Help me find these books for young teens...

[Anonymous]

I had two sets of books that I was going to order for my kid, but lost the bookmark and now can't remember them. Throwing it out there to the amazing DCUM community...

One was a set of 3-4 books, not recent publication, that were in the fantasy genre. The first two books in the series had titles that were like fantasy-type names. Like Isaphor and Arafan. Any ideas?

The second set were historical fiction books by an author recommended on a The Rest is History Podcast...but I can't remember which podcast. Maybe one about the Vikings? Or early British history/kings? It was a female author that both Dominic and Tom were gushing was so wonderful. The author's name was something very ordinary, like Susan Hoffman -- but not that, because google isn't coming up with anything. Any ideas? Sorry, I know this one is super vague, but people on this site are so well read, I thought I'd give it a shot.

[Anonymous]

#1 - The Abhorsen series?

[Anonymous]

#2
Susan Cooper?

[Anonymous]

#1 definitely sounds like the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix: first two books are Sabriel and Lireal.

#2 agree also this could be Susan Cooper? Her most famous series is The Dark is Rising which was contemporary when it was written but that was long enough ago a modern kid might think of it a historical fiction. It is fantasy with elements of British history. She does write beautifully. She also has a Shakespearean book called King of Shadows but that is a standalone.

[Anonymous]

You guys are absolutely amazing. I thought this would be an impossible task and you nailed BOTH of them in less than 6 hours time. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Impressive because Dark is Rising is great but it’s not what I’d call historical fiction.

Might also look at the Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander