Review: "Fantasy Lover" by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Fantasy Lover
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Dark Hunter #0
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 31 January 2002
Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)

 This book is part of the Dark-Hunter universe, but does not feature any Dark-Hunters, For that it's considered an introduction to the series hence the #0. 

Dear Reader, 

Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. 

As a love slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again. 

But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace - the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?

Julian of Macedon

My review

Grace Alexander is a sex therapist who has heard everything and nothing can shock her anymore.  Yet she has not had a relationship herself for years since she was hurt by her first love in college.  Grace is a likeable character who seemed to me to come across as very genuine and down to earth, happy enough on her own for now at least.   Her best friend, Selena, however has other ideas about Grace’s love life.

Selena has an unusual present for Grace’s birthday, an ancient book she claims holds sex slave Julian of Macedon who once he is called forth has to serve that woman for the next 30 days.  The man pictured inside the book looks like a Greek God.  Grace of course thinks this is ludicrous, yet jokingly calls Julian forth, never expecting him to appear naked in her house!

Julian of Macedon has spent forever in the book since he was last called but expects nothing different to every other time when Grace summons him.  He gets a shock when she does not drag him off to the bedroom right away.  Instead she wants to get to know him and feed him. 

Julian’s character at first is very stereotypical, just what you imagine a sex slave would be.  I liked how he developed and became an interesting and really quite deep character.  The flash backs to when he was a General really bring him to life.

There is a lot of Greek mythology woven into this book but it is all explained clearly and it is assumed the reader has no prior knowledge.  I like books where mythology is used and this did not let me down: the use of the various Gods works well, I was pleased to see they were not simply as they would have been two thousand years ago.

Grace would love to help Julian but there seems no hope.  (Note might be a slight spoiler here) Cupid tells them the only way to break the curse is for a woman of Alexander to summon him and not consummate the relationship until the last day.  Julian feels worse until Grace utters, “Julian, my name Grace Alexander”.

The cover of my edition (not the one shown, I couldn’t find it!) has an ancient heavy book with a picture of a stylised Greek God and a rose placed on it.  Very different to the cover I’ve used and I think gives a very different impression of what the book will be about.

I really enjoyed Fantasy Lover and will definitely be reading more of Sherrilyn’s work.  Although the Dark Hunters were not actually in this book I hope to go on and read the series, eventually there are so many, I enjoyed Sherrilyn’s style of writing and am sure I’ll like the Dark Hunters too.

 

Find out more about Sherrilyn Kenyon and her many books at:
Website, blog, facebook, goodreads, Amazon author page

Buy a copy of Fantasy Lover:
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Book Depository

Review: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #1

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Published: 1 November 2005Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station - and she also happens to be a werewolf. One night, sick of the usual lame song requests, she accidentally starts 'The Midnight Hour', a late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. Almost immediately she's deluged by calls from desperate vampires, werewolves and witches from all across the country, wanting to share their woes and ask her advice.

Kitty's new show is a raging success, but it's Kitty herself who could use some help, not least because her monthly change is a deep and dark secret to all but a very special few.

And when she finds one very sexy werewolf-hunter on her tail, not to mention a few homicidal undead, she realises she may just may have bitten off more than she can chew...

My Review

Kitty Norville is in many ways your average young urban female and happens to be a werewolf. Kitty starts a late night chat show for the supernaturally challenged by accident through boredom of doing the late night shift which she took through necessity. Suddenly her show is a real hit, she gets a raise, a desk & a researcher. Great right?

Unfortunately for Kitty her success becomes her problem. Someone is not happy about her show bringing attention to the supernatural set, which in Kitty’s world is hidden from Humanity. Is it the local vampires or her werewolf pack? Of course the story has both of these creatures; we’ve come to expect both if one is there right! Initially Kitty is not too worried, that changes when someone tries to kill her live on air. She does not want to give up her show so she sets out to find out what is going on. I think that’s all I’ll say here or I’ll be getting into spoilers (unless I’m actually the last person to read this book!)

