They say lyrical writing would lull you to sleep, that it takes too long to decipher the literal meaning of the text, that it lacks action. But I’ve always been a fan of lyricism. I like the particular lilt and soulful ambiance; I personally find Chokshi’s words to be unearthly. It would remind you of your most successful victory, and the joy that accompanied that memory. It would make you nostalgic, and perhaps weep, as it extracts your greatest sorrow. I couldn’t help but to sway with the rhythmical tread of the plot. It is sweet and calculated. That’s why I love lyrical writing. It compels me.

The Star-Touched Queen is filled with lovely prose and gorgeous characters. The companion sequel, A Crown of Wishes, isn’t any different from that legacy. Though, I find this book to be more about the movement after movement. So, if you’re hesitant to pick it up because the first novel seems lacking, you should give it a chance. It’s similar, but also different.

A Crown of Wishes follows the story of Gauri, the exiled princess of Bharata. She’s been shunned after attempting to usurp her brother. Now, she’s a prisoner of war and she won’t stop until she achieves her goal. Here comes Vikram, the prince of a neighboring kingdom. He offers to whisk her away in exchange of becoming his partner for the Tournament of Wishes. It’s a magical competition hosted by the Lord of Treasures where the victors get to have their wish granted. It’s a battle of wits and survival.

Find the one who glows, with blood on the lips and fans in the heart.

This is an ingenious prose, it’s going to rope readers that seek mystery. It’s a tournament of riddles. There’s a puzzle needing to be solved or else their life might be forfeited. There’s always a twist, too. The competition is taking place in Alaka, an enigmatic city cloaked with magic and possibilities; where otherworldly creatures exist.

For me, it’s the characters that make or break the story. The female protagonist, Gauri, is easy to empathize with. Some might label her as unlikable. She’s full of human flaws. She’s a princess who had to learn how to shield herself because weakness is a deadly price, she can’t afford. It takes her some time to thaw herself for new people. I think that’s admirable. I love her so much. If you’ve read the first book, you’d see how much she’d change. While Vikram, our male protagonist is full of surprises as well. His strength lies with his resourcefulness and quick tongue. He doesn’t wield a weapon as much as Gauri does, which is refreshing. He’s funny and not afraid to admit what he wants. That’s why he and Gauri make a perfect match. This ship is something I’m willing to go down with.

Although it was Aasha, the new character, that left an impression on me. She’s a vishakanya. A woman that dreams what is it like to eat something other than desire. She’s a wild card that melts my heart. I hope we get to know her better. Also, she’s canon wlw. *insert war cry*

There’s some certain scenes that didn’t set down with me, Shenwei from readingasiam has eloquently talked about it. I encourage you to read about it if you’re curious.

A Crown of Wishes is more than just pretty words. The strength also lies with the characters and the plot. It is a novel threaded with cautionary tales meant to serve a warning to those who doesn’t know better. I’m excited to read more from this world.

Disclaimer: As I am not being represented in the text, this review didn’t critically examine the cultural aspect. Though, keep in mind The Star-Touched Queen is an #ownvoices book.

Review also posted at Amazon and Goodreads.

Is it possible to love the second book more than the first? Yes, yes it is.

Gauri and Vikram's back-and-forth banter makes up almost 3/4ths of my highlighting during my read. It truly is hilarious, witty, and sharp as a dagger while not coming off cliché or pretentious. Chokshi does wonders with her characterization, even with her side characters like Aasha and the royals of the Otherworld. Stubborn and beastly of a woman, Gauri knows exactly what she wants: her kingdom back from her lying, manipulative, murderous brother. But weapons are not always a weapon, and Vikram, whose mind and tongue are seeped with honey and quick as a whip, expose that to her throughout their journey. And their budding romance is just so much fun to witness! I'm always a fan of bantering relationships that turn crush-worthy.

