Title: Tyger, Tyger
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Goblin Wars #1
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: November 15, 2010
*Sent to me by the author to read*
Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton is one of those rare Young Adult books that is so rich with depth and
deep in imagination that you immediately get lost in the world created don't want to come up for air.
When Teagan Wylltson's best friend Abby tells her that her life is in danger, she doesn't believe her. After all, Abby has been known to be to be a bit over the top with stuff like that. Teagan is happy with her life-working part time at the zoo and hanging out with Abby. Her little brother Aiden annoys her, but that is what little brothers do. Her life changes when Finn Mac Cumhaill comes to live with her family everything changes. She starts seeing weird things that she didn't see before in the shadows, and the animals at the zoo are acting odd around her. She's getting in trouble at work for stuff she didn't do, and no one believes that it isn't her doing the stuff at work or the things she sees are really. Well, there is one person who believes her: Finn.
When Finn tells her that he was born to fight Goblins, and that they are related to the people in the Irish stories her dad reads them, she doesn't really believe him. That is until her world is turned upside down, and Goblins take over their lives. Finn is the only person she and Aiden can turn to for help, because he believes them. They begin a journey that takes them to a place they didn't know existed and meet creatures that they thought were only make believe.
What I loved most about this book is that history and fantasy intertwined so expertly that you don't even realize that it's being done. When I was reading I found myself wanting to learn more about Irish legeands. Another wonderful thing is that the name of the book Tyger, Tyger is named after the poem by William Blake and is quoted in the book quite a lot. It was an unexpected treat! There is also a romance in the book between Finn and Teagan, but it doesn't take over the whole story so the book.
I think that I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but while I was reading it I couldn't help but think that this reminded me of the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning, only for the younger set. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
