Lisolette & WItch's Forest by Natsuki Takaya

Lisolette has moved to a remonte land east of east of east where the forest is filled with witches.  Shortly after moving there with twin children Alto and Anna, Lisolette is attacked by a witch and rescued by Engetsu who looks very similar to an old friend . . . .

This is the first volume in Natsuki Takaya's new manga series.  (Natsuki Takaya wrote the popular manga series Fruits Basket.)  This first volume gives us the main characters along with some backstory to get us interested.  The next volume comes out this fall.

Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Larson

Seeking bold, courageous youths to become tomorrow's princesses and knights . . .

Come One, Come All!

A girl from the forest, with no name and no idea why she is there, finds herself in a world at war with witches.  She enrolls at Pennyroyal Academy where princess are trained to fight witches and knights are trained to fight dragons.  The girl, now named "Evie", must endure harsh training exercises while navigating a world of friends and enemies.

As Evie learns what it truly means to be a princess, she realizes that she is more closely ensnared in this war than she could have ever thought.  Surprises about her past and her family reveal just how much a part of this war she really is.


This is a great new take on the princess story.  These princesses are meek girls waiting to be rescued.  They are brave, strong girls training to fight evil.  They are the only defense against the witches wanting to destroy the world.

Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce

Alanna has always dreamed of being a knight and going on adventures, but she is a girl.  When her father decrees that she will go to the convent to learn to be a lady and her twin brother Thom will go to the castle to become a knight she hatches a plan -- they switch places.  Alanna is determined to hide her identity long enough to become a knight.  But it's difficult always being on guard and hiding your true identity from your friends.  Plus, there's Duke Roger who seems to be out to get her for some reason . . .

The Song of the Lioness Quartet was one of the first female empowered fantasy series for teens.  It's a wonderful story of a girl who shows that she can do anything a boy can and often can do it better.

Alanna: The First Adventure shares the story of Alanna as a page training to be a knight.
In the Hand of the Goddess tells of her years as a squire and her showdown with Duke Roger.
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man tells of her adventures after winning her shield and revealing her true identity.
The Lioness Rampant closes the series with the story of her quest for the Dominion Jewel.