Title: Tiger’s Voyage
Author: Colleen Houck
First published November 1, 2011
560 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781450595988 (ISBN10: 1450595987)
Rating: 4.27
Overview
In the third installment of the Tiger’s Curse series, Kelsey faces yet another obstacle in her quest for true love. After defeating the evil Lokesh, Kelsey is devastated to find that Ren, the love of her life, doesn’t remember her anymore.
With a heavy heart, Kelsey embarks on a new adventure with Ren and Kishan, as they take on five cunning and treacherous dragons. As Kelsey navigates the dangers of their journey, she finds herself torn between the two tiger brothers who are vying for her affections once again.
Will she be able to choose between them, or will her heart lead her down a path of confusion and heartbreak? Find out in Tiger’s Voyage.
About the Author
Colleen Houck, an author who is a passionate reader, has a diverse range of literary interests. She finds action, adventure, science fiction, and romance genres captivating.
Colleen studied at the University of Arizona before working as a certified American Sign Language interpreter for 17 years. She then decided to switch her career and become an author, which she pursued with great enthusiasm.
Currently, Colleen resides in Salem, Oregon, with her husband, surrounded by a vast collection of plush tigers. For more updates, sign up for her e-newsletter!
Editoral Review
Tiger’s Voyage: A Fantastical Journey through India
by Colleen Houck
Colleen Houck’s Tiger’s Curse series has captured the hearts of young adult readers with her vivid descriptions of exotic locations, mythological creatures and a heart-pumping love story that transcends time and space. Published in 2011, the third book in the series, Tiger’s Voyage, transports the reader to India, where our protagonists, Kelsey and Ren, face another round of obstacles in their quest to break a curse that has been plaguing Ren for centuries.
Houck continues to demonstrate her penchant for vibrant language and historical accuracy. Her research shines through in the detailed descriptions of the Indian culture, food, and architecture.
Moreover, she blends Hindu mythology with modern-day conflicts and personal tragedies to create a gripping tale that will have readers turning the page well into the night. The book starts with Kelsey grappling with feelings of love and betrayal as she grapples with her inability to save Ren’s life amidst the chaos of a cyclone in Oregon.
Soon after, Ren finds himself with a new adversary – his own brother – which further complicates the situation as they head to India to find the next talisman that could break the curse. The journey takes the intrepid trio through mystical caves, lush forests and even onto the Indian ocean, where they encounter more danger in the form of pirates and sea monsters.
Houck’s character development takes a significant leap forward in this book. We get to know the various personalities, aspirations, and motivations of characters beyond the main protagonists, including Kadam, Mr. Kadam, and the tiger whose spirit powers Ren’s curse.
However, the love triangle between Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan, Ren’s younger brother, becomes less believable as the story progresses. The constant back and forth between the two brothers and the wishy-washy behavior of Kelsey may deter readers looking for a more grounded love story.
The pacing of the book is much improved from the second installment, with fewer bouts of exposition and more action to keep the story moving along. However, as is typical of fantasy books, the plot becomes more and more convoluted as it goes on and introduces cliffhangers with each chapter, leading to a bloated and chaotic climax.
As a book reviewer, I would recommend Tiger’s Voyage to young adults who have already read the previous books in the series and enjoyed them. Fans of fantasy and adventure stories and those interested in Indian culture and mythology will also find the book entertaining.
While it may not win over those that have not enjoyed the series thus far, it is a welcome improvement in terms of character development and pacing. Overall, I would give Tiger’s Voyage a 3.5 out of 5 rating due to its beautiful descriptions and character development but marred plot progression.
