I remember when The Star Touched Queen was just released, there was so much hype surrounding that book that I vowed to read it, or some other books by Roshani Choksi, someday. Then I saw that A Crown of Wishes was available for request, and I thought, “Close enough” and I immediately jumped at the opportunity to snag a review copy. Indeed, I do agree with all the praise the author has been receiving with regards to her writing style, because A Crown of Wishes is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read.

Featuring two outcasts who only want the best for their respective kingdoms, Gauri and Vikram, not used to trusting anyone, have to learn to work together to get what they want. This sequel to The Star-Touched Queen was even more enjoyable than the first book. Rich world-building and multi-layered characters make this a must read. Though this takes place in the same world as the previous book, readers do not have to be familiar with it. This book is highly recommended, and Chokshi's skill in writing both dark and beautiful things continues to impress.

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating: 5 Rubies

First can we just take a moment to really appreciate the beautiful cover? It is beautiful. And so is the writing in the world full of magic. We follow Gauri princess of Bharata and Vikram prince of Ujijain a neighboring land. Both want to lead their people but have their own road blocks. Gauri starts out a prisoner of Ujijain and Vikram is to kill her but he has been invited to join the Tournament of Wishes and needs a partner. Gauri doesn’t trust magic but she has no choice as things unfold. The competition will last a month in the mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. The tournament is anything but easy and will push them toward all sorts of dangers and trials testing both body and mind.

I loved the whole idea of the story. The tournament itself was amazing full of twists and turns always keeping you and the characters on their toes. The author has a beautiful way of describing the world that just draws you in and makes you feel like this magical place could be real. I think this would have been an even better in an audiobook because I had no idea how to pronounce many things but could imagine them none the less but having someone read it to me would have been even better. Roshani read a small snippet at the launce and it was so beautiful.

Gauri and Vikram were so much fun. They were so different in many ways like how Gauri is a weapon she is battle tested and ready for a fight and Vikram is less prepared for a physical altercation but is sharp as a whip and cunning as they come. They both aspire to rule their respective lands, to be better for their people and stopping at nothing to make it happen. They have the same drive and determination even if they go about things differently. This made them a great pair for the tournament balancing out one another. It's this same balance and chemistry that made the romantic tensions between them sizzle from the start. I loved how they grew to know one another and was on edge wanting something to happen between them! Then when you add in Aasha, a vishakanya, and her sisters really gave another level to the story. I found myself rooting for her as well.

The story was really beautifully written and such a joy to read. I highly recommend both books and while I say read them in order you can read either as a stand-alone is a huge plus.

Full disclosure, *whispers* I didn't like The Star-Touched Queen. Like, at all. The plot had initially intrigued me, but the execution of the story just never clicked with me. That said, I really loved A Crown of Wishes. It's a very different story than the first book. This is definitely more of a companion novel than a sequel, because you don't necessarily need to have read the first book to read this one.

We're introduced to Gauri, the princess of Bharata. Her brother Skanda rules the kingdom and while Gauri disagrees with many of his decisions, she lacks the power to stage a coop. Her plans are foiled and she finds herself sent as a gift to be executed by the neighboring empire of Ujijain. Prince Vikram, known as the Fox prince, is only prince by name, not blood. Not many people know this fact, but the council does and they would rather have him for a puppet king one day rather than give him a chance to be a true ruler.

One day, Vikram is invited to a Tournament of Wishes in the Otherworld. It is a place of magic and mystery, but the invitation comes with a stipulation. He must find a partner for this Tournament in order to gain entrance. The winners are granted a wish at the end, but only if they manage to survive the Tournament. Luckily for Vikram, Gauri arrives at a most opportune time, even if the reasoning for it is her execution. But together, they are quite a pair.

I love Gauri and Vikram's constant bickering, and how their story in a hate-to-love romance. Gauri is a fighter and doesn't need anyone as her partner. She knows how to wield her weapons, and she's always calculating the possible outcomes for any scenario she's thrust into. Vikram is a bit of a jokester, but he knows when to be serious and can get them out of a quick bind if he has to. I absolutely loved reading Gauri and Vikram's interactions with one another and the ending just had me dying of laughter.

There's a third character who gets introduced into the story and I quite like her (and rest assured, my YA readers, this story does not turn into a threesome). Aasha is a vishakanya, a being who feeds off human desires. All vishakanyas were once human, but for Aasha, she was taken as a child to become one rather than a human who had already lived a life they no longer wanted. She sees no satisfaction in her daily life and her curious mind wants to know more about the world around her. She wonders about simple things, like how water feels against her skin, or how vegetables might taste. Everything vishakanyas touch die and even at a hundred years old, old compared to humans, she yearns for knowledge. I really loved reading Aasha's chapters. She's a curious being and only wants to know more about the world around her that she can see, but can never touch.

Something interesting to note is that the book is told in from Gauri, Vikram, and Aasha's POV. Gauri's is told in first-person and Vikram and Aasha's in third-person. It did take me a chapter or two to catch on. It's kind of strange, and doesn't take away from the story at all, but I just found it...interesting.

The Tournament itself is a bit vague to me. There are competitions, to be sure. But, as for the actual rules, or introductions to the other contestants? It's never really explicitly stated, and everyone seems to be playing their own game, with no one person the winner. I loved reading everything leading up to the Tournament, but the actual competition is more pretty and glamour rather than a fight-to-the-death kind of thing? It's a lot of fluff, but we do get some great scenes between Gauri and Vikram, so I can't complain too much, I guess.

The ending is sweet, but also feels rushed? Or maybe just too easy. Maybe I'm a bit too bloodthirsty when it comes to fantasy books and expected some fight to be had. Instead, everything is wrapped up cleanly, quickly, and everything is just wondrously fixed in a few short chapters at the end. The writing is lyrical. It's a little too purple prose for my tastes, but it doesn't detract too much from the story. A Crown of Wishes is definitely a book fit for younger teens, as well as older ones. It's a fun, enjoyable book from start-to-finish. I enjoyed reading this more so for the characters than for the plot itself. For those who loved The Star-Touched Queen, some fan favorites cameo in this book and it's a nice nod to those beloved characters. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more books by Roshani in the future!

***Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Griffin Teen for providing me an ARC through NetGalley***

I have to tell you that pulling my favorite exerpts from this one was hard. I literally ran out of space in my notebook where I write them down and just started writing % marks where I have them highlighted.

The characters are VERY well developed. They’re all amazingly realistic and believable, which I’ve come to expect from Roshani Chokshi’s work. Also, obviously, the dialogue in A Crown of Wishes is A++. (For proof, see above.) Gauri and Vikram are completely OTP worthy and I don’t want to hear otherwise. If you disagree….. well, you’re welcome to your own opinion, but it’s wrong.

The world is built up in a completely immersive way, which, again, I’ve come to expect from Roshani Chokshi’s work. It’s definitely good for an escapism read in that way. A Crown of Wishes takes us back to a bit of the magic of The Star-Touched Queen, but adds into it and creates a world that is both separate from and connected to its companion novel.

The story itself is absolutely stunning! It flows well and kept me wanting more from beginning to end. A Crown of Wishes is a total page turner and I had so much trouble putting it down. [shakes fist at expectation of adulting] I also loved the subtle, yet effective, plot twists used to pull the story along without snagging.

I do want to add that while this is a companion novel to The Star-Touched Queen, it’s not necessarily a sequel to it. A Crown of Wishes can be enjoyed without having read The Star-Touched Queen. However, there is some content in A Crown of Wishes that will spoil The Star-Touched Queen so I will recommend you read that first if you’ve got it on your TBR.

I personally really enjoyed this story. Even the heartbreaking, soul crushing parts. Ah, Roshani Chokshi. Breaker of Hearts. Granter of Wishes. Queen of the Night Bazaar. I can not wait to read more of her work.

A rich, lyrical, and magical story. Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner and is faced with horrible memories of fighting against the king, her brother. Vikram, the prince of a neighboring land that has captured her, offers a chance for them both to get what they want. A magical tournament with a prize of a wish, their greatest desires. The story is circuitous and beautiful, thoughtful and creative. I found they were some shorter sections that caused my interest and attention to waiver, but overall, it was very enjoyable.

A magical, spellbinding read. I devoured this book in one sitting. It was nothing I thought it would be, and everything I love in a 5 star book. Chokshi's writing is absolutely mesmerizing. The writing is my favorite thing about this book, followed closely by the characters. They were so easy to love, and understand. They're flawed, strong, witty characters who learn from mistakes, and in the process discover so much more about who they are individually and together.

Gauri is my kind of heroine. She's a feisty, stubborn, doesn't bow down to anyone, kind of character. This Princess will do whatever it takes to protect her people. I greatly admired her courage, her strength, and wit. She is tough, and can take down the best of the best. She's a fighter. She's also someone who knows pain, and heartache. She closely guards her heart and her feelings. I loved the way I got to know her.

