~Can't Wait Wednesday: The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1)~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1) by Roshani Chokshi

Out:  1/15

From Goodreads:

                Set in a darkly glamorous world The Gilded Wolves is full of mystery, decadence and dangerous but thrilling adventure.

                Paris, 1889:  The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets.  In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie.  But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined:  his true inheritance.  To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts:

                An engineer with a debt to pay.  A historian who can’t yet go home.  A dancer with a sinister past.  And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.        

                Together, they’ll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris.  What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.

Why I’m Waiting:

                 I have really enjoyed this authors Star-Touched books and I am intrigued to learn more about this past life of decadency and secrets. 

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your CWW as well so I can check it out.

Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5)

                Hello happy readers!  My days are a bit off but it works out even better because yesterdays review actually comes out today so win!  Yes I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5) by Roshani Chokshi.  I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times at book events before she was published as just a fellow book lover and since her publication and she is so sweet and I have enjoyed this world, I reviewed the previous two books here:  The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Star-Touched Stories is a set of short stories or novellas.  There are three lush stories full of beauty and adventure. The three stories are : Death & Night, Poison & Gold, and Rose & Sword.  All three were brilliant and beautiful.  They each were a very decent size/length and just expanded the world we already knew.  I loved seeing characters I knew in a different and new way, and what has become of some.  There is such a beauty to the way Chokshi has written this world.  Everything is so vivid and jumps right off the page.  I can't really get into much more of these as I wouldn't want to spoil anything.  Just pull up a chair and enjoy these short stories as they pull you deeper into the rich and marvelous world of magic!  This is an enchanting addition to the series that anyone who has enjoyed the other books will devour instantly! 

                Until next time!

~Stacking the Shelves #48~

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls. 

E-Book (Review):

Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5) by Roshani Chokshi

                Another good small week.  I have some pre-orders I’m waiting on but I never count them until they arrive.  Share a link below with what goodies you got this week. 

~Review & Giveaway~ A Crown of Wishes

                Hello happy readers!  Another day late post, sorry but I didn’t have the pictures I needed on my flash drive and wanted to wait until I got home and had them.  Since I am after all hosting a much deserved giveaway for a signed copy of the book I’m reviewing!  All the details will be at the bottom.  The book in question is A Crown of Wishes (The Star Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi.  Now this isn’t a traditional sequel more of a companion book featuring another character, the little sister of our MC in the previous book.  Now there are some spoilers to the first book in here so I would still suggest reading in order but that may be my OCD talking.  I reviewed the first book here.  I received a digital ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating:  4 Rubies

                First can we just take a moment to really appreciate the beautiful cover?  It is beautiful.  And so is the writing in the world full of magic.  We follow Gauri princess of Bharata and Vikram prince of Ujijain a neighboring land.  Both want to lead their people but have their own road blocks.  Gauri starts out a prisoner of Ujijain and Vikram is to kill her but he has been invited to join the Tournament of Wishes and needs a partner.  Gauri doesn’t trust magic but she has no choice as things unfold.  The competition will last a month in the mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.  The tournament is anything but easy and will push them toward all sorts of dangers and trials testing both body and mind.

                I loved the whole idea of the story.  The tournament itself was amazing full of twists and turns always keeping you and the characters on their toes.  The author has a beautiful way of describing the world that just draws you in and makes you feel like this magical place could be real.  I think this would have been an even better in an audiobook because I had no idea how to pronounce many things but could imagine them none the less but having someone read it to me would have been even better.  Roshani read a small snippet at the launce and it was so beautiful. I have a video but it won't upload here I'll try adding it to social media though :( 

                Gauri and Vikram were so much fun.  They were so different in many ways like how Gauri is a weapon she is battle tested and ready for a fight and Vikram is less prepared for a physical altercation but is sharp as a whip and cunning as they come.  They both aspire to rule their respective lands, to be better for their people and stopping at nothing to make it happen.  They have the same drive and determination even if they go about things differently.  This made them a great pair for the tournament balancing out one another.  It's this same balance and chemistry that made the romantic tensions between them sizzle from the start.  I loved how they grew to know one another and was on edge wanting something to happen between them!  Then when you add in Aasha, a vishakanya, and her sisters really gave another level to the story.  I found myself rooting for her as well. 

                The story was really beautifully written and such a joy to read.  I highly recommend both books and while I say read them in order you can read either as a stand-alone is a huge plus.  Someone will be getting a signed copy of A Crown of Wishes alone with some tattoos that the author was handing out at her signing.  So the giveaway will stay open for two weeks winner on the 24th.  This is open to the US only, sorry but international shipping is a beast!  I have some more giveaways coming up since I've had some pretty awesome signings happening so cheers and stay tuned.

        

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~Waiting on Wednesday~ A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2)

                “Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi

Out: 3/28

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 difference 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.

               

Why I’m Waiting:

                This is a companion book to The Star-Touched Queen (review) and something I heard about when the first book came out following the life of a character we only got a small piece of which interested me because she seemed so interesting and had clearly had a lot of stories so seeing she gets her own story is even better!   

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your WoW as well so I can check it out.

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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