Book Review: Tyger Tyger

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
I received an ARC of this book from We Love YA! Tours.


Description: 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.


My Review: In Tyger Tyger, author Kersten Hamilton mixes urban fantasy and Celtic mythology to create a modern fairy tale full of adventure. I really liked this book because it had an edgy feel to it that would appeal to mature teens and also adults. It's definitely not your average fairy tale!

Teagan is an average teen, going through life with a loving family, consisting of her librarian father, painter mother, precocious younger brother and a somewhat flighty best friend. But all that changes when Finn Mac Cumhaill comes to live with her family. From that point on, Teagan's life changes drastically and she becomes aware of a world she never would have believed existed.

What struck me the most about this book was the character development. Hamilton had such rich character development from supporting characters, such as Lennie, to the main characters, Teagan and Finn. I also really liked how she portrayed Aiden, Teagan's younger brother. Aiden was an "old-soul" in a child's body. At times he acted just like any other six year old, but other times he was more mature than some adults I've encountered, especially considering some of the situations that Teagan, Aiden and Finn faced throughout the book. But Hamilton weaved this so effortlessly into Aiden's character development that it didn't seem out of place or inconsistent.

Tyger Tyger is a great adventure story full of the darker side of the fairy world. I am looking forward to the release of the second book in this series (sometime in mid 2011). I just wish I didn't have to wait so long.


My Rating: 4 stars

Description and picture courtsey of Goodreads.