Gauri's perfect match is Prince Vikram. The Prince she attempts to kill when they first meet. Who, I might add, is also holding her captive. This Prince is no coward, nor does he scare easy. He is witty, intelligent, fun loving, carefree to good degree, and hilarious. It's hard to not love this character. Not to mention the fact he's handsome, but that's be honest, he had me a wit, humor and charming. Like Gauri, I ended up loving Vikram the moment he bested Gauri when she tried to kill him. Where Gauri could most likely physically take down anyone, Vikram can outsmart anyone. Yep, these two are a match made in the stars.

I absolutely loved watching Gauri and Vikram go from being enemies to something so much more. Trust me, you'll see what I'm talking about. I loved the romance in this book. It's one of my favorite kind. There are plenty of moments that made me laughing out loud between these two, moments that made me swooning, and moments that made me greatly admire these two characters. They never once tried to change each other, but embraced who they both were. They learned to trust each other, and understood the pain they each hide from everyone else. Talk about character chemistry! Opposites definitely attract in this story! Their bantering is one of my favorite parts of their story.

Chokshi's writing is spellbinding. I absolutely loved the way she wrote this story. It was poetic, and hypnotic at times. I found myself marking numerous passages as I read the book, and then re-read them again. They were so beautifully written. I absolutely love book quotes, and this book has a lot of quotes I loved writing down.

Rich story telling, vivid imagery, unforgettable characters, and passages that will have you re-reading them over and over again, A Crown of Wishes is a mesmerizing companion to Chokshi's The Star Touched Queen. While I enjoyed Chokshi's debut, I loved this book. This is a book you can definitely read as a companion, or a stand alone. Either way, I recommend picking it up.

There’s a clever tweet going around out there advocating for a moratorium on words like “throne” and “crown” in YA book titles, and I totally get why. A Crown of Wishes is one of those densely generic titles that does a terrible job at hinting about the contents of the book. In this particular case, it is at least appropriate, in that the book does feature both crowns (metaphorical and literal) and wishes (um … metaphorical and literal?). This book just came out last week, and I received an ebook through NetGalley thanks to St. Martin’s Press. I’m glad that it is a standalone companion to The Star-Touched Queen , because after that experience I wasn’t keen on continuing Maya’s story.

For those who have read Maya’s book, this one follows her half-sister Gauri. Maya makes a small appearance much later. Some of the setting and mythical beings are similar. That’s about all you need to know.

Adult now, Gauri has failed in an attempt to usurp the throne of Bharata from her brother Skanda, who is a cruel and negligent ruler. Exiled to be executed in a foreign kingdom, Gauri instead finds herself swept up into a supernatural “Tournament of Wishes” as the partner of Prince Vikram, who is determined to find a way to claim true power for his throne instead of being a puppet for Ujijain’s council. This tournament takes Gauri and Vikram to Alaka, a supernatural domain ruled by Lord Kubera and Lady Kauveri, who preside capriciously over the tournament.

Gauri and Vikram have diametrically opposed personalities, of course, in the kind of way that makes them great complements to each other, especially in a tournament that is mostly a battle of wits. It is blatantly obvious from the start that this is a romance, that they are meant to be together, no matter how many obstacles Roshani Chokshi throws in their way. This setup does feel a little clichéd in that sense, just because everything is so obvious, right down to the best friend teasing Gauri about being so obstinate and resistant to what’s right in front of her face. Nevertheless, compared to Maya and Amar’s “romance” from the first book, this one is at least more gradual and organic within the story. Gauri doesn’t suddenly get a feeling that she is meant to be with Vikram; they have to build trust and earn each other’s respect.

I liked Gauri. She is so strong but also so inflexible; she would break rather than bend, and it’s this brittleness that is embodied later in the glass … well, no spoilers. This Tournament of Wishes is, as with any wish-powered fairytale, all about learning what you should really be wishing for (if you should really wish at all). Gauri has spent her entire existence, such as it is so far, growing up with certain ideals of strength, influenced by her harem and Mother Dhina, as well as stories from Maya, and her companion, Nalini. She has mastered the arts of cosmetics and clothing to enhance and broadcast her beauty when necessary; she will also fight and kill as required. And I like that when the story begins, Gauri is alone, defeated. She played the game of thrones, if you will, and is about to encounter the “die” outcome rather than the win. She is a determined person, but she was not successful—until Vikram happens.

