Last year I was blown away by The Star-Touched Queen, a YA fantasy with a strong eastern flavour that swept me away to another place and time. Indeed, it made my top twenty reads of the year – see here. So I was delighted when Netgalley approved my request to read and review the sequel.
Second books are often tricky to write – particularly if the first book is a runaway success. But if Chokshi was feeling the pressure, there is no hint of it in her confident prose. Perhaps there is not quite so much lush description of the fantastical magic landscapes she takes us to in her story of thwarted kings, slighted and angry princesses and tricky magical beings who enjoy playing with human desires.
Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. However – he is a very cunning prince of a sworn enemy kingdom…
Once more, I have given a potted version of the chatty blurb, but I will just mention that Gauri and Vikram end up taking part in The Tournament of Wishes together. This book is structured as mainly a dual narrative, with Gauri’s story told in first person (I) and Vikram’s narrative written in third person (he). Inevitably, this gives us a more intimate and immediate experience of Gauri’s character. She is a warrior princess, skilled in warfare and emotionally wounded by her abusive, tyrannical brother who has constantly managed to outwit her. As a result she finds herself at odds with those she cares most about – and when she tries to help or ameliorate her brother’s sadistic impulses, her interventions are frequently used against her. Small wonder she is a bundle of fury with absolutely no tolerance for Vikram’s wordplay.
While Vikram’s kindly, animal-loving father has been comprehensively outwitted by the ruling council who have essentially grabbed all the power and as Vikram attempts to impose some brakes on their corruption, he finds himself continually thwarted. He retreats into an academic persona, not remotely interested in the violence and warrior mentality that gives Gauri such comfort. They are truly an oil and water mix.
And that isn’t taking into account the fact that politically they have no business exchanging anything other than blows – their respective countries are long-time enemies. So they make an unlikely team. But teamwork is what they need as they are confronted with a series of tricky magical feats they have to overcome. Essentially this is a classic quest story.
What makes it such a rich, enjoyable feast is Chokshi’s engaging prose and vivid worldbuilding. She writes with such sensual conviction, we can taste and smell her magical landscapes and once more I was enchanted and beguiled. But there is no use spinning us a wonderful feast of delights unless the ending is equally satisfying – and there is no problem with that, either. Chokshi manages to bring this story to a triumphant conclusion that had me sighing with pleasure. If you haven’t encountered her writing, then give yourself a treat. Very highly recommended.
10/10

I have been waiting for this novel to be released for ages. Ever since I read the outstanding novel The Star Touched Queen, last year, I was enamored with the amazingly magical universe Roshani Chokshi creates. The style, the imagery, everything was so evocative I was drawn in from the start. And A Crown of Wishes carries that magic as well, and definitely did not disappoint.

Like The Star Touched Queen before it, this novel reads like a vivid dream. Your mind is filled with rich colors and deep smells, and you are tugged from one magical place to another, yet never stopped by thick exposition: the author walks the fine line of 'telling too much' and 'showing too little', making it the perfect amount needed for master world building. She honestly could have had her characters wander without a plot through these worlds and I would still have read it - it's like staring at a painting.

But it has a plot, and an exciting one at that! While it is the sequel of The Star Touched Queen, it's more like a spin off. The events that take place in A Crown of Wishes follow Gauri, the adorable little sister of Maya who grew up to be a badass warrior. But when Gauri gets banished from Bharata, she knows she needs to go back, overthrow her brother and save her friends. But to do that, she has to win the Tournament of Wishes, a magical competition in which victory grants you a wish. At her side is the handsome and cunning Vikram, the not-exactly-prince of a neighboring (enemy) kingdom, whose smarts perfectly match Gauri's skill in battle. Together, they make an impressive pair.

I love, love, love Gauri. She's someone I wish I could be - bold, strong, but smart. A little stubborn, maybe, but she seems to make more rational decisions than her older sister. Vikram, I took a little while to warm up to, but I think that was purposeful from the author: Gauri doesn't trust him from the start, and neither do we, even if he is a POV character and we know he's honest with her. The romance between them was slow and worked, though I'm never a fan of romances in this kind of novel - I always wish for them to just remain badass partners in crime.

This book is, in a word, magical. If you loved The Star Touched Queen as much as I did, you're going to love its somewhat-sequel. Follow Gauri through realms of magic where the laws of the mortal world do not apply, and where a story may be worth more than a life. Sign me up for everything Roshani Chokshi writes!

