The American Girl Who Broke London (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780648982166)

Fans of Maggie Stiefvater, Patricia Briggs, Roshani Chokshi, and Rainbow Rowell will be richly rewarded by this contemporary fantasy series.

At her new (secret) university in the heart of London, she thought she would be accepted, not hunted.

Growing up with an anxiety condition wasn't easy for Alice Brickstone. Learning to fly helped. Meeting others like her did too. Now, starting university in a different country feels like a new beginning.

But it is not the safe and welcoming place she hoped it would be.

Her selective mutism gets worse. Her treasured friendship with Madison and Karan unravels. The guy she met disappears. She reverts to old habits.

Then she finds herself hunted throughout the old laneways of London. Neither her raw strength, her anger, or her abilities are any use. She's used to attacking anyone who threatens her, but her assailants are like shadows. And they are only the foot soldiers. A complex plan has been put into motion and she is always two steps behind.

Alice will need her friends, all her amazing abilities plus the urgent help of a surprising new ally to save herself, the university and everyone in it.

THE AMERICAN GIRL WHO BROKE LONDON is the fourth book in the ALICE BRICKSTONE series for young adults.

Yeah, but will I like this book

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These books are examples of great writing. They feature a strong heroine with interesting supporting cast of characters, and a gripping, tightly-woven plot. The author reshapes traditional urban fantasy with a touch of Indian mythology. There's a focus on found-family over romance.

What other books out there is the Alice Brickstone series like?

Like The Raven Cycle, the Alice series is urban/contemporary fantasy with no vampires or werewolves, and focuses on found-family and friendship over romance. While The Raven Cycle features ley lines, spirits and clairvoyance, Alice Brickstone's powers derive from prana and siddhis out of Hindu mythology.

Like the Simon Snow series, Alice Brickstone books feature a Potterish friendship trio and a magical school. Alice is also a kind of "chosen one" main character. But unlike Simon, Alice is just taking baby steps into the world of relationships, LGBTQ or otherwise.

Like Mercy Thompson, Alice is a gritty kick-ass heroine with practical interests and magical abilities, but Alice is up against bad guys with siddhis instead of werewolves, vampires, or shifters.

Like Aruh Shaw, Alice's abilities are drawn from Indian mythology and the books are set in contemporary USA, but Aruh Shaw readers tend to be younger than fans of the Alice Brickstone series. Alice books have a crossover YA/Adult audience.