Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Author: Seth Grahame-Smith
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a mash-up (combination) novel bringing together the 1813 classic Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and current zombie fiction elements in one satirical novel.

When Jason Rekulak, the editor of Quirk Books publishing house, compared a list of current popular characters (like Ninjas, Zombies, Pirates and Monkeys) with public domain books (like War and Peace, Crime and Punishment, and Wuthering Heights) first came up with the goofy idea. Jason later gave the idea to author Seth Grahame-Smith which led to the conception of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. In response to what his inspirations were in writing the book (in a TIME interview) Seth said: “[Rekulak] called me one day, out of the blue, very excitedly, and he said, all I have is this title, and I can’t stop thinking about this title. And he said: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. For whatever reason, it just struck me as the most brilliant thing I’d ever heard.”

In his book, Seth skillful combines contemporary elements to the classic novel – “(when) you kill somebody off in Chapter 7, it has repercussions in Chapter 56”. He also says that the novel Pride and Prejudice was apposite for the modern day zombie story. “You have this fiercely independent heroine, you have this dashing heroic gentleman, you have a militia camped out for seemingly no reason whatsoever nearby, and people are always walking here and there and taking carriage rides here and there . . . It was just ripe for gore and senseless violence; from my perspective anyway.”

The plot line is that of Pride and Prejudice. The only difference is that the entire saga takes place in an alternate universe where Zombies freely roamed the countryside of Regency era England (between 1811 and 1820 when Prince Regent ruled in England instead of his unfit father King George the III.) The dead ancestors of England, in this satirical adaptation, are viewed by the characters as a troublesome nuisance (although deadly) and are referred as the “sorry stricken”, “undead”, “unmentionables”, and sometimes “zombies”. The hidden parody here is that the word “zombie” did not even exist in the English dictionary then. The word’s first known use is around 1871 (according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.)

These innovative additions to Pride and Prejudice considerably alter the genre of the book by giving it a humorous twist. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was given an ‘A’ grade in a review by The A.V. Club (an entertainment newspaper) and added “(w)hat begins as a gimmick ends with renewed appreciation of the indomitable appeal of Austen’s language, characters, and situations…”.

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 496
Genre: Fantasy

The year is 1878 and Tessa Gray is waiting for her brother on a dank London dock. She has crossed the Atlantic and is anxiously anticipating their reunion. Unfortunately, Nate is nowhere to be found. She is worried, but quickly approached by two women professing they are there on Nate’s behalf. They promise to take sixteen-year old Tessa to her brother; however, these Dark Sisters have other plans for Tessa.

Clockwork Angel is the first book in the Infernal Devices young adult fantasy series. In this book, author Cassandra Clare introduces the reader to Tessa Gray, a young woman with an untapped extraordinary ability that soon puts her in danger. Tessa is thrown into the dark underworld of Victorian London and its Pandemonium Club. The Dark Sisters, aware of the ability still dormant in Tessa, kidnap her for their master, the Magister. There, they intend to coax out Tessa’s ability to transform and use it for their own dark and dastardly purposes. The Magister operates the Pandemonium Club and he is determined to take Tessa’s power and make it his own.

Her escape from the Dark Sisters brings short-lived relief, as Tessa soon discovers she has become the prey for an assortment of other demonic creatures lurking in the London underworld. Alone in a strange city and hunted by those who covet her power, Tessa is taken in by the Shadowhunters. The Shadowhunters have sworn to protect humans from the ravages of the underworld beings. Tessa finds not only refuge in the London based institute, she also makes some unlikely friendships. In exchange for her help in defeating the Magistrate and his underlings, members promise to help her find her brother.

Tessa learns she is not quite human; instead, she is what the Shadowhunters call a Downworlder. Downworlders are the creatures of the supernatural world, both good and evil. During the course of the story, Tessa develops special bonds with two of the Shadowhunters. Jem is quiet, but friendly and outgoing. Will is more reserved and aloof, but both have dark secret pasts. Ultimately, these friendships will put Tessa in a situation, in which she will be forced to make a choice between her brother and her friends.

Clare is no stranger to this genre. The Infernal Devices serial is a historical backdrop to her Mortal Instruments series, which takes place in the future. In Clockwork Angel, the reader learns that Magnus, the warlock has been shaped by the events of his earlier life. This is a crucial point into understanding the Magnus of the Mortal Devices series. Readers of all ages will enjoy this imaginative tale of the supernatural.

Title: Linger
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Pages: 368
Genre: Fantasy

Linger is the second novel in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. In this book, Grace is becoming more uncomfortable in her own skin. Just a few months ago it was her boyfriend Sam who she helped save by preventing him from returning to his werewolf form. These days though, it’s Grace who feels on the verge of changing into a mythical creature after being bit by a pack of wolves when she was nine. The wolves watch her from the woods behind her house waiting for her to come to them, to change from her human form.

Sam is learning to adapt to his new life as a human. No longer protected by the pack, Sam must bear living in his unfamiliar skin year-round. Working in the bookstore and living secretly in Grace’s bedroom offers Sam a low profile and safe haven. He has a simple life with the love of Grace to keep him going and this is exactly how he would like to keep it. Though he no longer fears for his safety, memories of his former human self begin to resurface leaving him with a haunting reminder of time passed.

Cole, the newest member of the wolf pack is fighting just to stay alive. Shedding his former edgy rocker status to become a young wolf, in his new skin, survival is of the greatest importance. He chose this life, fighting to remain a wolf year-round in order to escape the problems in his human life, but new challenges arise as he confronts his new world.

Isabel with her quick-witted ways and sharp tongue often gives others the impression that she is abrasive and unfriendly. Don’t let the façade of her jaded personality fool you though. Deep within, Isabel’s guilt over the death of her brother is eating at her making her irritable and insensitive to those she encounters. Though she tries to keep her distance from the wolves in general and Cole in particular, there’s is an irresistible likeness between the two and she forms an unmistakable bond with Cole.

Through all four characters’ points of view in Linger, tells the story of struggles between the human and mythical world and the difficulties faced trying to forge friendships and experience everlasting love.