Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

I was so intrigued by this historical fiction graphic novel. It is based loosely on the early years of Queen Elizabeth I, but it is set in an imaginary kingdom of Albion. The heroine is an orphan girl named Margaret. Margaret lives on an island that holds a convent of nuns called the Elysian sisters. Strangers rarely come to the island, but in this story Margaret meets William, who becomes a dear friend, and Eleanor, the exiled queen who longs to take back her throne. The book is complex and the truth about the island (and Margaret) is revealed little by little. When all the threads come together it makes for an action-packed finish. The artwork is varied and lovely, unlike any other graphic novel I have read. Highly recommended for middle school and up.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Lia is a princess who is not happy about her upcoming arranged marriage that will cement relations between two contentious kingdoms. She runs away on her wedding day, and along with her ladies maid, hides herself in a small town where she works as a serving girl at a tavern. When two young men show up at the tavern she has no idea that one is the jilted prince and the other is an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, as none of the three know who the others are, and both men become attracted to the down-to-earth princess in disguise. Lia never had "the gift" that first daughters are said to possess, but when one man kidnaps her and the other gives chase, her gift begins to surface. This is an intriguing start to a new series (The Remnant Chronicles) and the best part of the story is how the author deceives the readers. Fans of fantasy series (and love triangles) will enjoy this book. Recommended for 8th grade-up.

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

Sage is one of four orphan boys plucked from orphanages by a nobleman named Conner. Their kingdom of Carthya is in chaos since the death of the royal family, and Conner plans to present one of the ophans as the long-lost Prince Jaron, the rightful heir to the throne. Sage looks like Jaron, but his defiant attitude and rough ways make it hard to believe anyone could turn him into an acceptable prince. This is the story of those boys and the web of lies surrounding them. You will definitely root for Sage to be selected, even though he doesn't seem to want to be chosen. This was adventurous and fun, and will definitely appeal to fantasy fans. Recommended especially for 4th-7th graders who like fantasy and action books.