RAVEN

This intriguing, philosophical urban fantasy nimbly juggles such weighty topics as addiction, immortality and faith while keeping the tone light. Though underage, Nicole has a new job at New York club Evermore, where Zin, the leader of her breakdancing crew, also toils as a bartender. Zin is a kindred spirit and one of the few people to whom Nicole has confided the truth about her brother’s meth addiction and the destruction it has wreaked on her family. She is dubbed “Raven” by her boss, who eventually reveals to her that her association with the club and its staff is no accident. The growing mutual attraction between Zin and Nicole is satisfyingly drawn out and the dialogue-driven narrative is exceedingly readable. Some characters are more developed than others; Nicole’s parents, for instance, are somewhat wooden, though their heartbreak is palpable and provides balance for the more fantastical elements of the plot. Particularly enjoyable are the details, from the ongoing literary nods to Poe’s avian ode to the descriptions of breaking moves. Amid the glut of supernatural romances, this one is original and engrossing. (Fantasy. 14 & up)