The Star-Touched Queen

The Star-Touched Queen is by debut author Roshani Chokshi

Fate and fortune. Power and passion.  What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you're only seventeen?

Maya is cursed.  With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions.  Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar.  Neither roles are what she expects:  As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power.  As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...

But Akaran has its own secrets- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit.  Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger.  Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most... including herself. 

The Breakdown:
1. Chokshi spins the most beautiful imagery and heartbreaking wonderful story in this book.  The story reminds me of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, which is probably one of my favorite myths, but Chokshi weaves the tale with Indian myths and imagery. The way she describes everything from the people to the flowers makes it easy to picture the scenes in my head.

2.  Loved the characters they are well rounded having both great points and flaws.  I love how intelligent Maya is and how stubborn she is at times.  I love that she is not perfect, and her flaws get her into trouble.  Amar is a little brooding and so obviously devoted to Maya.  But it is his secrets that had me truly fascinated by him. They kept me turning the pages wanting to know more about him, and what exactly he was Raja of in Akaran.

3. The supporting characters help to make this book wonderful.  Gupta, friend and scribe to Amar, and his quirks and knowledge.  Kamala, a blood thirsty horse, who Maya befriends on her journey. Gauri, Maya's sister who loves her stories, and grows into an even more interesting character as the story progresses.  I honestly would love to see more of her in future books in the series. (Which just announced today, the second book will be A Crown of Wishes.)

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read!