Absoultely love Roshani Chokshi's elegant and poetic prose. The Indian mythology mixed with delicious details and gorgeous quotes makes <I>A Crown of Wishes</I> a top favorite read thus far. While you don't have to read the first book to know exactly what is going on, it is still recommended to understand Chokshi's beautiful woven world of The Star-Touched Queen. A perfect book for those in a slump after reading <I>Caraval</I> and anticipating the release of <I>The Crown's Fate</I>.

Reviews posted on blog and Insagram will go live on 3/26

Closed the book with a smile on my face. Great companion book to The Star Touched Queen. in fact, I think I liked this one better. It could be read as a stand-alone but the first book gives some backstory to understand a little better. An interesting world. It makes me want to understand Mythology from India better.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Reading Star Touched Queen, Gauri was one of my favorite characters and reading A Crown of Wishes has cemented that status.

While you don't technically have to read STQ before reading A Crown of Wishes, I think that it is a good idea because it gives dimension to an aspect of Gauri's personality that otherwise could be seen as a bit one dimensional.

I laughed, I cried, and I swooned at this book. It was an excellent addition to this vividly stunning world that Roshani Chokshi has created! 100% recommend!

4.5 stars. Close to 5, but a few parts dragged a little or were confusing. Beautiful and enchanting. I loved this world and immediately went back to read the previous novel. It was wonderful!

This is even better than the first! The protagonist is a lot more relatable, and the story itself is easier to engage with. Still lyrical, but a touch less "Gandalf attempting to give instructions"

Crown of Wishes is a lush and enchanting tale full of magic, deception and swoon. The story is narrated by both Gauri and Vikram, and I loved both of them. These two approach the world very differently, arguing and sparking against each other from the start. While she is more likely to fight her way out of a situation with blood and sharp daggers, Vikram's wits are his weapon of choice. These two clash from the start, especially as they meet when Vikram is supposed to be telling Gauri of her upcoming execution. Obviously the meeting doesn't go as either of them expected, and it is the beginning of a reluctant partnership that completely changes the course of both of their lives.

From the start, these two banter endlessly over their differences, but those differences are also what make them such a strong team, and slowly through their journey to compete in the Tournament of Wishes, they realize that they are not as dissimilar as they once thought. I loved watching these two characters fall for the other slowly through the course of the book, as they also realize how much more they could accomplish when they support each other.

But this book isn't just a love story, and Gauri and Vikram each have their own path to forge ahead. As they they face the wonders, as well as the perils of the Otherworld where nothing is what it seems, including it's various residents, they begin to see themselves and their histories and abilities more clearly. I especially love the message that every person's story is interconnected to someone else's, and can look completely different depending on your perspective. That is a hard but important lesson for both of them that weaves through the entire book.

A Crown of Wishes is a sensory experience of delicious food, decadent textiles, new sights to explore and dangers to escape around every corner all wrapped in the fabric of Indian culture and mythology. Don't miss this story!


Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone - Companion to The Star-Touched Queen. I don't know if this is the end of the companion series, but there is one character I would love to see get her own story.

<a target= _blank href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmAuFPH7WoU/Vpk7CACss5I/AAAAAAAAFvw/6bj4ozMqtSc/s1600/Book%2BFrigate.png" imageanchor="1" ><img hspace="10" align="left" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmAuFPH7WoU/Vpk7CACss5I/AAAAAAAAFvw/6bj4ozMqtSc/s320/Book%2BFrigate.png"></a><font face="Georgia"> <h3>Welcome to another session of Turning Pages!</h3> <p>There's a lot of upheaval in moving house, and reading isn't something one often has time to do much of, but I'm choosing books which allow me to savor and enjoy them in snatches. This is one!</p>

<p><i><b>Synopsis</b></i>: There were only impossible decisions left, and then Gauri, the princess of Bharata, was given as a prisoner of war to her kingdom’s enemies. They were supposed to kill her - but instead, Gauri was offered a choice: to play in the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor - for the chance to gamble on everything and win it all - her kingdom back, her respect, the lives of her family and loved ones. But, is it even possible, to change everything on a single wish?</p>

