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Tiger's Tale #2
Tiger's Trek
From
New York Times
bestselling author Colleen Houck comes
Tiger’s Trek
, the electrifying new installment in the Tiger’s Tale series, set in the captivating universe of the beloved Tiger’s Curse saga.
In the world of dreams, waking up isn’t the end—it’s only the beginning.
Five unlikely companions are thrust into the dreamworld, a realm teeming with shadowy monsters and dangerous mysteries. To save their empire from the ruthless Death Draughtsman—a centuries-old collector of magic—they must confront their deepest fears, gather their strength, and unlock the secrets hidden in their hearts.
The stakes have never been. The Draughtsman’s growing power threatens not only the citizens of the empire but also the untamed Siberian plain ruled by the Nomadic Alliance. Hope lies with the reappearance of the ancient protectors—the tigers. If the tigers and their human allies can unite in time, they might stand a chance at breaking the curse and restoring balance.
But courage comes at a cost. Twin tsarevnas and their companions—a meticulous hunter, a defiant priest, a restless outcast, and a guarded soldier—must decide if they’ll risk everything to fight for their people, or turn their backs in order to save themselves.
Their intentions are noble.
But heroes aren’t remembered for their intentions—they’re remembered for their sacrifices.
Dive into an epic tale of bravery, loyalty, and the power of dreams in Tiger’s Trek, a story that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.
In the world of dreams, waking up isn’t the end—it’s only the beginning.
Five unlikely companions are thrust into the dreamworld, a realm teeming with shadowy monsters and dangerous mysteries. To save their empire from the ruthless Death Draughtsman—a centuries-old collector of magic—they must confront their deepest fears, gather their strength, and unlock the secrets hidden in their hearts.
The stakes have never been. The Draughtsman’s growing power threatens not only the citizens of the empire but also the untamed Siberian plain ruled by the Nomadic Alliance. Hope lies with the reappearance of the ancient protectors—the tigers. If the tigers and their human allies can unite in time, they might stand a chance at breaking the curse and restoring balance.
But courage comes at a cost. Twin tsarevnas and their companions—a meticulous hunter, a defiant priest, a restless outcast, and a guarded soldier—must decide if they’ll risk everything to fight for their people, or turn their backs in order to save themselves.
Their intentions are noble.
But heroes aren’t remembered for their intentions—they’re remembered for their sacrifices.
Dive into an epic tale of bravery, loyalty, and the power of dreams in Tiger’s Trek, a story that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
15 people are currently reading
3041 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Houck
28 books9,216 followersNew York Times Bestselling Author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years before switching careers to become an author. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers. Follow her by signing up for her e-newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 8, 2026
Review pending... update: Alright... here we go.
This cursed (no pun intended) series will never end, and I lowkey don't want it to. From Indian princes in Tiger's Curse to two Russian sisters in an alternate universe, Colleen never disappoints in her ability to disappoint.
1. Plot
I mean, the storyline is just a carbon copy of Tiger's Curse. Two people become cursed, turn into tigers, make friends to help break the curse, go on an adventure, and fall in love with someone, and their relationship doesn't happen until the last book for some reason.
2. Characters
Now this is where the story differs. We have a cast of 5-6(?) characters, and wow... does this novel just do absolutely nothing with most of them.
Stacia (1/2 sisters). She becomes a tiger. She is... fiery? Strong? Independent? All three? Whereas the women in Tiger's Curse resembled slices of bread, the women in this Tiger's spin-off resemble... soup? Like bland soup with chunks of meat. Stacia is a warrior, princess archetype, so she's all about fighting and battle and wanting to remove the curse and find her sister (whom she is split apart from in this novel), and she has this bond with another one of the guy characters. There's a lot there, but seemingly nothing at the same time. Her parents died, she turned into a tiger, she has to forsake her home for the time being and be away from the throne, mind you, she's not even sure if she's going to inherit the throne, and like... there's so much for her character to go through and uncover about herself in this series, and we just don't. I think the most emotionally charged scene happened when Father Winter (I'm serious) visited her, and she had an attitude. Like, hints of her character appear, but they're not sustainable through the series so far. Like, I'm trying to think back on how she is as I write this, and it's just a blank slate with like a yellow splotch in the corner.
