Waiting on Wednesday: A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  This week I've once again chosen a sequel.  The way the first book, The Star-Touched Queen, ended, I needed to know more, I was left unsure exactly how things ended up.  But with this second book, I'm looking forward to seeing what I can learn from another point of view.  Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

The new novel follows Gauri, the younger sister of the titular Star-Touched Queen, on her harrowing quest for freedom.

When Gauri, the princess of Bharata, is captured by her kingdom’s rivals, she can only find help in Vikram, the cunning prince of an enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with royal life, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. They set aside their differences and team up to compete in the Tournament of Wishes, wherein the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.



Have you read the first book yet?  Does this one sound like one you'd want to read?  What book or books are you eagerly awaiting this week?

Review: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

First, thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an egalley of this.  The cover was beautiful, and I'd heard some good things about it, so I was very excited when I was able to fit it into my reading schedule.  Towards the end of the book I just got so sucked in that I didn't want to do anything but finish it, because I needed to know how it would end.  And I'm glad it is supposed to be a series, because I need to know what happens next! 

The  main character is Maya. She is a daughter of the Raja, and while everyone there thinks she is cursed because of when she was born, it turns out that her father is going to marry her off to try to save their kingdom from all the threats of war there are.  But when his plan turns out to be that she is going to die, to kill herself rather than marry any of them, things change.  While she knows it is her duty, chaos breaks out at the time it is to happen, and she is taken away by Amar, who wants her to be his queen. She agrees to it, in order to be safe, and she hopes to save her family. Amar takes her to his kingdom of Akaran.  As they travel there, she learns that many of the stories and myths that she grew up learning are real.  Kingdoms of creatures, and the stars being able to be touched. 

But her new husband is keeping secrets from her.  He promises to tell her all at a certain point, a certain moon.  But Maya can't wait.  There are so many things happening all over the palace, whispering voices, other worlds or times in the mirrors.  And there is something about what Amar wants her to do, and the things he says that bring up memories or feelings.  And she hears Amar and his servant talking, and begins to wonder just what the secrets are.  And inside one of the mirrors there is a woman who says she used to be Maya's friend, and that she can't trust Amar, and only she can help Maya. 

Now Maya must choose who to trust.  Her husband, who is more than he seems, and does really seem to love her though.  Or this person who says she used to be her best friend, and also uses the secretive way Amar is to prove her point that he can't be trusted.  Whatever her decision, it will affect many things, not only her own life, but the lives of the world around her. 

The world was beautiful, and while Maya's choice makes me so mad, it also led to a great new aspect of the story, and I need to know what will happen to Maya and Amar's relationship.  I look forward to reading on in this story.