<p>Vikram is the son of a king, for all the good it will do him. A weak king, led by his counselors, a man whose petty cruelties have raised his son to a high estate that he can never possibly maintain. He has a title, but no power, and now he's being offered entrance to the Game... and a chance to have it all. Only, he has to have a partner. This prisoner of war - fierce and sharp-tongued - is hardly the best choice, but she's all he's got, in order to get a chance.</p>

<p>The Lord of Wealth is twisty, and just <i>finding</i> the city where the Tournament is held thrusts Vikram and Gauri into mortal peril. There's too much to battle - too much real, and too many things from their own minds. There's really no way to win, and even if they do make it through -- only one wish? What good will that do?</p>

<p>As long as there's a chance, though, neither combatant - contestant - will give up. Is it worth working together? Can they trust their hearts, to give them what they desire? As beautiful, poison-skinned women swan about, feasting on their fears, and clouds of storytelling birds flutter past, nothing is as it seems - and everything is worth more than they could have wanted...and wanting anything is <i>deadly</i>.</p>

<a target= _blank href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aT1jpfCc6s/WNGuCEjRMpI/AAAAAAAAGyY/UDC_BaCOr4A-aqVOtupZdksn_Oq9ozWjQCLcB/s1600/29939047.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" hspace=10 align=right src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aT1jpfCc6s/WNGuCEjRMpI/AAAAAAAAGyY/UDC_BaCOr4A-aqVOtupZdksn_Oq9ozWjQCLcB/s400/29939047.jpg" width="262" height="400" /></a><p><i><b>Observations</b></i>: Though this is a second book in a series, it reads, to me, as a book which could easily stand alone, so can be honestly called simply a "companion novel." The first book in this series enthralled many; this second book will make believers out of many more. It's even better than the first, by my lights.</p>
<p>I dislike having to put books down, and prefer to be a stem-to-stern reader, swallowing stories whole, but that's not always an option. This book is delightfully lush and filled with beautifully descriptive allegory, which can be digested in small bites. I'm reminded of a South Asian Odyssey, with shades of Christina Rosseti's "Goblin Market," and shades of ALICE IN WONDERLAND. There's a lot of loveliness here to take in, and I imagine fans of Cornelia Funke's INKHEART will find common ground here.</p>

<p><i><b>Conclusion</b></i>: I love an adventure story which takes readers through the looking glass and down the metaphorical rabbit hole. Thrown together, two vastly different type of people must first see the value in each other's ways, then together, determine how best to travel the labyrinthine mythical lands and interpret clues and hints to find the Lord of Wealth, and beg entrance to the Game of these magical beings, most of which consider humans great sport, and tasty around the spinal cord... The beautifully written story is evocative and thought-provoking, and there are so many lovely turns of phrase. Also, a lot of sarcasm, anger, and a girl who's the fastest draw in the West with her dagger and sword. Surprisingly fun.</p>
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<hr width=55%><p>I received my copy of this book courtesy of the publisher. You can find <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/aff/readersrant7?product=9781250085498" target=_blank><i>A CROWN OF WISHES</i></a> by Roshani Chokshi at an online e-tailer, or at a real life, independent bookstore near you!</p>
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I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to read this book. I absolutely adored The Star-Touched Queen as I'm sure you all remember well and I'm pleased to say I loved this one just as much! I was a little worried that Guari and Vikram would remind me of Maya and Amar, but I shouldn't have because they had a completely different dynamic, chemisty, and their personalitities could not be any more different. I am a sucker for banter and Vikram and Guari's was amazing! I was laughing so hard on multiple occasions. The dynamic between the two characters was so amazing to see develop because they had such different upbringings and such different personalities you could clearly see that both of them analyzed situations differently and actively had to compromise with each other and place a lot of trust on the other person which created some beautiful moments of vulnerability on the parts of both characters. I just adore the way Chokshi writes. Every word is dripping with magic and beauty and if I could live inside her words I would. She has created two vivid and wonderful characters and given them a supporting cast and world that is equally as vivid and wonderful. I especially love the moment when Guari and Maya are reunited briefly because it was such a tender, sisterly moment, but it also helped to tie the two books together and really cement just how important these sisters are to each other. I loved that it wasn't too much and that it didn't take away from Guari's own journey and story. I also really enjoyed that we get to explore both Guari and Vikram's point of view because it really helped to understand why both of them needed the wish and I just love being able to see people becoming closer through multiple POVs. Overall A Crown of Wishes is an amazing and beautiful book and I am so excited to read more from Roshani Chokshi!

