Review: Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Tiger's Curse

Author: Colleen Houck

Publication Date: January 11th, 2011

Publisher: Sterling

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal/Romance

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Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts: The first word that comes to mind when I look back at this book is; enchanting. That's what this book does, it enchants you. The entire book has a magical quality about it that is guaranteed to pull you in.

I came across this book once in the book store and was immediately stunned and drawn to it. I'm not going to lie, it was because of the cover. The cover of this book is probably the most beautiful cover on any book I own. No joke. Tiger's are beautiful and majestic anyway, but whoever designed this cover, and really ever cover in the series, definitely hit a major, huge, home run. So Immediately upon seeing it I knew I had to have it, it belonged on my shelf. After reading the summary I was, of course, even more excited. Nothing gets me more excited than an awesome paranormal  story. Especially one that includes romance and shape-shifters of some kind haha.

The story starts off pretty ordinary. We meet a fresh graduate who is looking for a summer job. Her parents passed away and she currently lives with her adopted family. That whole area is touched pretty briefly and we move on to the job, which of course is where everything starts. Who would have know that getting  a temporary job as a circus helper would lead to Kelsey being in India, traversing jungles and trying to break ancient curses?! Some choices are definitely life changing! At this particular circus they have this gorgeous white tiger. Kelsey feels immediately drawn to him and finds herself spending all her free time by his cage, talking and reading to him. Then along comes a potential buyer, who wants to take Ren the tiger to a animal sanctuary in India. The request is given to Kelsey to accompany him on his journey, since she is the closest person to him and knows how to handle and take care of him. Who could turn down an opportunity like that?! Seriously.

But Kelsey had no idea what she was really accepting when she says yes. But it isn't to long before she finds out. Ren the tiger is not just a tiger, he's a man. Not just any man either, he's a 300 year old Indian Prince who thinks Kelsey is the one to help him lift his curse. There's a shock to the system. Despite the incredibly shocking revelation, Kelsey is adamant to help in any way she can. But she may find out all to soon that she is in way over her head.

Kelsey embarks on the most amazing, wondrous, terrifying adventures! At times I was wishing I was her so badly, and then other times I was so glad I was not her. She seen and experienced the most amazing things, as well as life endangering, petrifying things. The story had me on the edge of my seat, my heart raced, and I was thirsty for more!  Another thing I loved about this story was all the wonderful mythology and information it carries. We get to learn so much about Indian culture and history and we get to have a real blast doing it! Not to mention the crazy up and down romance that develops between Kelsey and Ren. Had my heart leaping all over the place.

I only had one problem with the story, was the way Kelsey was acting towards the end. Her "logic" and line of thinking towards Ren and what was best for him drove me mad. I was so angry at times I wanted to reach in there and shake her. It almost made me want to give this book 4 stars, but then I realized that if things went smoothly then the book wouldn't have been as compelling as it was, and it wouldn't have gotten so much emotion out of me. Sometimes a book making you legitimately angry is a good thing, haha.

So yeah, you should go read this book now if you haven't already. It's magical, packed with adventure and knowledge, romance, mythology, and more! I am really sad though because I don't yet own the second book in the series. My heart broke a little bit when I had to close the book and I couldn't pick up the second one right away. I can't wait to get my hands on it!! Amazing book :).