Veru (2/2 sisters). She's pretty... That's Veru's major crutch throughout the first and especially the second book. She's prettier than her sister, so Veru isn't always out being a warrior princess (because if she scars her face, she won't be pretty - which, like, fair for the times, but still). I think it's a cheap play on an issue that could be played out psychologically better. Because she's pretty, her parents used her as a pretty face to gain intel from men and sometimes women, so if we got into that side of it, that'd be cool. Does Veru feel like a disposable tool? Does she want to be out in the world fighting? Is her only personality trait her supposed "beauty"? Who knows? I don't.
Nikolai (Nik):
What. The. Everlasting. Flying. F-
Who is Nikolai? In the first book, we get the most disgusting trauma dump about our poor boy Nik. He was abused in the most gruesome ways by his own father, then somehow managed to make it into Veru and Stacia's care through a bunch of shady means, and he has magic, and he's in love with Veru, and he has a violent streak, and he's a manipulator, and he's a murderer, and he's sadistic - but I'm supposed to still root for him because his past is... sad. I'm sorry, but no. I just think there's a better way to execute his character growth. In this book, he seems to have a little, which is nice, and he even goes on a nice date with a troll girl (don't ask), and he has some cool development... Then he ruins it all because he wants to send his father (who is already dead by the way) to HELL... Or, at least, ensure his father is in hell suffering. And he wants to do this at the cost of THE SISTERS. Like bro... he claims he loves Veru, but is literally planning to unravel the very thing she (and he originally) was fighting for. If Colleen is trying to make him the worst and most insufferable character I have ever read... well, there are still others above him I'm sure, but NIK IS ON THE LIST.
Iriko: The best character to ever grace this series (minus Kishan, my beloved). He is a gem. His story is intriguing, his grief draws you in, and even though we didn’t get much of his thoughts because Stacia was his interpreter, his personality came through. Colleen… HE is your main character. Please, I beg you.
Danik:
I actually had to go look in the book because I forgot this man's name. He's a love interest. Plain and simple. He's eye candy for Veru and there to show the reader "she's more than a pretty face," which like... duh. We know nothing about him. We learned nothing about him. He's a blank slate, and I hate it. Why does he like Veru? What does he want in life? What the crap. WHO IS HE??????
2.5 The cursed house plot point:
What was the point? What. Was. The. Point. Danik and Veru get stuck in a cursed house with a weird witch gal for what seems like WEEKS, and effectively learn NOTHING about one another, but they do kiss… Again, I ask… the point? It didn’t even properly further their relationship because they don’t really learn anything about one another. There’s sexual tension, but again, I ask… the point?
3. Prose:
It's not... bad? The first, though, was definitely better.
4. Execution:
I desperately wished these characters interacted as a group more. The group dynamics would be peak because they are all from different walks of life with vastly different stories and traumas, and it would honestly strengthen them so much. Instead, everything is half-baked. They get separated, and instead of learning about one another, they just complete a quest, which like… cool? But also, where is the development? How is Veru affected by Nik’s backstory? How is Stacia? What the fresh crap is going on with Danik? Where’s his family? Why does he like Veru? Why does he stop himself from fully embracing his crush on Veru? Iriko, my baby boy, will he ever stop punishing himself? I think these conversations, along with the quest, would better develop their characters instead of just the quest. Imagine Nik and Veru getting into an argument - something they never do cause Nik kisses the ground her feet tread on - and how that would change the dynamic? Stacia and Danik, what if they grow close and it causes a rift between Stacia and Veru… the possibilities are endless… Colleen… hire me. How does Nik feel about Danik, and the priest... OH MY LORD, THE PRIEST!
2 (again) Zakhar:
This guy... This. Guy. He's religious, but like... he's the scribe. He's the religious scribe, and he has a crush on Stacia that he tries to deny throughout the entire novel. Also... he's a scribe. That's his central role. He's the least annoying character besides Iriko.
5. Predictions:
I really want Nik to become a lovable character; however, I think he’s going to be morally gray - but not really - and he will be selfish through and through until the last moment and sacrifice himself for the sisters, which in my opinion will not be enough character redemption. I think Nik should become a decent character, someone you root for, then perish. Such a better impact, but Colleen sometimes plays it safe, so he might live (I’ll be upset either way).
5.5. The kingdom
Bro... this throne is unoccupied. The political unrest has to go crazy, and we're just IGNORING it because we're in a dream state. Like no... GIVE ME the political unrest. Give me the conflicted emotions and the anger. These girls, and most of their companions, should not be this calm about what their being cursed means for Russia.
6. Final Thoughts:
I didn't hate this book, which is an improvement. However, this book was SUBSTANTIALLY weaker than the first. I read this book and genuinely don't remember half of it. The ending made me mad cause everything felt unfinished, but not in a trilogy way, but in a "I'm done writing way." I don't like Nikolai. Iriko is perfect. Lowkey hope he gets together with Stacia, but also no. Who's gonna get the throne between the sisters because they're twins and one will rule and the other won't (another plot point that deserves more time and turmoil yet gets none)? I just have questions, but ultimately, this book felt like a dream in that it vanished pretty quickly, which is on-brand considering the entire unfurling of events happened in a magical dreamlike state that the six of them were in.
Alright... that's it. Can't wait till next year when Colleen once again delivers. I will be waiting patiently because, despite myself, I will never stop reading this series.
This cursed (no pun intended) series will never end, and I lowkey don't want it to. From Indian princes in Tiger's Curse to two Russian sisters in an alternate universe, Colleen never disappoints in her ability to disappoint.
1. Plot
I mean, the storyline is just a carbon copy of Tiger's Curse. Two people become cursed, turn into tigers, make friends to help break the curse, go on an adventure, and fall in love with someone, and their relationship doesn't happen until the last book for some reason.
2. Characters
Now this is where the story differs. We have a cast of 5-6(?) characters, and wow... does this novel just do absolutely nothing with most of them.
Stacia (1/2 sisters). She becomes a tiger. She is... fiery? Strong? Independent? All three? Whereas the women in Tiger's Curse resembled slices of bread, the women in this Tiger's spin-off resemble... soup? Like bland soup with chunks of meat. Stacia is a warrior, princess archetype, so she's all about fighting and battle and wanting to remove the curse and find her sister (whom she is split apart from in this novel), and she has this bond with another one of the guy characters. There's a lot there, but seemingly nothing at the same time. Her parents died, she turned into a tiger, she has to forsake her home for the time being and be away from the throne, mind you, she's not even sure if she's going to inherit the throne, and like... there's so much for her character to go through and uncover about herself in this series, and we just don't. I think the most emotionally charged scene happened when Father Winter (I'm serious) visited her, and she had an attitude. Like, hints of her character appear, but they're not sustainable through the series so far. Like, I'm trying to think back on how she is as I write this, and it's just a blank slate with like a yellow splotch in the corner.
Veru (2/2 sisters). She's pretty... That's Veru's major crutch throughout the first and especially the second book. She's prettier than her sister, so Veru isn't always out being a warrior princess (because if she scars her face, she won't be pretty - which, like, fair for the times, but still). I think it's a cheap play on an issue that could be played out psychologically better. Because she's pretty, her parents used her as a pretty face to gain intel from men and sometimes women, so if we got into that side of it, that'd be cool. Does Veru feel like a disposable tool? Does she want to be out in the world fighting? Is her only personality trait her supposed "beauty"? Who knows? I don't.
Nikolai (Nik):
What. The. Everlasting. Flying. F-
Who is Nikolai? In the first book, we get the most disgusting trauma dump about our poor boy Nik. He was abused in the most gruesome ways by his own father, then somehow managed to make it into Veru and Stacia's care through a bunch of shady means, and he has magic, and he's in love with Veru, and he has a violent streak, and he's a manipulator, and he's a murderer, and he's sadistic - but I'm supposed to still root for him because his past is... sad. I'm sorry, but no. I just think there's a better way to execute his character growth. In this book, he seems to have a little, which is nice, and he even goes on a nice date with a troll girl (don't ask), and he has some cool development... Then he ruins it all because he wants to send his father (who is already dead by the way) to HELL... Or, at least, ensure his father is in hell suffering. And he wants to do this at the cost of THE SISTERS. Like bro... he claims he loves Veru, but is literally planning to unravel the very thing she (and he originally) was fighting for. If Colleen is trying to make him the worst and most insufferable character I have ever read... well, there are still others above him I'm sure, but NIK IS ON THE LIST.
