Review - Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Passion. Fate. Loyalty.

Would you risk it all to change your destiny?

The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Finally was able to get on the Tiger Saga train. Finished Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck today. I've wanted to read them for a while but until they were on sale for next to nothing at a bargain outlet I couldn't justify the purchase at the time. I'm glad I bought this one though. And I'm also glad there are 3 other books in the series already out... because that means that I don't have to wait to read them.

On to my review.

I loved the story. I loved the legend and the mystery behind everything. I also appreciated that we got the story behind the whole ordeal before anything else. A lot of authors sometimes stick it in the middle or try and have one of the main characters explain the back story. And unortunately a lot of times, at least for me, that leads to confusion then irritation, because of the choppiness of going back and forth between past and present.

Kelsey was a decent main character. She adapted quickly to the situations handed to her and took them with the grace of someone much older. However, I thought a lot of her dialogue was unbelievable. I've never heard an 18 year old use the term "Wily rascal" ever. A lot of the time she spoke like a normal teenager, but then there were just words here and there thrown in that made her seem.... off.

Mr. Kadam was kind and cared a great deal for both Kelsey and Ren. He was like a substitute father  for Kelsey AND for Ren.

Ren, however, was my favorite character. Maybe it was because of the heartbreak of being betrayed by his own brother (however, even Kishan grew on me after a while) over something that wasn't even his fault.

He was strong and sure of himself. He was extremely grateful for what Kelsey was doing for him, not entitled like he could have been being royalty and being that he knew she'd help him no matter what. He paid her back by caring for her and keeping her safe. Always standing by her even when she was being difficult.

I was sad about the kind of person Kelsey turned in to. Just once I would like a confident main female character in a story like this. Not one who doubts herself and then tries to push away someone who obviously cares for her. It felt like the change in her was forced. Put there as a filler or because there really were no "conflicts" aside from the curse itself. It didn't need to be there and it made absolutely no sense.

I will read the next book in the series, definitely. Kelsey's turn at the end didn't turn me off to the rest of the books. The action and suspense, especially once they were on their way in to Kishkinda, is enough for me to want to find out what happens next. I only hope that this unnecessary tantrum she's throwing doesn't follow her through the rest of the series.

This book is a great fantasy novel. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's looking for a good read... one that's not cookie cutter "love triangle" fantasy.