Tiger's Curse

This is probably the worst book I've read all year. I've seen it recommended on everyone's "diverse book" lists, so of course I had to pick it up. But it's bad. It's just . . . really bad.

Book content warnings:
unhealthy relationships
extremely possessive men in relationships
racism

Kelsey Hayes is an incredibly ridiculous white woman who out of everyone in the world, is the Chosen One of an Indian goddess to break the curse on an Indian prince. And if this sounds like some mighty white savior syndrome, you're right! This book has an incredibly bad case of it. The author, Colleen Houck, is also white. Do I think the book's racism/white savior syndrome is intentional? No, but that doesn't make it any less harmful.

So Kelsey is tracked down by show more this Indian prince's knights (now secretary) and goes to India with them to break the curse (because that's normal, right? And her foster parents are totally cool with it right away). The prince, nicknamed Ren, is under a curse that has transformed him into a tiger, except for twenty-four minutes out of every day.

And that's it, that's the plot. There's no urgent, driving force for the rest of the book. Characters even mention, "there's no rush, take your time" multiple times. That's not an engaging plot! The plot is the driving force behind a book, driving characters, motives, etc. This thing wandered and wandered. Kelsey did something stupid, then romance happened. That's literally the outline.

The main focus of this book is the developing relationship between Kelsey and Ren. However, that relationship is not healthy. In the beginning it disturbed me so much I remember pausing to comment that I hoped Ren would turn out to be the villain! As the book went on, this feeling only intensified. Ren is extremely possessive and frightening. Sure, some of it might be intentional, as the two parted at the end, , but it's still obvious that they're meant to be romanticized by the reader. But with lines like "I won't let you leave", "[. . .] do you think I'd simply let you go? Let you walk out of my life without a backward glance?", "I know what you're thinking, and I'm not going to let you escape again. You can either take a seat and have dinner with me like a normal date. Or, you can sit on my lap while I force-feed you.".

No, this sounds like someone you'd file a restraining order on.

Besides all this, the writing is awful. Not only is it purely functional, it's just bad writing. Don't take my word for it, though. Take a look at this:

"'Ren, stop! The branches are scratching us. They have needles underneath that follow our movements. They're the thorny grasping dangers! We have to run or they'll ensnare us!'"

And finally, I'll just end with the worst of it: the racism. This review is already negative enough, but the racism and ignorance really made this book hard to read. First, we have Ren, who's Indian and . . . . as he states in the book: Asian? He literally says he's biracial because his mother was Asian. I hate to break it to you, Colleen Houck . . . but India is in Asia. She keeps insisting Asia is this separate place from India? And insists Asia is one single place? I know she's thinking East Asia, but ohhh, that's just so ignorant and annoying. If you mean East Asia (or specifically China), just say it. This whole white people thinking Asia = E. Asia is a narrow-minded line of thinking that many Asians have been trying to end.

And then in the second half, for some reason Houck decides to add in a Japanese creature to an Indian spirit world (and says they're Chinese??). It takes a VERY SIMPLE google search to find out kappa are Japanese creatures, not Chinese. Mixing them with Indian religion/mythology really adds nothing to the book, especially since it only happens once during the entire novel.

Except for the villain, every Indian character has golden skin and non-brown eyes. Hmmmm. Ren has blue eyes, his brother has golden eyes, and another has violet eyes. What's wrong with brown eyes and brown skin? Not to mention Ren is a white tiger, and his brother (the betrayer) is a black tiger and described as "darker" when human.

This whole book is just a mess, and I'm so astonished the book has so many fans. show less

Okay, I finished this book last night before I went to bed but I just had to wait to add it to my read shelf because I have A LOT to say. Strap in kiddies, it's about to get messy. I've got some ranting to do here, so if you just want what I thought about the book itself, skip to the bottom.

Before I get into my review, I just HAVE to respond to several reviews I've read. On occasion, I'll read the reviews on a book before reading it. Now, I read an exert for this book many years and thought it was decent, plus, TIGERS, so I've been wanting to read it for a while. After reading the reviews, I KNEW I had to read it. The reviews were so mixed, it's like night and day. People either loved it for what it is, or hated it for what they think show more it is. Yes, I'm talking about those SJW's that go and get triggered over the smallest of things and turn a mole hill into a mountain.