A Crown of Wishes is the second installment in author Roshani Chokski's The Star-Touched Queen series. The story is actually being sold as a companion novel to The Star-Touched Queen. Let's call it the sequel. This is story features two entirely different characters from Maya and Amar. This time out readers are introduced to Vikram, the Fox Prince, and Gauri, Princess and Jewel of Bharata who just happens to be Maya's younger sister. In the beginning of this story, Vikram receives an invitation from the Lord of Wealth & Treasures to participate in The Tournament of Wishes

It is a game that will happen when the century comes to a close. The winner of the game will be granted a wish of their hearts desire. But, there is a catch. Vikram is expected to show up with a second person. "Find the one who grows with blood on the lips and fangs in the heart." That person is Gauri who has spent the past 6 months in a dungeon after being betrayed and sent away by her brother to die. The second catch is that they have only a few days to get there before the gates close and that means entering the Crossroads and the Night Bizarre where Maya also traveled to in the previous installment.

As with the first installment, A Crown of Wishes is once again steeped with Indian mythology. By Indian, I mean originating from India just so we are clear. To be perfectly honest, I had my smart phone by my side the entire time I was reading this book so that when terms popped up that I had no clue what they meant, I googled them. There are a whole lot of Indian driven names for almost everything including gods of the Wind, Waters, Fire, and Chaos. In a way, this book is very similar to another I have recently read, Caraval.

Gauri and Vikram couldn't be any more different. Gauri is fearless as they come, and battle hardened, and yes, perhaps a bit blood thirsty for revenge on those who betrayed her. Gauri has fought for her country only to see her brother become more and more evil to the point where she had no future. So, given the chance for revenge, she joins Vikram in his journey to the land of treasures. Vikram is a prince who has had to prove himself over and over again. He is a dreamer which makes his life a bit more intriguing than just showing up at boring council members only to be completely ignored.

He is supposed to be the heir to his kingdom, but there are those who would force him to do their bidding. Gauri would risk life and limb to get her kingdom back, and take her rightful place as Queen. While Gauri and Vikram are the "main" characters of this story. There is a third. Her name is Aasha and I have to say that I really loved her view of the world she has been living in for the past 100 years. I loved her connection and her choices she made in helping Gauri and Vikram. She even has her own goals, and desires, and when given the opportunity to participate in her own game, she does her best.

This is a story filled with twists, riddles, gamesmanship, life or death challenges, and yes, of course, romance. The romance in this case is one that is slow burn, and not quick to the trigger. We also get a brief appearance by Maya. Just a enough to whet your whistle, but not enough to over take Gauri's choices. Chokski is a clever writer. Her pacing is pretty steady and isn't filled with nonsensical silliness that can overwhelm a story. Chokski creates intriguing characters, and badass heroines. She writes about a world that is magical at its foundation, and dark and deadly at the same time.

Favorite Lines/Quote(s):

“Vicious and sweet,” said Vikram, shaking his head. “Beastly girl.”
“You like me, don’t lie,” I teased.
“I couldn’t lie if I tried,” he said quietly.”

“Vikram’s eyes widened. “What’s this? Praise from Her Beastliness in the morning? Are you under a curse that makes you friendly before noon? If so, how do we make it permanent?”

“Love is like Death without the guarantee of its arrival. Love may not come for you, but when it does it will be just as swift and ruthless as Death and just as blind to your protestations. And just as Death will end one life and leave you with another, so will Love.”

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi is one of the books I was eagerly waiting to read! I was a bit worried about reading this book without having read it's predecessor but I quickly found out that this book can easily be read as a stand alone novel. There's been so much about this book all over the blog world that I've decided to just highlight the reasons why I truly enjoyed this book:

The Characters

Gauri, a noteworthy heroine who is powerful, strong, hard on the outside and soft on the inside. Humanly fallible but her hearts in the right place.

Vikram, a dreamy Hero who is dashing, bumbling at times, intelligent, humanly flawed and noteworthy in his own right.

The Hate to Love relationship between Gauri and Vikram had me captivated.


The Plot

Oh, such a wonderful plot full of action and intrigue! Full of magic, mayhem, quests, romance, prizes and so much more. It was wonderful to read this book and feel mythology come to life!


The Writing

I found Ms. Chokshi's prose for this book to be magical, luscious and even lyrical! At times {for me} it tended to get a bit overwhelming but I still truly enjoyed reading this book!

There were more than a handful of quotes from the book that are deeply moving and full of beauty, power and grace. I found it quite impressive to observe, read and contemplate the unique way Ms. Choksi writes blending thoughts and fantasy into words and imbuing them with such meaning, emotion and power.


Final Impressions

A Crown of Wishes is a fantastical tale that is superbly written, emotionally moving and a jewel of a book! I can't wait to read more of Ms. Chokshi's books!