Iriko: The best character to ever grace this series (minus Kishan, my beloved). He is a gem. His story is intriguing, his grief draws you in, and even though we didn’t get much of his thoughts because Stacia was his interpreter, his personality came through. Colleen… HE is your main character. Please, I beg you.
Danik:
I actually had to go look in the book because I forgot this man's name. He's a love interest. Plain and simple. He's eye candy for Veru and there to show the reader "she's more than a pretty face," which like... duh. We know nothing about him. We learned nothing about him. He's a blank slate, and I hate it. Why does he like Veru? What does he want in life? What the crap. WHO IS HE??????
2.5 The cursed house plot point:
What was the point? What. Was. The. Point. Danik and Veru get stuck in a cursed house with a weird witch gal for what seems like WEEKS, and effectively learn NOTHING about one another, but they do kiss… Again, I ask… the point? It didn’t even properly further their relationship because they don’t really learn anything about one another. There’s sexual tension, but again, I ask… the point?
3. Prose:
It's not... bad? The first, though, was definitely better.
4. Execution:
I desperately wished these characters interacted as a group more. The group dynamics would be peak because they are all from different walks of life with vastly different stories and traumas, and it would honestly strengthen them so much. Instead, everything is half-baked. They get separated, and instead of learning about one another, they just complete a quest, which like… cool? But also, where is the development? How is Veru affected by Nik’s backstory? How is Stacia? What the fresh crap is going on with Danik? Where’s his family? Why does he like Veru? Why does he stop himself from fully embracing his crush on Veru? Iriko, my baby boy, will he ever stop punishing himself? I think these conversations, along with the quest, would better develop their characters instead of just the quest. Imagine Nik and Veru getting into an argument - something they never do cause Nik kisses the ground her feet tread on - and how that would change the dynamic? Stacia and Danik, what if they grow close and it causes a rift between Stacia and Veru… the possibilities are endless… Colleen… hire me. How does Nik feel about Danik, and the priest... OH MY LORD, THE PRIEST!
2 (again) Zakhar:
This guy... This. Guy. He's religious, but like... he's the scribe. He's the religious scribe, and he has a crush on Stacia that he tries to deny throughout the entire novel. Also... he's a scribe. That's his central role. He's the least annoying character besides Iriko.
5. Predictions:
I really want Nik to become a lovable character; however, I think he’s going to be morally gray - but not really - and he will be selfish through and through until the last moment and sacrifice himself for the sisters, which in my opinion will not be enough character redemption. I think Nik should become a decent character, someone you root for, then perish. Such a better impact, but Colleen sometimes plays it safe, so he might live (I’ll be upset either way).
5.5. The kingdom
Bro... this throne is unoccupied. The political unrest has to go crazy, and we're just IGNORING it because we're in a dream state. Like no... GIVE ME the political unrest. Give me the conflicted emotions and the anger. These girls, and most of their companions, should not be this calm about what their being cursed means for Russia.
6. Final Thoughts:
I didn't hate this book, which is an improvement. However, this book was SUBSTANTIALLY weaker than the first. I read this book and genuinely don't remember half of it. The ending made me mad cause everything felt unfinished, but not in a trilogy way, but in a "I'm done writing way." I don't like Nikolai. Iriko is perfect. Lowkey hope he gets together with Stacia, but also no. Who's gonna get the throne between the sisters because they're twins and one will rule and the other won't (another plot point that deserves more time and turmoil yet gets none)? I just have questions, but ultimately, this book felt like a dream in that it vanished pretty quickly, which is on-brand considering the entire unfurling of events happened in a magical dreamlike state that the six of them were in.
Alright... that's it. Can't wait till next year when Colleen once again delivers. I will be waiting patiently because, despite myself, I will never stop reading this series.
January 24, 2026
Tiger Trek honestly felt like coming home. From the first pages, I was completely pulled back into the world Colleen Houck created, and it reminded me why I fell in love with the Tiger Saga in the first place.
