Book:  Tiger’s Curse (Tiger Saga #1)
Author:  Colleen Houck
Release date:  January 11, 2011
Publisher:  Splinter
Pages:  448
Source:  Publisher

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, spell-binding 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 starts off with a bang but it ended with a whimper.  I was really impressed in the beginning but that changed throughout the book.  I do think it sets things up for the next book but I think Colleen Houck could have done a much better job with it.

Kelsey Hayes had lots of plans for her summer.  None of them involved traveling to India to break a 300-year-old curse but that is exactly what she is doing.  With the help of Ren, a white tiger, and Mr. Kadam, Kelsey will face things she never thought possible.  She might be killed on this journey but that’s something she’s prepared for.  She’s not prepared to fall in love but that’s exactly what happens.

Kelsey was my biggest problem with this book.  I didn’t like her.  She was whiny, afraid, contradictory, and just plain annoying at times.  She had no backbone.  She was a weak character that I could find nothing to like about.  Ren was okay as a character.  I loved him.  He was such a big, cuddly tiger.  I want one!  Although I don’t recommend going out to adopt a white tiger.  Mr. Kadam was also a great character.  He was kind and sweet.  I look forward to more of his story in the next book.

The plot was the only thing that kept me reading at times.  It was very interesting and the Indian mythology was fascinating.  I do give Colleen Houck props for that.  While the characters were lacking, the story was not.

Overall, Tiger’s Curse is one I recommend if you can get past the characters.  Maybe check it out from your library before buying a copy.  (Although the cover is gorgeous and you may want a copy just for that.)

First line:  The prisoner stood with his hands tied in front of him, tired, beaten, and filthy but with a proud back befitting his royal Indian heritage.

Rating:  B

Cover:  A++