There’s a trend in SFF and YA publishing that has begun to grate on me, and I share it with you now so that you can share in my irritation. For lack of a better term I’m calling it the X of Y and Z, and it is everywhere. I draw attention to it not (only) because a misery shared is a misery halved, but also because multiple people have casually confused any number of them, and these books don’t deserve that. They’re good! And what’s more, they’re distinct. I recommend them as unique books, not just as members of this list.

Please keep in mind that publishers, not authors, are usually the ones who determine book titles.