North Dakota

North Dakota is ? a land of flat farms and frigid winters, but it is many other things as well. North Dakota is brown buttes and green river valleys and wild, rugged badlands. It is pleasant towns, empty highways, and small but energetic cities. Most of all, it is friendly people.

Children's Literature

Teagan Wyllston has a good life. She has a loving family, a great afterschool job, and prospects for college scholarships. Her friend Abby considers herself an amateur physic and warns Teagen that she sees goblins and shape-shifters in her future. Teagen all but dismisses this as silly until Finn MacCumhaill arrives. Finn's grandmother, Mamieo, raised Mrs. Wyllston and that connection is enough for Social Services. But Finn is said to be a Traveler and a direct descendent of Cumhaill, fierce leader of the Fianna of Ireland. Handsome and charming, Tea finds herself drawn to this strange young man but when Cat Sidhe (shee) begin to prowl and haunt their home and yard, Tea becomes wary of Finn. Her mother's sudden death and her father's capture by goblins set Tea and her younger brother Aiden on a nightmare journey into Mag Mell where they encounter a variety of creatures both good and evil. Finn is with them every step of the way using his street smarts and knowledge of the old ways in helping to free Tea's dad. Trying to protect her family, Tea begins to unravel secrets about her mother, who was once part of the goblin world, and rescues her mother's sister Roisin who was left behind so many years ago. The action packed suspenseful tale will appeal to readers of mythology and possibly those who are devoted to the vampire cult books. Hamilton weaves bits of Celtic lore with stories about St. Patrick and St. Drogo as well as the life of Myrddin Wyllt, the Welsh bard who became Merlin. There are enough tense escapes while being pursued by evil goblins and shape-shifters to keep readers turning the pages while the hint of romance between Tea and Finn and the comic relief of friend Abby give the reader a moment to catch a breath. Fast-paced and engaging as the story is, the sheer amount of legend is sometime difficult to unravel and a pronunciation guide for Gaelic words would have been helpful. The use of swear words, while not out of place, may not be welcome by some. This is the first in a planned trilogy and Hamilton shows promise as a teller of tales. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey