The Princess and the Hound
Fantasy is far from a dying genre. As long as there are nerds there will be fantasy. (Even though some have been lost to the siren’s call of the evil World of War craft). This book is fairly recent and is beautifully written. The plot is extensive in that it is one of those books that lasts the entire life up to sixteen. (Thirteenth Child, anyone?) George is the heir to the throne. His mother has the animal magic and it has been passed on to him. But they must hide it or else they will be burned at the stake. His mother is killed while avoiding this, even her status as Queen unable to protect her. George withdraws into himself and his father distances himself from the young George. The book is long but not boring. Slow is not boring. In the Disney perpetuated tradition the plot follows royalty. But it breaks the mold in the detailed characters, detailed world, and did I mention the very realistic, 3D characters? (Note: there is a princess and there is a hound. They are the focus of most of the book, but who am I to spoil it?) 