I found Kitty to be a believable character; she was far from perfect and annoyed me a little sometimes – so it’s just like knowing someone in real life. That is why I liked her. However, I did not like the way she accepted some of the pack dynamics in the earlier stages of the story. I know the submissive wolves do as told, however I felt a little uncomfortable a few times with just how submissive Kitty was and what she put up with. I enjoyed seeing her grow as time went on.

Overall I enjoyed Kitty and the Midnight Hour, it is a fairly easy read and will appeal to those who enjoy the urban fantasy genre.

Review: Blood Calls by Caridad Pineiro

Title: Blood Calls
Author: Caridad Pineiro
Series: The Calling #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne

Published: 1 May 2007

Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)

But for vampire Diego Rivera, Ramona Escobar's sensuality proved even more potent. He "had" to resist--for there could be no such thing as love for him. Five centuries ago Diego had vowed never to turn another with the bite of the undead. And though Diego knew the dark underworld of New York was no place for a human, his unslaked desire commanded that Ramona be his for one night....

But when the artist's life was threatened by a reclusive millionaire who had used Ramona's skills to build a forgery ring, Diego needed to unleash his inner demon to save her. Then he was faced with a choice--lose the woman he loved...or turn her with a vampire's kiss.

My Review

Diego has lived for five centuries but has never met anyone quite like Ramona.  He is very wealthy and has taken to being a patron of the arts, not only does he have a gallery he is also Ramona's patron.  There had to be some way for him to give something back.

Diego has sworn never to turn another into a vampire after seeing what it cost others. When he learns the woman he thinks he might be falling in love with, or is trying to stop himself from doing so, is dying he finds himself in a real quandary - what will he do?

Ramona is an artist who's family circumstances forced her to undertake a job for a millionaire to obtain the money to care for her mother which she would have preferred not to take. She finds herself threatened by the reclusive millionaire who manages to find her weakest spot, her mother. She is attracted to Diego but she won't act on  it because of her illness meaning she does not have long to live, she has no idea of course tat he is a vampire.

The interaction between Ramona and Diego is executed very well through out the story, I like that it is not all just nice and going well all the time!

Blood Calls is a well paced story with interesting lead characters who end up exactly where the reader wants them to by the time they have got to know them! I have the feeling that any other end to the book than that provided would not have satisfied the reader. You'll have to read the book to find out what that is! 

Review: Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Undead and UnwedAuthor: MaryJanice Davidson
Series: Undead #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley 

Published: 2 March 2004

Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)

It's been a helluva week for Betsy Taylor. First, she loses her job. Then, to top things off, she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites (besides waking up in the morgue dressed in a pink suit and cheap shoes courtesy of her stepmother) is that she can't seem to stay dead. Every night she rises with a horrible craving for blood. She's not taking too well to a liquid diet.

Worst of all, her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious, power-hungry vampire in five centuries - a badly dressed Bela Lugosi wannabe, natch. Frankly, Betsy couldn't care less about vamp politics, but they have a powerful weapon of persuasion: designer shoes. How can any self-respecting girl say now? But a collection of Ferragamos isn't the only temptation for Betsy. It's just a lot safer than the scrumptious Sinclair - a seductive bloodsucker whose sexy gaze seems as dangerous as a stake through the heart...

My Review

Imagine a day where you thought the worst thing that could happen to you was being fired, but you end up being run over and wake up a few days later as a vampire, even though one hadn't killed you with it's bite. You'd be pretty peeved and want to see your family right?

Betsy is a fantastic character who simply does not play by the vampire rules - mainly because she has no idea they exist, then as she discovers them, well she still doesn't! She is not the deepest character ever written but Betsy has a sense of being very real about her. She is loyal to her friends and family, she sees no reason why dying and becoming undead should change that.

Unfortunately for Betsy things were unlikely to turn out to be simple where they!!  There are vampires who want to draw her into their politics, sorry I mean under their control, like the other vampires. But there is a certain something about Betsy, turns out she might not just be a vampire but the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy about a vampire queen. Initially Betsy is far more interested in getting her designer shoes back from her Step Mother! 