The story is adventurous, emotional, and full of heart. The characters feel familiar but grown, and their journeys felt meaningful and earned. There’s a really nice balance between action, reflection, and those moments that just hit you in the feelings. I loved how much depth and intention there was behind the story - it wasn’t just a journey, it meant something.
What really stood out to me was the emotional connection. Themes of destiny, loyalty, love, and self-discovery are woven throughout, and they linger with you even after you finish the book. It felt magical, nostalgic, and fresh all at the same time.
If you loved the Tiger Saga, this is absolutely a must-read. It honors everything that made the original series special while still offering something new. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end.
4.75 🌟
The story is adventurous, emotional, and full of heart. The characters feel familiar but grown, and their journeys felt meaningful and earned. There’s a really nice balance between action, reflection, and those moments that just hit you in the feelings. I loved how much depth and intention there was behind the story - it wasn’t just a journey, it meant something.
What really stood out to me was the emotional connection. Themes of destiny, loyalty, love, and self-discovery are woven throughout, and they linger with you even after you finish the book. It felt magical, nostalgic, and fresh all at the same time.
If you loved the Tiger Saga, this is absolutely a must-read. It honors everything that made the original series special while still offering something new. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end.
4.75 🌟
September 18, 2025
I loved original Tiger series by this author and was so excited to see that there was a branch off series! I haven't read the first book in this series and snagged a copy to read and review. There were a few things that I felt a little lost about since I jumped into book #2, but for the most part I was able to figure it out and read between the lines. It sure made me want to go back and enjoy the adventure of the main series!
This was really quite the adventure. The dream world and characters trying to navigate their deepest fears and so much more! Wow! I enjoyed watching them all work towards a good ending and having to be smart and use lots of skills to make it through. I think it would be really fun to go to the first book of this Tiger's Tale Series and have a better understanding of these characters and what led them to this dreamworld and their adventures.
Content: Elements of magic and paranormal aspects. Adventures, talk of death. I thought it was clean with how it was written, but would recommend for older teenagers.
I received a copy from the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
This was really quite the adventure. The dream world and characters trying to navigate their deepest fears and so much more! Wow! I enjoyed watching them all work towards a good ending and having to be smart and use lots of skills to make it through. I think it would be really fun to go to the first book of this Tiger's Tale Series and have a better understanding of these characters and what led them to this dreamworld and their adventures.
Content: Elements of magic and paranormal aspects. Adventures, talk of death. I thought it was clean with how it was written, but would recommend for older teenagers.
I received a copy from the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
August 13, 2025
I really wanted to love this spin off series, but it just isn’t living up to the original. I enjoyed the first book, but this one was too repetitive and I didn’t enjoy the fact that they spent the entire book in the dream world. At first I enjoyed the dream world idea, but I was done with it at 25% in. I kept reading because I like the characters, but after a while I started skimming the story because it was just too many tasks they had to overcome and felt repetitive. Sad to say I think I’m finished with reading these books.
August 14, 2025
Kishan is back, but just for bookends wrapping on the second part of the Tsarevnas' adventure.
As our group is separated and in a different configuration, they perform their trials in the dream world.
Not as strong as the opening book in this trilogy, but I still enjoyed it and look forward to what happens next.
As our group is separated and in a different configuration, they perform their trials in the dream world.
Not as strong as the opening book in this trilogy, but I still enjoyed it and look forward to what happens next.
November 17, 2025
I never thought I’d write a review like this—one that feels less like a book review and more like a time capsule. To explain why, I need to take you back to when I was a young reader.
Believe it or not, there was a time I wasn’t always an avid reader. For a long time, books were simply for school, not for pleasure. When I was about eleven, my grandma got me Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and everything changed. I fell in love with reading, and after that, there was hardly a time when I didn’t have my nose buried in a book. First, Percy Jackson, then Harry Potter, and by the time I was fifteen, Twilight and Tiger’s Curse.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it. It didn’t explode into pop culture the way Twilight did, and even now, I can count on one hand the number of readers I personally know who’ve read it too. (And if you have read it, let’s be friends immediately.)
But despite its quieter presence in the book world, Tiger’s Curse was one of those foundational reading experiences for me. It wasn’t just a book—it was a gateway. It made me fall in love with sweeping romance, with myth and folklore, with adventure that felt impossibly exciting and frightening at once. It’s one of the stories that made me want to write romance of my own someday. When I think about the books that built me—the ones that shaped the reader and writer I became—Tiger’s Curse holds a permanent, glowing place among them.
When I saw Tiger’s Trek on NetGalley and realized it was set in the same universe, I didn’t hesitate. I requested it right away.
My curse with Book Two’s strikes again! If you’re not aware, I have a bit of bad luck with Book Two’s. Not once, not twice, but more times than I’d like to admit, I’ve accidentally bought Book 2 before Book 1... So, publisher’s if you’re reading this, here is my humble request: please, put numbers back on the spines of books. You’d really be helping a girl out.
Anyway, I requested Tiger’s Trek without realizing it was the second book in the series—something I didn’t discover until I was already halfway through. And yes, that did lead to some confusion. Thankfully, not as much as when I accidentally started watching Across the Spider-Verse before Into the Spider-Verse. I’m seriously not kidding about this curse, guys.
I’ll admit, there was some confusion, but it was more like I was just dropped in the middle of the action. It wasn’t one of those situations where I was lost entirely, and I was still able to thoroughly enjoy the book.
I think I’ve already established how special Colleen Houck’s original series, Tiger’s Curse, was to me, so jumping back into this universe was surreal. It felt like coming home and reminded me of the easy love I had as a young reader. When I wasn’t worried about bookstagram, book reviews, and social media insights, instead, I just loved to read and to lose myself in a fictional world. I still love to read and write, but sometimes, it feels more like a chore. So, I’d like to challenge you to maybe take a break from trying to reach that reading goal or from trying to get so many people to like your post and just read for reading’s sake.
I also have to praise the audiobook narrator. She brings so much life and atmosphere to the story; her accent work and character voices make the whole journey feel richer and more immersive.
The cast of characters is colorful and dynamic, each contributing something unique to the plot. There are a lot of POVs—more than I personally prefer—and at times the jumps felt abrupt. But I still appreciated getting to see this world through so many different lenses.
And the return of a certain beloved character from Tiger’s Curse? That moment got me right in the feels—exactly the kind of callback longtime fans will appreciate.
And Tiger’s Trek really does deliver on the parts I adored from the original series:
✨ shapeshifters
✨ folklore and mythology
✨ a vivid, magical world
✨ high-stakes adventure
✨ a thread of romance
If I could make one wish for future installments, it’d be more romance. One of my favorite parts of Tiger’s Curse was the emotional intensity and the love triangle—those swoony, dramatic moments. Tiger’s Trek felt a bit more constrained compared to its predecessor, but the focus on friendship and family is still really compelling. And don’t get me wrong, there is still romance in this series. It’s just more of a slow burn than the original, and I wanted more.
Despite jumping into the series out of order, it has been such a joy to return to a fictional world that built me. I am going to go and read Book 1 now!
Believe it or not, there was a time I wasn’t always an avid reader. For a long time, books were simply for school, not for pleasure. When I was about eleven, my grandma got me Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and everything changed. I fell in love with reading, and after that, there was hardly a time when I didn’t have my nose buried in a book. First, Percy Jackson, then Harry Potter, and by the time I was fifteen, Twilight and Tiger’s Curse.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it. It didn’t explode into pop culture the way Twilight did, and even now, I can count on one hand the number of readers I personally know who’ve read it too. (And if you have read it, let’s be friends immediately.)
But despite its quieter presence in the book world, Tiger’s Curse was one of those foundational reading experiences for me. It wasn’t just a book—it was a gateway. It made me fall in love with sweeping romance, with myth and folklore, with adventure that felt impossibly exciting and frightening at once. It’s one of the stories that made me want to write romance of my own someday. When I think about the books that built me—the ones that shaped the reader and writer I became—Tiger’s Curse holds a permanent, glowing place among them.
When I saw Tiger’s Trek on NetGalley and realized it was set in the same universe, I didn’t hesitate. I requested it right away.
