Review: Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Curse

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: Book One in the Tiger Saga

Published By: Sterling (January 11, 2011)

Pages: 448

Genre: YA Fantasy

My Rating: 4 Star

Goodreads Description:

 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 Review:

I am not going to lie, I started this series because of all the hype, I usually try to avoid that but, after reading so many great reviews and loving all the quotes I have seen on Goodreads between Ren and Kelsey I decided to give it a go.

And I have to say that the first 20% of the book was a little...well it was kind of boring to be honest.

I couldn't help being a little sad thinking that this was going to be yet another hyped up book that was just going to disappoint me in the end. I almost didn't keep reading.

I mean this isn't a short book, I wasn't sure if I wanted to stick with it, I have a lot of books in my TBR pile as a reviewer and this was just one of many....but, I hung in there and kept on sloughing through it.

Thankfully this was one of those times that persevering through it paid off. Before I knew it, I found myself immersed in the story and I didn't want to put it down.

There were still times that I felt like maybe there was a little too much detail (especially about mundane things) but overall the story picked up and things started getting good.

Maybe it was because the romance picked up a little, or maybe it was because the action was better and things really started happening with the prophecy, either way I was completely absorbed into the story and didn't want it to end.

I can see this series becoming quite addicting.

Title: Tiger's Quest

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: Book Two in the Tiger's Saga

Published By: Sterling (June 7, 2011)

Pages: 479

Genre: YA Fantasy

My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:

 Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest--this time with Ren's dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger's Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER'S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.

My Review:

Forgive me if I go a little fan girl on you for this review.

I wasn't too sure about this series when I first started it. I know, I know. What in the heck was I thinking right? Because this series seriously rocks.

I think maybe in the first book I was just a little overwhelmed with all the details, some which just seemed a little mundane and unnecessary but really, I think they were necessary now, looking back, in order to paint the picture that Houck needed us to see. To be able to truly become a part of the world that she had created.

And while at times, even in this second book, I wanted to hurry and skim some of the details so I could get on with the more juicy part (coughRencough), I didn't. I forced myself to slow down and take it all in. Really this isn't a series that should be rushed.

Kelsey is such a relatable character. She just feels so real and down to earth. Someone that really, could be any one of us. She doesn't always have all the answers and she doesn't always make the right choices but she is always brave and courageous and does what needs to be done and she has a heart of pure gold.

Ren. Well Ren is just Ren. And Ren is just remarkable. I really adore his character. He is sweet, sincere and romantic and honest and just completely devoted to Kelsey.

It would be hard for any girl to resist him, if they even considered for a second to try, which they wouldn't

Kishan...ah Kishan. I actually really like him. He is kind of the bad boy image we all love to read about. You know, the guy who seems tough and hard but really is just a big marshmallow on the inside. Someone who loves with everything he has.

I don't always love or even like love triangles but it works in this series. It isn't too over the top and Kelsey isn't a stupid girl. She doesn't string them both along like some novels do.

The ending of this book, just about broke my heart. I know I won't be able to wait before I have to start the third one. Maybe it was a good thing I started this series so late. I couldn't imagine having to wait so long for the next book. I think it would have driven me crazy, the wait.

Well done Ms. Houck, you have officially gotten me hooked on your amazing series and I want more!