Review: When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears by Kersten Hamilton

Title: When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears (Goblin Wars #3)
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Source: Amazon Vine
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: August 16, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

“People will die.”

Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.

Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life . . . and by blood she is one of them now.

Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain . . .

. . . before it is too late.

People are starting to die as all the baddies from Mag Mell begin to show up in Chicago.  Teagan and Aiden continue to be targed by the sidhe and their lives are always in danger.  They need to rely on their new friends and allies that they made in book two to help heal Mag Mell and banish the darkness from its' world forever.  The lore and mythology are amazing so lifelike - they really help to make this story as wonderful as it is.

There was so much action in the final book of the trilogy.  It was non-stop and almost impossible to put the book down.  Teagan's empathy and care for the creatures around her has made it hard to tell who is still a bad guy and who might just be on the right side now.  While there is a lot of sadness and death in this one, there is also a lot of light and rejuvenation.  None of the character are the same at the end of the book - all have changed for the better and moved on to become what their destiny meant for them to be.  This has been one the best ends to a series I've ever seen.

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Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

Title: In the Forests of the Night (Goblin Wars #2)

Author: Kersten Hamilton

Source: Review Request

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Release Date: November 22, 2011

Reviewed by: Jasmyn

The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

My review of book one: Tyger Tyger

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it back to our world and out of Mag Mell - along with some friends and with some knowledge of Teagan's past that they all could have done without. The Dark Man is still on her trail, but is trying to be more persuasive, by trying to go after Teagan's friends and family. When the group finds themselves back in Mag Mell on a search to stop the growing goblin inside of her.

While I enjoyed returning to Teagan's world again, I had a much harder time following this story than the first. There were more "main" characters, and they each had their own agenda. On the other hand, they each brought out a little more of the old mythology which I absolutely loved. This book seemed to fall into the trap that many second books in a series seem to do - it was more of a wrapping up of loose ends and setting the stage for more than a story that I could really get into. I'm hoping there's a third book still. I love Teagan, and all her family and friends, there just need to be a little less going on in the background.

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Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Title: Tyger, Tyger (Goblin Wars #1)
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Source: Review Request
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: November 15, 2010
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

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.

Teagan has a plan for next few years of her life. After high school comes college. No boys, no excitement until after college. Life has another plan for Teagan. One day after finishing her shift at the zoo, her friend Abby calls her frantic. Abby has had a horrible dream of goblins and evil shadows...and they were after Teagan. 

Teagan's brother, Aiden, has the remarkable talent of being able to learn songs immediately after hearing them and singing them back perfectly. He also never gets lost. 

The strangeness continues when Finn arrives bringing with him the unimaginable, the goblins from Abby's dreams. But don't worry too much, Finn was born to fight them, and he will need all his skills to help get not only himself, but Teagan's family out of trouble. 

A story full of twists and turns, interesting characters (human and otherwise), and fantastic places that are brought to life. I had a hard time putting this down and picked it up again as soon as I could. Teagan is a bright girl who knows how to use her brains, which helps them out of many tricky situations. 

I hope Hamilton writes more about the goblin world we visit here. I'd read them all in a heartbeat.

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