Hamster Princess: Whiskerella, Ursula Vernon

Harriet hates masked balls. But the bat ambassador is visiting, and Harriet's parents are throwing one anyway. And yes, Harriet has to go. But then an incredibly beautiful hamster shows up. Her shoes are glass, which looks really uncomfortable. Everyone wants to know who the princess is, but she disappears before the unmasking.

It turns out a girl is having SERIOUS Fairy Godmother trouble.

I love this series. The last book wasn't my favorite, but still good. This one is great, it even made me laugh a few times.

The Future Falls, Tanya Huff

A huge asteroid is going to hit the earth and kill us all within six months. It's been hiding behind another asteroid, which is going to miss the planet.

Luckily, the magical Gale family is on the case. Unluckily, they are also dealing with Allie, who is apparently destined to have the seventh son of a seventh son. And Charlie, who can walk between worlds and is apparently destined to be start-crossed lovers with Jack, who is a dragon prince and also WAY more then seven years younger than Charlie.

This is good, but very convoluted. The ending is so confusing that it seems right out of Diana Wynne Jones. Fun read anyway.

Masterminds, Gordon Korman

Serenity, New Mexico is the most Utopian community in the world. Or at least, that's what all the kids' parents keep telling them.

But trouble starts when Eli starts biking out of town with his friend Randy, to see a barn with an abandoned fancy car. As soon as he gets to the town limits, Eli gets very sick. Then a helicopter arrives and takes them away.

Suddenly, Randy is leaving town.

This was a very readable story. I really cared what happened next. However, when you find out the secret, it's pretty ridiculous. I'll probably read the next one.

The Magnolia League, Katie Crouch

Where did this book lose me? Right at the end of the first third, when a white girl with dreadlocks calls a black girl racist.

When Alex's mom dies, Alex is forced out of her home to move in with her grandmother. Grandma's super rich and there are all sorts of obligations Alex has to do, most of which she's not aware of.

But how many times do I need to read the secret-boyfriend-already-has-girlfriend plot? Not to mention all this crap about black magic and junk. It's been done, better.

I didn't like the main character or anyone else in the story, either.

Tricks for Free, Seanan McGuire

Annie Price is still on the run from The Covenant when by a stroke of luck she winds up working at the second-happiest place on Earth: Lowryland. The work is exhausting and the apartment is small, but she's rooming with two cryptid friends. Then some executive finds out Annie's an untrained sorcerer, and all hell breaks loose.

This is what they call a page-turner. I was so reluctant to put this book down that I fucked up my sleep schedule again. One hell of a read.

Also there is a short story about the Aeslin Mice, which was also very good.

I love this series.