My curse with Book Two’s strikes again! If you’re not aware, I have a bit of bad luck with Book Two’s. Not once, not twice, but more times than I’d like to admit, I’ve accidentally bought Book 2 before Book 1... So, publisher’s if you’re reading this, here is my humble request: please, put numbers back on the spines of books. You’d really be helping a girl out.
Anyway, I requested Tiger’s Trek without realizing it was the second book in the series—something I didn’t discover until I was already halfway through. And yes, that did lead to some confusion. Thankfully, not as much as when I accidentally started watching Across the Spider-Verse before Into the Spider-Verse. I’m seriously not kidding about this curse, guys.
I’ll admit, there was some confusion, but it was more like I was just dropped in the middle of the action. It wasn’t one of those situations where I was lost entirely, and I was still able to thoroughly enjoy the book.
I think I’ve already established how special Colleen Houck’s original series, Tiger’s Curse, was to me, so jumping back into this universe was surreal. It felt like coming home and reminded me of the easy love I had as a young reader. When I wasn’t worried about bookstagram, book reviews, and social media insights, instead, I just loved to read and to lose myself in a fictional world. I still love to read and write, but sometimes, it feels more like a chore. So, I’d like to challenge you to maybe take a break from trying to reach that reading goal or from trying to get so many people to like your post and just read for reading’s sake.
I also have to praise the audiobook narrator. She brings so much life and atmosphere to the story; her accent work and character voices make the whole journey feel richer and more immersive.
The cast of characters is colorful and dynamic, each contributing something unique to the plot. There are a lot of POVs—more than I personally prefer—and at times the jumps felt abrupt. But I still appreciated getting to see this world through so many different lenses.
And the return of a certain beloved character from Tiger’s Curse? That moment got me right in the feels—exactly the kind of callback longtime fans will appreciate.
And Tiger’s Trek really does deliver on the parts I adored from the original series:
✨ shapeshifters
✨ folklore and mythology
✨ a vivid, magical world
✨ high-stakes adventure
✨ a thread of romance
If I could make one wish for future installments, it’d be more romance. One of my favorite parts of Tiger’s Curse was the emotional intensity and the love triangle—those swoony, dramatic moments. Tiger’s Trek felt a bit more constrained compared to its predecessor, but the focus on friendship and family is still really compelling. And don’t get me wrong, there is still romance in this series. It’s just more of a slow burn than the original, and I wanted more.
Despite jumping into the series out of order, it has been such a joy to return to a fictional world that built me. I am going to go and read Book 1 now!
October 1, 2025
I really loved the fairytale/folklore aspect that was interwoven throughout. I liked the dreamscape component and the different tests the characters were faced with. Though I wish the author had leaned more into them learning a lesson throughout the tests than they did. Also, the pacing was a bit off, especially in the beginning, and the story in this book didn't really wrap up in a satisfying way. The last chapter before the epilogue sets up for the next story, but there needed to be more of a developed ending prior to that with our group of characters and the premise and plot of this one. It also needed more editing than in had. Stacia was spelled with an "s" instead of a "c" a few times, the one-eyed character widen his "eyes" at one point, Nik forfeits a card game only to still be playing to then being told he needs to keep playing, and the one-eyed character's girlfriend is initially around the same height as him, to then be significantly taller to the point Nik is wondering about the functionality of the relationship to then being back to roughly the same height. It is third-person pov, but the transition between who that pov was on within the chapters themselves was confusing and not clearly defined. Also, I'm not sure why we didn't get chapters following Iriko. He was the only one of the group we didn't get once he was split off. All in all, I loved the premise, but the execution really needs work. This felt more like an early draft that needed more time spent revising and editing. The story itself I loved, though, and it could have been four or five stars without all the issues.
February 22, 2026
This is the first my dumb ass is realizing the twins are Russian? Like for real I didn't catch on until all the words they spoke were such, also why is the hunter Danik just basically a rip off of the guy from frozen who falls in love with Anna, Kristoff? Like for real tall, blonde, blue eyes, lost his parents? He's basically him.. and Veru is in love with him, they kiss. But he's holding back, cause I think he blames her for the taxes her mother did, with the whole one kid on the army one not thing, that gets explained in the end.
