The Tiger's Daughter

K. Arsenault Rivera's sweeping fantasy epic, The Tiger's Daughter, avoids overwhelming readers with too much exposition. Rather, it pulls you in with a deliberate approach and reveals a world molded by legendary currents and tradition that churn under the surface. Fundamentally, the relationship between two heroines, created in childhood and tested by challenges both human and otherworldly, is the link.

Rivera's depiction of their evolving relationship is the foundation of the book, firmly anchoring many of the most substantial obstacles in their personal loyalty. This is an investigation of how deep trust may sustain—even haunt—individuals in a volatile world, not merely another story of great powers colliding. The work does not waver in its slower, introspective periods; it frames the hopes and worries of the characters as absolutely vital components of the larger struggle.

The form could itself be an obstacle for some readers. If you would rather have a clear chronology, much of the story runs through letters and shifting memories may be confusing. As you separate out what is happening now from what occurred in the past, there is an adjustment period. Still, this method fosters intimacy as well. You feel as though you are rummaging through half-remembered letters and heartfelt missives of layers of meaning.

The Tiger's Daughter stands out, at the end, for skillful blending of personal stakes with major drama. It unfolds gently, allowing characters space to breathe and flourish rather than racing to the finish. You will discover a narrative aching with the echoes of a bond that defies fate long after the final page, if you are open to a deliberate pace and the occasional narrative oddity.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

DNF @ 5%

I just... I don't understand the languages and the references... it all made me feel uneasy.

Present tense kinda throws me, which made the beginning awkward, but then it went into a letter/book. A book (from i'm assuming one lover to another) which is just going to go on and on about their lives? INCLUDING a word for word replication of a letter that one of them sent the other when they were five. Are you kidding me? No. I can suspend my belief only so far. And how long is this letter going to be??? And why??

So, I just couldn't do it.

Despite the rating I did enjoy reading this. I like the characters, the action is pretty good. But it felt aimless and inconclusive. I know it's part of a series, but it almost felt like conflict would resolve and a new one would begin without ever getting a chance to celebrate it being resolved. It's hard to explain the feeling I had finishing this book, but it was such a long and slow read/listen for me. 

This was okay enough. I do want to read the second book so I guess that's a good sign. 

I don't know if it's because of the stressful times we're in right now or what, but I was so immersed in this story that I was able to forget about it all for a while. I absolutely loved it! This has been on my shelf for a while, and I just wasn't ever in the mood for it. Not sure what I was expecting, but this was amazing! The writing is fantastic, but the characters are probably my favorite part. I just can't say enough great things about this book. If you like fantasy, read it!

After all, if this story is really anything, it is a love story: two girls with great destinies ahead of them, but still, at the end of the day, just human, and so very much in love with one another. While the fact that this is about two women in love is a good thing, what with LGBTQIA love stories ??? more so specifically lesbian love stories ??? being a little thin on the ground, I enjoy the fact that this is also a love story well-told. No amount of representation will save a love story if it is told badly, after all, and I am enormously happy that this story is, indeed, a well-told love story, with an ending well-deserved.

Full review here: https://wp.me/p21txV-EF

Fantastic debut. Can't help but root for the two badass ladies. If ever two people were meant to be together, it is the two Pine Needles. The ending left me satisfied and hungry for the next in the series