Book Recommendations: THE BURNING SKY and THE PERILOUS SEA by Sherry Thomas

I'd seen these books around, but it wasn't until I stumbled on Michelle's excellent reviews that I finally sat up and took note. When she mentioned that the second was even better than the first, I decided to give them a try--and thank goodness I did!

Thanks to his mother's visions, Prince Titus, whose kingdom has been all but taken over by Atlantis, knows that someday he'll discover an elemental mage who will have the power to overthrow the Bane, Atlantis's mysterious dictator. When he witnesses a lightning bolt called down from a cloudless sky, he figures he's found his brother in arms. But what he didn't count on was that brother being a sister. Now Iolanthe will have to pose as Archer Fairfax at one of England's premiere prep schools if she doesn't want to blow the cover that Titus has spent years building for her. But with Atlantean agents closing in--and doubts about her so-called destiny--she might not last at Eton College long enough.

And that's just the first book.

These books have it all--fantasy, adventure, romance--but what endeared them to me was the dialogue. Both Titus and Iolanthe are too clever for their own good, so their arguments are as colorful as a Shakespearean insult contest. I also appreciated how Ms. Thomas was willing to turn the story--not to mention the structure--on its head in THE PERILOUS SEA. Told in alternating timelines, THE BURNING SKY's sequel features not one but two climaxes--and within the first few chapters, Titus realizes he got his mother's visions wrong.

If you like wyverns, witty banter, or magical books you can get sucked into (literally), definitely check out this series. The last installment, THE IMMORTAL HEIGHTS, is set to come out in October, but trust me, you don't want to wait. If you get your hands on these two now, you'll be able to read them several times between now and October.