Dark Fantasy Books For Teens Who Love Twilight

While chasing a deer through the forest near her village, sixteen year old Keturah becomes lost and encounters Lord Death. Keturah, a gifted storyteller, spins a romantic tale about looking for true love to distract the handsome lord from claiming her life. Entranced by her stories, Lord Death grants Keturah twenty four hours to find her true love and return to the forest. This is a charming and sweet love story with a surprise ending. Keturah and Lord Death was written by Martine Leavitt. Recommended for ages 14-18. (Front Street Inc, 2006. ISBN: 9781932425291)

By law dragons can only fly at night, or risk being caught by hunters. Seventeen year old Jacinda, a draki, is not afraid to take chances. One day, eager to take flight, she risks all and is trapped by Will, a hunter. A powerful and immediate connection is felt between them and Will is in awe of the dragon’s beauty, but instead of trapping her, he lets Jacinda escape. When the dragon pride learns of Jacinda’s rebellious act, they force her to take on a human form and live life outside her world and among her enemies. Sophie Jordan is the author of Firelight. Recommended for ages 14-18 (HarperCollins, 2010. ISBN: 9780061935084)

Several years have passed since Grace was attacked by a pack of wolves and dragged into the woods behind her home, but there is one wolf who continues to watch over her. Grace knows the wolf with the piercing yellow eyes is her wolf and as the winter season approaches, she looks for him out her window. One wintry day hunters venture into the woods and begin shooting at the wolves, and suddenly a young man with intense yellow eyes is on Grace’s porch wounded and asking for her help. Maggie Stiefvater is the author of Shiver. Recommended for ages 14-18. (Scholastic, 2009. ISBN: 9780545123273)

A vampire princess? Eighteen year old honor student Jessica Packwood laughs when a mysterious and handsome exchange student tells her that he is a Romanian vampire prince and she is his betrothed. Believing him to be a deranged and dangerous, Jessica is shocked to learn that her parents adopted her from a Romanian vampire family. Now she must return to her country and bring peace between two warring families by marrying the arrogant and obnoxious prince. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is by Beth Fantaskey. Recommended for ages 14-18. (Graphia, 2010. ISBN: 9780547259406)

Seventeen year old Clara is part angel and for three years she’s had visions of saving a boy from a fiery death. Clues from her visions take her to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where she meets Christian, the boy in her dreams. There’s just one problem: Along the way she meets Tucker and will be forced to choose between following her heart or fulfilling her angelic purpose. Cynthia Hand is the author of Unearthly. Recommended for ages 14-18. (HarperTeen, 2011. ISBN: 9780061996160)

Set in  Gatlin, Georgia, this paranormal romance is the story of a small town boy who falls in love with a girl who is not a typical southern belle. Ethan can’t wait to make his exit from Gatlin and live his life away from front porch gossip and narrow minded townsfolk, but when he meets Lena, the quiet and beautiful niece of a recluse neighbor, he changes his mind. Lena, however, is not an ordinary girl, but a caster who has powers she is only beginning to understand. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl wrote Beautiful Creatures. Recommended for ages 14-18. (Little, Brown and Company, 2010. ISBN: 9780316077033)

In this paranormal romance, Shadow Hunters walk the streets of New York City patrolling the creatures of the underworld. Clary Fray is unaware of this other world until the night she visits the Pandemonium Club and witnesses a demon slaying. Without warning she is drawn into the dark and exciting world of fallen angels and monsters. This is the first book in the popular Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. Recommended for ages 14-18. (Margaret K. McElderry, 2008. ISBN: 9781416955078)

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