Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep is book 1 in her Mythos Academy series. It's currently on sale for $2.99 digitally.
This book was a Sizzling Book Club Pick in August 2011 – I really liked the mixture and layering of different mythologies, and I liked Gwen as a narrator. The series is now five books long – and book 5 comes out this summer. Note: there is also a bundle of the first three novels and a prequel novella available for $12.64 at Amazon.
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos.
First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why – especially since I should have been the one who died …
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks
The cover art says “novel” but I'm pretty sure this is a novella. It's available for pre-order for $1.99, and is book 4.5 in the series. This story is told from the point of view of Logan Quinn, one of the characters in the series.
I’m Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was—until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost. Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I’m fine, that Loki and the Reapers don’t have a hold on me anymore, but I can’t risk it. I can’t risk hurting Gwen again.
So I’m leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.
I know Gwen wonders what’s happening to me, whether I’m safe. I can’t tell her, but this is my story…
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo
Magyk is book one in Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series, which is marked for grade 8 and up. The series has fantastic reviews on Goodreads. Fyre, the 7th book, comes out April 16.
The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes.
The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?
The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. Magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and heart.
Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks
Not related to YA, but Grace Burrowes’ Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal is the BN Free Friday book this week.