Click https://renee1-blog.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-crown-of-wishes-by-roshani-chokshi_28.html to ready my full review.

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin Publishing, Ms. Chokshi and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

A Crown of Wishes is the stunning sequel to 2016's Star Touched Queen. Gauri, Princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom's enemies and has little hope for her future.

Enter Vikram, the cunning prince of this enemy land. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet emperor, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

Merely reaching the Tournament is just the beginning with a slew of challenges including dangerous courtesans, songbirds, feasts and fears that will have to keep Gauri and Vikram's senses sharp if they have a chance to win.

Truthfully, I think I enjoyed this novel more than Chokshi's debut. I found it easier to engage with Gauri and Vikram in their adventure. Readers are in for a treat with the lush, exotic imagery and adventure steeped in Indian mythology and lore. Honestly, I loved everything about the writing and characters. The descriptions held me transfixed to the adventure as did the fantastic romanticism and passion built between protagonists.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Follow the author on Twitter: @NotRashKnee

Wow. It should be no surprise to anyone who also picked up Chokshi's THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN that A CROWN OF WISHES is full of the kind of style and story-telling that throws you deep into a world with the promise of adventure. To call her writing lush almost feels an understatement (and all the descriptions of food will leave you hungry). I loved Gauri from her opening scene, when it was clear she is as passionate about her weapons as she is about her make-up. Vikram, too, (a.k.a. "The Fox Prince") is charming, flawed, and well-developed. I cannot wait to eagerly recommend this book to every bookstore I visit this weekend and to every teen in search of a story full of wonder.

Roshani Chokshi has done it again. She brought me into her gorgeous world, mad me laugh, hurt, and love. A Crown of Wishes was one of my highly anticipated reads, and this does not disappoint!

Roshani Chokshi is a new-to-me author and an one to go on my auto-buy list. I initially received an advanced review copy of Crown of Wishes, not realizing it was the second book in the series. So that is what led me to pick up The Star-Touched Queen, Chokshi's debut novel, and I was blown away. What an outstanding entree into the writing world!

The series is based heavily on Hindu and Indian folklore, which was something new and interesting for me. While I found myself looking up many of the terms, it was a fascinating and enlightening learning experience.

The Star-Touched Queen is full of beautiful prose in a captivating fantasy realm. It follows our heroine, a sixteen year old Mayavati, in a an epic tale of love, betrayal, and adventure. We first meet Maya growing up in a harem, one of the many children of the Raja of Bharata. Cursed with a bad horoscope and the death of her mother during childbirth, the women of the harem have never been kind to Maya. Her only bright spots in the kingdom are her half-sister, Guari, and her scholarly pursuits. But when Maya's life takes a fatal turn, she is swept away to a world of fable, dreams and nightmares by a handsome and mysterious raja.

I don't feel like the story always moved in a linear fashion, as there were several plot ascensions that sometimes climaxed and sometimes took an unexpected turn. It made for a wonderfully strange and meandering tale that was reminiscent of a Salvador Dali painting inside The Neverending Story (the book, not the movie) mixed with the Hades and Persephone myth. This may all have roots in Hindu mythology... but as this was my first experience in this culture, I was woefully ignorant. However, I loved the cultural influence and was happy to continue the series.

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Following The Star-Touched Queen, I was able to dive right in to Crown of Wishes. While this story had the same cultural influence, the tale had a different flavor. We have transitioned from Maya's story to that of her half-sister, Guari, known as the Jewel of Bharata. Guari is now an eighteen-year-old young adult, beloved by her people and despised for it by her brother, the Raja Skanda. Guari is betrayed by Skanda and winds up imprisoned in Ujijain, home of Vikram, the Fox Prince. You may remember Vikram from The Star Touched Queen, where his threads of fate were decided by Maya.

These characters were both quite unexpected for me. Guari has turned from a sweet girl into a hardened and jaded warrior, attempting to navigate the political intrigue of Bharata. Vikram has grown into a handsome and intelligent man, with a great personality and perpetual positive outlook. The two join together to compete in the Tournament of Wishes held by Kubera, the King of Wealth and Treasures in the realm of Alaka. The two must work together to conquer desires, face their fears and make sacrifices to win the tournament and be granted a wish. As Guari and Vikram were working toward a common goal, the plot of this installment was more linear and cohesive. The pace was still meandering at times, but was more focused on the end-game than we saw in The Star-Touched Queen. While I enjoyed the challenge in this story, I did miss some of the beautiful prose from the last installment.