"It's racist." "Why does the main character have to be a white girl? Oh yeah, only white people can save people of color!" "I'm white, which means I'm privileged." "India is treated like an exotic place for the main character to swan in and play dress up."

Let's GO boys. First off, can we acknowledge that this is a FANTASY book about a PRINCE being turned into a freaking TIGER. It's a book, it's FICTION. Get your grandma panties out of a twist and either enjoy it or deny it, don't try to bring it into your race war. Why is the main character a white girl? Hmm, maybe because THE AUTHOR IS A WHITE GIRL. Naturally she would write a character that is close to herself. If the main character was ANY other race aside from white - which isn't a race, by the way -, no one would question WHY she was chosen as the chosen one. It has nothing to do with being white. And yes, it IS treated like an exotic place. When someone goes to a foreign land that they've never been to before, IT'S AN EXOTIC LAND FILLED WITH WONDER that they want to explore and learn more about. It's wrong to go to a different country and wear their clothes? Wow, you must be really butthurt right now, oh my god. She didn't pull a Jake Paul, chill.

TLDR; This book is not racist just because it's a white girl saving the Indian prince. Next thing you know, SJW's are gonna be calling for white chocolate to be banned.

REVIEW STARTS HERE

There were a couple things that bothered me. For example, the characters adding a word or two of their mother tongue into their dialogue. Don't get me wrong, I've done it so many times in my fanfictions, but reading it back just feels kind of cringy lol Another thing that bothered me is how much this girl SLEEPS. Like, half of the book is her sleeping or passing out. I know I sleep a lot, but damn. Overall, this book wasn't bad. I did find myself getting bored occasionally and thinking, "Is the book over yet?" but at the same time, I'd blink and find that I had read about five chapters in one go. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I wasn't on the edge of my seat, either.

I really don't like romance (not in anime, movies or books). When I started it, I didn't think romance would be involved, but that was my blunder. I liked the characters overall, but damn did the main character drive me up a wall at the end. It pissed me off because I KNEW that I would probably act the same way because my confidence is shit. Still, reading it was extremely frustrating, I just wanted to smack her and tell her how wrong she is lol

Overall, it wasn't a bad read at all and was a good way to pass the time. Also, TIGERS show less

This book is my newest obsession in YA. I came across this book very recently and I didn't think I'd get into it very much. But this series is so damn amazing that I can't turn back! As soon as I started, I could hardly make myself stop! I devoured this book off the bat and even before I was finished, I had to buy the second and third book immediately.

Kelsey Hayes is a breath of fresh air in YA. She is a nice sweet girl who is just so relatable and fun. She wasn't obnoxious or annoyi...moreThis book is my newest obsession in YA. I came across this book very recently and I didn't think I'd get into it very much. But this series is so damn amazing that I can't turn back! As soon as I started, I could hardly make myself stop! I devoured show more this book off the bat and even before I was finished, I had to buy the second and third book immediately.

Kelsey Hayes is a breath of fresh air in YA. She is a nice sweet girl who is just so relatable and fun. She wasn't obnoxious or annoying and very mature for her age, yet she still had the voice of a teen. Her love for literature was also a plus. Kelsey's relationship with Ren was also surprising. At first, there was a connection with the tiger and she cares for him and his well being. Then she finds a completely different connection with the man underneath the tiger's voice and that was great! Seeing them bond and connect was beautiful.

Dhiren...Ren...tiger...rawr! I am in love with Ren. I am in full swoon mode right now. He is my new book boyfriend and I have not had a book boyfriend in a long long time. He is going on my Top Sexiest Guys I Would Like To Fuc Rape And Keep In My Closet Forever List. He is intense, honorable, sexy, a man who loves literature and someone who gives his all in everything. Seeing him struggle with the curse was amazing because there was a humble side to him underneath all that passion. He is one of a kind literally. He is a mix of everything I love.

