Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, Book 1)by Kersten Hamilton

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. (goodreads.com)

Thanks to my good friend Jenny from Wondrous Reads I was able to get my hands on a copy of Tyger Tyger! Once I had the book I became all nervous about reading it. What if I didn't like it as much as I thought I would? What if it bored me? What if it was all Twilighty? WHAT IF!??!I get like that when I am super excited to read a book from an author I don't know. I know. I have issues.Only my worries were all for naught. I picked up the book Saturday morning and by just after lunch time I was done. This was another story I could not put down. It had humour - though not laugh out loud to me. It was fast paced - but not rushed. It had characters that I enjoyed - especially 5-year old Aiden, which is a total surprise to  me because I HATE young kids in books.Tyger Tyger felt like a fantasy novel set in Ireland and not a paranormal whatnot set in Chicago as it actually was. There is a total fairy tale quality to the story that makes you forget that it's modern time until someone whips out their cell phone or mentions a GPS. I truly enjoyed that aspect of the story because it made it all the more believable. (Even though it shouldn't have!)Something that sort of bothered me about the story was something to do with Abby, Teagan's best friend. The story starts off with Abby going on and on about how the goblins in Teagan's mother's paintings were going to come alive and get them. Only when Teagan mentions goblins to Abby later on Abby is all "You're just making things up, but I'll help you anyhow." Yes, Abby still helped her best friend but she didn't ever mention "OMG! I totes dreamed this, dude!" which I sort of thought she would just by getting to know her through the book.There was one other thing that bothered me as well, but now that I am writing the post I can't remember it. Oh, well. It wasn't earth shattering or anything, just a question that I had lingering at the end of the book. I'm sure it will come to me at some point.The entire time I was reading Tyger Tyger I was thinking how this would make a cool tv show or movie. I know that all YA seems to be rushed to the big screen these days (and quite frankly, I am tired of it because the movies ruin the stories!) but something about the way this book read was translatable to live action for me. It could be scripted by Joss Whedon and fill the hole in my tv viewing heart that Buffy left many years ago.I am happy I got to read this book and I am looking forward to the sequel which I believe is due in the fall of this year.The Goblin Wars

1. Tyger Tyger
2. In the Forests of the Night - October 2011