Vikram was an engaging hero, and unexpectedly funny. I loved his teasing nature and how it affected the prickly Guari. In contrast, Guari was sometimes a hard heroine to love... the political intrigue has taken over her life to the point of paranoia and distrust of everyone. The two fought most of the time, but it was all part of a slow-burn romance that saw the couple growing closer together with every challenge.

Crown of Wishes was chock full of mythological characters, and I spent a lot of time on Wikipedia as I read this story. While there is a small glossary at the back of the books, I wanted to know more about the mythological figures and realms. I also enjoyed several of the secondary characters, which helped enrich the story - my favorites being Aasha (a vishakanya) and Vetalas (a being that inhabits corpses).

I recommend this series to fantasy fans and those interested in Hindu mythology. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin.

This book changed my entire opinion on this author’s work.

If y’all missed my review of The Star-Touched Queen, I’ll just say that it really just wasn’t the book for me. Despite the beautiful writing and descriptive storytelling, I found the story far too slow to keep my attention. It’s safe to say that A Crown of Wishes was the complete opposite, drawing on the best aspects of TSTQ while increasing the pace and painting a story of love and desire and loss and wishes.

Part of my love for this book falls to Gauri. I never liked Maya’s character (and she makes a brief appearance in this book but isn’t much like herself in the previous installment). But Gauri is the complete opposite. She has a fire in her that gave her an edge. She’s snarky and independent and holds her own.

The other part is Vikram. He isn’t your typical prince, but more mischievous and clever. A perfect counterpart to Gauri, he rules by intelligence instead of force, trusting in faith and wishes because he sees the power in them.

And damn…these two had me laughing and swooning all at once. Their banter was hysterical, the kind between two people that you know are going to get together but are still sorting through their feelings. I mean, they had some serious chemistry and I think their romance was as big a part of the story as the adventure and tasks they had to complete to gain a wish.

Much like in the last book, the writing was also absolutely gorgeous. Very reminiscent to older fairy tales and stories told with a flourish… but in a good way. It made for a big of dragging at times but overall the plot kept everything moving at a good pace and the writing flowed along with it.

With all this praise, it’s hard to say much toward the negatives. I loved this book way more than The Star-Touched Queen. The pacing was better, the characters more enjoyable to read about, and honestly I think I liked the story the best of all. I’ve always been a fan of stories involving magical creatures and wishes. Many of my favorites come from 1,001 Arabian Nights for that reason. But I still had that disconnect where I wasn’t turning one page after the next eager to see what happens. I ship Gauri and Vikram like no other but I wasn’t so invested in the story that I couldn’t put ACOW down. In fact, I set it aside several times before finally finishing it.

If you’re someone like me and didn’t like The Star-Touched Queen, I recommend reading A Crown of Wishes instead. In fact, you can skip the first book and won’t miss out on too much by just reading this sequel/companion. Not something I would normally say but in this case, there’s such a huge gap in my love of TSTQ vs ACOW that I feel it’s worth mentioning.

The Star-Touched Queen was an unforgettable fairy tale that kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s language, it’s romance, it’s world. So when I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the sequel, A Crown of Wishes, I was excited to step back into this world.

While some people may be nervous about the ‘purple prose’, I find it doesn’t bother me the way Chokshi does it. And to ease any reservations about the writing style, the prose is much less 'purple’ in the sequel, but still descriptive and lyrical enough to make the book seem like a magical dream. I enjoy her writing style as it suits the story perfectly.

In this book, the story follows Gauri - Maya’s younger sister - and Vikram, the young boy whose fate is decided by Maya. I enjoyed reading about these once minor characters just as much as the main characters in the first book. Each has their own faults and the tournament leads to personal growth. They face their fears and mature. I also loved the banter between these two. It was so entertaining and funny. I loved their romance.

Another character I enjoyed reading about is Aasha, a being they meet in the Otherworld. She dares to dream, and by learning what she wants and helping people, she takes control over her life. I would enjoy reading a spin-off book about her journey.

While I really enjoyed this book, I think some of it was a little too odd at times, and didn’t quite make sense. I also felt that the ending was a little too rushed. But I liked seeing old characters, and overall the story was enchanting.

A Crown of Wishes is a captivating novel about personal growth and falling in love. If you liked the first book in the series, you’ll enjoy the sequel.

A Crown of Wishes was an epic, poetic, magically woven tale of adventure that completely blew me away. It’s been awhile since I’ve been this wholly enthralled in a story, devouring every little piece of prose and plot and being captivated by the slow-building romance and emotional growth of the characters. I enjoyed The Star-Touched Queen, and while I was expecting to have an entertaining read in A Crown of Wishes, I was unprepared for how much I would fall in love with this book.

