Tyger Tyger Review

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Publisher: Clarion Books

Release date: November 15, 2010

Source: Publisher/Author/BEA 2010

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.

Review:

Tyger Tyger was a novel I’ve been eyeing for months. It had an interesting cover, an intriguing premise, and the author is one of the nicest people ever! Luckily, from the first page Tyger Tyger drew me in and didn’t let me go until the last. Filled with Celtic folklore, mythology, and twisted Irish tales Tyger Tyger is one of the most original books I’ve read in a long time.

To begin with, the characters were all terrific. Teagan was a kick butt, powerful heroine who never backed down from a challenge. As a fellow animal lover and (hopefully) future zoologist I could really connect with her desire to help animals and understand them. Other than that, Teagan is really dedicated to her family and friends. She will do anything to protect them and is so devoted to keeping her younger brother, Aiden, safe. Aiden was another great character. I loved how his love for music tied into the story and he was such a sweet kid who was dealing with a lot but stayed strong throughout. The whole Wylltson family was great and proved how important staying true to your family is.

In addition to Teagan and her family, there were a lot of other characters that played smaller roles that I loved just as much. For one, Finn. I loved him. He was sweet, strong, and fiercely protective of Teagan (but not in a creepy way). Finn was a hero in Tyger Tyger and proved that true love has no bounds.

I have to admit, my favorite part of the novel had to be the plot. It was so original, complex, and creative…I loved every minute of it. Goblins and Celtic folklore are something rarely written about in YA novels today and Kersten presented it in an entertaining and beautiful way. Romance, family lore, goblins, and more combined to make this a fantastic read. The different creatures included in Tyger Tyger were all interesting and new to me. Especially the goblins, cat-sidhe, and hellhounds. This was a whirlwind of a novel that proved how much research and dedication Kersten put into her young adult debut. I cannot wait to see what happens in the sequel!

Overall, Tyger Tyger was a fantastic and well written young adult debut filled with plot twists and unique mythology. The characters were well thought out and original and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars