Kelsey Hayes and Alagan Dhiren Rajaram (Ren)

This is the first book-related art I have posted, I hope you like it. My inspiration was the book Tiger's Curse.

Kelsey and Ren

Kelsey



Ren

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Publisher: Indie novel but was later published by Sterling
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 448 pages
Series: The Tiger Saga #1
Summary
Passion. Fate. Loyalty.
Would you risk it all to change your destiny?
The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.
Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more. (quoted by goodreads)

                                              Review
        I know, I know, everyone always says to never judge a book by it's cover, but I couldn't just ignore it right? I admit to having read this book because White Tigers are my favorite animal and due to my love of Indian culture, but all that doesn't matter, because the actual story is just as beautiful as the cover.

       In the first few chapters of this novel I noticed that Colleen Houck's writing style is different from that of other writers. She doesn't have a bad writing style it just took a bit getting used to, that's all. What I didn't like about this book was the total lack of responsibility her foster parents show. Sure, Kelsey is eighteen and has every right to do as she pleases, but if I were her parent/foster parent I would never permit her to board a plane half way across the world with a man I barely know. What I love about this book is how Colleen Houck manages to weave Indian culture, and folklore throughout her novel and still keep things interesting. Some say that all the historical stories Mr.Kadam shares with Kelsey are boring but I find them quite interesting it gives readers a chance to learn about Indian culture and folklore.

      The main character Kelsey Hayes is way too naive, and trusting. She boards a plane with a man she barely knows, and compels me to scream at her in my head. What is she thinking exactly? India is known for human trafficking you idiot! But, I also find her trusting nature to be sweet because it shows what a kind and compassionate person she is. My favorite character is Alagan Dhiren Rajaram *swoon*, a three hundred year old prince who was cursed to live as tiger and is allotted only twenty four minutes as a human everyday. Ren also happens to be perfect in every way. Ren is so beautiful,(yes I know that I am using beautiful for a boy) that he could cause Aphrodite herself to fall at his feet in awe of the beauty he displays, despite his good looks Ren is noble, brave and humble-everything a girl could dream of.

       I have read all three of the Tiger Saga books that are available in print and also an advance reader copy of the fourth book Tiger's Destiny ( it is missing the last three chapters and the epilogue, much to my dismay). Throughout the books I have read so far Kelsey Improves as a character, so if you did not enjoy Tiger's Curse, I encourage you to read the second book Tiger's Quest for like I said before Kelsey improves as a character and so does the story line. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure story and swoon-worthy boys.

<---- What I imagine Alagan Dhiren Rajaram (Ren) to look like.

Sadly, I do not know the real name of this model, for I found this picture on a Puerto Rican blog:

http://pirigueteliteraria.blogspot.com








Favorite Quotes<3

• "A girl can still admire, can’t she? Even those who can’t afford to go in the store can still window-shop. Right? Knowing he wasn’t for me didn’t mean I couldn’t covet the merchandise.”
• "Why does everything so bad for you always taste so dreamy? "
• "Shhh Kelsey. I'm here. I'm not leaving you priya. Hush now. Mein aapka raksha karunga. I will watch over you priyatama.”
• "Just so you know, I hate camping. I'm not so much appreciating the fact that there's no bathroom out here. 'Nature calls' while walking in nature is on my list of least favorite things. You tigers, and men in general, have it so much easier than us girls.”

Bewitching by Alex Flinn

Publisher: Harper Teen
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 366 pages
Series: The Kendra Chronicles #2
Summary
Bewitching can be a beast. . . .
Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn’t.
I go to a new school now—one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I’m not still here because I’m stupid; I just don’t age.
You see, I’m immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years—except for when to take my powers and butt out.
I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the Titanic lifeboat? I don’t even want to think about it.
Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl—and it isn’t an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . .bewitching. (quoted from goodreads)

                                                           Review

       This book was amazing! I have read Alex Flinn's novel Beastly and really could not figure out why everyone was raving about it. Bewitching on the other hand I absolutely loved! When one reads the summary for this novel one probably thinks that this novel will be all about Kendra the witch, who we met in Beastly, but it actually is not. Sure, this novel is about Kendra's life but she is not the main character.

      I'm glad we readers get to know Kendra in this novel. What I thought about Kendra is so not true-- she isn't mean at all. kendra is just trying to help people, she has good intentions even though things don't always turn out the way she plans they will. This novel is basically about the people Kendra helps during her immortal life, there are a few short stories, and one big story that all the short stories are incorporated into. Even though some say readers are not given a lot of time to get to know the characters, I think that one does not need much time to like the characters in this novel, for they all seem very real and are relate able. The main character is Emma, who Kendra befriends and decides to help. I love how Emma may not beautiful on the outside, but she is such a caring person on the inside, and just wants to be accepted the way she is. What really stood out to me throughout this whole novel is something Alex Flinn voiced through the thoughts of Emma, she thought that no matter what the situation might be, people always want the beautiful one to be good. Sadly this is true, we as humans will forgive someone good-looking a lot more easily than someone who may be "ugly".
     You do not need to have read Beastly to enjoy this novel, but if you plan on reading both Beastly and Bewitching then I would advise you to read Beastly first because some characters are mentioned in  Bewitching, the second novel to the series. I recommend this book to people that like fairy tales(:

                                               Favorite Quotes:
Sadly, I do not have my own copy of this novel, and forgot my favorite quotes paper inside the library's copy, but don't worry! I will have the quotes in a few days! (:

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler *spoiler alert*

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 378 pgs
Series: not a series

Summary
Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.
So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.
It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last. (quoted from goodreads)

Review
Bittersweet is not the kind of book I usually read, but since it is on the BFYA reading list, and since it seems to have mostly good reviews I decided to give it a try. I am glad that I read this novel for not only is it interesting, it also gave readers a chance to see into the very realistic life of Hudson Avery and learn a life lesson of our own. Something that I have noticed about contemporary novels is that they never turn out the way one thinks they will.
I am very envious of Hudson because she is such a perfect daughter, an awesome older sister and the way she somehow miraculously seems to be keeping everything together with everthing that she is going through is just plain amazing, but she is also a tad too wimpy for my taste. My favorite character is Hudson's little brother, Bug he is just sooo adorable, and I love that he is such a little geek! Of the two boys interested in Hudson-Will and Josh, Will is my favorite because he genuinely seems to understand Hudson and wants the best for her, like when he figures out that Hudson has feelings for Josh he doesn't get angry, he just accepts the fact and tells her that she should tell him. there is nothing wrong with Josh he is actually pretty dreamy and really nice, but I just can't bring my self to like him better than Will, its probably because the "bad" boy always appeals to me more.
My favorite thing about this novel is that all the chapters are named after cupcakes. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a light read and thinks that being there for your family is important.

Favorite Quotes

• No powdery residue. But definitely suspicious. Smell." He slides a makeup catalog from beneath a microscope made out of a plate, a toilet paper roll, and an intricate arrangement of pipe cleaners. "Any ideas?"I take a scientific whiff. "Gardenia. Looks like those Mary Kay terrorists are at it again.” 
• “Everyone says that the internet is so awesome because you can connect with people from all over the world, but I think it’s the opposite. The internet doesn’t make it easier to connect with anyone—it just makes it so you don’t really have to.” 
• “He turned the entire living room into an airport, complete with a four-foot-high LEGO traffic control tower and a fleet of paper planes, plastic army pilots taped safely into their cockpits. From deep beneath the couch, a large utility flashlight illuminates some sort of...landing strip? I crouch down for a better look.Oh. My. God.Stuck to the carpet in parallel, unbroken paths from one wall to the other are two lanes of brand-new maxi pads. Plastic dinosaurs stand guard at every fourth pad–triceratops and T rexes on one side, brontosauruses and pterodactyls on the other–protecting the airport from enemy aircraft and/or heavy flow.”