Book Talk – Tiger Queen

I recently read Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan and loved it. Here is my review.

Warning: This book will make you thirsty, but I loved it anyway.

The Tiger Queen takes place in the desert during a drought. No water for bathing – not much for drinking. This well-written YA book hooked me right away and kept my attention through the entire book.

The main character is Kateri, an arrogant warrior princess, who has to fight in the arena against her suitors to win her right to rule. She must prove her worth to her evil father, the king. She knows she cannot beat her final opponent so Kateri flees to the desert to train under the enemy she hates the most and the only one who might be able to give her a shot at winning. But what Kateri discovers in the desert twists her world—and her heart—upside down. 

The characters are determined and likeable. Kateri and Cyon slowly learn to trust one another as he teaches her to sword fight. And of course, romance arises, but the romance is sweet and tender. I’ve read too many YA books lately where the sensuality is much too heavy. Kateri and Cyon’s romance is refreshing.

You’ve probably heard of books where the setting becomes a character.  That is very true of Tiger Queen.  Ms. Sullivan deftly brings the desert to life. The reader begins to think of the desert as an actual character and important part of the story.

This book is fast paced and exciting. Violence fills the book, but it is never gratuitous or overdone. I find myself being turned off by a lot of the current YA due to excessive violence.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exciting but meaningful story. This is published by a mainstream publishing company, but I have no problem recommending it to young teens as well as adults.

Have you read any books recently that you couldn’t put down?

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