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eesh25's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 Stars
First, a confession: I didn't read the entire book. But because I'm still behind on my reading challenge and I did put myself through over 200 pages of this, I'm counting it.
Second, I'm going to tell you who I would recommend this novel for. I know I usually do this part at the end, but I'm going to make an exception. I recommend this book for people who are fond of metaphors and pretty language. For people who simply gobble up poetic language whether or not the rest of the book makes sense.
Third, a little English lesson for those who don't know. There are two broad categories into which imagery is divided. One is poetic imagery, full of similes, metaphors and all sorts of fluff which, if done right, can make you let out a dreamy sigh due to how beautiful it is. The other type is Visual Imagery. It's more practical. It's when you describe what something looks like so the reader can form an image in his or her mind.
A really good author knows how to balance both of these elements. Their writing is poetic but not pretentious (see [b:The Name of the Wind|186074|The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)|Patrick Rothfuss|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472068073s/186074.jpg|2502879]). Often though, you see one more present than the other. In this book, one is too much more present that the other, to the point where things don't make any fucking sense!
The book is a high-fantasy set in Bharata which, funnily enough, is the actual country I live in (India). So the fact that the author seems to be insinuating that I live in a fantasy world... as awesome as that would be, it just ain't true. So you fucked up straight off the bat, author. It's also centered around Indian mythology and it has mistakes. For example, 'Raksha' actually means 'protection', not 'monster' (that's 'Rakshasa'), and 'Naraka' is hell, not the freaking Underworld.
But anyway, the book focuses on a girl by the name of Maya who has a horoscope that promises a marriage with death and destruction. In a strange turn of events (which are conveniently left unexplained), Maya ends up married to Akaran, who shows her a new and magical world and promises her power, which she learns to control in one fucking day.
But then she fucks up and has to fix shit. And how does she fuck up, you ask? By being unbelievably fucking stupid.
On my God, I couldn't stand her! From the beginning, her judging, all-other-women-are-either-evil-or-pathetic attitude bothered me. Then came her tantrum-throwing ways and the sheer idiocy of her actions (which I won't spoil) and I was just completely done. With her and the book. And it's not like the book had any plot that one might be interesting in.
For the first two hundred pages, the author was just setting things up so that Maya could mess up and we would have a story. Before that, it was all just poorly planned plot-devices and a sad attempt at a romance which was never, for one second, even the slightest bit romantic. Oh and, there was also the prose.
I can't express how much the prose bothered me. Imagine this, a character walks into a room/ The first thing to be done is to give a general idea of how big the room is, what it's like, what's in it, etc. But nooo... who cares about that when there's a bejeweled vase (which might as well be floating in midair since there was never an actual table mentioned) which glitters like Persephone's garden in the moonlight! Never mind where the fucking moonlight came from!
It was disorienting, to say the least, not being able picture anything due to being choked on pretty writing. There were, honestly, so many metaphors that I'm not surprised the author didn't have time to squeeze in character development. Or emotions. Or a fucking plot.
In the end, the only reason this doesn't get one star is because a) I didn't finish it, b) I'm a really nice person, and c) I didn't always hate it; there were moments in the beginning when I though this would be an okay read and, later on, that it could be saved. It wasn't saved and I would only recommend it to those I mentioned above, but I very rarely give one stars so... I forgot where I was going with the sentence. Basically, I hated the book, but that doesn't mean you will.
faeriesparks's review against another edition
3.0
I'm feeling really conflicted about this book. While I enjoyed the story overall (I think? lol), it was so sooo confusing. Most of the time I had no idea what was going on. If someone asked me to summarize this plot, I'd have no clue what to say. I still enjoyed reading the book though.
However, I did love the setting and Indian mythology. Along with Roshani Chokshi's beautiful writing.
This might be a book that I reread eventually - maybe before the release of the second book.
However, I did love the setting and Indian mythology. Along with Roshani Chokshi's beautiful writing.
This might be a book that I reread eventually - maybe before the release of the second book.
illusie's review against another edition
4.0
The writing is beautiful. I love the world building. I like books based on mythology, but haven't read many about Indian mythology. It's a beautiful story that has got a dreamy feeling to it. I like the main characters, especially Maya. She showed character devolopment and has grown a lot during the story. The ending could have been better. It felt a little rushed. Throughout the story there were a lot of unexpected turns and twist. It was a very enjoyable read.
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
3.0
The writing in this was absolutely beautiful. So poetic and lovely. This reads like a fable or a fairytale with lessons and warnings along the way. I was reading for the romance and found it sort of tragic. It was beautiful in its own way but not my favorite.
nellbee's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this but it really lacked in world building to me so I found it a bit confusing.
bookish_emily's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully crafted story about love, loss, identity, and the circle of life, The Star-Touched Queen features a strong female lead and enchanting descriptions of various worlds. At once a romance, a mystery, and a coming-of-age story, there is something for everyone in this book. It is also a delightful immersion into Indian mythology, which is underrepresented in the YA genre. A very enjoyable read!
uutopicaa's review against another edition
5.0
Fantástico. Simplemente fantástico.
Con un estilo narrativo EXCEPCIONAL y hermoso, la autora nos transporta a un mundo que imita a las viejas costumbres árabes. Allí, es normal pensar en la mujer como un objeto sexual y la discriminación es parte del funcionamiento social.
