Christine Lynn Herman writes books about magic, monsters, and growing up. She is the author of YA novels The Devouring Gray and The Deck of Omens.At Tor.com she tagged five "favorite works of YA fiction where characters have to balance magical destinies and dangerous supernatural problems alongside contemporary issues real teens face every day." One title on the list:
Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. LatimerRead about another entry on the list.
Dayna Walsh is struggling to control her somatic OCD, deal with being outed as bisexual in her conservative Irish town, and handle her oppressive, religious father. Her secret life as a member of the local witch coven provides a welcome escape from her worries—until witches begin to turn updead. A famous serial killer called the Butcher of Manchester is back, and this time, his targets include everyone Dayna loves. She’ll have to work with a rival coven (which happens to include an annoyingly pretty witch) in order to keep everything she cares about safe.
Latimer seamlessly merges Dayna’s contemporary teenage problems with her budding magical powers and the escalating stakes of the murders, while juggling a complex cast of characters. Witches and gods collide in this layered tale that’s equal parts magical mystery, gritty contemporary fantasy, and a queer coming-of-age romance. I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel.
--Marshal Zeringue
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