Book Review: In The Forests of the Night

In The Forests of the Night

By:  Kersten Hamilton

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group

Publish Date:  November 19, 2011

Format:  Arc

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Series:  2nd book in The Goblin Wars series; Book 1 Tyger Tyger

Recommendation:  Oh Yes!  I love the whole goblin set up and the magical world of Mag Mell.  Did you read the first book and fall in love with the Celtic lore and Finn?  Do go get this one as well.

Book Synopsis:
"Something was calling you, Tea."

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive.  But the Dark Man's forces have followed them to Chicago and are beckoning Tea to return.  They claim that she will soon join them, as goblin blood is never passive once awaken.  And in the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or murder her family and friends.

Teagan knows she doesn't have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured or 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.

First Sentence:
Tears were spilling down Teagan Wylltson's cheeks as she went up the stairs.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Teagan is upset with what she learned of her mothers family (in Tyger Tyger) and what it might mean to her and Finn.  When Finn comes to talk to her and reassure her things get crazy quickly in the full house of the Wylltsons'.  Thomas starts sprouting feathers and cat-sidhe appear.  The cat-sidhe want Aiden.  As Fear Doirich wants Aiden.  Mamieo doesn't like Thomas because he's a highborn, Roisin (Teagan's Aunt) is mad at her love, her father is still trying to get his memories back and straight.  Oh and the social worker is coming around too.  All craziness and then the goblins come back into their lives with threats to Teagan and she starts to change after a lick from Kyle.  A war is on it's way...

We start exactly where Tyger Tyger left off, Teagan's crying on the roof and Finn climbing the drain pipe to talk to her.  Finn captures my heart once again at the get go here.  Finn has turned Teagan's plans around, though she still wants to follow them, they now have a boyfriend attached somewhere in there. 

We see all the same characters again in this book.  I do like the extra background Thomas, the shape-shifter, brings to the family of the goblin world Mag Mell.  It was his home and he is a highborn so he knows a great deal.  We can't forget about Lucy the spirit living in Aidens' hair.  Aiden gets to try a few new things with his special gift of song as well.  Nice to see, and I hope to see more of him in the future.  So many different characters and personalities in one house, it's funny from time to time.

Another wonderful YA book that I would hand over not needing the adults to read first.  But I would say do read it for the fun and wonderful writing it is.  This book went quickly for me as well.  I love the Celtic lore tangled into the story and I get a little feel of a fairy land as well.  That is one of the things that drew me into the first story as well.  I really enjoy this mix.  This book seems a little slower at first, but we need to get the setting set and the characters defined as everyone is growing and changing, which is wonderfully done with keeping us attracted to the book.  Then the action picks up and leaves you desiring the third book of the trilogy.

I strongly suggest giving the Goblin Wars Trilogy a try.  It's a wonderful read and you wont be disappointed.  If you enjoy fairy type books, this goblin based trilogy could very much be for you.


I read this book for an honest review for the author.

This book qualifies for YA Reading Challenge 2011 and Speculated Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Floor to Ceiling books.

Looking Forward To...(68)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

Next Book Is...

In The Forest of The Night

Goblin Wars #2

By:  Kersten Hamilton

Due Out:  November 22, 2011

I loved the first book in the Goblin Wars series.  It was wonderful!  Yes, it's a YA read, but one I think many of ages would enjoy as well.  And this is a given to read this one as well. :)  A Celtic basis to the story and one well written.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have rescued Tea's and Aiden's father and have made it out of Mag Mell alive, bringing a few new friends with them. But The Dark Man's forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Teagan soon realizes that she is not the target of the goblins. In fact, the goblins call her princess, and call her to come out and play. Something is happening to her, and she suspects it’s an infection she picked up in Mag Mell. An infected cat-sídhe becomes her test subject, and Teagan is determined to cure it of the sickness that seems to rot its flesh. If she can find a cure for the cat-sídhe, then maybe there is hope for her. 

Meanwhile, Kyle and Isabeau, Teagan’s goblin cousins, show up in her school, disguised as a substitute teacher and a foreign exchange student. They are sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive. Once awoken, it will burn away every other aspect of her being, leaving her pure and solely goblin. When the process is complete, she will belong to Fear Doirich, the Dark Man. It is just a matter of time. In the meantime, Kyle and Isabeau are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Teagan’s family and friends. 

Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn to be hunted to the death 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.

Cover Release

Okay, yes.  I'm behind on sharing this one with you all.  I saw that Melissa @ Books and Things had this on her Wish List (which it's on my Desired list as well), but I didn't know that the cover was reveled until then!  Oh, dingy me.  But, I had to share this one with you as I LOVED the first book and can not wait for this one to come out in October.

In the Forests of the Night

Book 2 of The Goblin Wars

Due out:  October 3, 2011

Oh do I LOVE this cover!  So much to see here and think on.  I have to say the colors are marvelous and I love the eyes!

And we have a synopsis too: 

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. 

Teagan 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.

Have you read the first book, Tyger Tyger?  Yes, it's a young adult read. But it really is a wonderful one.  I'm working on getting my son to read this one next.