Enter Sinclair. Attractive and totally full of himself as far as Betsy is concerned leading to a number of great scenes as she tries to battle her attraction to him. He however knows just how to get Betsy on his side, yes Manolo Blahnik's will certainly get him a long way!!  So she finds herself drawn into vampire politics.

It is fantastic that her best friend from before she died not only stands by her and accepts Betsy is a vampire with remarkable ease but she sets out to make Betsy a crime fighter too!

Undead and Unwed is a light-hearted (as far as vampire romance stories go!) race through Betsy's first few days as a vampire, the biggest problem of course is her new liquid diet :-)

Review: Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Title: Slave to Sensation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Published: 5 September 2006
Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)


THE HOT NEW NAME IN PARANORMAL ROMANCE.

Nalini Singh dives into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind-and none of the heart.

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation" - the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion - and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities - or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation...

My Review

The Psy-Changeling series is one I have seen so much about but for some reason I have never read any of until now, why did I wait! I thoroughly enjoyed Slave to Sensation  and am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

In Sascha and Lucas' world there are three races who share the planet and live together in a manner. The Humans seem the dull relations of the other to races, in fact they are barely mentioned in the book at all. Our story focuses on the Psy and the Changelings, both of whom have powers the humans can only dream of. 

The Changelings are our hot, sexy, strong and emotional shapeshifters. Lucas is an Alpha of the usual order - very strong, very good looking and difficult to handle so who better to have as half of the unlikely seeming couple in the book (don't you think they are often the best sort!). His distaste for the Psy is very deep routed and seemingly unshakable but he did not bank on meeting a Psy like Sascha.

Sascha is a flawed Psy, she is certain something is horribly wrong with her and expends much of her time and energy hiding this from her fellow Psy. Due to a 100 year old decision all Psy are conditioned not to feel emotion, supposedly being to prevent their race from committing horrid crimes. Of course things have not worked out quite as neatly as the Psy would like the other races to believe!

Wonderful things happen between these two who at first can not stand to be in each others company but there is an undeniable something there..... The interaction between the Psy and the Changelings is interesting and refreshing. Sascha and Lucas are both intriguing and well filled out characters who develop very well with the story.

If you have not already read the Psy-Changeling series I would highly recommend it. If you are already a convert I'm sure you'll agree!

Review: "Succubus in the City" By Nina Harper

Title: Succubus in the City
Author: Nina Harper
Series: Succubus #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Del Ray
Published: 25 March 2008
Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)


 AFTER THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF ONE-NIGHT STANDS, A GIRL JUST WANTS A LITTLE MORE.

Working for Satan is a hot gig. The Devil really does wear Prada, and Lily can sport all the dazzling fashion she desires, eat all the fabulous food she craves, and hang for all eternity with her three demon girlfriends. But serving up bad boys to the fiery pits of Hell is just getting . . . lonely.
 
Lily gives the jerks, the creeps, and the liars the best (and last) night of their lives, but she’s tired of waking up to a pile of ashes. She wants a guy who will stick around. 

BUT A MYSTERIOUS MAN IS TURNING UP THE HEAT. . . . 

Nathan Coleman is a devilishly handsome, laid-back P.I. who wants to ask Lily a few questions about a missing man. But someone–or something–wants Lily and her friends dead, and Nathan seems to know more than he’ll admit to. Can a sweet-talking mortal and a girl from Hell find true love?
 

My review

Have you ever wondered what Sex and the City would have been like if all the ladies were demons serving Satan? Read Succubus in the City where the four friends are all demons in Martha's inner circle who lead modern New York lives while delivering their prey to hell.

Martha? That's Satan at the moment, previously known by other names. Very useful for getting into all the best places in the City.

