by Roshani Chokshi
Read: February 3 - 8, 2016
Published: April 26th 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin
Source: ALAMW (Thank You!)
Category: YA, fairytales, myths, Indian culutre
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound
Book Description: Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you're only seventeen?
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...
But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.
A lush and vivid story that is steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. The Star-Touched Queen is a novel that no reader will soon forget.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Set-up - Maya has grown up sheltered in her father's lavish harem, in all ways the life of luxury. However, a horoscope promising a "marriage of Death and Destruction" has ensured that she is ridiculed and feared by her father's wives and other children. But Maya would rather be in the library studying than fill her days with gossip, beauty treatments, and grasping for advancement.
When an outside rebelling looms close to the palace, Maya's father, the Raja, arranges a wedding for her as a dangerous political maneuver. But it doesn't turn out quite as expected, and Maya finds herself the wife of Amar, the King of Akaran, and she, Queen of his otherworldly realm. But her husband and his kingdom have vast secrets and she's not sure whom she should trust. When Maya discovers that her life - and that of her husband - is in danger, she must use all her wits to save everything she's come to love.
What I love - I love the way The Star-Touched Queen blends the rich texture of fairytales and folklore into the fabric of India. This is the story of one girl who feels like she fits nowhere, until she finds her place, and, then, must have the courage to fight for it. It is a book about true love, second chances and never giving up hope. I expecting this to be a Hades and Persephone retelling, and I can definitely see those influences in Maya and Amar's tale. But this book is also something entirely different and more, pulling heavily from Indian culture as well. The story surprised me quite a bit in the direction it took, which is always delightful to discover.
The Star Touched Queen is a sumptuous read in a vivid setting, and it is filled with gorgeous themes and imagery. I love the way the story plays with dark and light, truth and deception, interpretation and language. Not everything is as it appears, and one small decision can have ripples of consequence. I enjoyed following Maya's journey as she discovers that fact - sometimes painfully and sometimes in wondrous ways. At first the romance feels imbalanced, as if Amar has all the power and secrets and Maya none of them. I was desperate for them to be on equal footing and find their happiness together. But that balance shifts as the story continues and we are able to see Maya's strength as she takes charge and claims her rightful place.
What I wish - Although a love story is central to this book, it didn't develop in the way that I expected, and while I loved the twists that it took, I wish we'd been able to watch Maya and Amar's relationship unfold a bit more. Much of the conflict in the story is based on these characters not communicating. While there are specific reasons for some of why that happens, there were a few points that I got a little frustrated with the secrets and not talking to each other. And I wished for a bit more at the end. I wanted an epilogue, but as the next book is a companion, I'm hoping to see more of these two in the future.
Conclusion - The Star-Touched Queen is a beautiful story inside and out, and a myth of its own creation. I highly recommend it.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: First in a companion series. This story has a solid ending.
About the Author
ROSHANI CHOKSHI comes from a small town in Georgia where she collected a Southern accent, but does not use it unless under duress. She grew up in a blue house with a perpetually napping bear-dog. At Emory University, she dabbled with journalism, attended some classes in pajamas, forgot to buy winter boots and majored in 14th century British literature. She spent a year after graduation working and traveling and writing. After that, she started law school at the University of Georgia where she's learning a new kind of storytelling. More information on the author can be found at www.roshanichokshi.com.
Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...
But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.
A lush and vivid story that is steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. The Star-Touched Queen is a novel that no reader will soon forget.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Set-up - Maya has grown up sheltered in her father's lavish harem, in all ways the life of luxury. However, a horoscope promising a "marriage of Death and Destruction" has ensured that she is ridiculed and feared by her father's wives and other children. But Maya would rather be in the library studying than fill her days with gossip, beauty treatments, and grasping for advancement.
When an outside rebelling looms close to the palace, Maya's father, the Raja, arranges a wedding for her as a dangerous political maneuver. But it doesn't turn out quite as expected, and Maya finds herself the wife of Amar, the King of Akaran, and she, Queen of his otherworldly realm. But her husband and his kingdom have vast secrets and she's not sure whom she should trust. When Maya discovers that her life - and that of her husband - is in danger, she must use all her wits to save everything she's come to love.
What I love - I love the way The Star-Touched Queen blends the rich texture of fairytales and folklore into the fabric of India. This is the story of one girl who feels like she fits nowhere, until she finds her place, and, then, must have the courage to fight for it. It is a book about true love, second chances and never giving up hope. I expecting this to be a Hades and Persephone retelling, and I can definitely see those influences in Maya and Amar's tale. But this book is also something entirely different and more, pulling heavily from Indian culture as well. The story surprised me quite a bit in the direction it took, which is always delightful to discover.
The Star Touched Queen is a sumptuous read in a vivid setting, and it is filled with gorgeous themes and imagery. I love the way the story plays with dark and light, truth and deception, interpretation and language. Not everything is as it appears, and one small decision can have ripples of consequence. I enjoyed following Maya's journey as she discovers that fact - sometimes painfully and sometimes in wondrous ways. At first the romance feels imbalanced, as if Amar has all the power and secrets and Maya none of them. I was desperate for them to be on equal footing and find their happiness together. But that balance shifts as the story continues and we are able to see Maya's strength as she takes charge and claims her rightful place.
What I wish - Although a love story is central to this book, it didn't develop in the way that I expected, and while I loved the twists that it took, I wish we'd been able to watch Maya and Amar's relationship unfold a bit more. Much of the conflict in the story is based on these characters not communicating. While there are specific reasons for some of why that happens, there were a few points that I got a little frustrated with the secrets and not talking to each other. And I wished for a bit more at the end. I wanted an epilogue, but as the next book is a companion, I'm hoping to see more of these two in the future.
Conclusion - The Star-Touched Queen is a beautiful story inside and out, and a myth of its own creation. I highly recommend it.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: First in a companion series. This story has a solid ending.
ROSHANI CHOKSHI comes from a small town in Georgia where she collected a Southern accent, but does not use it unless under duress. She grew up in a blue house with a perpetually napping bear-dog. At Emory University, she dabbled with journalism, attended some classes in pajamas, forgot to buy winter boots and majored in 14th century British literature. She spent a year after graduation working and traveling and writing. After that, she started law school at the University of Georgia where she's learning a new kind of storytelling. More information on the author can be found at www.roshanichokshi.com.
The Star-Touched Queen is out now and I recommend you go buy it immediately! If you're still not sure, you can find the first five chapters online, HERE, as well as various e-book platforms.
Lovely post Lauren :D So glad you liked this book. <3 YAY! You make it seem so good :) I must read it soon. Sigh. Yay for liking the romance. <3 But aw. I also don't like secrets :\ Hmm. I hope it won't bother me too much. Ack. Thank you for sharing your awesome thoughts abut it :D
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