Their relationship was wonderful to witness. It blossomed and grew and even though there was some serious drama at the end that made me want to cry and scream, I know there's something real there that isn't in a lot of YA. Their romance is so strong and great to read! I just can't get enough...

I'm annoyed with Kishan though. To me, he is just the little brother who is jealous of everything Ren has and tries to get it. Case in point: Kelsey. He immediately closes in on her and she catches him doing so too. They hardly know each other and already, he tries to focus so much on her even though there's no chemistry between them. I might end up liking him later but right now, he needs to grow up.

I love Kadam though! He is such a sweet guy! He has sacrificed so much for Ren and Kishan, even Kelsey and his kindness knows no bounds. I was a little suspicious of him at first but I care for him so much. I wish he found someone who fell in love with him because he deserves it so much.

Overall, I am madly in love with this series! The mythology and history is gorgeous, the cover is beautiful and does not feature a girl in a prom dress running away but a majestic Ren in tiger form, and the adventure/romance is spectacular! I will not be able to stop thinking about this for a long time, I can already tell and even when it ends, I will still be crazy about this. Colleen Houck, you are my new writing goddess and I can't wait for more! I am currently in the middle of Tiger's Quest and I'm loving it!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars show less

I liked the overall premise. It wasn't your typical vampire/werewolf paranormal romance YA. It is set mostly in India, and centered around Indian mythology, lending it an exotic flair. I loved the descriptions of India, if anything, I almost felt like the author glamorized the settings a little bit. The immense wealth described in many cases is a far cry from what I usually see depicted of the dirty slums of Mumbai and the dry, dusty impoverished rural areas. While I am sure there are both sides to India, I did feel this book focused on the glamorous & wealthy side a lot more than I am used to. Also, there is a lot of time spent camping in the jungle that seems to be handled almost casually considering the dangers from mosquitoes, show more leeches, stagnant water, etc. Yes, it would be nice to have a protective guard tiger around when walking through the jungle, but a tiger won't do much against malaria carrying mosquitoes. Aside from those cold splashes of reality, I did still enjoy her descriptions and the settings, and the way she winds the mythology into the story. I found it to be really interesting.

I also like the characters. If anything, I felt Ren was a bit too perfect. Aside from the whole looks like a tiger most of the time thing, he didn't really seem to have too many flaws. Yes, he had a certain amount of arrogance and stubbornness about him, but these came across as to almost make him more charming and virile rather than as true "flaws". Mr. Kadam is sort of the Alfred to Ren's Batman. He is the wise servant who had taken care of Ren and Kishan since before they were cursed, for literally centuries, and pretty much immediately accepts Kelsey into their "family", treating her as a grand-daughter. I like Kishan, his charm (if a little bit smarmy) and humor, and sibling-rivalry relationship with Ren (in the "I will come at you at every chance I get, but if anyone else comes at you, they will have to deal with me, too" vein). And, for the most part, I liked Kelsey, who does come across as a little sad & lonely due to the death of her parents, but compassionate and kind-hearted. She comes across as brave, strong, smart, and independent for most of the book as well. However, about two thirds of the way through, she really ticked me off. She suddenly starts giving in to her fears (of intimacy, abandonment, etc) and insecurities (I'm not pretty enough or special enough & I don't deserve/can't have the good things) and as a result turns into kind of a witch (to be nice about it) and an example of the kind of "I love you, but I hate you" girls I typically highly dislike. I seriously wanted to hit her upside the head with the book a few times to try to knock some sense into her. I get that her past can impact those things, and I get that it was rather realistic and teenage girls (and older) do that to guys all the time (and guys do it to girls, too). But that doesn't mean it's not frustrating and annoying to read about it!

