Tiger’s Curse
by Colleen Houck
Series: The Tiger Saga #1
Published: 11 January 2011
Sterling, Hardcover, 403 pages
Source: Library
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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.
Rating: ★★★★
Tiger’s Curse is one of those books where I love practically everything in the book, with the exception of one major annoyance. In this case, the said annoyance is Kelsey, the protagonist.
I tried my best to tolerate Kelsey. I really did. However, she went from not very bright to downright dumb as the book progressed. Moreover, I felt no depth to her as a character because her personality was so bland. Actually, I really can’t recall any traits that made her, well, her.
Now, on to the good.
I was completely mesmerized by the Indian myths and magic in this book. It was fascinating and, since there aren’t many YA books set in India, refreshing. Ironically, all the other characters, even sub-characters, were better developed than Kelsey. Although the number of people involved in the story was small, all of them (with the exception of Kelsey) were so life-like. They all had their own experiences and distinct personalities.
The romance was also very heart-fluttery. Ren is an amazing male protagonist and he had me thinking what a guy like him would see in bland old Kelsey. Humorous, smart and hot, Ren usually made any scene better. Moreover, he definitely has that “plain old testosterone factor” (a reference Shailene Woodley used to describe co-star, Theo James, in the upcoming Divergent movie). The whole thing going on between him and Kelsey at the end totally got me on a roller coaster ride. One moment, I was swooning, the next, I was groaning, “Nooooooo.”
If only Kelsey could be as interesting as Ren.
As for Ren’s brother, Kishan. I’ve got nothing against him but I do have something against love angles. Sure, there are a few exceptional love angles I’ve come across. However, I remain cynical. So with Kishan in the picture, it was crystal clear to me that there was going to be a love angle. Ugh.
This is like The Vampire Diaries. Tiger-fied.
I don’t have anything against TVD either (I’m actually a fan of the TV series), just love angles.
Despite the issues I’ve got with Tiger’s Curse, I’m definitely continuing the saga, even if only for the adventure, myths and Ren. All in all, it was a refreshing, adventurous and romantic read. Though, I’ll highlight again, the protagonist was a pain in the neck. I’ve got Tiger’s Quest, the second installment sitting on my shelf so hopefully, Kelsey will improve as a protagonist and the love angle won’t turn out too bad.
A Page of Heaven 