On the other hand, Vikram is self-assured almost to a fault. He is so confident in his intelligence and wit that he continually places himself and Gauri in harm’s way, sure that he can figure out a dodge. It’s going to get them killed one day, but until then, I suppose he is a very interesting character to live with. I want to say I liked him, sure, but as you can tell from the relative lengths of these two paragraphs, I find him much less interesting. He’s a smart dolt with a heart of gold, but beyond that … meh. Gauri could do better.

The setting and substance of A Crown of Wishes is once again fantastic and mythological. Chokshi brings in quite a nicely diverse set of beings to populate Alaka and threaten or aid our protagonist. She is very good at conjuring that fairytale-like atmosphere in which the correct course of action is not always the obvious one, that kind of atmosphere where riddles abound and confidence is often all it takes to win the day. I remember getting pretty frustrated with the magical realism of The Star-Touched Queen—less so here. However, the prose continues to shade towards a definite indigo, if not outright purple, in a way that doesn’t appeal to me.

My only dissatisfaction around the plot is really just that it feels too familiar. Not in the particulars, the characters or myths that Chokshi uses on the page, but in the overall themes and outcomes. Like the hero’s journey, the wishing-quest structure is an old and honourable one—but Chokshi doesn’t do much to stretch its boundaries or plumb its depths.

A Crown of Wishes, then, is a predictable tale of magic and romance told with competent and interesting characters. I liked it more than The Star-Touched Queen but not enough to jump up and down about it (and yes, for some books, that’s literally how I express my excitement while reading them).

Incredible follow up to The Star Touched Queen. It was wonderful to return to Chokshi's world and hear more from Bharata.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review! All opinions are my own.

This is my first Roshani Chokshi book and oh my goodness did I adore it. I absolutely flew threw it in just a few hours and I didn't even intend to start it, let alone finish it, at this point in my reading. But it happened. Once I picked it up, her lyrical and majestic writing drew me in and wouldn't let me go. So strap in and prepare for a review that is more of a gush about how much I loved this book.

Plot:
Princess Guari has been betrayed and kidnapped as a prisoner of war by the enemies of her kingdom. Prince Vikram is struggling with being known as the future "Puppet King" because of the truth of his birth. When he receives a ruby allowing him to enter the Tournament of Wishes, Vikram offers Guari a chance at getting her kingdom back in exchange for being his partner in the tournament. The journey to the tournament is only the beginning and when they finally arrive, the two unlikely partners must face their fears, poisonous creatures, and twisted fairy tales. But the longer the tournament goes on and the more time Vikram and Guari spend together, they soon discover that the real danger lies in the things that they desire the most. The plot of this book was so exciting and unlike any I've read recently. I thought that the idea of a tournament where you could win a wish sounded super interesting and I was definitely not wrong. There was so much about this book that I was not expecting (honestly I went into this blind and requested it on a whim not thinking I would actually get approved) and I found myself wanting more and more with every turn of the page. This book moved at such a wonderful pace and everything felt like it unfolded at the perfect time, especially the relationship between Vikram and Guari. It was a story about two people fighting to win a wish to help make their lives better, but it was also so much more than that. There were also so many references to Indian culture and fairy tales that were woven in and I really think that it elevated the story to a whole new level. What I enjoyed most is that the story itself never faltered or slowed down or felt boring. There was always something new to experience on every page and that held true up until the very last word. The story itself unfolds in a way that makes you feel like you're reading a fairy tale with some seriously fantastic character development. I think that seeing the reasons as to why both of the characters are wanting to win a wish change as the book progresses is a great element to the story. You really get to see how their priorities and thoughts regarding what they would wish for change as they learn more about themselves and go through the things that they go through and I cannot commend Roshani Chokshi enough for pulling this off in such a wonderful way. You get action, magic, and a story that feels so real you could step between the pages and experience it for yourself.

