I was extremely excited to read this novella as soon as Ms. Houck announced it on her website. I couldn't wait for another chance to plunge back into the amazingly creative world that she had created in the Tiger's Curse series. I was even more excited when I found out that this was a prequel in Yesubai's POV. And boy did this novella deliver! I loved reading about Yesubai's tragic past, and we were able to find out some new information on her. While this was a quick read, it was also the perfect length. Granted, I could read anything Ms. Houck writes for hours on end, but obviously Yesubai's story is sadly very short, as she is the person whose sacrifice starts everything. Did you think you hated Lokesh throughout reading the Tiger's Curse series? Well, trust me on this one, you will hate him even more after reading Tiger's Promise. Lokesh is pure evil incarnate, and it is even more apparent in this book. 
 You can't help but feel sympathy for Yesubai's character, despite any feelings you might have toward her prior to reading this novella. Yesubai had a tragic life, and at one point (even though I know how everything turns out in the end) I was still rooting for her character to have a happy ending. We get to see just how Yesubai comes into the princes' lives, Lokesh's plan from the minute it starts, how Yesubai meets Kishan and Ren, and the end of Yesubai brief life. The ending is both tragic and beautiful, and it brought tears to my eyes. 
 The writing is obviously amazing, but it never ceases to amaze me at how wonderful and captivating Ms. Houck's writing can be. Words flow from the page, and you can tell that even for this short novella, Ms. Houck dedicated time and effort to researching everything so that it was as accurate as possible, while still putting her own unique flair and twist on things. Another bonus (at least in the print edition) is one chapter from Yesubai's mother's POV describing how she comes to marry Lokesh, and ending with the birth of Yesubai; and one chapter from Ren's POV on meeting Yesubai for the first time. Both added that extra little bit that made the story that much more complete. We also get a sneak peak at Tiger's Dream, and all I can say is 
 This is a must read for any fan of the Tiger's Curse series! However, this would also be a great introduction for new readers to the series. You do not need to read the series before reading this novel, as nothing is spoiled (with the exception of the peak at Tiger's Dream). New readers can become familiar with the world and Ms. Houck's amazing writing. Definitely pick this one up! Happy reading :)