Book Review: Tyger, Tyger (Blog Tour Stop)

SUMMARY:

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.


OPINION: 3 STARS

The Short Version:
Unique in concept and interesting in execution, Tyger Tyger blends myth and legends to a new form of reality. Though slow to start and holding some awkward transitions and abrupt changes, once things pick up, the pacing stays strong and interesting. Filled with lore and the relevant mythology, the reader gets fully immersed into this world. With simple events triggering the majority of the story, the basic events are easy to follow. Teagan, Finn and Aiden are all strong characters, developed quite well overall, and amusing in their interactions, helping tie things together.

The Extended Version:
Teagan was an admittedly hard character for me to connect with and get into, always seeming like there was a wall separating us. She accepted things almost too easily and too readily for my tastes, and seemed to ignore things just as simply. Despite this, she had several endearing and redeeming qualities about her, with her devotion to her family standing out. The way her family interacted at the beginning was fantastically well done, driving across the point of how close this family is. Her devotion to her family and especially her little brother really built her character. Teagan wasn’t overly emotional, nor did she immediately fall for and swoon over Finn, despite an immediate charge between them that bothered her more than anything. In many ways, Teagan was very relatable over all.

Aiden, Teagan’s little brother, was a fantastic character. Bold in his own ways but still holding plenty of childlike innocent and fears inherent to his age, he didn’t bite his tongue, he saw through things, and he brought plenty of humor even in rough situations. He was definitely my favorite character, and held a strong presence throughout, both because of his character and the nature of his role in the book.

Finn, too, was a well done character, though again I felt like there was a disconnection with him. He certainly had a different background, and the effects of it filtered in at different times and in various ways. His own tie in with the mythology is interesting and well done, and his acceptance of things is built in his past.

The plot itself, while definitely slow in the beginning, picks up about half way and holds steady from there on. Initially, the world building came off as weird for me, and the lore was almost too data-dump heavy, but once everything was set up, it certainly came together very well. The descriptions and new places were descriptive and imaginative, holding enough ties to things readers can picture and understand while still being new and intriguing.

Though there were some awkward transitions and some scenes that seemed rushed or bare bones in nature rather than fleshed out and smoothly inserted, the second half of this book by far negates and outshines this. There is a clear element of strong, natural writing, likely to improve in many great ways and hold an overall much more potent quality with the next installment.

Details:
Source: Received from publisher for review and as part of a promotional tour with The {Teen} Book Scene
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (November 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547330081
ISBN-13: 978-0547330082