Characters:
The character dynamic between Vikram and Guari was absolutely fantastic! I had so much fun watching (reading?) them go back and forth at each other and see how they worked together despite being two completely different people. Guari was strong, battle smart, independent, and sometimes incredibly impulsive. Vikram was sassy, cunning, and more social/people smart than battle smart. The relationship between the two of them was so great to watch unfold because it wasn't one that was insta-love or even insta-attraction and they took a large portion of the book to start forming a friendship. It was a very refreshing break from the usual YA insta-love that I seem to encounter more often than I'd like while reading! Their dialogue never felt forced and I found myself laughing and smiling so much throughout the book while they navigated the tournament and their growing relationship. While I was hoping that they would remain friends as I really just felt that the friendship would be stronger than something more, I can't say I'm completely unhappy that they ended up together. It's not surprising that it ends up that way (and honestly I don't believe it's a spoiler, you can really kinda see it coming) because as the book goes on, you really get to see how the things that they go through bring them closer together instead of pull them apart. Instead of letting the stress of what they're having to experience in the tournament, they work together to accomplish their tasks and grow incredibly strong as both individuals and partners. The book starts with them being enemies, then reluctant partners that are working together only because of the tournament, but they slowly grow closer as they make the journey to the tournament and while taking part in the tournament itself. Not only do the two of them grow together, but they also grow as individuals as well. At the beginning, both have their own goals and reasons for wanting to enter and win the tournament, but as the book progresses, they realize that their initial wishes are nothing like what they want at the end. Vikram wants to be known as more than just a "Puppet King" but he realizes that he only wants his potential to be seen. Guari wants her kingdom back that has been taken over by her horrible brother, but ends up realizing that she doesn't need a wish to make that happen. It was fantastic seeing the growth that they experienced on their own, outside of the relationship that eventually formed between the two of them. This is one of the best character relationships I've read in years and I really think that this book is an incredible example of a YA relationship done right.

Writing:
Where do I even begin! This book was absolutely beautiful and I could not get enough of how well it was written. The descriptions painted a picture in my mind that was beyond anything I could have imagined and every page just blew my mind over and over again. I loved how unique every setting was but how they all really felt like they fit together in that world, and I especially loved Alaka, which is where the tournament is held. I really feel that I could easily read 200+ more pages of this book with just more descriptions because it was just that amazing. The way that Roshani Chokshi can weave together words to make the reader feel like they're in the story is unlike any I've ever read and I honestly felt like I was in the middle of an incredibly intricate fairy tale. Something that I enjoyed was that this book was full of Indian culture and that's something that I've never encountered in a book before. I couldn't get enough of learning about some of the gorgeous Indian clothing that the characters wear and the food descriptions were enough to make my mouth water. It definitely got me interested in picking up more diverse books and especially books that involve more Indian culture! While reading, I found myself in absolute awe of some of the things that were said and the way that the words were strung together in such a gorgeous way. Please take a moment to read some of my favorite quotes from A Crown of Wishes:

"Nothing is yours. Not even a story is yours, though you may lay claim to it with the teeth of your mind."

"Stories are boundless and infinite, ever-changing and elusive."

"Guilt accretes. It builds and builds, whittling stairways and spires in the heart until a person can carry a city of hopelessness inside them."

"But Death commanded urgency. Death tore the skin off dreams and showed the bones underneath."

"True strength sometimes demanded unstitching everything you knew."

"Fear meant not knowing where you started and ended because control was nothing but illusion."

"Some tales that never end start with something as simple as an act of impulse and end with something as evil as an act of love."

"That is how the world ends and curses begin. Years pass, names are dropped and picked up again. Kingdoms creep closer to the shadows, waiting. And a queen turned to rock waits for a kiss."

"What was magic anyway, but the world beheld by someone who chose to see it differently?"

Seriously, this book was filled with incredibly lovely writing and those quotes are only from maybe the last 3/4th of the book. There were times that I would just stop for a moment because I couldn't believe that I was reading a book that was this aesthetically pleasing. It appealed to me on so many levels outside of just having some of the most delightful writing I've read in years. Not only did this book get me interested in reading everything else that Roshani Chokshi has written/will write, but it piqued my interest in Indian culture which is something I not only had not encountered before, but never thought that I would have this much interest in!

If it wasn't already obvious, I loved this book. It had everything I had been looking for in a YA book and things that I didn't even know I wanted. The writing was definitely some of the best I've read in years, the characters were absolutely fantastic and their relationship/friendship was perfect, and the overall story line was so unique and magical. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new and exciting fantasy book!

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi is book two in her Star-Touched Queen series. Telling the story of Maya's sister, Gauri, and Vikram, the young boy turned prince of Ujijain, who's thread Maya held in her hand in Star-Touched Queen.

Vikram is invited to play a game by the Lord of Wealth and Treasures to the Tournament of Wishes, where the winner win's their heart's desire. However, he finds he needs a partner.

Soon Vikram and Gauri are off on an adventure to the Otherworld to compete in the Tournament of Wishes and Ms. Chokshi keeps you enthralled in her story-telling until the very end and what an end it is! I loved it.

A Crown of Wishes shows yet again that she is a master at dynamic characters and weaving the written word into enticing stories with twists and turns. I also a very much appreciated the Indian folklore/mythology which was infused in the story. Gauri epitomizes the role of bad-ass heroine and Vikram is the perfect foil for her. They were definitely made for each other. Their bantering, slow-burn romance, and the entire story will have you wishing the story would never end.