In terms of overall story and writing style, I felt there was a really good blend of action, romance, and mythology in this story, and it had good pacing that kept my attention and kept me coming back for more. There were a couple of spelling/grammar mistakes, but these were few and far between and didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story. Overall, I did enjoy it and will definitely be reading book 2! show less

The Tiger’s Curse is a wonderful story about a girl named Kelsey and a prince named Ren. It's the beginning of the summer and Kelsey gets a job at a traveling circus where her job is too sell tickets and souvenirs, help out with the animals and feed the beautiful, white tiger, named Dhiren. Kelsey feels drawn to the tiger and realizes he is not like animals. Believing that he can understand her, Kelsey spends more and more time with Dhiren, even nicknaming him Ren. She talks to him, reads him stories about cats, and eventually she has enough courage to pet him. One day, a mysterious Indian man, Mr. Kadam comes to the circus and purchases Ren, allowing him to go back to India. Mr. Kadam asks Kelsey to go with them and help care for the show more tiger. Kelsey, who has become very attached to Ren, agrees. Once in India, Kelsey finds out her beloved tiger is actually a 300 year old prince, who along with his brother, Kishan, was cursed to spend eternity as tigers. The brothers are only able to be human for twenty four minutes in every twenty four hour day. It’s up to Kelsey, with the help of Ren and Mr. Kadam, to break the curse so Ren and Kishan can be human again.

The Tiger's Curse started out slow for me, but once I was hooked I could not put it down. I fell in love with Ren. He was a great character and when he was in his tiger form, I couldn’t wait for him to be human again. Ren is everything a girl could want in a guy. He's loyal, thoughtful, sweet, funny, mysterious, sensitive, brave, kind, and who could forget absolutely gorgeous! He's confident, but not arrogant, and I really enjoyed his character overall. Kelsey on the other hand bothered me a lot. While she was strong and loyal, and I loved that she was risking her life to save someone she has just met, she also pissed me off a lot. One minute she is in love with Ren, the next she's being very nasty to him and wants him to stay away from her. What she did in the end to Ren, actually made my teary-eyed.

The Tiger's Curse is a captivating, original story and deserves much praise. The second book in the saga, The Tiger’s Quest comes out in June 2011 and I can not wait!!!! show less

I really liked this book. I really liked this series. It's not perfect in writing and technique, but the author is new. And as far as new goes, it's brilliant. I got these first few when they were available on Amazon Kindle. Then, someone saw her talent and decided to take her on before she got grabbed up by someone else. As an author, she's sweet and she, or someone on her team has responded to emails and questions through various media outlets. Her writing style is growing.

For the books: I got attached to the characters and really involved in the plot. I haven't seen a lot of books about India and tigers so it was a refreshing change from most fantasy novels. Though some parts of the series were a bit on the predictable side I let show more myself really have fun with it and let my emotions get caught up in the swell of things. I laughed, cried, blushed, and yelled throughout this series. It brought me into a new culture that intrigued me enough to pick up some nonfiction books and learn some of the real stories behind a few characters within the series. I was immersed and loved it all. I was in our time and felt like I traveled back to ancient times with these characters. show less

Kelsey thinks her job at the circus will be a temporary job - but how wrong she is! When she joins she discovers that she has a special connection with the beautiful white tiger that performs every night. She becomes a kind of caretaker, taking care of his food and water and making sure he's safe inside his cage. She sits by the cage every night and reads to him, or writes in her journal and tells him stories.

But when a man comes to the circus and buys Ren, the tiger, Kelsey feels that she is about to lose a great friend. She finds she is wrong, however, when the assistant of the man who purchased the tiger comes to her and states that he has noticed her special bond with Ren. He offers her the life of luxury during a trip to India, all show more to accompany Ren on the journey and make sure he is settled nicely into his new home. And when Kelsey says yes to this incredible opportunity, she finds that her dear Tiger is actually a prince under a 300 year old spell, and she will do anything to break the curse. Even if it means falling in love with a man she can never be with.
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I absolutely adored this book from the first. Kelsey is such a believable character - she's funny, innocent, and loves greatly. Within the first ten pages, I could totally relate to her and wanted to be her friend. And I just loved her way of speaking. She has character in her dialogue and - get ready for this - I just picture her talking fast and a bit too much. Not in a bad way - she just loves explaining things and she most definitely has an opinion. It was adorable! And Ren...he was pretty much the perfect guy. He's been a tiger for 350 years, so what can you expect? He's learned patience, obedience, and gentleness. He's also very very innocent (unfortunately, his innocence is sometimes masked by the fact that he's freaking gorgeous.) This could bother some people, but never fear! Ren has bouts of anger and doesn't always make right decisions - especially when he's angry. This makes him believable amd human.

