Magic is always unusual, right? I mean, it's not part of our everyday world... for most of us.

But there are some semi-familiar magic systems with elves, dwarves, spells... and then there are books that move beyond what I've seen before to offer something a bit different.

The Ash Gardeners is set in Hawaii and offers a sexy take on what it's like to live after death in a created body with missions to keep humankind unaware of others. Secrets unfold and the opposition keeps getting stronger. There is high-technology at work, but the feel of the book is magic, and Hawaii is nicely brought to life.

Vespertine uses female-centerd magic of a type I haven't seen with the dead haunting, and sometimes attacking, the living. It's a fully realized nightmare world with the odds heavily stacked against a young believer. The way magic works is gruesome, and the consequences of breaking the rules harsh. When the heroine has tough choices and the world is against her, she's got to find her own truths and her own path.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess is based on a Chinese legend. With the imperial court, a challenge to train with the emperor's son, promised rewards, and dangeous magic, this book swept me away to places I'd never been, bringing them vividly to life. I loved this story of a woman struggling with honor and love--and decisions about who to betray and who to safeguard.

Master of Poisons is set in another fully realized world where the poisoned desert is taking over and destroying countries. There's diplomacy, double-crossing, loss, always loss, as people struggle to bring a country to its senses. The cost of keeping the wealthy safe may destroy the world, but they have no intention of accepting a tougher road. I bled with the characters in this book at the cost of magic and changing society.

When you see totally different worlds like these you realize writers will never run out of possibilities - creativity can move us in new directions to worlds we've never seen before. Every one of those worlds brings a new vision and every one challenges us to make choices in our own mundane world.