Overall, A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi is a fantastic novel filled with magic, fantasy, and I completely recommend.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review.)

I highly recommend A Crown of Wishes for fantasy lovers and stories with surprising twists. The author's writing is lyrical g. She created such a lush and magical world with vivid scenery.

The romance in this is slow burn and so addictive. Gauri and Vikram have a palpable chemistry right away and their banter had me flying through the pages. Gabri was a wonderful and feisty princess and Vikram was a characters with such a sweet soul. With not a single dull moment, the beautiful writing and sparkling humor in A Crown of Wishes left me breathless!

A beastly princess and a fox-like prince, their kingdoms on the edge of war, become the most unexpected of teams when offered the opportunity to compete in the Tournament of Wishes. Together they enter the Otherworld to compete against humans and immortals, for the opportunity to win one wish. If they win, they each win a wish, but only one will return home, while the other is bound to the Otherworld for the remainder of their life.

If I’m being completely honest, I think I would have liked this better if I hadn’t read The Star-Touched Queen first, and so recently. Because it was freakin’ amazing. Like, definitely the best YA I’ve read this year. Maybe the best YA I’ve read ever. EVER. And when the first thing you’ve written is one of the best things in the whole entire world, how do you best that? Sometimes, you don’t. Sometimes, your second shot is second best. But that’s still pretty damn great.

The thing I loved about The Star-Touched Queen was the sense of magic and whimsy, the gorgeous purple prose. The words were magic and so was the story. A Crown of Wishes simply didn’t have that same Alice in Wonderland feel to me. There was magic, but it was darker and more shadowy than whimsical. And I missed the purple prose. It was kind of like switching from cotton candy to coffee. I love cotton candy and I love coffee. But if you’re expecting cotton candy and you’re handed coffee instead? Yeah.

From the first page, I loved Vikram. Gauri I knew a little bit from The Star-Touched Queen, but I expected to like her more than I did initially. She grew on me. And Aasha…I know this is supposed to be the last book in this world, but I feel like she could have had more of her own story. Crossing my fingers and hoping Miss Chokshi one day finds herself compelled to write a story for Aasha. There is so much more I want to know about her, and I want so much for her.

So, probably unfairly, the hangover from The Star-Touched Queen has rubbed a little of the shine off a book I would normally find perfectly wonderful. Because it really and truly is. Roshani Chokshi knows how to write, there is no doubt about that. I would and will buy anything and everything she writes. Her characters are everything, her world-building is phenomenal, and her imagination for story-telling is just…dare I say…incomparable? So hangover or no, A Crown of Wishes is worth your time. You need not read The Star-Touched Queen first, but I highly, highly recommend you read both. Just be prepared for a markedly different tone.

P.S. OMG that cover thought, right?!?!?

Arc Provided by St. Martin's Griffin through Netgalley

Release Date: March 28 th

Warning alert: this pseudo review will be filled with an over abundance of exclamation marks.
And you know what? I don't care! :)

The Star Touched Queen, the first book in this duology, was without a doubt my favourite book of 2016!(in case you missed it, read my insane review here!),

As for 2017, can you guess what will be my favourite?!*.*
Oh yes, author Roshani Chokshi definitely has done it again!
I am in awe of her writing, her characters, basically with the whole richness of the mythology that she gives to us!

Reading her stories is like open a chest full of treasures. Yes, there may be the occasional snake to spice things up, (metaphorical snakes or literal ones, I guess you'll have to read it to see for yourself ;), but the author stories truly do shine as all the gems in the world.

That means that when I do get to read a story like this one, I feel like shouting out to all of my friends to go and read it asap!
YOU GUYS, THIS IS THE REAL THING!
A Crown of Wishes is this beautiful story full of Indian mythology, adventure, romance, and courage, that will blow your socks away. Or any other type of garment that you might prefer... so do go and read it because you won't regret it.

As for this being a second book in a duology, in case you're wondering if you can skip the first one, and dive straight into this one... well, yes you can, but are you dumb?! Why would you do that?
Don't like too many good things all in a row?

Do hurry however, because the Tournament of Wishes is about to start, and the jewel of Bharata isn't known for her patience... isn't that right, Fox Prince? ;)

a really great story and I liked it even more than the first book in the series. Partially because it's more up my alley and partially because it's a thrilling and interesting YA fantasy with great characters and an exciting plot. You definitely need to pick up a copy of this book. If you like The Star-Touched Queen you will be excited to return to the world and even if you didn't you will probably still enjoy Gauri and Vikram's story. I know I did.