The central character is Lily, a three thousand year old Babylonian Priestess who is getting sick of only ever having lust. She craves love, problem is she'll turn him to dust unless he pleases her first, makes finding Mr Right difficult. The clause in her contact with Martha/Saturn allows her to leave service if she can find a man who truly loves her and knows what she is. Not exactly an easy task!

Enter Nathan, could he be the one? The plot takes us through twists and turns is he or not. If he is how on earth will Lily be able to get him to truly love her when he knows she's a Succubus? Wait, how is she going to get him to believe she's a Succubus in the first place? Introduce a secret society who is trying to uncover the demons and the plot deepens. 

If you are looking for a light hearted paranormal romance which is easy to read it's worth a try. May rove rather tame for some though.

Review: "The Darkest Night" by Gena Showalter

Title: The Darkest Night
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: The Lords of the Underworld, #1
Publisher: HQN
Published date: 1 May 2008
ISBN: 0373772467
Source of my copy: I purchased it.


About the book (from Goodreads)

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapped in a hell of his own.

Neither can resist the instant hunger than calms their torments . . . and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction -- and a soul-shattering test of love . . .

Though they carry an eternal curse, the Lords of the Underworld are irresistibly seductive -- and unimaginably powerful . . . Don’t miss this incredible new paranormal series from Gena Showalter!

My review

Ashlyn Darrow is tormented by the voices she hears, wherever she goes she hears every conversation which has ever taken place there.  She travels the world helping the Institute to find out about paranormal creatures, but she knows little beyond her own work.  Having being given to the Institute by her parents at only five years old, she has never really know any different until she ascends the hill towards to strange and mysterious fortress where the locals says angels or demons live.  Ashlyn hopes they may have “gifts” like hers and be able to help her.   Her first encounter with the Lords happens when she sees Maddox kill four Hunters and come towards her.  Terrified as she is still she realises the silence around him.

Ashlyn is a sweet and innocent character despite being tormented as she is by the voices.  As soon as she meets Maddox she is attracted to him and even more to the silence she has when around him.  So relaxing yet she is desperate to leave at first, not for long of course being and romance!

Maddox is the keeper of violence, twice cursed since he killed Pandora after being possessed by the demon of violence,  he is condemned to die at midnight everyday and spend the next few hours reportedly burning in hell.  His curse also curses Lucien (death) and Reyes (pain) to kill him each day.  Cursed by the Greek gods they see no way out, that is until Ashlyn and the take over by the titan  gods.  A huge sacrifice would be needed, can it be done?  Should it be done?   I can’t tell you with out a huge spoiler!

Ashlyn and Maddox seem a very odd couple at first but end up loving each other and needing each other.  A romance with a few steamy encounters and lots of problems.  

The fortress in Budapest is a prison for the Lords of the Underworld.  The Lords are each cursed to have a demon inside them after opening the box containing them and angering the Gods, they objected to Pandora being given the job of guarding the box.  Maddox as the keeper of violence errupts and kills Pandors, condemning him to his curse.  The Lords hold the demons of violence, pain, death, disease, promiscuity etc, each bringing with it different issues and problems.  

Maddox and the other Lords assume Ashlyn is bait at first, she does not tell them her story for quite a long time, even Maddox after he has started to possessively defend her in a way the rest of the Lords simply can not comprehend.   He sees her as beautiful and at first just wants her body, but ends up feeling something much deeper despite still being suspicious of her for quite a long time. 

The rest of the Lords are introduced to us and their various demons explored to varying degrees as required for Maddox’s story.  Enough so we know which demon they carry and a little about them to help us understand their actions, as well as have plenty of anticipation for future books featuring them.  

As the Darkest Kiss is the first book in the Lords of the Underworld series there is inevitably quite a lot of world building and background detail, but I enjoyed that and made me interested to know what the stories of the rest of the Lords are.  I enjoyed the book a lot and will definitely reading the rest of the series.

Find out more about Gena Showalter and her books:

Website, blog, Facebook, twitter, goodreads.

