Review: "Tyger Tyger" by Kersten Hamilton

Title: Tyger Tyger
Author: Kersten Hamilton
ISBN 10: 054733081
ISBN 13: 97805473390082

 About the book (from Goodreads)

 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.

Genre: Young Adult

Series: Goblin Wars #1
Published: 15 November 2010
Publisher: Clarion Books

Source of my copy: Publisher via Netgalley
Website: Kersten Hamilton's website

My review

Teagan Wylltson has a happy home life, high expectations of her beloved job at the zoo and little interest in boys.  Her life is changed forever when Finn Mac Cumhaill is sent to live with the Wytlltsons after being found on the streets his parents dead.  There is something odd about him and when he is close to her she feels odd.  Teagan’s best friend Abby has been dreaming and warns of death and goblins, but of course, Teagan does not believe her at all.

Teagan is a very loving and loyal character, she is willing to do whatever she has to in order to protect her family and find her father, she seems very mature for a sixteen year old.  I particularly liked how wonderful she was with Aiden.  She does not seem to know how to handle her feelings, or whatever they are, she tries to ignore them as much as possible and spent, I thought , a little too much time staying away from him.  I kept wondering how different that might have been had this been an adult rather than YA book, but I would not change that about the book really. 

Finn Mac Cumhaill is not really what he seems when he first comes to live with Teagan‘s family, the way he leaves when he realise there is a connection between him and Teagan.  I have to admit I did not like Finn early in the book but I came to like him a lot as I felt he earns both Teagan’s and the readers respect.  Finn is The Mac Cuhaill, one born into each gernartion to defend against te goblins, we do not really understand all that means until latter in the book; it’s not an easy life and makes him believe he will be alone forever.  Not of farytale.  At times it was hard to remember at times he is only 18 years old.  

Aiden is Teagan’s five year old brother, he never gets lost and has a wonderful singing voice.  He is kept in the story all the way through, very nice to see him having a full role in the story, all too often the little brother is left at home before the adventure begins only for something awful to happen to them later.  He copes with the stains of what they encounter as their journey progresses extremely well considering he is only five years old.

Teagan’s Mother is quite a mystery, she speaks with a little and remembers nothing of her childhood.  It becomes apparent why much latter in the book, but I’m not going to tell you why is would be a huge spoiler!!  She dies early in the book so we do not seem to get to know much about her, her death and the effects of were a little to glossed over for me, I would have preferred to see Teagan fall apart a little more. 

Tyger Tyger is full of ancient mythology and Irish Focklore.  This is woven into the book in a wonderful way which makes a lot of complex detail digestible in small chunks.  I was very happy to see such pains taken in the world building in this book, the use of Irish myth felt very well chosen.  The relationship of the Irish Travellers to this mythology is interesting.  The Goblins in this world are not nice creatures.

Teagan, Finn  and Aiden go through so much on their journey but they never waver in their determination or belief things will work out some how.

I really enjoyed Tyger Tyger, the first book in the Goblin War series, especially the fascinating use of myth and focklore which was just complex enough.  I am very much looking forward to reading more books in the series.

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

ISBN 10: 0545123267

ISBN13: 9780545123266

About the book (from Goodreads)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1

Published: 1st August 2009

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Website: Maggie Stiefvater

Excert: Excert

My Review

Shiver is gripping story which pulls you into the lives and relationship of Grace and Sam, a powerfully and poetically written tale of soul mates, love and werewolves.

Grace and Sam are soul mates, despite the fact that she is human and he is a wolf. The connection has been there for years, since Sam saved Grace when she was attacked by wolves as a child. For years Grace spent her winters watching the wolves from her yard, which backed onto the forest, always looking out for her wolf. The first time she meets properly him as a human he is naked on her back porch having been shot. Once she sees he has the same yellow her wolf has she simply accepts werewolves straight off, like she had always know really. From that moment on they do not want to be separated.

Grace is an easy character to like, she seems so genuine and honest. Having been near obsessed with her wolf for years she feels she has come home when she finally meets Sam. I found Sam is a harder character to like but his love for Grace is nothing but genuine.

The wolves in Shiver are different to wolves I read in other series. They are human in the summer and wolf in winter, the cold makes them change, forget the moon and silver etc usually associated with werewolf stories. In Shiver, once they are wolves very little, if anything, is remembered of their human lives, much more a true wolf than in many other stories. Sam, however, longs to just be “Sam” and not loose himself as a wolf, dreading that this seems to be his last year before he become as wolf for the rest of this life.

The story is told partly from Grace’s point of view and partly Sam’s. I found the changes in POV easy to follow and added depth to the story, helping us to see that the deep true love was there on both sides. I found Shiver to be well paced especially the second half.

I really enjoyed Shiver. If you like werewolves and tales of true love then Shiver is for you. It may be YA but is very readable by even adults who usually do not read YA at all. I found this a difficult review to write without giving away too many spoilers!