The writing was enchanting. Scenes were so descriptive and gripping that when real life came crashing in and took me from the story, it took me a second to reorient myself. While I could go on and on about how utterly exquisite the writing was, it would be a great disservice to the fantastic storytelling woven throughout.

A Crown of Wishes was a fabulously blended tale of fantasy and adventure, love and loss, growth and redemption. Vikram is seeking to attend the Tournament of Wishes to be the ruler he knows he can be, regardless of the non-royal blood that runs through his veins, and wish that others could view him as less of a figurehead and more as an intelligent, capable leader. Gauri has fought and bled for her kingdom, yet her brother rules with an iron fist and is seeking to have her killed. She decides to join with Vikram to potentially change her fate and save her kingdom from her cunning and conniving brother.

Throughout the course of the story, both Vikram and Gauri undergo extensive character development, each of them slowly discovering there is more to them than meets the eye, realizing that they are more intelligent and daring than even they believed, and that they have so many aspirations in life that would be hard to summarize in a single wish. To me, character development is one of the most important elements in a story, and also one of the hardest for an author to capture. I want to see characters make mistakes and learn from them; I want to see them go through a hard time and come out stronger because of it; I want them to be human. Chokshi captures all those pieces and more. I won’t give anything away, but Gauri especially made leaps and bounds in this story, and the character development alone made this story wonderful.

The romance also wasn’t the focus of the story, which was much appreciated. Not to fear though! There is romance, but it just takes the back-burner to the story itself. I personally love that the focus of the tale was on the adventure and aspirations of the characters, and how in chasing their dreams together, they slowly realized the trust and feelings building between them was more than just a partnership. The romance felt authentic and real, and I loved every little bit of it.

A Crown of Wishes was more than a fantasy story or an adventurous tale. It delved into the desires of two people who pursued their dreams of accomplishing great things, depicted the beauty of magic and fantasy, and brought to life the idiom of “Be careful what you wish for.” I couldn’t have hoped to read a more glorious tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In the beginning it really reminded me of the Laini Taylor series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, especially the scenes with the Vetala. I loved that series so I can definitely see myself going back to the first book in this one to read it. Gauri and Vikram are great characters, both with flaws on display. The ending was beautiful, and just what I needed to wrap things up! The magic described in the book is interesting and used in ways you wouldn't expect. Overall, one of my favorite books I've read this year so far.

I had loved The Star-touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes definitely holds up as a companion. I enjoy how Roshani Chokshi weaves the mythology into her stories and the characters she creates.

I loved the Fox Prince, Vikram. He was such a fun character, I loved that he wasn’t necessarily a strong knight but he was cunning and clever. Using his mind to get out of situations and to get himself in trouble. He made me laugh and I liked that he was always engaging Gauri in banter. Purposely pushing her buttons, knowing she would rise to the occasion.

I felt sad for Gauri. I had loved Maya and her relationship in the first novel and it made my heart break she had to go through so much strife. I also like the twist that between her and Vikram, she is the soldier. She knows not only to fight with a sword but also with her beauty. It made her someone really interesting and someone to be reckoned with. I would get frustrated with her lack of trust though, especially when Vikram would show her time and time again that he was her partner. She slowly softened as the story moves along but it definitely took a lot of convincing. She learns a great deal about her true self.

Aasha was a great addition. I loved how the story begins to branch to include her. She was one of my favorite characters, if not the favorite. Especially when she would try to eat anything just to experience it. Her willingness to follow her curiosity.

Always great side characters. I loved all that were included in the story from the monsters to Kubera himself.

The tournament. I always love plots that involves games and tournaments of some kind. I think there are so many creatives things that can come out of it. The Tournament of Wishes is no exception. Again I loved the way the mythology is woven into the tournament itself. I found those parts to be absolutely fascinating.

I really enjoyed the story and I’m glad to have a little more of this world. I can’t wait to see what Roshani writes next.

Well, I’m sad to say I did not enjoy this book as much as I did "The Star-Touched Queen", which really disappoints me. The only thing that brought this book from a 2-star to a 3-star rating was the ending.

Sadly, I’m not sure I have much else to say. The premise sounded amazing: two under-appreciated characters, Princess Gauri or Bharata and Prince Vikram of Ujijain, are thrown together in a tournament, where in the end, they are each granted one wish–a tournament hosted by the Lord of Treasures. (Did I mention their respective countries are at war?) Both want to prove themselves in different but similar ways. I do believe they obtain their objectives, but I felt various things were lacking.

