Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

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

Author: Kersten Hamilton

Release Date: November 22nd, 2011 by Clarion Books

Read: July 12th, 2012

Pages: 295-Hardcover-owned

Series:

1. Tyger, Tyger
2. In the Forests of the Night
3. When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears

Description:

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.

What I thought:

After rescuing her father, Roisin and Thomas from Mag Mell, Teagan tries to get on with life and continue with school. It seems almost normal to her with all of them staying at her house, including her friend Abby. Cat Sidhe keep harassing and following them, other shadowy creatures showing up during the night, and then there’s the possible threat of Highborn Sidhe coming out again. So it’s never dull for all of them.

Teagan and Finn start to get somewhere in their relationship, Finn is taking it very slow, with advice from her father. He wants to be good for her in many ways, smart and kind but also being able to protect her. Teagan is confused as to what to do, since this is her first boyfriend, but she’s not going to give up her dreams of college and helping animals. There’s a little bit of romance in this book, but there’s still loads more action going on, it’s a good combo that works well.

Aiden still has magic around him when he sings sometimes, and Fear Doirich wants him now more than ever. He fears Aiden because of what his ancestors did way back when, and what Aiden could do in the future. They keep him safe as best they can, but there’s still the worry that they will need to go back into Mag Mell, when they barely made it out last time.

Then Teagan meets Kyle again, the goblin that stole her father from before, and he does something which ignites and starts to change her, to awake the goblin inside her. She has to fight it, to stay true to herself, but running a fever and trying to keep everyone else safe isn’t going to be easy for her.

They do eventually go into Mag Mell again, and this time was even better than the first, you get to see many more characters, and the dangers that surround them. You even get a glimpse at Mab, which was pretty cool!

This book went a lot more in depth to the stories of myths, and into all of the different characters, and it was awesome. I liked this one even better than the first, and I can’t wait for the author to announce a third book!

Recommended for young adult fans of fantasy!