In Tiger's Curse the reader is introduced to Kelsey, an about-to-graduate high school senior living with a foster family in Oregon. Kelsey takes a temporary summer job with a small travelling circus performing in her town, starting as a ticket seller and general gopher. She gradually works her way up to a position as the animal trainer's assistant, where she meets the circus' white tiger, Dhiren, and develops a bond with him that far surpasses the bond the trainer himself has with the animal.
When a mysterious and exotic man shows up one day and makes an offer to purchase the tiger that the circus owner can not refuse, Kelsey is heartbroken to learn that her friend is leaving the circus. But her distress is soon turned into wonder when the gentleman, Mr. Kadam, offers her the job of escorting Dhiren, or Ren, back to an animal preserve in his homeland of India. She accepts this offer with some trepidation but much exhilaration and soon the trio embark on a journey halfway around the world.
Once in India, Kelsey and Ren set out in a hired truck towards the preserve, while Mr. Kadam sets out in another direction to handle some other business. When their truck is hijacked on its way and Kelsey and Dhiren are abandoned on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, Ren leads Kelsey into the jungle. Once they are alone in the wild, Ren reveals his true self, as a centuries-old prince cursed by an evil magician to remain a tiger except for a few brief moments ever day until a chosen one reverses the curse. And it appears that Kelsey is the chosen one! Now she must risk her life to free Ren from the curse, and in the process, she just might lose her heart!
This book was brimming with adventure, mysticism, folklore, and romance. I have to admit that the Amazon Kindle Edition price of $.99 was what first drew me to this title and convinced me to purchase it, but once I started reading it, I was enraptured from the very beginning to the very end. Although this book is classified as a children's book, I feel that it is so much more. It transcends demographics and is definitely a story that can be enjoyed by all ages.
When a mysterious and exotic man shows up one day and makes an offer to purchase the tiger that the circus owner can not refuse, Kelsey is heartbroken to learn that her friend is leaving the circus. But her distress is soon turned into wonder when the gentleman, Mr. Kadam, offers her the job of escorting Dhiren, or Ren, back to an animal preserve in his homeland of India. She accepts this offer with some trepidation but much exhilaration and soon the trio embark on a journey halfway around the world.
Once in India, Kelsey and Ren set out in a hired truck towards the preserve, while Mr. Kadam sets out in another direction to handle some other business. When their truck is hijacked on its way and Kelsey and Dhiren are abandoned on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, Ren leads Kelsey into the jungle. Once they are alone in the wild, Ren reveals his true self, as a centuries-old prince cursed by an evil magician to remain a tiger except for a few brief moments ever day until a chosen one reverses the curse. And it appears that Kelsey is the chosen one! Now she must risk her life to free Ren from the curse, and in the process, she just might lose her heart!
This book was brimming with adventure, mysticism, folklore, and romance. I have to admit that the Amazon Kindle Edition price of $.99 was what first drew me to this title and convinced me to purchase it, but once I started reading it, I was enraptured from the very beginning to the very end. Although this book is classified as a children's book, I feel that it is so much more. It transcends demographics and is definitely a story that can be enjoyed by all ages.
Well I did cringe!
90% of the book is devoted to detailed description of things that most of us know, or don't find at all useful. A good editor would have thrown out good half of the rambling nonsense:
Ex 1: When the girl sees a tiger the author floods the reader with information about the physical characteristic of tigers, their habits, their different species, the countries they come from, the fables about the tiger in those countries, and their gods. How the Gods affect the popular belief in the past - to present. Good 20 pages to skip...
Ex 2: The flight to India is 59pg. It describes in painful detail the customs, and other paperwork done, the workings of flying private jet, the bypassing officials by the super rich, the history of flight, the workings of private airline from micro company to super airline, and in general how to make $1000 000 000 000s with little to no effort.
Ex: 3456789..............Sheesh!
There is also this: The girl is immature, spoiled and not respectful of other cultures. Though a teen she has the habits and IQ of a toddler. I like my heroins strong, with whit and grace, that helps them grow and overcome their faults. This heroine has stayed rough through out the book. And when the climax did came, I think I was happy my ordeal was over.
I respect that not all of us have the same taste and that a lot of you readers liked it, but I also admit that the idea of a sequel (book 2) scares the hell out of me!
90% of the book is devoted to detailed description of things that most of us know, or don't find at all useful. A good editor would have thrown out good half of the rambling nonsense:
Ex 1: When the girl sees a tiger the author floods the reader with information about the physical characteristic of tigers, their habits, their different species, the countries they come from, the fables about the tiger in those countries, and their gods. How the Gods affect the popular belief in the past - to present. Good 20 pages to skip...
Ex 2: The flight to India is 59pg. It describes in painful detail the customs, and other paperwork done, the workings of flying private jet, the bypassing officials by the super rich, the history of flight, the workings of private airline from micro company to super airline, and in general how to make $1000 000 000 000s with little to no effort.
Ex: 3456789..............Sheesh!
There is also this: The girl is immature, spoiled and not respectful of other cultures. Though a teen she has the habits and IQ of a toddler. I like my heroins strong, with whit and grace, that helps them grow and overcome their faults. This heroine has stayed rough through out the book. And when the climax did came, I think I was happy my ordeal was over.
I respect that not all of us have the same taste and that a lot of you readers liked it, but I also admit that the idea of a sequel (book 2) scares the hell out of me!
I'm guessing that since this writer has achieved some popularity --her next book will get the professional suggestions and editing this one, Tiger's Curse, cried out for. I could only read half of it. The problem is the writing and the characterization, not the concept per se.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, not full of sex or language, innocent, adventurous and it kept my attention. I read it over my library's copy of J. Auel's last installment of The Clan of the Cavebear. I had fun and neglected obligations to finish it. I would even read it again. I think that's saying much. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
