. Hee hee.

♥†♥

Melissa wrote:
In a way I would love to see Great and Terrible Beauty made into a movie. It's one of the best YA fantasy novels out there. But a book to movie situation doesn't always work well. If it turned out as good as this fan trailer I'd be really happy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93HOOy-lSc

I too loved A Great and Terrible Beauty! Thanks to Justina for recommending it to me.

The story was haunting. It really drew me in.

A movie? I think it would make a good one -- great girl characters.

Janet

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

I LOVE HER BOOKS!!!!!!They are really good. I read the first one when a friend of mine told me that it was rreally really good and that i would like it. And i did. I liked the second one too, but i havent had the chance to read the third yet.

Here's another:

If you could attend one of the schools mentioned in this month's rec reads, which school would you pick and why?

Would you want to be in a 'normal' school but know that the Wild is just waiting for you?
Would you want to be a student in The Ferryman?
Would you attend a private all-girls school in Victorian England?
Would you thwart the Faerie Wars, or take part in them?

I've read two of the suggested: Faerie Wars and Great and Terrible. I've put the others on hold. I'm really looking forward to them.

Thanks for stopping by Sarah and Christopher! And thanks for the great thread, LW!