Not much has changed in the young adult fiction world since the Twilight Saga hit the bookshelves, charming tweens and beyond with a story of lustful romance with a supernatural bent. Waves of like-minded narratives have been riding the coattails of the famous series' roaring success, but few are as thrilling and unique as Colleen Houck's Tiger's Curse. An enchanting story that takes place primarily in India (a setting ripe with potential for the vivid descriptions Houck delivers), Tiger's Curse is grounded in Indian mythology and culture. Annika Boras narrates with Sanjiv Jahveri, and they more than meet the challenges of performing a contemporary story told in a mysterious, foreign setting.

When 17-year-old orphan Kelsey attends a local summer job fair, she feels that nothing is beneath her. One week later, she finds herself temping at a circus, where she is tasked with caring for an unusually docile white tiger named Ren. Given how smoothly Kelsey is able to care for Ren, she is asked to accompany him on his transport to India, where he will return to his owner. With nothing left for her at home, Kelsey seizes the opportunity for this unique experience. She soon discovers that Ren is in fact not a tiger, but a handsome prince trapped by a curse cast upon him many years ago. The story quickly evolves into an engrossing romance between Kelsey and Ren, with a race against time to break the tiger's curse.

Between the exotic Indian landscapes and the Indiana Jones-like obstacles Kelsey and Ren walk into, Boras has plenty of colorful material to work with. From her astonished reaction at discovering of the tiger's true identity to her calculated determination as she pieces together how to break the curse, Boras approaches every scene with keen awareness of her character. Such is a testament to her erudite storytelling. Listening to her tackle such a diverse array of description, setting, and characters is the best way to experience this novel. Tiger's Curse will leave you breathless for days. —Suzanne Day