Book picks similar to
Shortcuts by Amy Bearce


fantasy
paranormal
young-adult
high-school

Stone Bound


Eric T. Knight - 2017
    His mother is cut down before his eyes. Yet somehow, when the blade is turned on him, he survives without a scratch. But the attack awakens a strange power inside him, the same power that killed his father years ago.Aislin came from the sea, her origins a mystery. Within her is an innate power over water, as natural as breathing. But she lives in a world of her own, emotionally isolated from everyone else, including Netra, the woman who is raising her. Bullied by the other children, Netra fears that one day Aislin will turn her power on them.Karliss was touched by the wind at birth, destined to be the greatest wind shaman his people have ever seen. But he is careless with his power and he ignores the warnings about the madness that afflicts those who don't protect themselves against the spirits in the wind. When a ritual goes wrong and strikes down his mentor, Karliss suddenly has to deal with the true responsibilities of power.The powerful, inhuman denizens of the Abyss are reaching out to take the world, and only these three children have a chance of stopping them, but only if they can learn to master not just their powers, but themselves...

My Lunatic Life


Sharon Sala - 2011
    Now you know why she calls this "my lunatic life." Sharon Sala's books repeatedly make the big lists, including The New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly lists, and she's been nominated for a RITA seven times, which is the romance writer's equivalent of having an Oscar or an Emmy nomination. MY LUNATIC LIFE is the first book in her Lunatic Life series for teen readers. Coming soon: THE LUNATIC DETECTIVE. Visit her at http://sharonsalabooks.com and on Facebook.

Dark Promise


Julia Crane - 2012
    But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, her perfect little world shatters. A stranger claiming to be her real mother appears with a secret: Rylie is a faery whose powers will be unleashed on her birthday. Captured and forced into a new life, Rylie struggles to keep everything she loves and discovers a terrifying truth: some promises cannot be broken.

White Hot Kiss


Jennifer L. Armentrout - 2014
    Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister--and Layla is a half demon, half gargoyle with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a Warden, part of the race of gargoyles tasked with keeping humanity safe, Layla's kiss will kill anything with a soul--including him.Then she meets Roth--a demon who claims to know her secrets. Though Layla knows she should stay away, it's tough when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne, but as Layla discovers she's the reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world.

Dangerous Boy


Mandy Hubbard - 2012
    Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with a chilling twist Harper has never been worried about falling in love, something she is skeptical even exists. But everything changes when Logan moves to town, and to Harper's shock, the two tumble into an intense romance. It's everything she never thought she wanted. Then she meets Logan's twin brother, Caleb, who was expelled from his last school. True, he's a bad boy, but Harper can't shake the feeling that there's something deeply sinister about him--something dangerous. When Logan starts pulling away, Harper is convinced that Caleb's shadowy past is the wedge being driven between them. But by the time she uncovers the truth, it may be too late. The author of Prada & Prejudice, You Wish, and Ripple delivers a modern-day retelling of a famously gothic tale, full of suspense, lies, and romance.

Cursed


R.K. Ryals - 2013
    A witch. A Demon.Ellie Elizabeth Jacobs, often known as Monroe due to her fascination with vintage attire and old movies, is an 18 year-old witch and a darned good one! But there is also something very wrong with her. Demonic energy makes her powers stronger, she has the ability to ward off Demons, and Lucifer wants her. Sometimes being bad is better. Or at least that's how Luther "Thorne" Craig feels. The hybrid Demon son of the cursed Cain and the Demon Lilith, Luther is reluctantly sent to New Orleans, Louisiana by his brother, the hybrid Demon ruler of the Outer Levels of Hell, to protect Monroe from Lucifer's searching Hellhounds. But what happens when things go wrong?In this riveting spin off from R.K. Ryals' Redemption series, Monroe is faced with an old grimoire, an ancient curse, and a journey to discover a family secret that may surprise them all.

Seventh Born


Monica Sanz - 2018
    Curse. Murderer. All names hurled at eighteen-year-old Seraphina Dovetail. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, she's the cause of her mother losing her powers and, in turn, her life.Abandoned as a child, Sera dreams of becoming an inspector and finding her family. To do that, she must be referred into the Advanced Studies Program at the Aetherium's Witchling Academy. Her birth order, quick temper, and tendency to set things on fire, however, have left her an outcast with failing marks…and just what Professor Nikolai Barrington is looking for.The tall, brooding, yet exceedingly handsome young professor makes her a proposition: become his assistant and he'll give her the referral she needs. Sera is quickly thrust into a world where witches are being kidnapped, bodies are raised from the dead, and someone is burning seventhborns alive. As Sera and Barrington grow ever closer, she'll discover that some secrets are best left buried…and fire isn't the only thing that makes a witch burn.

