Guild of Magicians

The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan was an fast, interesting read. 

This novel has another strong heroine (my thing lately.)  Sonea, a girl from the slums of Imardin (a kingdom with one king and magicians that do his bidding) meets up with her old street gang on the way to find an apartment for her aunt and uncle.  (These kids really reminded me of Fagin's gang in Oliver Twist.)  She gets caught in an altercation and discovers that she has magical powers that she didn't know she possessed.   The adventure begins here as she must go into hiding with thieves and vagabonds.   Sonea soon discovers that she must find help learning how to control her powers or she will destroy everything she holds dear.

One of those YA books that walks the line between adult and teen fiction it really wasn't as dark as some of the kids' fiction I've read lately.  There were some scary moments, and a boy does die in the beginning.  That being said I don't think it was as disturbing as some of the Harry Potter novels.  Nowhere near the caliber of the Pellinor series, but fun nonetheless.

Blue Tattoos

I am so enamored with the "Bloody Jack/ Jacky Faber" series by L.A. Meyer right now.  They are as addictive as Twilight, but a bit more intellectual.  Historical fiction written for probably 9th grade up (because of violence and sexuality about like the level of Twilight) they are quick reads and very entertaining.
The second book in the series, The Curse of the Blue Tattoo, tells us of Jacky's plight after she is put off the Dolphin in Boston.  Enrolled in an elite girl's finishing school she is quite out of place for a London beggar lass from Cheapside and has to learn how to cope in a world of women (which can fight much dirtier than any men can.)

She learns quite a bit and once again the author leaves us wanting more, more, and more!  I  put this one down and was mad at myself for not checking out at least two at a time from the library.  I'm so glad there are eight in the series so I won't have to be left yearning for more for at least a month! :)