recommendedr

The Darkangel, by Meredith Ann Pierce.
I really enjoyed this book, first reading it when I was ten or eleven years old, and I can still enjoy it today. I would definitely say it is suitable for all ages, as it is excellently written, a balanced, full story. It has a fairytale ring to it, a brilliant fantasy novel, written with flair and originality. It's set on another world, but the emotions among other things are very grounded, and you can really relate to Aerial. Other people have reviewed it as, 'Easily one of the most beautiful fantasy books ever written', a 'Beautifully constructed fantasy', and 'An enthralling fantasy for all ages'.
The second and third books in the series are:
A Gathering of Gargoyles
The Pearl of the Soul of the World

To see more reviews click here.

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper.
This is the second book of a large series, which I have not read. I thought this was a great and fulfilling fantasy novel, which I could compare to books by Alan Garner. It was written in an extremely mature manner, suitable for all ages, especially older teens and adults. It was written in a kind of mythological, gothic or celtic style, with a great sense of fantasy. The characterisation and suspense were brilliant, and the snowy setting was perfect for the story. You really follow the main character, Will in his quest, and his failures and achievements make him very real.
As far as I know, there are four other books in the story.
Over Sea, Under Stone is the first,
Greenwitch is the third,
The Grey King
Silver on the Tree

To see more reviews click here.

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones
This book is FANTASTIC. I really enjoyed it the first time I read it, and went on to read it ten times straight! It's an excellent, structured story, with elements of humour, romance and a strong fantasy storyline. The characters are brilliant and likeable, and the plot is compelling. It's extremely fresh and vivacious, making it extremely enjoyable and absorbing. The fairytale element is also brilliantly done, with witches, wizards, demons and interaction between two worlds. I recommend this to fans of Harry Potter, as the styles have some wonderful similarities. The average customer reviews on Amazon has given it five well deserved stars, with comments such as 'Intricate, tantalizing... perfect!', 'Truly Magical', and an 'Outstanding book for all ages... including adults!'.
The sequel, 'Castle in the Air' was sadly not as good, though I know that Dianna Wynne Jones has written several more magical books.

To see more reviews click here.

Jet Smoke and Dragon Fire, by Charles Ashton.
This is an immensly complex and involved story, probably more enjoyable for the older reader as parts are complicated, and an older reader will be able to appreciate and understand it better.
The plot is amazing, as is the characterization and the magical element.
It is imaginative and a great achievement for Charles Ashton, the way the story is written is compelling and intriguing, a very thoughtful tale with all kinds of riddles, magic, twists and mayhem!
Jet Smoke and Dragon Fire is the first in the Dragon Fire trilogy; the sequels are equally good.
Book 2, Into the Spiral,
and Book 3, The Shining Bridge, carry on the themes and style of the first, and are a must to read if you've read the first. Unlike in many sequels, I was not at all disappointed by the two following. Altogether it made for a satisfying and exciting series.
Unfortunately I'm not sure if you can get it in America - I couldn't find it on Amazon.com, although it is available on Amazon.co.uk, Bol.com, and last time I checked, there were 3 available on the American Bol, Bn.com in the out of print section...