The story switches between them, her sister and Nik in a way I hated, but I kept reading to the end. Stacia being with the priest, and the tiger and a girl who is made of snow? Then Veru and Danik just spend their whole time helping Yuga, who is a wicked old lady, who comes from old legends of her living in a house with chicken legs and stealing children and such, Baba Yaga. Then we get Nik who is the worst of the bunch I think and still hate alot..
The one part that made no sense is the end seemed to suggest that Veru got her tiger back via the cat but then Stacia her sister also got her tiger inside her along with the other two? Like if Veru isn't a tiger what is she, it doesn't say.
I look forward to how it ends..
The story switches between them, her sister and Nik in a way I hated, but I kept reading to the end. Stacia being with the priest, and the tiger and a girl who is made of snow? Then Veru and Danik just spend their whole time helping Yuga, who is a wicked old lady, who comes from old legends of her living in a house with chicken legs and stealing children and such, Baba Yaga. Then we get Nik who is the worst of the bunch I think and still hate alot..
The one part that made no sense is the end seemed to suggest that Veru got her tiger back via the cat but then Stacia her sister also got her tiger inside her along with the other two? Like if Veru isn't a tiger what is she, it doesn't say.
I look forward to how it ends..
September 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I started Tiger's Curse in middle school. I am back after many years, and... I feel disappointed. There's a lot that's going on and at the same time, there isn't a lot being accomplished. There was an extraordinary lack of tigers from what I was expecting. Unfortunately, none of the characters were clicking with me and I wasn't a fan of the plot or the relationships. I was at least hoping for some type of reunion between everyone, but that didn't come to fruition. I wasn't compelled at all and found myself skimming through pages to get to the end. I can't believe it ended on a cliffhanger. I may return, but I don't feel interested anymore. I am glad for the (MILD SPOILER) small Kishan cameo at the end.
I started Tiger's Curse in middle school. I am back after many years, and... I feel disappointed. There's a lot that's going on and at the same time, there isn't a lot being accomplished. There was an extraordinary lack of tigers from what I was expecting. Unfortunately, none of the characters were clicking with me and I wasn't a fan of the plot or the relationships. I was at least hoping for some type of reunion between everyone, but that didn't come to fruition. I wasn't compelled at all and found myself skimming through pages to get to the end. I can't believe it ended on a cliffhanger. I may return, but I don't feel interested anymore. I am glad for the (MILD SPOILER) small Kishan cameo at the end.
August 24, 2025
Tiger’s Trek is a continuation of the spin-off series that started with Tiger’s Tale. The characters find themselves in a dream world that requires them to complete a series of tests to break a curse. The characters are now separated and don’t know what the others are going through. The story alternates between the protagonists, and readers must pay attention to which character's story is being addressed. Overall, the story was good, but it ended without a strong resolution and left me discouraged instead of interested.
August 5, 2025
Tiger's Trek continues the story of Tiger's Tale and spins a world of Russian folklore mixed with the story of two sisters who are cursed to be tigers. It's a great adventure with exciting scenes, there is romance, peril, and angst. This book has it all. If you have read The Tiger's Curse series, you will love this new series from Colleen Houk.
December 14, 2025
Colleen Houck continues to prove herself a master of storytelling. This world, these characters, these lessons are some of the most impactful I have read. I am so incredibly thankful I found Houcks books when I was young and I continue to be enamored and charmed by her effulgent and well carved sentences. Spasibo!!!!
January 12, 2026
I loved it, loved all the Slavic folklore and mythology. Nik was so so close to me not hating him, he almost redeemed himself but just keeps ruining it, at least he was Less Weird about Veru this book.
March 25, 2026
DNF after four chapters. I think pure fantasy books are waning on me. This particular books seemed very allegorical too, which is not something I tend to like very much. It's all very fluffy and on the nose.
November 19, 2025
My most anticipated book of the year lived up to its promise
January 4, 2026
So amazing!
Colleen has such an amazing imagination and style of writing. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this story and I can't wait to see what happens next!
Colleen has such an amazing imagination and style of writing. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this story and I can't wait to see what happens next!
October 6, 2025
Loved Tiger’s Trek! Full of magic, adventure, and heart—Colleen Houck makes you feel like you’re right there on the journey. Can’t wait for the next one!
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