Quick Thoughts: A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi

A Crown of Wishes

(The Star-Touched Queen #2)

by Roshani Chokshi

March 6, 2018

Goodreads Summary:

An ancient mystery. An unlikely union. For one young princess in a state of peril, a dangerous wish could be the only answer…

She is the princess of Bharata—captured by her kingdom’s enemies, a prisoner of war. Now that she faces a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. But should she trust Vikram, the notoriously cunning prince of a neighboring land? He promises her freedom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together they can team up and win the Tournament of Wishes, a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor. It seems like a foolproof plan—until Gauri and Vikram arrive at the tournament and find that danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans, mischievous story birds, a feast of fears, and twisted fairy revels. New trials will test their devotion, strength, and wits. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

Review

From the glimpses of Gauri and Vikram we got from The Star-Touched Queen, I had high hopes for their story. A Crown of Wishes did not disappoint! It delivered an enchanting tale of identity and hope.

What I Liked:

- once again, beautiful writing

- an encouraging plot

- upbeat pacing

- magical atmosphere

-a very curious tournament

- the banter between Gauri and Vikram:

   - from thinly veiled insults to fiercely protective promises

- how sweetly the romance developed

- such an extremely quotable story!! (see below)

The Not So Much:

- the writing was sometimes a little confusing

"Stories are boundless and infinite, ever-changing and elusive." (p. 176)

"Fear meant not knowing where you started and ended because control was nothing but illusion." (p. 277)

"Sometimes the greatest power comes not from that which we do, but that which we do not." (p. 308)

"What was magic anyway, but the world beheld by someone who chose to see it differently?" (p. 362)

"You could carry a story inside you and hold it up to the light when you needed it the most. You could peer through it, like a frame, and see how it changed your view when you looked out into the world." (p. 366)