Buy a copy:

Amazon US, Amazon UK, Book Depository

Review: "Sins of the Heart" by Eve Silver

Title: Sins of the Heart
Author: Eve Silver
ISBN: 0373774826

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Otherkin Trilogy #1

Publisher: HQN
Published: 1 August 2010

Source of my copy: Publisher via Netgalley

About the book (from Goodreads)

National bestselling author Eve Silver returns with a darkly sexy new series about forbidden alliances... and inescapable desires.

As the son of Sutekh, the lord of evil, Dagan Krayle is one of the most powerful soul reapers. Dagan intends to use every ounce of his power to find his brother's remains and punish those responsible for his brutal death. But he must move swiftly-and carefully-if he is to have any chance of bringing his brother back to this world, because his enemy is on the hunt.

Otherkin Roxy Tam will stop at nothing to keep the soul reapers from resurrecting Dagan's brother. To allow Sutekh access to his remains would wreak havoc and destruction on the mortal world...and would be her unforgivable failure.

Neither Dagan nor Roxy expect to join forces for the sake of mankind. Or have their loyalties tested as they struggle against the potent desire that threatens to consume them both....

 

My Review

Roxy Tam is strong, yet venerable at the same time, a member of the Artesian Guard.  She was abandoned by her mother when she was only five then experienced the care system and suffered a tragic event which lead to her becoming strong, self reliant and afraid of being alone forever.  She has no real family and is scarred by her early life.

Roxy is tied up when we first meet her, when Dagan appears she thinks he’s come to kill her rather than her original capture.   But he tells her “this is not your night to die” before she witnesses him killing her two captures then removing their hearts and dark souls.  He was entranced by the female who was shaking with fear yet did not scream and was defiant towards him.  

Although he is a soul reaper, an immortal, he allows Roxy not only to go free but to see his face, and live, unheard of.  But Dagan has some sort of connection to Roxy and when he sees her pendant tries to warn her ageist the Daughters of Aset.  Only nineteen “and a half” - he has no choice but to leave her.  Warned her noting more he can do.  He tries to forget about her.

Dagan Kryale is a soul reaper, he harvest dark souls for the consumption of his father Sutekh.  Dagan is one of four brother Sutekh bred with human women and raised all of them apart, Dagan the only one raised in the Underworlds.   The brothers bonded and become very close.  

Eleven years later Roxy and Dagan are reunited when chasing information which turns out to be about the same case, but Roxy has not been told the full story about what is going on, as usual.   Lokan, one of Dagan’s brothers, has been killed, something which should be almost impossible.  Both Sutekh and the Asetian Guard want to find the body first but for very different reasons.  Dagan wants vengeance and a chance to resurrect his brother, all the evidence seems to point towards the Daughters of Aset being responsible. 

Dagan can not understand his overwhelming reaction to Roxy, Soul Reapers do not have much emotion, certainly not towards their enemies, the Daughters of Aset.  Throughout the eleven years Roxy had dreams about Dagan in a strange overly real way, which would waken her sweating.  Dagan had what can best be described as waking dreams of Roxy, but he tells him self soul reapers do not dream.   The attraction between Roxy and Dagan burns under the surface for a long time before they finally give in to desire.  Theirs is an attraction between two venerable and distant people who are just right together. 

The perpetrators of the crime are not what the reader anticipates, the twists and turns kept me interested and I did not feel that the murderer was made to obvious too soon.  The other characters were all well written and developed, even the minor ones.  A lot of the information given about each will probably become even more relevant as the trilogy develops.  

Sins of the Heart is dominated by lots of detailed world building with a lot information about the many characters, Topside and the various realms of the Underworld.  Egyptian mythology is heavily used in building the world and the detail was fascinating, even if it does make you concentrate on which bit is about who!  The complex information is a lot to take in but made the story really powerful and much more intriguing.

Sins of the Heart is a great first book in the Oherkin Trilogy.  It ends on a real cliff hanger and I am really looking forward to Sins of the Soul and Sins of the Flesh.

 

Find out more about Eve Silver and her other books: 

website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon author page.

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.