i requested this before i read the first, as i'd heard such good things, but it just wasn't my jam. didn't want to force myself to read the second. sorry.

Scheduled to post 3/21/17.

Ugh. If there ever was a sequel just as good as the first in a series, it's A CROWN OF WISHES. Written in the same golden prose as A STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN with a story that stabs you in the gut and a heroine that would sooner set you on fire than save you, I couldn't get enough of it. I just want to eat it all up.

But then I might turn into a werewolf creature. And that would be bad. Maybe.

Gauri is Maya's sister, for whom A STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN was about. And she does make a brief appearance in A CROWN OF WISHES, but don't expect a lot. This is Gauri's story. And she's so incredibly fierce and determined and vengeful and sometimes pig-headed. I actually think Chokshi balanced her character well, creating a wholly likable person in Gauri while being incredibly flawed and not obnoxious. Personalities like Gauri's, if overdone, can come off forceful and off-putting. But she was snarky, witty, and all around awesome.

And, like the first one, there was some prince being in need of rescuing. I love that Chokshi keeps flipping the story like that. Gives me the warm and fuzzies.

And let's not forget the world. My god, the world! Just as strong and vivid as in the original, it's its own character in the book, coming to life on the pages as Chokshi weaves a dark and dangerous and appealing web of her world. I couldn't get enough of it, the world whore that I am.

If there were to be a third book, and I'm thinking there might be, I think I know just whose story it might be, and my god. I can't wait. MOAR! When's the next one coming out? What do you mean A CROWN OF WISHES isn't out yet? How's that relevant? MOAR!

5

Having loved the first book i didn't expect to like this one more, and yet this book completely blew me away. What a brilliant story, what incredible characters! Wish i had more stars to give.

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. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, 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.

Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels.

Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire. (via Goodreads)
I received an eARC of A Crown of Wishes courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Griffin, in exchange for an honest review. I also reviewed The Star-Touched Queen, the first book in this series last year.

First things first - this is the second book in a series. The characters are not the same ones as the ones in The Star-Touched Queen, but there will be a lot that you don't know if you haven't read it, in my opinion. You can read my review, linked above, if you want a refresher!

I loved A Crown of Wishes, maybe even more than I loved The Star-Touched Queen, which I didn't think was possible. I love the worlds that they travel between. Roshani has built a series of worlds that are lush, romantic and more than a little bit dangerous - just the way they should be.

I couldn't help but feel like I was right there alongside Vikram and Gauri in A Crown of Wishes, which is exactly how I want to feel when I'm reading this kind of adventure. Their story moves a lot faster than The Star Touched Queen did, which was perfect for it.

Gauri moves faster as a person than Maya did, but you can read the love that she had for her sister in every page. Gauri is a very different character from her older sister, and it shows in the narrative. She and Vikram snark their way through the competition and I loved every minute of it.

I loved learning about so many different types of mystical creatures, and showing just how human they all are at heart. Roshani's prose, as usual, was stunning and lyrical. I couldn't get enough of it.

Honestly, I think I'd read a shopping list written by Roshani Chokshi and fall in love with it. This was absolutely a five star read for me! I highly recommend you pick up a copy of your own on Amazon or Indiebound!

Five stars

I'll also have the awesome chance to meet Roshani next month, as well as S. Jae-Jones and I'm absolutely thrilled!

I loved The Star Touched Queen and couldn't wait for this companion novel. I didn't think it was possible it would be as good but gosh darn was it! I could live in this world forever and now I really want to see a companion novel for Aasha!

