Warning: spoilers if you haven't read the first 2 books!
Okay, to all you who understand and share my intense love for this series, let me explain the rating. Because I do still love these books, and I did really enjoy this one, but after considering it, I just couldn't give it 5 stars.
First, a positive: the adventure in this book is wonderful! I feel like this is the first time that it was so good that it eclipsed the romance(s) and relationships of the characters. I was fascinated by the journey to visit the 5 dragons and all Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan had to accomplish to retrieve the Pearl Necklace of Durga. I also really loved the dragons and the fact that everything was based just as much on Chinese folklore as Indian.
That one of my favorite parts of this series - Houck's interweaving of so many different types of folklore into one series. I'm constantly astounded by how much research she does and all the planning she must have done before writing these books. Everything fits together seamlessly, and it's really impressive! That was my favorite part of the book this time around.
Now, here was the rub for me: the love triangle. Don't get me wrong, I love a love triangle done right. The Bella/Edward/Jacob plotline in Twilight was great for me. I mean, my team lost, but that's become a thing for me - choosing the losing side of a love triangle. (I should join a support group or something...)
Anyway, but I was excited in Tiger's Quest to see that Kishan was getting more face-time. I really enjoyed his character, and even though I loved Ren at the beginning, Kishan really won me over by the end. He was funny and charming and had less of a Superman-complex than Ren, which I often found a bit irritating.
So when I saw that the love triangle was going to play a bigger role in Tiger's Voyage, I was excited. More Kishan! And I really enjoyed the interplay between Ren and Kishan, and their rivalry. It was funny in the last book. And I was pissed at Ren when at the end of the last book, he didn't remember Kelsey. And who was there to pick up the pieces? Kishan. I was ready for this all to come to a head in Tiger's Voyage.
But what I found made me a little uneasy. The beginning started off good for me, with Kelsey and Ren arguing up a storm. But it was funny, and I've got to say, it was hot! Their best interaction comes when they're fighting. But I was disappointed in Kishan. He stood by and watched entirely too calmly. He lost a lot of his personality in this book. What we all loved in Quest - his cockiness, humor, and charm - were all but gone in Voyage. I hardly recognized him!
And then the love triangle began to really take shape, and I've got to say, I was super disappointed. What we're presented with is Kelsey's connection with Ren and how all-consuming it is, and a Kishan who is the anchor that helps her keep her sanity. Kelsey soon has to decide which brother she wants to be wish, and she picks Kishan because he's stable...and we're led to believe this is a bad thing.
I give you the following exercepts:
I thought it would be easier, more practical, if I just picked Kishan. No, practical is the wrong word. Safer. That's the right one. Ren took risks. Ren surrounded himself with beautiful bikini-clad girls. [...] I know why he did it, but the fact remains that he still did. And if another opportunity to "save me" came along, he wouldn't hesitate. He'd once again sacrifice himself, and I'd be alone. I'd almost had the man of my dreams. But almost doesn't count.
[...]
Besides, who took care of me when Ren nobly let himself be kidnapped? Kishan. Who told off Randi when she was insulting me? Kishan. Who lets me wear my hair the way I want to? Kishan. Who said he'd be willing to let me be with another if that's what I really wanted? Kishan. Who never argues with me? Kishan. Who kepts his hands off when I asked him to? Kishan. (p. 454-455)
And this one, which really tipped me over the edge...
He [Kishan] protected me from the relationship roller coaster ride that was Ren. I loved Kishan, and I believed I could be happy with him, but I also had to acknowledge that it wasn't exactly the same. Ren's love was an all-consuming fire, but Kishan was more like...a space heater. Comfortable, steady, reliable. Both kept me warm, but one could burn me. Singe me to ashes. If Kishan left me, I would cry. I would hurt, but I would move on, sadder but wiser.
Loving Ren was like loving an atom bomb. When he went off, and it was just a matter of time before he did again, he would destroy everything around in a ten-mile radius. Of course, I always managed to be standing in the middle of the bull's-eye. Shrapnel had mangled my heart. Twice. Kishan tried to pick up the pieces and hold them together by sheer will, but there were gaps. Pieces were missing.
[...] I had to pick between the consuming love of Ren that I was so desperate for I sometimes forgot to breathe, and the steady glow, the endless kindness and comfort that Kishan offered me. (p. 433-434)
We all know Kelsey will end up with Ren on the last page of the last book. It's a given. But Voyage left me wondering if Kelsey was crazy. Why does she love Ren more?!
And this was where I was left with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Houck presents us with Kelsey and Ren's relationship, one which follows the common theme of paranormal romances, in which their love is literally the only thing that keeps them alive. Ren even declares that Kelsey is the purpose of his existence. I'm sorry, but if your significant other is the purpose of your existence, your life must be really pathetic.
And, sure, that type of love makes for a really good, dramatic story. Why has "Romeo and Juliet" survived for so long (other than it's great one-liners)? Because it's a powerful love story of two individuals who were so in love that they couldn't survive without it. But how many people in the real world want this type of relationship?
Umm...no thanks.
To me, Kishan represented a healthy sort of love. He was supportive and devoted, but he had other things going on in his life. He didn't practically worship at Kelsey's feet like Ren did. And while Kelsey was attached to him, she could think of other things when he was around. As opposed to her relationship with Ren, which is practically a drug.
It was all very teenage angsty and annoying.
And this was what kept me from giving this book 5 stars. I'm just not with Houck on portraying this type of all-encompassing, obsessive sort of love to teens, who already think everything is the end of the world. It reminded me too much of Bella's willingness to kill herself when Edward left. While Kelsey isn't as bad as Bella, she's still tempted by that connection with Ren that will make her lose herself. And because I'm positive that she and Ren will end up together, I'm a little miffed.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe their love with tone down a bit. Maybe she'll even pick Kishan in the end.
...but I doubt it.
Am I the only one that thinks the relationship Kelsey and Ren share is not only not normal but not healthy? It took me almost a week to get through this book because I was disappointed. And even though I adored the adventure and the mythology, and did like some of the romance, I just was a little uncomfortable with the turn the story took and some of the themes.
Am I crazy for thinking this? What is everyone else's thoughts?