Es en este entorno que conocemos a Maya, una de las hijas del rey de Bharata que ha tenido la maldición/bendición de nacer bajo un mal augurio que dice que su matrimonio estará colmado de mueste y destrucción. Por ello, nadie se atreve a pedir su mano. Y eso, a ella le encanta porque no quiere convertirse en una mujer más en el harem de otro rey (como lo fue su madre).
Un día, el reino es emboscado por enemigos y Maya logra huir gracias a un extraño encapuchado que jura ser el soberano de otro reino. Él le promete a Maya igualdad y respeto. Le dice que su tierra necesita de una reina fuerte y decidida, que la necesita a ella.
Amar representa el cambio de mentalidad. Con su larga experiencia como gobernante, desborda de sabiduría. Él comprende la igualdad entre hombre y mujer, entre rey y reina. Él le muestra a Maya un panorama con el que ella jamás hubiese soñado. Y esto es hermoso. Quizás, Amar comete pequeños errores, pero intenta con pasión ser la mejor versión de sí mismo. Aprende de las fallas y nunca baja los brazos. Él quiere que Maya comprenda que él no la ve como a un objeto o a un adorno. Que para él, ella es su amada. Su igual. Y que lo daría todo por tenerla a su lado por siempre.
En este sentido, quiero destacar que hay que leer la novela hasta el final antes de juzgarla. Esta es una obra que a simple vista puede parecer un terrible instalove de esos que tanto odiamos, pero que al avanzar en la trama, descubrimos que no es así y que el hilo que une a los protagonistas es tan antiguo como el tiempo mismo.
En resumen, esta una historia muy original, distinta en cuanto a la elección del folklore árabe, y entretenida. Está muy bien escrita y nos sorprende con absolutamente cada uno de los giros que da. Tiene excelentes personajes que evolucionan con cada decisión y escenarios espectaculares.
Si tuviera que describir la novela en pocas palabras, diría que es una historia sobre la vida y la muerte, sobre el amor y la venganza. Un texto sobre el equilibro y el poder.
Si les gusta la fantasía, lo amarán. Si les gusta Laini Taylor, lo amarán.
REPITO: Lo mejor del libro es el estilo narrativo. El libro podría haberse tratado de cualquier porquería, pero tiene palabras tan hermosas que sé que lo hubiese disfrutado de todas formas jaja.
Si quieren leer la reseña completa, les dejo el enlace a mi blog: http://pardonmispanglish.blogspot.com/2017/09/resena-star-touched-queen-roshani.html#more
Con un estilo narrativo EXCEPCIONAL y hermoso, la autora nos transporta a un mundo que imita a las viejas costumbres árabes. Allí, es normal pensar en la mujer como un objeto sexual y la discriminación es parte del funcionamiento social.
Es en este entorno que conocemos a Maya, una de las hijas del rey de Bharata que ha tenido la maldición/bendición de nacer bajo un mal augurio que dice que su matrimonio estará colmado de mueste y destrucción. Por ello, nadie se atreve a pedir su mano. Y eso, a ella le encanta porque no quiere convertirse en una mujer más en el harem de otro rey (como lo fue su madre).
Un día, el reino es emboscado por enemigos y Maya logra huir gracias a un extraño encapuchado que jura ser el soberano de otro reino. Él le promete a Maya igualdad y respeto. Le dice que su tierra necesita de una reina fuerte y decidida, que la necesita a ella.
Amar representa el cambio de mentalidad. Con su larga experiencia como gobernante, desborda de sabiduría. Él comprende la igualdad entre hombre y mujer, entre rey y reina. Él le muestra a Maya un panorama con el que ella jamás hubiese soñado. Y esto es hermoso. Quizás, Amar comete pequeños errores, pero intenta con pasión ser la mejor versión de sí mismo. Aprende de las fallas y nunca baja los brazos. Él quiere que Maya comprenda que él no la ve como a un objeto o a un adorno. Que para él, ella es su amada. Su igual. Y que lo daría todo por tenerla a su lado por siempre.
En este sentido, quiero destacar que hay que leer la novela hasta el final antes de juzgarla. Esta es una obra que a simple vista puede parecer un terrible instalove de esos que tanto odiamos, pero que al avanzar en la trama, descubrimos que no es así y que el hilo que une a los protagonistas es tan antiguo como el tiempo mismo.
En resumen, esta una historia muy original, distinta en cuanto a la elección del folklore árabe, y entretenida. Está muy bien escrita y nos sorprende con absolutamente cada uno de los giros que da. Tiene excelentes personajes que evolucionan con cada decisión y escenarios espectaculares.
Si tuviera que describir la novela en pocas palabras, diría que es una historia sobre la vida y la muerte, sobre el amor y la venganza. Un texto sobre el equilibro y el poder.
Si les gusta la fantasía, lo amarán. Si les gusta Laini Taylor, lo amarán.
REPITO: Lo mejor del libro es el estilo narrativo. El libro podría haberse tratado de cualquier porquería, pero tiene palabras tan hermosas que sé que lo hubiese disfrutado de todas formas jaja.
Si quieren leer la reseña completa, les dejo el enlace a mi blog: http://pardonmispanglish.blogspot.com/2017/09/resena-star-touched-queen-roshani.html#more
libbey_wolfe's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much I borrowed a copy from a friend and then bought a copy for myself so I could re-read it as often as I'd like.
fevvers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5