Chokshi’s writing continues to be beautiful. It’s poetic and matches perfectly with the magical Otherworldly mystique of this book. But everything in between… Dangit, I wish I could place a finger on why exactly I wasn’t enthused to read this book. It literally felt like a chore. I liked the riddles and games, as it reminded me a great deal of Gollum and Bilbo’s banter in The Hobbit. Yes, great! But the actual “trials” themselves… I don’t know. I simply wasn’t satisfied, and mostly finished off those chapters confused.

I’m not too sure I understood the point of Aasha, a magical being who desires to be rid of that magical part of her and be human again. I get the role she played in the end but the in between… What? Why? To show that magic isn’t something to be desired? To not get in over our heads? It baffles me. The same goes for Nalini. We’re told something terrible has happened to her and it has something to do with Gauri but…what? I liked their resolution in the end, though.

Truthfully, I wasn’t keen on Gauri or Vikram. Gauri is a strong female character, whose had to deal with loads of crap throughout her life, especially when Maya left, and I absolutely loved how Vikram never once discouraged or ignored her because she was a woman. I appreciated how he pushed her ideas forward and allowed her to see her own self in a positive light, especially since her brother is horrible and turned various people against her. Vikram and Gauri are like the opposites ends of the same coin; they complimented each other well, and despite their quips, I think they both learned from each other.

Something I wished there was more of: I know this isn’t Maya’s book, but TSTQ left a lot of be desired (for me) about Maya’s old life as a princess, and how she left Gauri alone. It becomes obvious that it’s affected Gauri in a way, and I wished they could have had more scenes together. I wasn’t satisfied with how their relationship dissolved. Sure, there were moments Gauri thought about her sister, but it wasn’t enough.

However, I did thoroughly enjoy the last few chapters. They really saved the book for me because Vikram and Gauri not only proved themselves, but we see other characters appreciating them as well. I didn’t think it ended abruptly either, and I really came to savor those last few chapters. Maybe that’s what I wanted more of–what their lives were like back at home. Yes, we get some flashbacks, but I needed more of them enjoying their new found freedom in their positions.

I’ll keep an eye out for what Chokshi writes next as I do love her writing style.

This story left me heartbroken, but for all the wrong reasons…

“Find the one who glows, with blood on the lips and fangs in the heart.”

DNF at 60%.

When we first revisit Gauri, the Princess of Bharata – and the scrappy, story-hungry younger sister of Maya, the Star-Touched Queen of the series’ title – it’s from behind the bars of a dark, dank dungeon. Jealous of the devotion Gauri inspires in their people (and no doubt smarting from an assassination plot), her older brother Skanda arranged for her execution at enemy hands. Lucky for her (or is it really? Gauri is no distressed damsel), the Fox Prince needs Gauri alive.

The adopted only son of the the Emperor Pururavas, Vikram’s pending power is in name only: The Council of Ujijain refuses to let an orphan of common blood rule their land. Announcing Gauri’s execution is to be his first official act. But to kill the Jewel of Bharata is to turn his back on his one chance at true power. Vikram’s invitation to compete in the mythical Tournament Of Wishes is for two: himself and a partner who glows. And when he first sets his eyes on Gauri, she is positively luminescent.

With a little persuading – after what happened to Maya, Gauri wants nothing to do with magic – the two set off for the Otherworld, in pursuit of victory … and their most treasured wishes.

So here’s the deal. I adored THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN and was super-excited for A CROWN OF WISHES. I even rolled my eyes at the doubters, those who questioned whether this seemingly standalone story really necessitated a sequel, let alone one featuring a rather minor player from the first book. Honestly, Chokshi’s dedication says it best: “For my siblings, Monica and Jayesh. And for all siblings who refuse to be secondary characters in anyone’s tale. You are legends in the making.” When I learned that Gauri would be getting her own story, I grew antsy with anticipation: I wanted to see this adorable, fierce, loving, heartbroken girl, all grown up (and slaying her enemies like nobody’s business).

As it turned out, A CROWN OF WISHES broke my heart – but in the worst way possible. I just couldn’t get into it. After a few weeks of struggling, I finally DNF’ed at 60%. Cue: the bitter taste of disappointment.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why my feelings for A CROWN OF WISHES were so lukewarm. I mean, Chokshi’s prose is as elegant as ever. But the story didn’t have the same grand, sweeping, epic feel as THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN. And while I liked Gauri, I didn’t connect with her or Vikram, and the predictability of the two of them together had me sighing like Fred Savage in THE PRINCESS BRIDE. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about any of it.

