This week I'm doing reviews featuring runaway royal brides: The Star-Touched Queen by Rouhani Chokshi today, The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead on Wednesday, and a Runaway Royal Freebie Friday!
The Star-Touched Queen
by Roshani Chokshi
To be published by St. Martins Griffin
on April 26, 2016
Source: ARC sent by publisher for review
My take: The Star-Touched Queen features hypnotically beautiful writing, fairy tale romance and world building that's an interesting blend of Western and non-Western mythologies. Going in, I thought I'd read somewhere that this was partly inspired by the myth of Hades and Persephone. I could see the parallels but as I read I was also reminded of classic fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast or Bluebeard in which a young girl must live with a man who might or might not be dangerous.
The story's action and intrigue starts from the very first pages as Maya, a princess who was born with an inauspicious horoscope, sneaks around her father's harem. Feared and disliked by most of the women there, she spends her time chasing off her tutors or hiding in an alcove, listening to her father plot military strategy. When her father tells her she's about to be betrothed, she's distraught, until a mysterious, cloaked man arrives at her wedding to whisk her off to his even more mysterious kingdom. Maya's new home is unfamiliar and her new husband is at turns indulgent and stern. He seems to care for her, yet keeps her at a distance. Bit by bit, she unravels the mystery ... but when she finally does, will she wish she hadn't!?
I was immediately drawn in by the hypnotic, poetic prose of the story and by Maya's plight. I loved the nods to Greek and Roman mythology -- one scene near the end reminded me a lot of a scene from the Aeneid -- but I was even more taken with the Indian influences that are woven into the story. I must admit to being a little weary of YA books that are inspired by familiar French and German fairy tales. I mean, hey, there's a whole world out there of interesting stories, so I hope that books like this with non-Western inspirations become more of a trend.
I wasn't quite sure what I thought of Amar, the mystery man, but I think that was deliberate. His relationship with Maya was an interesting one that kept me guessing. Was he a prince in disguise, as in Beauty and the Beast? A killer in disguise, as in Bluebeard? Or something in-between?
Definitely check this out if you've enjoyed creative YA fairy tale retellings like Cruel Beauty or Of Beast and Beauty.
by Roshani Chokshi
To be published by St. Martins Griffin
on April 26, 2016
Source: ARC sent by publisher for review
Synopsis from Goodreads: Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the 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 expected: 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.
My take: The Star-Touched Queen features hypnotically beautiful writing, fairy tale romance and world building that's an interesting blend of Western and non-Western mythologies. Going in, I thought I'd read somewhere that this was partly inspired by the myth of Hades and Persephone. I could see the parallels but as I read I was also reminded of classic fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast or Bluebeard in which a young girl must live with a man who might or might not be dangerous.
The story's action and intrigue starts from the very first pages as Maya, a princess who was born with an inauspicious horoscope, sneaks around her father's harem. Feared and disliked by most of the women there, she spends her time chasing off her tutors or hiding in an alcove, listening to her father plot military strategy. When her father tells her she's about to be betrothed, she's distraught, until a mysterious, cloaked man arrives at her wedding to whisk her off to his even more mysterious kingdom. Maya's new home is unfamiliar and her new husband is at turns indulgent and stern. He seems to care for her, yet keeps her at a distance. Bit by bit, she unravels the mystery ... but when she finally does, will she wish she hadn't!?
I was immediately drawn in by the hypnotic, poetic prose of the story and by Maya's plight. I loved the nods to Greek and Roman mythology -- one scene near the end reminded me a lot of a scene from the Aeneid -- but I was even more taken with the Indian influences that are woven into the story. I must admit to being a little weary of YA books that are inspired by familiar French and German fairy tales. I mean, hey, there's a whole world out there of interesting stories, so I hope that books like this with non-Western inspirations become more of a trend.
I wasn't quite sure what I thought of Amar, the mystery man, but I think that was deliberate. His relationship with Maya was an interesting one that kept me guessing. Was he a prince in disguise, as in Beauty and the Beast? A killer in disguise, as in Bluebeard? Or something in-between?
Definitely check this out if you've enjoyed creative YA fairy tale retellings like Cruel Beauty or Of Beast and Beauty.
Oh, your review gets me excited!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a really fun book!
DeleteI said the same thing about this being a book for Cruel Beauty and ACOTAR lovers. It didn't give me the ~feels~ like Cruel Beauty did though!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely - and I agree. This book definitely kept me guessing longer, which made me suspicious of the love interest. I kind of hold off the feels when I think the guy might be bad news and all. But overall really enjoyed this!
DeleteBeautiful writing and world building in this one sounds great
ReplyDeleteOooh I absolutely loved Cruel Beauty so I'll be glad to pick this one up! I'm keen to hear how the Greek, Roman and INdian influences are weaved into here as well. Lovely review Jen!
ReplyDeleteEeeep, I cannot WAIT for this to be out! *flails* It sounds amazing and also a bit like The Wrath and the Dawn, maybe? And I also adore Cruel Beauty, so I feel like this is going to be just my thing. :')
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited about this book! I've heard nothing but great things about it.
ReplyDeleteI also think that it feels a little like The Wrath and the Dawn, and that's amazing!... well, I hope so.
This reminds me a lot of Cruel Beauty, and that's one of my favourite books! Really excited to read this one, mythology + fairy tales = win! Plus that cover is wow. Thanks for the review, definitely more excited to read this one!
ReplyDeleteOmg, I love the title you gave to your reviews about runaway royal brides. :D Not gonna lie, I'm a big fan of these types of stories. I absolutely adored this book! The main character had so much growth, and the writing was simply magnetic. Lovely review. :)
ReplyDelete- Aila Happy Indulgence
Hypnotic prose, you say? Sounds like I need to check this out :) I mean, what other heroine begins by being born under an inauspicious horoscope anymore?! :P
ReplyDelete