ABookGeek

The goblins are coming --- and not just any goblins - really creepy goblins, namely the cat-sidhe. But not to worry, Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives to save the day. Maybe.

Tyger Tyger is the first book in the Goblin Wars series. I am not sure how many books are planned, but if the books to follow are as good as Tyger Tyger, I will read all of them. This book was such a pleasant surprise and a joy to read. I was extremely happy to read this story involving the Celtic mythology of the Fenian Cycle as well as some of the history of early Ireland which, naturally, has to cover the Firbolg and the Tuatha De Danann.
Read the rest of my review here: http://abookgeek-llm.blogspot.com/2010/07/tyger-tyger.html

First of all, I wasn't sure I would care for this book at all. I've read so many fairy books that I was afraid it would all just be old hat. I was so wrong. I love the old folk tales about the fey as well as traditional fairy tales and modern retellings. I also love it when someone takes these tales and does something new with them. I had a reaction to The Iron King similar to the reaction I had to Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: A Midsummer Night's Dream. Both of these stories were able to bring new life to old tales.

I loved the idea for the Iron Fey - grown out of the imagination of men who created the technology we so love and crave in our modern world. There is a steam punk quality to some of the creatures. My favorite iron fey creatures were the pack rats – little gnome-like creatures gathering “treasure” they find in the piles of junk and carrying it in packs on their backs. The concept of the Iron Fey is an interesting idea and although in this book it is shown to be mostly dark and menacing, it might be nice to see if there is any positive to it. Positive or negative, I think this is an idea worth exploring.

I loved Puck -- who doesn't?? I was not quite so sold on the Ash/Meghan pairing, however. I will withhold judgment on that relationship until after I have read the next book, The Iron Daughter.

Bad to the Bone was just as much fun as Wicked Game, only this time we get some new bad guys and get to learn more about our vampire DJs. There is more exploration of the relationship between our ex-con artist human Ciara and cool DJ vampire Shane. As their relationship develops, we are introduced to a weird semi religious cult group that is set on wiping out vampires and the DJs at WVMP in particular.
Read the rest of my review here: http://abookgeek-llm.blogspot.com/2010/07/bad-to-bone.html

This book was so much fun to read! First of all, I have to express how much I love this series for the simple fact that the titles of the books (and chapters) are also the titles to awesome songs. I really enjoyed Wicked Game because it was exactly what I was in the mood for. The main character is a con artist named Ciara who is trying to go straight - or she is trying to convince herself to go straight. Read the rest of my review here: http://abookgeek-llm.blogspot.com/2010/06/wicked-game.html

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin is a beautifully written book about Eilis Lacey, the younger daughter of a poor Irish family in Enniscorthy. There are no chapters in the book - it is divided into four parts with periodic breaks that can make decent stopping points while reading. I feel divided in my opinion of this book. I thought it was beautiful, haunting, and as with most Irish literature I have read, very sad. Read the rest of my review here: http://abookgeek-llm.blogspot.com/2010/06/brooklyn-by-colm-toibin.html