That said, I’m going through what will probably go down as the worst period in my life (fingers crossed, but things can always get worse), and it’d be an understatement to say that I’m in a reading slump. Very few things – be they books, graphic novels, movies, tv shows, even good company or old-fashioned manual labor – have managed to take my mind of things for more than a minute or two. So, grain of salt.

On the other hand: I also have a tendency to try to explain a DNF away, especially when it’s of an overwhelmingly popular book. It’s like I just can’t accept that my opinion diverges so dramatically from the norm, and in such a negative way. So maybe I’m doing us all a disservice by blaming it solely on the slump. Perhaps the problem lies in the book, or the story, or the characters who inhabit it. Maybe it’s a romance that just wasn’t meant to be … for this reader, anyway.

** Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for rape. **

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.

I'm so disappointed that I didn't like this book anymore than the first one.
I have no idea why I expected to? But I did.
It sounded like the story had so much promise, but it just failed to enchant me. It didn't whisk me away on a magical adventure that I could feel myself drowning in.
And that's what I wanted.

The story felt like one huge rush to me.
Things conveniently happened at the right time, and people went along with things without question.
I thought it was unrealistic and lacking a lot of character and world building.

The start of the story focuses on Gauri and Vikram making their way to 'The Otherworld' where they plan to take part in a magical tournament where the winner receives a wish.
These two characters are from enemy kingdoms yet must work together in order to survive.
Sounds great, no?!
It wasn't great.
The constant 'banter' between these two characters was grating and irritating, and their journey seemed rushed with little explanation.
Vikram secretly frees Gauri from the prison where she is being held so that they can enter the tournament and she goes along with it soooo easily. She originally thinks she's going to be killed, but instead she is informed that magic exists and that they're traveling to the mystical Kingdom of Treasures so they can try to win a wish from the King there who also happens to be married to a river.
Does she question this?
No, not really.
She's all "oh okay enemy Prince who I have no reason to trust. Let's go." And off they rush.
And rush, and rush, and rush.

Things do slow down a little once the tournament begins.
And we have some beautiful and interesting imagery through poetically written descriptions.
The folklore and creatures were interesting (when is folklore not interesting?), and the settings are rich and beautiful (if a little confusing).
Yet things are still a little silly, odd, and not questioned.

At one point this happens:

Gauri - "when should we arrive?"
Yakshini - "The floor will turn to fire, my lady. That will be your signal to leave the room."
Gauri - "And when does the tournament start?"

HOLD UP!!!
Why is no one questioning this floor turning to fire business?!
I would be freaking out!
Is this a normal occurrence?
Won't they burn to death?
Why can't they just ring a bell or something?
I have so many questions!

Admittedly the scary fire floor does turn out to be formed out of cool flames.
But no one knew that before fire sprung to life under their feet!
Yet they all act like it's completely normal and expected.
What?

I also found the romance extremely unbelievable.
The two characters go from enemies who can barely stand each other, to being madly in love and besotted with each other over just a few short days.
A week maybe?
Maybe just over a week?
I'm unsure as time kept being conveniently skipped and lost so that the story could progress.
But it definitely was not a believable amount of time.

My favourite part of this book was when Kamala turns up.
Yay Kamala the human eating, demon horse returns!
But she was only around for about 2 or 3 pages *sigh*
And I did enjoy briefly seeing Maya again too, and she seemed way less annoying and stupid this time around. Hurrah!
But again, that was only for a couple of pages.
And I did like Aasha. She was probably the best character in this one by far!

I really didn't enjoy the first book in this series either, so I have no idea why I expected things to change this time around.
At least we did have a bit more of a plot this's time around. And this instalment may have been a little less annoying perhaps? The characters weren't quite as stupid as I found Maya to be in The Star-Touched Queen. But I still didn't love them or really care about what was going to happen to them.

At least this book doesn't take very long to read?

Unpopular opinion #1 goes to me!

~4.3~
Beautifully poetic writing. The words were wonderfully pieced together, and reading A Crown of Wishes was truly enjoyable and light, although I'll need to point out that the perspective of the book was a little questionable, due to the first person POV for Gauri and the third person limited POV for Vikram and Aasha, despite the clarity of the POV for each chapter. It wasn't a problem or anything, but it still bothered me a little.

I was really eager to read this book because of the synopsis, despite not having read the first book of this series. It didn't take me too long to catch up on anything relevant that I'd missed, and I only felt confused occasionally, which was a huge relief.A Crown of Wishes had a great, simple plot that really made me happy. I mean, competitions, adventure, and royalty are always an appealing combination, and with the touch of an elegant writer, Roshani Chokshi did not disappoint.

