Hamilton,
Kersten. When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears. (series: Goblin Wars) Houghton Mifflin/Clarion 2013 388p $16.99 ISBN 978-0-547-73964-9 ms/hs Fantasy
E-BN
Teagan and Finn become a romantic
couple and join forces to protect Aiden, Tea’s younger brother, from the Dark Man
and the song he has implanted within him. Creatures are entering Chicago from Mag Mell through mysterious
portals,
and a new group of Sidhe is trying to destroy Teagan’s family and close
friends.
As a stand-alone book from the Goblin Wars series, this book is fabulous; however, it takes the first seventy or so pages to understand the plot and characters. If the first two books in the series are anything like this volume, it is surely a magnificent series. Captivating, with curiosity developing on page one, this story is action-packed and full of adventure. The continuous introduction of minions and creatures from Mag Mell into Chicago and the travel from Chicago to Mag Mell to defeat the underlying villains keep the reader engaged and excited. The action never stops.
Additionally, Kersten Hamilton’s use of literary devices challenges readers and brings them added connections. Metaphors and similes abound, and personification is interspersed through the plot, but most remarkable are the allusions that Kersten uses throughout: to T.S Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, to Kipling’s Jungle Book, to Blake’s famous poem “The Tyger.” This way of writing, using a fantastical yet intricate plot, relatable and recognizable literary devices, and complex and exciting characters, raises the bar on new and current literature for middle-school and young-adult readers.
Summary: Teagan and Finn join together to battle the Dark Man of Mag Mell
and close the portal which has opened onto Chicago, destroying the creatures the portal has
released in order to save their loved ones.
Goblins-Fiction --Virginia
McGarvey
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