The American Girl Who Broke London (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780648982173)

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 with strange abilities like hers did too. Now, starting university in a different country feels like a new beginning. She even meets a cute guy who demands nothing of her.

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

When she discovers a conspiracy hidden in plain sight, she finds even her abilities are not enough beat her new foes. The backbone of one of the world's greatest cities is about to break. Alice will need her friends and a surprising new ally to save her adopted city. But she may need to trade her life to preserve the secrecy of siddha society.

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, this is urban/contemporary fantasy with no vampires or werewolves, and rare examples of young adult books that focus on the complexities of friendship rather than 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 Roshani Chokshi readers tend to be younger than fans of the Alice Brickstone series. Alice books are written for a crossover YA/Adult audience.