Tyger Tyger {early book review} * * * * 1/2

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Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

- fiction, paranormal, YA -

reviewed by Tara SG

received from NetGalley for review

Book Order (Goblin Wars)

1. Tyger Tyger (Nov 2010) * * * * 1/2

Links

Author’s Website : http://home.comcast.net/~kerstenhamilton/books.html

Amazon : not released yet

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This book in 6 words:

captivating re-imagination of old Irish myths

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I came across Tyger Tyger (A Goblin Wars Book) by Kersten Hamilton via NetGalley and moved it up in my TBR pile after getting an email from the author. I am so glad I read this! It was a refreshing YA fantasy that is different from anything I’ve read recently. Kersten does an excellent job at weaving old stories and traditions into a new adventure. I cannot wait until the next in the series comes out!

Brief Summary

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

I found the plot to be original which is a feat considering it was based on old myths and real history. I’m a fan of Celtic/Irish myths in general so it wasn’t surprising that I enjoyed the historical aspect of the book. I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story at first, but I think that was partially due to the formatting of the eBook I was reading. It didn’t take long for me to be sucked into the story and wishing that I could stay up all night to finish it.

Overall, I enjoyed the writer’s style. Her descriptions are beautiful without being overly detailed. There were a few things that I thought were a tad abrupt, but it is a major spoiler so I won’t go into it. Bibliophilies will love the references to Shakespeare, Blake, and other great writers. While I had suspicions about a twist in the story, I didn’t see it being as big as it was and LOVED where she took the characters.

The pacing was great. A little slow in the beginning (which is to be expected specially with a new series) and gradually building until I was tense with anxiety (in a good way).

Characters

The characters are just plain fantastic! Teagan is smart, ambitious, caring, and realistic. I’m very, very much looking forward to watching her develop even more in the next book.

Finn is your traditional hero… handsome, brave, rough around the edges and surprisingly caring. He made me laugh and sigh (which is exactly what I want in a lead man). There is some definite chemistry between Finn and Teagan which hopefully will develop further in the next book

Even Teagan’s little brother is well-developed. You can’t help but love the human iPod who is scared of Elvis impersonators.

Favorite Quotes

When I meet someone who says they’re not ‘much for books,’ I can guarantee that they haven’t met the right book yet.

- Teagan’s father, John

Recommendations

If you enjoy YA Fantasy please read this book! If you are interested in Celitic mythology it’s just an extra bonus

Going Deeper

I also LOVED the way Teagan interacted with her family. Her parents encouraged not only reading and education, but imagination. I was lucky to be raised in a family that was similar (but maybe not so over-the-top). I wish kids were encouraged to make-believe and read more. The family even had a nightly routine that included one person reading aloud while the others did the dishes after dinner. How amazing is that?

- contains slight spoilers! -

I’m really looking forward to the next book. Not just to see what happens between Finn and Teagan, but to see how Teagan deals with her family history and the hard choices in front of her. One of my favorite lines from the HP series is about how our choices, not our abilities, shape who we really are. It seems like Teagan will have to battle with this and it won’t be easy, but it’s a real part of growing up.