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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
One of the best books I've read in a LONG time.
I was completely enthralled in Maya's story. Her, her strength, the plot, the romance, the ending, etc, is ALL wonderful. BUY IT, READ IT, LOVE IT.
So instead I will explain the missing star. Chokshi has such beautiful writing a la Nova Ren Suma. It CAPTIVATES you (just like with Suma). This is also a curse (just like with Suma). Lost in these overwhelming words is any coherency. There is nothing to ground the reader to any description, fact, reality. Yes, you are painted a beautiful, almost dreamlike experience, but the caveat to dreams is that you can never be certain of anything. Did that really happen? Was she asleep? Was she drugged? Is it just her imagination? I can't answer any of these questions re: several important scenes in this book. Because that's where it lets you down the most - during plot-critical scenes where you NEED to know what exactly is going down.
I like concrete truths. I like things I can know. I also like this style of writing. But for MY best enjoyment of a novel, these two things are wholly incompatible. Written with more clarity, I would be a lot happier. But written in a different way, would that cost my rating a different star? Maybe you just can't win like this.
I was completely enthralled in Maya's story. Her, her strength, the plot, the romance, the ending, etc, is ALL wonderful. BUY IT, READ IT, LOVE IT.
So instead I will explain the missing star. Chokshi has such beautiful writing a la Nova Ren Suma. It CAPTIVATES you (just like with Suma). This is also a curse (just like with Suma). Lost in these overwhelming words is any coherency. There is nothing to ground the reader to any description, fact, reality. Yes, you are painted a beautiful, almost dreamlike experience, but the caveat to dreams is that you can never be certain of anything. Did that really happen? Was she asleep? Was she drugged? Is it just her imagination? I can't answer any of these questions re: several important scenes in this book. Because that's where it lets you down the most - during plot-critical scenes where you NEED to know what exactly is going down.
I like concrete truths. I like things I can know. I also like this style of writing. But for MY best enjoyment of a novel, these two things are wholly incompatible. Written with more clarity, I would be a lot happier. But written in a different way, would that cost my rating a different star? Maybe you just can't win like this.
not a review bc i read this in like early highschool BUT OMG THIS IS GETTING ADAPTED
"I was his jaan. His life. Kill me, and he would be rendered useless, an echo of himself."
One of my favourite things that I've recently seen in English language literature is inserting words or phrases from another language to sort of reinforce the main character's non-English background (bonus points if it's a language I can understand), and this book checks every box.
It was incredibly refreshing to read about stories and creatures that I grew up with, rather than the more easily found English/Western fairytales that weren't familiar to me until I was older.
I also really loved that there were absolutely no white people in the story.
I'm so excited for book #2!
One of my favourite things that I've recently seen in English language literature is inserting words or phrases from another language to sort of reinforce the main character's non-English background (bonus points if it's a language I can understand), and this book checks every box.
It was incredibly refreshing to read about stories and creatures that I grew up with, rather than the more easily found English/Western fairytales that weren't familiar to me until I was older.
I also really loved that there were absolutely no white people in the story.
I'm so excited for book #2!
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
I don't want to give this a bad rating, but I just have very ambivalent feelings toward this book and the characters. At no point was I invested or interested in the story. It wasn't bad; I just didn't care?
I think lovers of An Ember in the Ashes may like this book.
I will not be continuing with the series.
I think lovers of An Ember in the Ashes may like this book.
I will not be continuing with the series.
The flowery prose was beautiful at the beginning. It felt purposeful: building the world, giving insight to a character’s mindset. And then it never stopped. I would estimate that about 80% of the paragraphs in the book contain at least one metaphor or personification. It became a hindrance as I had to pause to understand precisely what the point or hidden meaning behind some of them were; I honestly believe some were written to sound pretty but had little meaning.
I was very intrigued by the first half of the first part of the book. This girl has lived her life fighting against her horoscope and what’s expected of her. She wants to be more than what’s expected of a woman in her culture. But then... the way she behaves for much of he rest of the book feels like it contradicts how she was initially built. Someone who loved learning and study becomes an animal of instinct and emotion.
The resolution to the climax was also incredibly anticlimactic, in my opinion. The villain has such power and sway over others, and then... things are resolved with little incident once Maya knows herself. I was dissatisfied.
Not everyone will agree with my assessment, and I have a few friends that I may recommend this book to because I know they love flowery prose. However, I’m not particularly interested in reading more from this author based on this experience.
I was very intrigued by the first half of the first part of the book. This girl has lived her life fighting against her horoscope and what’s expected of her. She wants to be more than what’s expected of a woman in her culture. But then... the way she behaves for much of he rest of the book feels like it contradicts how she was initially built. Someone who loved learning and study becomes an animal of instinct and emotion.
The resolution to the climax was also incredibly anticlimactic, in my opinion. The villain has such power and sway over others, and then... things are resolved with little incident once Maya knows herself. I was dissatisfied.
Not everyone will agree with my assessment, and I have a few friends that I may recommend this book to because I know they love flowery prose. However, I’m not particularly interested in reading more from this author based on this experience.
I was a little disappointed with this one, just because I was expecting...less. That sounds weird but hear me out. I was really digging the first 30% or so. I liked the world building and even though I thought the characters were a bit cliche, the plot had me interested enough to continue. Then, as things started to get more complicated, I got lost. All of these new characters and concept were being introduced and I found myself missing the simplistic 'girl gets taken away to become queen' plot line. Plus there's a talking horse and I was just so confused. I think 'The Star-Touched Queen' was just trying to do too much that it really missed the mark.
Beautifully written, a sweeping fantasy that spans worlds and reincarnations from an Indian perspective. Grades 7+
A cursed girl with a forgotten past, a mysterious husband, and a new kingdom, Maya is cursed, her horoscope foretells death and in a superstitious kingdom... it’s left her outcast to the point where her father arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. However as Maya attempts to get out of the wedding by poisoning herself... she is stopped and as the castle is about to succumb to invaders a mysterious man appears and offers to save her saying her father planned it and offers her his hand in marriage, in a marriage where they will be equals and she will be the only one for him. Soon Maya is whisked to a new kingdom filled with secrets and a husband who hides his face and loves her as if he’s known her all her life. As Amar’s wife Maya finds equality, comfort, love, but with so many secrets between them will she be able to endure it all. Amar’s and Akaran (their kingdom”s) secrets will consume Maya as she discovers her past and her powers... and she will have to fight for her love and her future. This was a very persephone/hades esque story filled with mythology, magic, and romance. It’s a quick read and definitely a great one.
I was impressed with how many awards this book got and now that I've read it I think it deserves a BILLION more. Omgggg that writing. Dive in, friends. DIVE IN.
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes