Paranormal Book Club: Tiger's Curse

Welcome to another Paranormal Book Club post! The Paranormal Book Club is a casual book club I do with my friends Rachel, Kristin & DJ, and it came into being because we decided we wanted to revisit (or experience for the first time) a few older YA paranormal/fantasy books together. It seems fitting to be writing about Tiger's Curse for our Paranormal Book Club post this quarter since the first time I read and reviewed it was a decade ago! Tiger's Curse is a YA novel about Kelsey Hayes, an ordinary teen who starts out the summer working a temp job at the circus in her small town but somehow finds herself involved in trying to break a centuries long Indian curse halfway around the world with a white tiger by her side. Kelsey's journey will bring her face to face with dark forces and  powerful magic as she works to piece together the ancient prophecy that might just break this curse forever.

What were your initial thoughts about the book? Were you excited to read it?

I was excited to revisit this story! Even though it's been so long since I initially read it, I remembered enjoying myself after I'd gotten over the slow set-up at the start of the novel. Though the start remained as tedious as I recalled, I did have to suspend my disbelief at times, and there were some moments that felt dated, this was, overall, a fun read. I certainly got swept up in the magic and mystery of Kelsey's adventure as she embarks on this curse-breaking quest!

What was your favorite quote or passage, and why did it resonate with you?

“Bad things sometimes happen to good people; the key to happiness is try to make the best of, and be thankful for the hand we're dealt." There actually weren't really too many quotes that stuck out, but this one was worth mentioning. I'm a firm believer in processing the bad stuff you go through in order to find a semblance of stability, but I do like the sentiment of accepting what life throws your way and making the best of what you've been given.

What character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?

While I won't necessarily say that I would make all the same choices she did, Kelsey is the person I found most relatable. It's large part due to the fact that we as readers spend most of our time with her as a narrator. But I really enjoyed her personality! I like her love of stories, and her fascination with the magic and myth of the curse she's signed herself up to help break. She was a genuinely good person who felt the impulse to help whenever she saw something wrong with the world or for people around her. Her sense of humor also worked well!

Was there anything you wanted to see more of in the book, like more page time for a secondary character or a plot point you wish was explored more?

I would like to see more of Ren's brother Kishan for sure, as I feel like there's more to him than we've gotten to see in this first book. I'm sure that happens in the future though since this is a series!

What are your final thoughts? Would you read this book again and/or continue with the series? Would you read another book written by the same author?

I did have a good time reading this, and I'm mildly curious about how the rest of the prophecy/quest plays out since it did feel like there was more to it at the end of the novel. But I'm honestly not feeling particularly motivated to pick up the rest of the series right away at this point. So, it's not a no forever, but it's a no for right now.

If you're interested in finding out what the others thought, check out their posts below:

Life in Fiction

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