What YA' Reading: Intrusive Worlds

Whether they're zany and whimsical or strange and frightening, we all experience intrusive thoughts from time to time. What if instead of thoughts, it was a whole other world intruding onto yours? Check out these books that explore that very question!

Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury

Corey and her best friend Bree were inseparable until Bree betrayed Corey, destroying her world. Nothing could be worse than that, right? Then Bree dies suddenly, and Corey inadvertently sees her former friend's soul on its way to the afterlife. That's how Corey meets Hades and finds out the legends she spent her childhood reading about are real. She must navigate the call of her own darkness as she discovers more about the Underworld and its mythical inhabitants – like the Furies who want her to release her rage.

Salisbury explores the volatility of friendships, grief and anger in this Greek mythology-infused story. Her style seamlessly achieves both authentic, real world teens and immortal, otherworldly beings to draw you into her tale. If you grew up reading the Percy Jackson series and are looking for something darker, this re-imagining of the Persephone myth has you covered. You'll also want to check out Salisbury's other fantasy work The Sin Eater's Daughter.

Darker By Four by June CL Tan

Rui's goal is to use her magic to become an Exorcist; only then can she rid the world of the supernatural Blight. Yiran is a scion of a prestigious and powerful family of Exorcists who lacks the magical ability to live up to their expectations. Nikai is a Reaper whose master - the Fourth King of Hell - has gone missing. As the Underworld's instability spreads to the mortal world, and Rui's powers accidentally migrate to Yiran, she is convinced she can find the missing death god. So much so that she makes a risky bargain with another King. Their paths set them on a collision course, and they must tread carefully to survive and prevent the barrier between worlds from crumbling completely.

This is Tan's first book in a duology that blends traditional Chinese myths with modern fantasy to create a story that is both fresh and familiar. The first-person chapters trade off between the three main characters' perspectives in this supernatural action-mystery that is likely to appeal to fans of mangas like Bleach, Blue Exorcist and Demon Slayer. If you want more of Tan's work, read Jade Fire Gold.

The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs

Leopold Berry has been seeing strange, hallucinatory sights around Los Angeles. Initially, it was supposed that these were caused by his obsession with a weird TV show called Max's Adventures in Sunderworld  in an attempt to escape his grief following his mother's death. However, he and his best friend Emmet learn these aren't actually hallucinations, but glimpses into Sunderworld, which actually exists.

Sunderworld needs a champion to defeat monsters and restore its magical balance. What better way to find one than with a televised spell-casting competition? When Leopold fails, he and Emmet are exiled back to the real world and their memories are wiped with a magical spell. But the spell went wrong. Soon Emmet begins to exhibit serious neurological issues. Leopold decides to defy his banishment to find a cure for his friend.

This first in a new series by Ransom Riggs plays with the "chosen one" trope as it explores grief, confidence and determination. If you are familiar with Riggs' other works like Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, you will not want to miss this book. His usual dry humor is still intact and serves to highlight the oddity of the story. Anyone who grew up watching cartoons, especially Adventure Time, should also check this out.