Oh how I loved this story! Such a beautiful companion to The Star-Touched Queen.

Guari is princess of Bharata, but lacks any power due to her evil brother, Skanda.  Much like her, Vikram is a prince only in name due to a corrupt council.  When the two of them meet, they are offered a chance to play in the tournament of wishes, hopefully winning and gaining their wishes.  But wishes aren’t everything they appear to be and magic often has a way of twisting reality.  Will they both leave the tournament unscathed or will they lose everything?

This story focusses on Maya’s sister, Guari.  I loved Guari in the last book and loved her even more in this one. Vikram was a fantastic match for her.  In fact, I think he was my favorite character.  He was so smart, yet witty and charming.  I loved their interactions–both with each other and the other magical inhabitants of Alara.  I loved Aasha.  What a great addition to this story.  I’m almost hoping we get a follow-up with her for the next book!

The prose and writing was lush and vivid as only Roshani is capable of doing.  The complex characters kept me turning the pages while the plot moved a long nicely.  The ending was thoroughly enjoyable and completely appropriate to each character.  Loved it!

Honestly, if you’ve already read The Star-Touched Queen and loved it, this is already sold to you.  If you haven’t, go read both right now.  They’ll take you on a wonderful, magical adventure with fleshed out characters and new worlds yet to be explored.  Isn’t that what every reader longs for in a book?

An interesting book. Its a quiet adventure. I enjoyed the references to Indian myths and it made me read more about those. Recommend to anyone who likes a good fairytale.

This book might just be my favorite read of 2017. I know it’s still early in the year for such a declaration, but I am dead serious – I devoured A Crown of Wishes and I think it is just about as close to perfect fantasy as a story can get. Now, you don’t have to have read The Star-Touched Queen to love this book, though I do think you’ll get more out of A Crown of Wishes having read the first book (there are quite a few references to Star-Touched throughout). But seriously, even if you didn’t read or didn’t love her first book, trust me when I say Roshani has taken her writing game to a whole new level with this one. I really really really enjoyed her debut, but this companion novel is in a league all its own.

Reading this book was like stepping into another world… One I seriously did not want to leave. I would move to Bharata or Alaka or Ujijain in a heartbeat and never leave. I wanted to melt into the pages of this book, burn the words into the back of my eyelids, anything to keep a piece of it with me always.

“I’d almost forgotten the true power of a story… how it lulled you outside your thoughts, let you process the world in a way that was palatable. Not poisonous.”

This story reminded me of the true power of a great novel. The way you will it not to end so that you won’t have to leave. The way that the words and images you find within its pages burn themselves into your mind, your dreams, your every waking moment. The bittersweet taste it leaves on your tongue afterwards that makes you long for just. one. more. chapter. The heaviness that prevents you from even thinking about starting another book while you’re still so invested in the one in front of you. It’s a beautiful, wondrous, magical feeling, and I would not trade it away for all the books in the world. A book like this… well, it’s the entire reason I love to read. Finding A Crown of Wishes reminded me of everything I love about books, about reading, about discovering new worlds and leaping into fresh stories. It was a completely rejuvenating experience.

Roshani somehow manages to rip open the very heart of humanity and paint it across the pages of this stunning tale. Vikram and Gauri will grip you from the first, fill you with their fire, their burning desire to change their own fates, and their sheer determination to carry on in the face of all adversity. Aasha will tug your heartstrings until you cry out for her predicament, desperate to free her from a life she never got to choose. It's a book that will show you your deepest desires and desperate hopes and use them to remind you of all that living truly is.

“Existence is the gift. Life is a choice.”

There is so much more to life than simply existing, and often, what we think is impossible to reach is actually just begging us to try and grab it while we can. This book is for dreamers, for lovers, for fighters, for schemers. It’s for fans of such beautiful literature as The Night Circus, readers who long to escape into world bursting with possibilities, magic, and myth. It’s for those brave enough to gather their willpower and leap into the unknown, and it is worth every single penny you might spend on it, every second you might disappear into its depths, every emotion you might cry out with as you travel through a truly remarkable journey.

Oh, and my favorite talking horse makes an appearance, which just made me burst with happiness.

If you are looking for a diverse fantasy read, sure to enthrall and entice all of your sense, A Crown of Wishes is definitely the book for you. Don’t waste your time on anything else. This is as good as it gets, and I know that I, for one, will be going back for many, many more read-throughs. I cannot wait to see what Roshani writes next… She is definitely on my permanent auto-buy author list, and I dare you to read this book and not feel the same.