Kelsey's bond with Ren is just super amazing... With the tiger, she's comfortable - and then all of a sudden she has to get to know Ren as a man. She doesn't know how to respond to Ren when he's in human form. And I can see why...as soon as I read the description of Ren as a man I couldn't help but giggle. I wouldn't be able to speak, either, if I saw him the way that he is described. And it's not just that he's beautiful - he's serene, kind, and he loves greatly. That's one thing that really hit me about this book - the love. The love in this book is strong - and it runs much deeper than a kiss and a caress. I love that even though Kelsey notices Ren's beauty, she knows that if he was just your average guy, she could sit and talk with him for hours on end...just be with him. And still love him like she does. And Ren, even though he could get any girl, loves Kelsey. She loves him, too - so much it hurts. But then...comes the doubt. (Real life doubts, normal doubts that every girl would have if she was in love with a drop-dead gorgeous man trapped by a tiger's curse. Haha!) (Oh, and if you start to doubt the love story - DON'T. Scream and be angry with them all you want - but DON'T put the book down!) I loved Ren's response to the doubt in their relationship...but you'll just have to read it if you want to know what I'm talking about. :)

The love story was built slowly, like it should be (most of the time). They don't kiss at first, but rather let their relationship build slowly, and they don't sleep together at all. I was so thankful for this. Ren has an old-fashioned "I'm going to ask your permission" kind of attitude about love. He admits he's never felt this way about any woman and he tries so hard to please Kelsey and make her happy - not to satisfy his own desires. He respects her more than words can say and this aspect of him did NOTHING to keep ME from falling for him as well... ;)

As far as the writing goes: I liked it. Not my favorite, but it was easy to read and Colleen Houck's descriptions of people, the landscapes, and even little details were very well done and I could easily and quickly picture exactly what was being described. Things I didn't like: a few of her phrases seemed a bit out of place. Sometimes I felt that the paragraphs were too short. And there were a couple of point of view shifts, but not enough to really be noticeable. I also didn't really like that Kelsey's thoughts were in past tense. Even in the story is in past tense, I think it should always be a rule to make character's thoughts in present tense. You think, "I want to eat that dessert." NOT, "I wanted to eat that dessert." Make sense?

Favorite character: Ren. Who else? :)

Favorite aspect: A lot of things: Ren and Kelsey, Ren and Kishan (who was also a great character, by the way), Mr. Kadam's grandfatherly relationship with Kelsey, all the Indian mythology... You could definitely tell that Colleen Houck cares about her character's relationships and how they affect each other. She also was very skilled in telling about the Indian culture and mythology. It was scary, intimidating, and shocking at times. But interesting. I definitely don't believe in any of what they talked about, and have no desire to, but it was interesting all the same. I also really like that girls AND boys will love this book. It was really a good balance of romance, action, and mystery.

One word to sum up this book: I definitely think parts of the this book were sweet, but then others were action packed and sometimes frightening (the good kind of frightening, though). So I think my word would be tempestuous. It was like an ocean storm, one that carries your emotions and imagination on a wild ride that is not easy to forget. I'm impatiently awaiting book #2 and I can't wait to see what's in store for all these lovely characters!

For parents: Honestly, I think a good starting age for this book is 15-16 years old. The characters don't sleep together, but there are definitely some (steamy) kisses with some description, and lots sexual tension. The characters snuggle a bit, mostly because Ren wants to comfort Kelsey in times of struggle. Ren likes to give tender caresses, too. This is as far as it goes. I really appreciate that. No language AT ALL. Overall, a very clean book, because even though the characters kiss and hold each other, they really really love each other and respect each other enough to be rational. show less