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Review: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
Published by Hodder
Series: The Tiger Saga #1
Challenge: DAC
Source: Review copy


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.


***
Tiger's Curse was a brilliant read which I enjoyed a great deal. It had all elements I love in a good book: An engaging and fast paced storyline, a gorgeous young man to swoon over and a wonderfully rich world built up around the main characters that kept me hooked until the last page.

I'm not going to lie I wasn't convinced by the first 50 pages or so of this book when it was set in the circus where Kelsey first mets Ren the Tiger. I don't know if it's just me but I literally can't stand circus books (even when I was a child they were the only Enid Blyton books I refused to read) and I was tempted to stop reading it but as soon as that bit was over I really enjoyed the rest of the book.

The thing that makes this book so wonderfully different from anything else I have read YA was its setting. The majority of the story was set in India and the author clearly has tried really hard to get everything about the setting right. I loved the setting and how the author tried to bring it alive through wonderful description. I also enjoyed all the myths and legends that were woven into the tale. Both of these things gave you as a reader a real sense of the culture of the place you were visiting within the story. It really helped to bring the story alive.

I really liked the characters in this story. I loved how the relationship of the main characters developed as the story progressed (although I didn't quite get the very last bit but I'll come back to that in a minute). I particularly enjoyed seeing the world through Kelsey as she is actually quite naive and a little bit too innocent. I loved Ren completely as he is just a little bit too gorgeous and can't wait to get more of him in the next instalment.

Another thing this book did well is that it was quite fast paced and full of action and adventure throughout. Lately I have read a lot of books that go along slowly and then suddenly at the end everything kicks off. I loved that this one didn't follow that same format and I found that I was so much more engaging in the storyline which meant I keep wanting to read just one more chapter even though I should have been getting on with other stuff.

The only thing I found quite odd about this book was the ending and how things were left between the main characters. I won't say on here what it was but I would be interested to know if anyone else just didn't get it or whether it was just me.

All in all a refreshing different take on the paranormal romance / adventure genre which I really enjoyed.

Thank you Hodder for the review copy

Comments

Elodie said…
Your review is the first I read on this book .. and thank you because I really want to read Tiger's Curse now ! Great review ;)
serendipity_viv said…
I LOVED this book! Unlike you I was a Famous Five Circus girl. That was one of my most favourite circus books alongside Water For Elephants,so that really pulled me into the story. I thought it was fabulous, but couldn't understand Kelsey's choice to leave. What was she thinking????
Amy said…
Hey,

This book sounds interesting. I haven't read anything like this in a while. Will definitely have to invest.

Amy@adumbrations (new follower)
Jess said…
I REALLY want this book! Great review sounds very different :)
I am kinda regretting not offering to review this one - although I was right to as I am trying to get through some other stuff.
I think it is going to be a terrific addition to the school library :D
Great review
I haven't heard much about this one, but a few reviews have been cropping up and the premise sounds really fascinating. Hopefully I'll find the time to give it a read! :)
I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this book. It's on my pile to get to this week. I'm really looking forward to it!