The only complaint I had with Tyger, Tyger was that it ended too soon. So when I got a chance to review In the Forests of the Night, I pounced on it like a cat sighting catnip. Before I begin my review,let's talk about the the title. If you're not familiar with the poem, the titles of the series come from the famous poem by William Blake (reproduced below for your benefit):TIGER, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand dare seize the fire? And what shoulder and what art Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand and what dread feet? What the hammer? what the chain? In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? What dread grasp Dare its deadly terrors clasp? When the stars threw down their spears, And water'd heaven with their tears, Did He smile His work to see? Did He who made the lamb make thee? Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?Try reading it out loud. It's awesome fun. And yes, awesome fun is an adjective now that clearly describes both the poem and the experience that is reading In the Forests of the Night. If you haven't read Tyger, Tyger yet, I'm not sure what you're waiting for but I'm assuming that you have read it and that's why you're reading this review so you know that the sequel is just as much (if not more) fun as the first book in the series.I seriously love Finn. In fact, I love all the characters in the novel but I have a soft spot for Finn because...well, it's Finn. Forget Etienne, I want a Finn of my very own. He's just so irrepressible and so sincere, all at the same time. A guy who can combine parts goodness with parts naughtiness - he's just, well, an awesome character to read. There is no love triangle (I hear angels singing) so there is no detracting from the relationship between the two. Finn aside, Kersten manages to sustain the very quality of the story that had me glued to Tyger, Tyger. Every character in the novel (and there are many characters) is distinct and well created and let me tell you, in a book with many characters, this is a feat worthy of genius. And they all come together with their distinct personalities to create enervating chaos. A chaos that will have you giggling at times and thinking at others. The atmosphere, the camaraderie is beautifully done.Another thing I really liked about Forests is that it is an ode to literature, to writing, to the beauty in words. The mythology is just as tight and well thought as in the first book and I love how the traveling between the two worlds is almost seamless. There is no excessive melodrama and no campy feel to it. The book does what it aims to and what it aims to do is entertain. I am pleased to say Teagan has bloomed in a distinct character of her own. I had felt that her characterization was weaker compared to others (because they are all just so vibrant) but she came into her own in this book and I can't wait to see how she develops further.I seriously liked this book. Again, I wished it was longer but I will take what I get. The cover's gorgeous too. If you haven't read the first book in the series, seriously, what are you waiting for? And if are wondering about the second one, it's fantastic. Finn remains awesome and I totally am rooting for Aiden (who just has to be the most awesome five year old out there).
 - Kersten Hamilton)