Vikram and Gauri worked very well together, and I liked their whole dynamic, although there wasn't too much depth to their relationship other than the "You know my biggest secret" factor. The parts to the story were a plus, because it was good for me to have a sense of the broader story, beyond the competition portion. I would've really liked it if the transitioning between the parts was more gradual and provided me a better sense of closure for said parts, but they were fine all the same.

Aasha was a pretty good supporting character, and I was intrigued by her backstory. However, even though she had a couple of chapters from her perspective, I feel that it would've been better formatting to have her chapters span throughout the book to peek into her character more, while having a bit of consistency.

That said, this was a really great read and I'd recommend it if you like the synopsis and don't mind a bit of predictability.

Sending my thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this ARC!

"Existence is the gift. Life is a choice." - Roshani Chokshi, A Crown of Wishes

Lyrical writing, incredible characters, intricate world-building and diverse themes!

"The Lord of Wealth and Treasures Cordially Invites you to The Tournament of Wishes"... reading this novel is like being invited to a fairyland; it guarantees to be a magical, magnificent and awe-inspiring experience with lyrical writing that sparks your imagination. A Crown of Wishes follows the adventures of warrior princess Gauri and the cunning fox prince Vikram in the Tournament of Wishes to win their deepest hearts' desires. This story is about so many things from self-discovery to the pursuit of power; vengeance and fear; choices and identity, desires and control, as well as love and sacrifice. It's an exciting premise for a YA fantasy novel and pays tributes to Chokshi's previous novel The Star-Touched Queen. This book can be read as a stand-alone irrespective of whether you have or have not read The Star-Touched Queen. A Crown of Wishes has an otherworldliness feel to it and almost anything can happen in the magical, intriguing world of Alaka - at times, the story can be a little disorientating because of all the intricate stories interwoven into the larger story. The magical world of Alaka also follows a different set of rules than traditional fantasy worlds but adds new dimensions to the story. There's just so much going on and so much to discover! In terms of characters, I enjoyed the hilarious banter between Gauri and Vikram, and Aasha's story, they're all characters that you can fall in love with. Overall it's a great story worth reading. I recommend this book for readers who loves books like Daughter of Smoke and Bones, Caraval and The Crown's Game.

Other interesting quotes:

"Here's how you kill: You stay silent, you make bargains that peel the layers off your soul one by one, you build a scaffolding of flimsy excuses and live your life on them. I may have killed to save, but I killed all the same." - Roshani Chokshi, A Crown of Wishes

"The quest for power and treasure is a solitary one. Who else is the true enemy in such a quest but ourselves?" - Roshani Chokshi, A Crown of Wishes

"Humanity has nothing to do with what runs withough your veins or shows up on your skin." - Roshani Chokshi, A Crown of Wishes

<strong>WrensReads Review:</strong>

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Whenever you think of Wonderland or Neverland or just anything stupid-beautiful, this book should be the first thing that comes to mind. Actually no, anything Roshani Chokshi has written is stupid-beautiful. It feels like a poem had a baby with a fantasy and out came Chokshi's books. The way she makes you see things is something you will get completely lost in. I found myself wanting to read more of the magical place she pieced together.

Caraval and The Night Circus are two other books that I would compare to this marvelous book. If you loved The Star-Touched Queen, just know that this was written a little differently. I myself had a little bit of a hard time piecing things together in The Star-Touched Queen because I was so distracted by how much description and beautiful sentences there were. But, I did end up loving it, and you can see my review for it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1623689577?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">here</a>. You should know that the writing is different between these two books, so you may find yourself in love with it.

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You technically don't even have to read The Star-Touched Queen in order to read this book, since it was a companion novel, though I highly recommend that you do. I learned the hard way with Leigh Bardugo's books that even though you can technically read a series (Six of Crows) without reading the previous series (Grisha), doesn't mean that you should. There are hints about The Star Touched Queen through out the book that will make you smile, but the fixed-content itself is completely separate.

So the characters in this book are what made it so much better to me. You have two royals thrown together in a quest to win a wondrous price. Both have completely different ideas on what to do with the price, but that doesn't stop them from regrettably working together. One is a princess named Gauri that is being held captive by the country that Prince Vikram will rule. They are polar opposites not only in country but in spirit too. Where Vikram has wit, Gauri has has determination and strength. Where Vikram has spur of the moment, Gauri has ponder and thought out. Gauri is more serious and Vikram loves that (because how else is a prince going to stay entertained on a quest?).

You meet different types of beings in this book and just learn a lot more of this beautiful land Chokshi has brought before us. She deserves all the publicity and praise she is going to get with this book. It will blow you away.

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