YA fantasy with ordinary protagonists

[rachelmanija]

Can you all name me some comparatively recent (ie, less than 20 years old) YA urban fantasy (ie, not set in a fantasy world or post-apocalyptic world) in which the protagonist does NOT have any magical powers or attributes or devices (ie, no magic rings), does not develop any later, and is not a professional demon-hunter or anything like that?

I'm thinking of books like A Wrinkle in Time (but more modern) or Neverwhere (but for teenagers.) Also, ideally, more along the lines of Charles de Lint than "my vampire boyfriend."

The only ones I can think of offhand are Holly Black's Valiant, Flora Segunda, Fire and Hemlock (borderline - Polly does have a power, of sorts), and some of Charles de Lint's novels.

It's a little hard to write stories like that and not have the action be entirely driven by the magical characters, leaving the protagonist drifting passively in their wake. The characters with abilities are inherently going to be far more powerful. Tolkien used this type of plot very well, but even so, Frodo and Bilbo had the One Ring. I'm thinking of books in which someone like Sam is the protagonist.

Comments

[shark-hat.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure whether Mieville's Un Lun Dun counts or not; it's a plot point that the protagonist doesn't have magical powers, but the action is mainly set in Un-London, not in "normal" London.

Ah- Sarah Rees Brennan's Demon series- the protag of the first definitely doesn't count, but Mae is one of the POV characters in Demon's Covenant, and she's ordinary. I think Frances Hardinge's Verdigris Deep (Well Witched in the US) qualifies- I think the protagonists are ordinary kids caught up into a witch's snares- and maybe Maureen Johnson's Devilish? I don't remember that one as well.

ETA: Peter Beagle's Tamsin was published in the nineties, wasn't it? It's mostly set on a farm rather than in a city though...

[sheepsus.livejournal.com]

I was also thinking of Un Lun Dun and unsure if it would qualify. But since Neverwhere is somewhat similar, in having a London Above and a London Below... I feel like it might count?

It's a very enjoyable read, if naught else.

Sadly, that was the only that popped to mind.