IMPYRIUM, by Henry H. Neff

The story: Hazel Faeregine is a princess; Hobson Smythe is a backwoods miner. But events in the past--magic, betrayal, worldwide disaster--threaten to overthrow the royal house, and Hob, planted as a spy in the royal household, is there to move the revolt along...yet as he befriends the princess, he comes to see her in a different light. But will he--a "Muir" without any Magic at all--be able to overcome the hypnosis that holds him bound and is forcing him to hold a sword to her threat?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult: PG-13; GLBT content G; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Loved this one! It's the best fantasy I've read, not just this year, but in a long time. What's not to like about magic mixed with dystopian tie-ins (an ancient coastal city called Cey-Atul, for example), steampunk elements, and a cross-cultural friendship that will no doubt turn into a romance in subsequent volumes? Bring 'em on--quickly, please!