Rating: 5+/5 stars

A Crown of Wishes
Roshani Chokshi


Buy This Book
Roshani Chokshi weaves a narrative of legend and magic based on Indian folklore in her latest novel A Crown of Wishes. This rich look at an ancient culture is full of lush, vivid imagery that will pull you into a story that is truly one from a long time ago in a place far, far away.

This is the second book in this series but you do not need to read the first to enjoy this one.

The legends will tell that there was once a fox prince and a beast princess that had to do all kinds of awful things. Like talk to each other. And fight through memories that tried to lure them away, poisonous beauties and . . . fear.

Vikram is known as the fox prince. He’s clever and cunning and can see a solution to every problem but one – how to get his throne. He is not the Emperor’s natural son and the council knows this and schemes and plots to keep him from the power that his father has bequeathed him. He is a prince who will never truly be king unless something changes the equation in his favor.

Gauri is a princess with a problem. Her brother the king is a murderous, scheming psychopath. She wanted to take over the kingdom and save her people but her rebellion was betrayed. She is now a prisoner in the neighboring –and hostile- land of Ujijain. When she is called into Prince Vikram’s presence to hear her sentence (certain death) she makes plans to kill him and escape – but fate has something else in store for her.

The two are offered a once in eternity opportunity. They must travel to Alaka- past the place where memories devour and the held-breath place to put an end to cowards – and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes. This magical competition is where the Lord of Wealth and Treasures bestows a wish upon the victors. But contestants are warned that what they want can also be what destroys them because desire is a poisonous thing.

Forced to be reluctant allies in a world of dangerous adversaries Vikram and Gauri quickly learn that fear can be both friend and enemy, courage can mean missing the mark rather than hitting it and hard questions can often have easy answers. They also learn that the heart wants what the heart wants – and that want can be the very last thing you should ever wish for.

Like any B-grade read, A Crown of Wishes is a story with strong positives but has just enough narrative problems to keep it from DIK status. In the positive column I have to start with the prose. Gorgeous. Delectable. Luxurious. Succulent. Words can barely describe the glory of the author’s composition. She uses her language to paint exquisite word pictures that capture the colorful, magical beauty of her world. You feel immersed in a decadent, glamorous, vibrant experience when you enter the pages of this book.

Another strength is the premise. I loved the idea of A Tournament of Wishes and a game of wits which pitted clever mortals against almost insurmountable odds. The fantastical nature of the contest added a terrific sense of fun and sorcery to the whole affair.

The strong cultural immersion is a positive as well. This story has a substantial flavor of the history, folklore and civilization in which it occurs, which is something I absolutely love in the novels I read.

Unfortunately, however, in this particular instance, that provided a tiny negative as well. Unless you are familiar with the Hindu scriptures, many of the characters – like the god Kubera, Lord of Wealth and Treasure and his consort, the Lady Kauveri, their attendants – the often dangerous yakshas and yakshani, the vanara and the poisonous vishakanya – will be unfamiliar to you. It will be very much like reading a story about faeries but not knowing who Tatiana and Oberon are or even the difference between faeries, brownies and elves. The text helps somewhat with placing the characters in proper context and a glossary is included but in the end, after much internal debate, I have to say this is a bit of a weakness in the book. The reader will have to mentally scrabble to figure out friend from foe and who is what, which pulls one out of the story. It wasn’t at all a major irritant but it was certainly a minor one.

Another small fumble is with the characters, neither of whom feel fully fleshed out. Perhaps a part of that is due to their youth; I closed the book feeling much lay ahead of these two which would impact who they were. And unfortunately, this story is far more about Gauri than Vikram. While Vikram was a character I did find interesting and wanted to get to know better, what little I knew of Gauri left me cold. She seems ill suited for the role of ruler, which is what she most wants, and she has a tendency towards violence and insults that I found off-putting. This fact more than any other really disconnected me from the tale and left me unable to give the book a higher grade. It also kept me from completely buying their HEA. I imagined Vikram, at some point in the future, taking a sweet natured mistress and telling her all his problems while Gauri schemed ineptly to wrest all control from him.

A Crown of Wishes is a lyrical feast for the senses that only partially delivers on the promise of an intriguing premise. The tale is well worth reading but I don’t think it will make many keeper shelves. It’s definitely a well written story but small weaknesses keep the book from achieving the excellence of which I am sure this author is capable.