I wasn't totally sure how to review this book when I had finished it. So, I gave it three stars--not bad, but not great. Three stars is my "undecided" rating. Since I'm not totally coherent on how I feel, my review of this book is going to look a little bit different from my usual review. Here's some of my thoughts on the book:

What I liked:
--One Thousand and One Nights atmosphere.
--The world-building: seriously, it was amazing. I loved the locations that the author created. They were very well fleshed out, and full of magic and mystery.
--Gauri. Because who doesn't love a break-your-heart-or-maybe-your-arm type of heroine?
--Aasha. The sweet, poor, poisonous little darling.
--Magic. I like magical fairytales, so this is no surprise.

What I didn't like:
--Demons.
--Creepiness. Like the whole undead monster valley thing.
--The intensity of the love/lust relationship. (They didn't get beyond kissing/cuddling, but it got pretty heated. And it was brought up. Overall, it made me uncomfortable.)
--All the violence.

What I wasn't sure about:
--Vikram. I haven't decided whether I like him or not.
--The Lord of Wealth. I wasn't sure whether he was a good guy, or a bad guy--maybe that was the point?
--All the deep, philosophical points made. For example, "Desires are dangerous" was repeated almost ad nauseam. Yes, I like my books to have a theme. One or two is good. Maybe even three. But the book was liberally sprinkled with insight, and a lot of it becomes lost when there is that much.

That sums up most of the things I've been thinking about. I know it's not super clear, but I hope it helps you a little bit in deciding whether or not to read this one.

*Many thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy to review!*

For more reviews, or to have your own book reviewed, see gabriellenblog.wordpress.com

Roshani Chokshi is a masterful writer. She may write about magic, but I believe she is magic herself. Her writing and her characters are out of this world in A Crown of Wishes, and I loved reading every single bit of it. She knows how to keep her readers enchanted, on the edge of their seat, feeling a spectrum of emotions throughout the story. And she knows how to write an amazing romance, filled with snark and banter! If this isn't on your TBR already, you MUST add it now.

There were SO many amazing quotes throughout the story, too! The writing was a bit different from The Star-Touched Queen, but that doesn't mean one was better or worse or anything. It just seemed like a new tone for a different story is all It a great continuation of this series.

This book has everything you wished for in a fantasy. Chokshi hit all the right notes in the tension between the characters and building up the stakes. Some things do get lost if you don't savour the words - there were moments that confused me and I had to go back to read them slowly. What lacked in The Star-Touched Queen, Crown of Wishes makes up with better developed characters and a plot that makes your heart race.

Wow. What an amazing addition to an already great series. The first book, The Star-Touched Queen, was magical. Though it took me a bit to understand the world we were in, I fell in love with the characters and the writing. A Crown of Wishes is no exception.

This book had so much action and mystery. There were many characters that shocked me, and twists in the plot that caught me off guard. I found that I fell into this story and world a little easier than the last, and I become completely and totally addicted to this story.

I loved that this carried on in similar worlds with completely new characters, some of which we were introduced to in the first book. I think this was a really cool way to carry on the story, especially since things kind of seemed to be concluded with Maya and Amar. Because of this switch we got new characters, new relationships, and fresh swoons. This particular book follows Guari and Vikram, two characters that I grew to love and care about so much, as they competed through in the Tournament of Wishes. Their banter throughout the book is amazing, and their relationship grows beyond what I had expected. I was cheering them on throughout the entire book.

I highly recommend that if you read The Star-Touched Queen that you continue on with this story. I know some people left with some world confusion after the first book, but A Crown of Wishes will blow you away. The writing is gorgeous and you will immediately get lost in this world, in the best way possible. Do not miss out on this book!

A Crown of Wishes is a captivating sequel to The Star Touched Queen. It reminded me somewhat of Caravel that I also loved. I couldn’t put it down and read it cover to cover in 24 hours. The characters had an awesome connection and they were full of color and wonder. I loved the mythological creatures and the magic that flowed around them. Four stars for this magical read.