The Star-Touched Queen ~Giveaway~

                Hello happy readers!  I was planning to post this review and giveaway Friday but I ended up staying with a friend and got in super late then slept like the dead.  That said I had a great time at the release/signing event for TheStar-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA.  I have some more events planned for this month and will be putting my thoughts together on them in detail later on at No BS Book Reviews but for now just know it was a fun time.  I had dinner with some great book friends before hand and even more friendly faces there.  The store really is full of wonderful staff who love their job and remember their customers! 

Rating:  5 Stars

                The Star-Touched Queen is a debut novel and a stand alone!  First, I have found stand-alone fantasies are a rare find so cheers there.  Second, look at the cover!  So pretty!  I was happy my pre-order arrived the day of release so I had the day to read it before I went to the event, I always try to read the books before hand just in case anyone says something spoiler-ish!  The book is pretty quick and I flew right through it in pretty much one sitting, well I had to move I started in the pedi-chair and continued when home.  It's a story unlike anything I had read before.  We follow Maya who is cursed.  Born with a horoscope that promises death and destruction she has been an outcast in her father's kingdom and harem.  Until one day her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding for political convenience.  Maya becomes queen of Akaran and wife of Amar, neither are things she ever thought to want or wish for given her horoscope.  The world is magical but full of secrets.  She is asked to trust but when you know nothing it's hard to put faith in anyone or anything.  Fate, fortune, power, passions, reincarnation, mythology and more it has it all.

                Wow.  This book kind of blew my mind.  The whole world created was so beautiful and magical for me, different from anything else I had read that I was in love.  From jeweled fruit on trees you can eat to doors that will take you to any number of places including the stars.  Maya was wonderfully written and I loved her way of thinking.  She went back and forth in her thoughts and feels on things as new information came to her.  She wavered.  She fought with her head and her heart.  She had fears but she also had passion and a willingness to do anything for those she cared for.  She was pretty awesome.  Amar was pretty swoon worthy.  He was mysterious in ways both good and bad but he was already enduring with Maya.  He was vague in many ways but what he did say always rang with a truth.  He also had some sweet moments that just made my little heart feel all the feels!

                I really can't say anything else about the story as a whole or it might ruin the discovery.  The story is told in two parts and you just have to read it to understand all the beauty inside.  That and the whole mythology and destiny/fate aspect with the horoscopes just keeps you guessing.  Oh and the idea of harems and arranged marriages in a shed a different light on things.  Everything is so wonderfully packaged in this one little book that while I want more I am completely happy.  I did however, find that there is a companion to the book that would follow Maya's sister's path which makes me happy.  She was such an interesting character and the connection between Maya and her only added to my love of both.  Something about family. 

                I'd love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below.  Now for the goodies.  While at the signing I had the sweet Roshani sign an extra copy of her beautiful book to giveaway to one of my readers to enjoy!  The giveaway will be open until midnight Thursday May 12th.  This giveaway is open to US only.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and feels on fate and horoscopes and more. 

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