Dystopian may be so de rigueur in the world of young-adult literature right now (thanks, Suzanne Collins), but don't count supernatural stunners out just yet. In fact, a slew of other-worldly novels are hitting bookstore shelves this spring and summer. From Josephine Angelini's "Starcrossed" to Richelle Mead's "Bloodlines" (out August 23)—our beach bag will be overflowing with blood-thirsty vampires, beguiling fairies and sexy werewolves.
What better time, then, to reflect on some of the genre's most kick-butt stars—the Badass Supernatural Heroines of YA who give girls a good name? It's a topic we could write a manifesto on, but we'll settle for a blog post instead. Hollywood Crush writers Kara Warner, Sabrina Rojas Weiss and Amy Wilkinson present their favorite supernatural sisters (in no particular order):
Heroine: Helen Hamilton
Book: "Starcrossed" by Josephine Angelini
The most fun and exciting female protagonist I've encountered since Katniss Everdeen, this young woman has a bag of supernatural tricks so powerful that a lot of people want her dead. Because "Starcrossed" is relatively new to bookshelves I won't go into spoilers, but I can assure you Josephine has woven an empowering tale full of intrigue, mythology and self discovery that will have you thinking and dreaming about Helen's supernatural badassness long after you finish the book. (Tune in tomorrow for our juicy in-depth interview with Josie!) —Kara
Heroine: Isabelle Lightwood
Book: "The Mortal Instruments" series by Cassandra Clare
Clary Fray may be the protagonist of Cassandra Clare's engrossing "Mortal Instruments" series, but the former mundane is just discovering the depths of her Shadowhunter powers. One-time rival Isabelle Lightwood, on the other hand, is already a demon-hunting grande dame at all of 16 years old. With her snappy sartorial sense and ever-present whip, Izzy boasts style, substance and serious slaying abilities. —Amy
Heroine: Laurel Sewell
Book: "Wings" series by Aprilynne Pike
Laurel is the kind of perfect girl you'd hate if she weren't so darn nice: she sings, plays guitar, has perfect skin, is super-smart and never has weight problems 'cause all she can eat are fruits and vegetables. But in "Wings," the first book of Aprilynne's series, a giant flower starts growing on her back, and she discovers that she's not really a girl but a faery—a changeling planted in her parents' home in order to inherit their land. And though she's a bit confused by her new identity, she soon rolls with it and becomes a sort of eco-warrior, saving the faery land and a few lives along the way. —Sabrina
Heroine: Sookie Stackhouse
Book: "The Southern Vampire Mysteries" by Charlaine Harris
The inclusion of the sharp-tongued, telepathic member of the Fae wasn't exactly a slam dunk here. Don't get me wrong, Sookie is definitely a force to be reckoned with, but not a badass in the traditional sense. (To be clear, I am talking about the Sookie Stackhouse character in Charlaine's novels, NOT the Anna Paquin version on "True Blood.") In addition to the reading minds gift she's got going for her, she has a supernatural-esque way of getting gorgeous, perfect men to fall in love with her all the time, which is pretty awesome. —Kara
Heroine: Rose Hathaway
Book: "Vampire Academy" series by Richelle Mead
Out of all the Badass Supernatural Heroines on our list, 17-year-old Dhampir Rose Hathaway surely has the highest body count to her name. As protector of Moroi best friend Lissa Dragomir, Rose dispatches evil Strigoi like it's her job because, well, it is. But Rose makes our list not just for her physical fortitude but for her strength of character, as well. Rose doesn't take BS from anyone—including her dreamy teacher/love interest Dimitri Belikov. —Amy
Heroine: Bella Swan
Book: "The Twilight Saga" by Stephenie Meyer
Bumbling Bella Swan spends the bulk of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight Saga" as the clumsy, fragile love interest of the much suaver, much stronger vampire Edward Cullen. But when she inevitably becomes the bloodsucker she's destined to be, the physical and mental capabilities once masked by Bella's human form are unleashed. As a newborn vamp, she boasts enough muscle to defeat hulking brother-in-law Emmett in an arm-wrestling match, while her once-curious brain "malfunction"—a mental shield—saves the Cullens from a bloody, bloody battle with the Volturi at the end of "Breaking Dawn." Badass Bella, indeed. —Amy
Heroine: Janie Hannagan
Book: "Wake" series by Lisa McMann
Janie Hannagan isn't a vampire. She doesn't slay demons or have wings sprouting from her back. She's just a normal girl, except she has the ability to stumble into other people's dreams—a terrifying prospect when you blackout driving a car or sitting in the middle of homeroom. At first, Janie is unable to control her gift, but slowly with training and guidance from another dream catcher, she's able to harness her powers and use them to fight crime alongside boyfriend Cabel Strumheller. Now if only her gift weren't making her go blind... —Amy
Which Badass Supernatural Heroine is your favorite? Who else should we include on our list? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!
** Hollywood Crush Twitter