Witch Court: The complete series


Megan Montero - 2019
    A week before my sixteenth birthday I sneak out of my house and discover why. Turns out I am not just a normal teenager. I’m a witch blessed with a gift someone wants to steal from me. And not just anyone…the evil King Alataris. For a thousand years the people of Evermore have suffered under his tyranny. The Mark on my shoulder says I am the Siphon Witch, one of five Witch Queens fated to come together and finally destroy him. The only thing keeping Evermore safe is the Stone that shields the witch kingdoms from Alataris’s magic…and now he’s found a way to steal it. Suddenly, I’m sent on a quest to find the ancient spell to protect the Stone. My only hope for surviving is through my strikingly beautiful and immensely powerful Guardian, Tucker. The laws of Evermore state that love between us is strictly forbidden, and it appears I’m the only one willing to give in to the attraction… When the quest turns more dangerous than expected I realize I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. I was raised human. But I have to learn my magic fast because If King Alataris gets his hands on me he’ll steal my magic and my life…but if he gets his hands on that Stone we all die. Over four MILLION pages read. 500+ five-star review for the series. Now for a limited time, save over 50% compared to buying the individual books by reading the entire Witch Court series in this special bundle deal! “Fantastic Series! This was a great young adult series! The world building is great, and the characters and story line keep you interested from the start. Plenty of action and adventure and a forbidden romance. I highly recommend this series!” Cindy, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★ So where do I even begin I am hooked, I want and need more. This book is captivating I didn't want to put it down like ever and I definitely didn't want it to end. I loved every aspect of it and I highly recommend this as I'm sure everyone will love it as much as I did. The storyline is on point and it has what every romance in my opinion should have a delicious bad boy who is forbidden WHAT!!! Add this with zinnia being your average girl only to find out she isn't so average after all. Wow just wow! Dixie, Amazon Reviewer★★★★★ Holy Moly, I was not expecting to fall in love with this series. Is there any way to give this novel more than 5-stars. I cannot wait to read more from these characters and this world. Highly addicted already eep! This novel is a must read, I cannot recommend this novel enough. Nicole, Goodreads reviewer ★★★★★ As a huge fan of the classic stereo typical witch Book series, I felt the originality of the author’s opinions, statements, characters and overall scene Descriptions. It really transported me to where ever these characters went! If you are a big fan of Harry Potter, the sweep series, the secret circle series or any other magical witchy romantic series, this is the book for you. Judith, Goodreads reviewer★★★★★ Boy, oh boy!!! Action packed, full of twists and turns, with great world building!!!! Not to mention the sizzling and yet forbidden attraction between Zi

Sleep No More


Aprilynne Pike - 2014
    This supernatural young adult novel is perfect for fans of Kelley Armstrong, Alyson Noël, Richelle Mead, and Kimberly Derting.Charlotte Westing has a gift. She is an Oracle and has the ability to tell the future. But it doesn't do her much good. Instead of using their miraculous power, modern day Oracles are told to fight their visions––to refrain from interfering. And Charlotte knows the price of breaking the rules. She sees it every day in her wheelchair-bound mother and the absence of her father. But when a premonition of a classmate's death is too strong for her to ignore, Charlotte is forced to make an impossible decision: continue following the rules or risk everything—even her sanity—to stop the serial killer who is stalking her town.

Starling


Lesley Livingston - 2012
    Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school. She finds herself besieged by nightmarish creatures even more terrifying than the thunder and lightning. The raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name—the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason's world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him. Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn's identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them. When they discover Mason's family—with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods—is at the heart of the mystery, Fenn and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.Set against the gritty, shadowed backdrop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston's epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action.

One Black Rose


Maddy Edwards - 2011
    All she’s expecting is a normal couple of months hanging out at the beach with friends. Nothing out of the ordinary was supposed to happen.But as soon as she arrives she meets Holt Roth. Holt is unlike anyone she’s ever met before – and her reaction to him is even more unexpected.Then she meets his friend, Samuel Cheshire. If her reaction to Holt was strong, her reaction to Samuel is shocking. The only problem is that he seems to hate her for no reason at all. Not being able to choose between two guys is only the beginning of Autumn’s problems, because both Samuel and Holt are Fairy Princes, and Autumn is caught between her own desires and the Fairy Courts, who might cause her immeasurable pain if she makes the wrong choice.

Crimson Horizon


Heather Renee - 2018
    With her family murdered, she has only one place to go. However, her betrothed's estate isn't the safe haven she was expecting. Alone and running for her life, she finds acceptance with a small group of survivors intent on fleeing the island in search of safer territories. When that proves more difficult than any of them realize, Lavinia must chose between letting harm come to her new friends or sacrificing herself to save them.It will take all of the courage Lavinia didn't know she had to make it off the island alive, but even then, vampires and pirates roam the seas, making nowhere safe.

Luminous


Mara Rutherford - 2021
    But when her worst nightmare comes to pass, Darius doesn't take her. Instead, he demands that her younger sister return to the capital with him. To make matters worse, Evran, Liora's childhood friend and the only one who knows her secret, goes missing following Darius's visit, leaving her without anyone to turn to.To find Evran and to save her sister, Liora must embrace the power she has always feared. But the greatest danger she'll face is yet to come, for Darius has plans in motion that will cause the world to fall into chaos--and Liora and Evran may be the only ones who can stop him.A witch who must learn to harness her power--or risk losing her loved ones forever.

The Smoking Lamp


Kimberly Loth - 2017
     But she didn’t. Instead she threw a shoe at me after I showed up to grant her wishes. She commanded me to leave and so I had to obey. But she’ll come around. They always do. Three thousand years may have passed, but women always stay the same. They fell for pretty words and gave up their lives willingly. This girl would be no different. She’ll make her wishes and her soul will be mine. Download this heart-stopping paranormal romance now!

Love & War


Jennifer Malone Wright - 2012
    Fearing this vigilante will cause unwanted attention that will expose the vampire-hunter community with each person he rescues, the group attempts to discover who this mysterious potential vampire hunter is.When they catch up with him, the group learns a shocking revelation that might just change everything for everyone in Arcadia Falls, but will have the most profound impact on Chloe herself.The Arcadia Falls Chronicles is the continuation of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter. Following the format of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter, The Arcadia Falls Chronicles is serialized into several novella-length stories.