Author: Kersten Hamilton (site)
Available: November 15, 2010
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: 322 (ebook)
Price: $11.47 Amazon $12.75 Book Depository
Series: Goblin Wars #1
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.
Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming. (Goodreads)
Initial Thoughts: I love books that are based on mythology, especially Irish Mythology, so I've been itching to get my hands on this one for a while. (Downloaded from Net Galley) The cover seems a bit more Middle School than YA, but I love the title.
Review: I loved this book! The characters were so interesting: a girl who doesn't date at all focusing on animals instead, her best friend who has mob connections and is a bit crazy, her brother who does everything with a soundtrack, her artist mother and book-loving father, and the charming Irish Traveller who comes to stay with them. The cat-sidhe were great. They're both creepy and hilarious. I loved Finn's conversations with them. The goblins were horrible, the descriptions detailed, original, and truly scary. The whole story: setting, characters, and plot twists, was woven together perfectly. You don't run into the same old fairy tale characters (kelpie, seelie and unseelie fae, brownie), these feel both authentic and original. The plot twists aren't entirely surprising, but not easily guessable either. By the end of the book, you feel that you've only scratched the surface of what's to come. There is a lot left unresolved. The romance goes pretty much nowhere in this book, The Rescue taking priority. Finn is such a lovable character, that perfect mix of dangerous, charming, and mischievous. I loved pretty much all of his lines. Really, I'd love to read a series just about Finn. I loved that Teagan didn't fall in love with him at first sight. She took a real no-nonsense stance with Finn and it made for a perfect Rom-Com feel to their relationship, at least until the you-know-what hit the fan and they both had to get real serious, real fast, or die. I can't wait to see how the relationship develops and how they're going to survive. In fact, I can't wait to see what happens to all of the characters. Things are very much up in the air at the end of the novel.
Quick Review: Tyger Tyger was a perfect read: dark fairy tale with charming and dangerous hero, no-nonsense heroine, and a colorful cast of supporting characters. Oh, and dead cats that walk on their hind legs and talk a lot of smack. Go out and preorder this now! You'll thank me later.
