Coming September 10th, 2024 from Blackstone Publishing; 360 pages
Content Warning: Death, violence, sexual abuse, terminal illness
About the Author: “New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she’s not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Colleen Houck on the following platforms:
Anastasia and Verusha Stepanov, twin sisters and heirs to the throne of the Kievian Empire, are in constant conflict with one another over who will take the throne when the time comes, with each wanting the other to accept the responsibility. However, this fight takes a backseat when the sisters are thrown into turmoil after their mother passes and a malicious stranger enters the empire hoping to take something of great value from them. This encounter results in the sisters getting stuck in the bodies of tigers, and with their lives suddenly upturned, the sisters embark on a quest they never could have anticipated. The tsarevnas encounter a variety of compelling characters and confounding circumstances as they try to save their kingdom and themselves.
An intriguing tale of royalty, magic, romance and family, I had high expectations for this novel. Houck built a fascinating world rich with history, tradition, and culture to frame the plot of this story. However, while the premise of the book immediately drew me in, the narrative failed to deliver on its promised thematic elements in many cases. The novel lacked an overall cohesiveness, making it difficult to follow certain plotlines and character arcs as they progressed; there were times when an abrupt perspective or scenic shift disrupted my reading and pulled me out of the story entirely as I worked to catch up. Additionally, I grew incredibly frustrated with the lack of attention paid to Veru and Stasia. After the sisters transformed into their tiger forms, the novel focused primarily on the male characters and their romantic interests in Veru. With such an initially compelling and diverse cast of characters, I was sad to see a lot of their potential go to waste as certain plotlines or tropes were either overemphasized or abandoned. Additionally, while I appreciate that Houck did research into Russian folklore and history, the lack of certain deeper explanations and translations made segments of the story challenging to understand, and I think the inclusion of a glossary could have enhanced the readability of the text. Overall, while the novel is at times a confusing and frustrating read, Houck constructs a vibrant world and fascinating narrative that make for an engaging story.
Tiger’s Tale releases on September 10th, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Blackstone Publishing for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes may be subject to change before final publication.
Sam Parker, PRR Writer and Social Media Lead