Top Five Favorite Female Supernatural Creatures

I love paranormal themed books. And nothing makes me happier than reading about a strong female heroine with a good head on her shoulders. Here's a list of some of my favorite butt-kicking supernatural gals (in no particular order). Who are yours? Did I forget any?

ISABEL from MISTWOOD by Leah Cypess
Elite shape-shifting body guard, calculating and cold at times, but not without a heart, Isabel stole the show for me in this book. The twist at the end, and the progression of her character from inhuman-like, to emotional fascinated me. I can't wait to read NIGHTSPELL, the stand-alone, companion novel due out in May 2011.

NIKKI from DEMON PRINCESS: REIGN OR SHINE by Michelle Rowen.
Just an average teenage girl trying to make sense of her life, Nikki brings so much warmth and humor into every scene she's in. It's not easy finding out your father is the King of the Underworld, but Nikki handles it with true courage and a trademark snarky sense of humor. I hope this series gets a third book so I can find out who she'll choose--Rhys, the enticing Fairy King or Michael, the supernatural bodyguard who stole her heart early on. 

JACINDA from FIRELIGHT by Sophie Jordan
This is one of my all-time favorite YA books- the paranormal suspense, action and romance were out of this world. Jacinda, descended from draki (the fire-breathing dragons of the past), was torn from the only world she ever knew and forced to make some difficult choices. Imaginative, soul-wrenching and action-packed, this book grabbed me from page one and never let go. After that cliff-hanger ending, I absolutely must get my hands on book two, VANISH, due out in 2011.

GRACE DIVINE from THE LOST SAINT by Bree Despain.
After making the ultimate sacrifice to save Daniel, Grace has to deal with the repercussions of her actions and grapple with her inner 'animal'. THE LOST SAINT was even more electric than THE DARK DIVINE. More dark and intense,  relationships were tested and the bonds of family love stretched and strained as Grace strives to keep her family together and save her brother Jude from himself and those who wish him harm. Grace took on a whole new set of responsibility in this book, and went from pastor's daughter, to warrior-in-training. My only problem is..how long do we have to wait for the next book?

DRU from STRANGE ANGELS by Lili St. Crow
Stubborn to the core, but the type of girl you'd want on your side if ever in trouble, Dru has continued to grow throughout this series as she grapples with who she really is destined to become. Dru's had to grow up fast--constantly attacked, betrayed and terrified. I can't wait to see where her story takes her (and who she will end up with- Christophe or Graves!)

Top Five Favorite YA Male Voices

#1 JAMES- from Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater--- If you liked James in Lament, you'll love him in Ballad. When I finished the book, I physically missed him like he was a real person. I loved everything about James- the smart one-liners, the bag pipes (who would've ever thought bag pipers were sexy?!), the t-shirts with the witty comments...sigh...Maggie Stiefvater, when will you bring James back to us?

#2 WILL from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare---So many times I wanted to smack Will for being such a hot head, but there was a lot of depth and pain underneath that tough exterior. I can't wait to find out more about Will, especially why he seems to want people to think no good of him. The tension between Will and Tessa was electric!

#3 NICK and ALLEN from The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan--- Evil magicians, sword-wielding demon slayers and yes, even a little romance. This series has it all! Nick and Allen remind me a bit of Sam and Dean Winchester from the Supernatural television show - they both have twisted family histories, but at the end of the day there's nothing they wouldn't do for one another. 

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#4 LUCIUS from Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey----Lucius' sardonic wit, well-rounded vocabulary and humorous letters home to Romania are what drew me in. I loved how much Lucius' character evolved throughout the course of the book too. When he began loosening up and enjoying the time away from harsh vampire family back in Romania, Lucius really came alive and showed a lot of depth to his personality. I can't wait for the sequel!

 #5: WES, MAX & GREG from Knight Angels by Abra Ebner--- All of these characters are so different -and one is very, very bad, but I was hooked from the start! Wes was so strong and brave. Max, ever the hero, was so protective of Jane. And then there was Greg...ah Greg..so dangerous and downright frightening. He was my favorite! Greg and Max remind me of Stefan and Damon Salvatore from the Vampire Diaries. At each other throats for ages but still connected by a brotherly bond that won't go away. I can't wait to see where this series goes next! 

Honorable Mention (in no particular order):
The elusive Christophe from Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Daniel from The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Sam from Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Sam's great but sorry, it's all about James)

Peeta and Gayle from The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Finn from Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
Ash from The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Dimitri from The Vampire Academy Series by Rachelle Mead
Shane from Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

....I could go on and on forever....who's your favorite?