Wednesday 28 November 2018

The Star-Touched Queen - Book Review


The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen #1)
by Roshani Chokshi


What is it about:
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.


What did I think of it:
This is a beautifully written fairytale.

When I started this book I thought it would be a story filled with political intrigue, but soon I discovered it was more of a fairytale. One that uses a lot of elements I recognized from other fairytales. And I loved it!

The writing is lyrical and fits the fairytale feel. This being a fairytale the relationship between Maya and Amar and the feelings between them went fast and wasn't really shown, but I didn't mind. I was too engrossed in the story to grumble about minor details like that.

I loved the worldbuilding and the atmosphere, and I also loved discovering all the familiar fairytale themes. This story really shows how closely linked European and Indian mythology are. All in all a wonderful read. You bet I ordered the next book in this series (which is readable as a standalone as far as I understand).

Why should you read it:
It is a beautifully told fairytale.


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