When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears: The Goblin Wars, Book Three

by Kersten Hamilton

Overview

"Buy this novel for readers of Franny Billingsley and Dia Calhoun as well as fans of urban fantasy."
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review of Tyger Tyger: The Goblin Wars, Book One

Locked doors are opening, and magical creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. Meanwhile, the romance between seventeen-year-old Teagan, who is part goblin, and the alluring bad boy Finn Mac Cumhaill is heating up . . . which is awkward, to say the least, considering he is bound by a family curse to fight goblins his entire life. Celtic mythology, adventure, and paranormal romance fuse in the electrifying finale of the critically acclaimed Goblin Wars trilogy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547739649
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	08/06/2013
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.40(d)
Lexile:	HL610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Kersten Hamilton is the author of several picture books and many novels, including the middle grade Gadgets and Gears series and the critically acclaimed YA trilogy The Goblin Wars. She splits her time between her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and her farm in Kentucky. For more about Kersten, please visit www.kerstenhamilton.com.

Editorial Reviews

"This spectacular conclusion will satisfy fans and lead new readers into a complex world with fascinating magic and appealing characters."
—Kirkus, starred review
 
"Brimming with heroism, violence, romance, and tragedy. . . . This will more than satisfy series fans—it will make them laugh, fill them with wonder, and uplift them in the end."
— Booklist Online

"Endearing characters, fast-paced action, and an engaging heroine make this conclusion to the [Goblin Wars] trilogy another good read for fans."
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Book Three opens with Tea and Finn standing over Kyle's body just as the police arrive at the high school. Tea quickly binds Kyle to Isabeau, and Finn's iron knife sends them both back to Mag Mell before Officer Fiorella opens the classroom door. The death of Mab's son only underscores Tea's vow to declare war on the fairy queen, but victory will come at a tragic price. Meanwhile, Raynor's angelic powers incinerate the park to seal the doorway to Mag Mell but dark creatures have already breached the gate near the library. Finn and Tea arrive home to see Dump Dogs eating Maggot Cat's carcass on Tea's doorstep. Mamieo dies trying to save Aiden and Tea's dad, who holds the dark forces at bay with a song while Tea, Aiden, and Finn steal back into Mag Mell to finish off Mab and restore the realm. This book begins with a bang, mercilessly throwing the reader back into the action before proceeding at a slow simmer until the chilling climax. Mag Mell's villains are vicious and cruel. Both Mamieo's and Mr. Wylltson's deaths occur unexpectedly, leaving Tea and Aiden stunned just as they must prepare to battle Mab's darkest minions. The main characters are realistic and engaging but the plethora of minor characters may require some review. Although librarians will applaud the multitude of literary allusions, they may be lost on most teens. This final battle and ultimate victory provide a very satisfying end to the trilogy. Reviewer: Nancy K. Wallace

VOYA - Nancy K. Wallace

02/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—This third entry in the fantasy series finds 17-year-old Teagan Wylltson at the scene of a goblin's demise in the high school cafeteria. The series is set in modern-day Chicago, but the story is based on ancient Irish myths and legends. Tea declares war on the Queen of the Sídhe and is joined by her cousin/boyfriend, Irish Traveler Finn, and five Italians. There is a host of other characters, some of them otherworldly and whom only she and a few select individuals can see. This battle involves the Mag Mell, a world between worlds. Tea has to find a way to protect her family while destroying the evil that threatens to ruin her world. Endearing characters, fast-paced action, and an engaging heroine make this conclusion to the trilogy another good read for fans.—Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

School Library Journal

This final installment in the Goblin Wars fantasy trilogy is a corker! The quest of the Wylltson family concludes with unrelenting suspense and a neat (but not pat) resolution. The book opens in Teagan's high school cafeteria, where she declares war on Queen Mab. Protected by the magic of the dying faerie world, Mag Mell, Teagan, Aiden and Finn are on their way to the final confrontation, while their family and friends in Chicago defend our Earth. Depth of characterization is a great strength: Each person's motivation is clear and brings believability to the narrative. Tension builds exponentially with each discovery, near-capture and skirmish. The war between humans and goblins is not pretty: There's a lot of bloodletting and dying, and not all of it is on the side of the goblins. Hamilton balances this dark content with snappy dialogue and the humorous juxtaposition of the mundane artifacts of the 21st century against the magic of the Sidhe. And although the resolution is ultimately satisfying, some well-loved characters do not survive. The author has her own take on Irish mythology, which she sustains with worldbuilding and the consistent nature of magic in both worlds. This spectacular conclusion will satisfy fans and lead new readers into a complex world with fascinating magic and appealing characters. (Urban fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews