I think I may have loved this one more than the first. Roshani Chokshi is a master of imagery. Her words conjure up beautiful, magical and at times terrifying images of other worlds.

This second book focused on Gauri, the sister of Maya and the Fox Prince she meets along the way. Their story is of the other world and a game they find themselves players in. It is about confronting fears, and opening yourself up to vulnerability.

I cannot wait for whatever comes next.

Amazing world-building and lush, beautiful language make for a story you can't put down once you start and that leaves you spellbound.

The covers alone of these books make me want to travel and read them. This was another beautifully written and imagined story.

“Vicious and sweet,” said Vikram, shaking his head. “Beastly girl.”
“You like me, don’t lie,” I teased.
“I couldn’t lie if I tried,” he said quietly.



It just so happens that I was given this ARC by the publisher back in December….I just was way too tired and ‘out of it’ to truly enjoy the lush story-telling of this novel. So every time I would pick up this beauty to read it, I’d get distracted or start to fall asleep…on the prologue. It was clear to me I wasn’t going to be able to read this book while in the height of my pregnancy. I did, however, get to finish it two days before I went into labor! So here I am, finally writing a review for this crazy, intricate book.

“The problem with guilt was not how it attacks the present, but how it stained the past.


I can’t say there weren’t moments where I was scratching my head-because I did that a lot. But it was never in a bad way. This author, from what I’ve always heard, writes in a deeply poetic way that you just need to be in the mindset for-I definitely gathered this from the moment I started. This isn’t your average YA fantasy-I feel it’s a bit deeper than that. Keep that in mind when choosing to start this novel-it completely changes the tone of both the book and how you feel whilst enjoying this story.

“You’re a monster,” she said.
I secured the necklace. “We all have to be something.”


When I think back on why I enjoyed this book so much (I read it almost a month ago) it always goes back to the characters. I had heard so many good things from my close friends that loved this book about the witty Vikram and I took that with a grain of salt-I mean, no book boy is ever really as good as people say (Okay, whatever…I lie, but still-everyone’s perception is different) and I almost always feel a tad different. Now, whether that means I loved them more or less is dependent upon the book-obviously.

Vikram had tried bribing them. At one point, he offered Gauri’s hand in marriage, which earned him two sharp jabs in the ribs. For equality’s sake, he offered his own hand in marriage, but that ended all bargaining negotiations on the spot.


So, when thinking of this story, did I love Vikram as much as others? Absolutely. Did I obsess over him as much as my friends? Perhaps not-but he became an instant BBF all the same. Ha, just goes to show I’ll never change. I had thought he was supposed to be tortured and somewhat sullen, almost an enemies to lovers type deal, but turns out that wasn’t the case. She hated him, but he was just cautious of her-you know, because she is from a different kingdom and all. No, he was a sarcastic prince that made me smile from ear to ear, laugh at the most random moments….did I mention I have a prince fetish? Oops.

“I prefer the poisoned food.”
“You may be rewarded yet,” he said. He popped a handful of pomegranate seeds in his mouth. He froze, some of the juice spilling from his lips. “Oh no,” he breathed, clutching his chest.
“Vikram!” I screamed.
He held up his hand. “I meant to start with mangos.”



So it’s extremely obvious that this book wasn’t so much about the plot, for me, but the characters. It was a bit obscure, in my opinion, so I took solace in the characters’ hilarious banter and romantic interactions. Vikram and Gauri had the best banter I’ve read in a while, holding up to some of my favorite bantering couples-it made this long book seem like it was over in a minute.

“My apologies. Is it your bellicose-let-me-drain-your-blood face? Could you not master an expression that looked less like an outraged cat? ”
“Better than steepling my hands and looking like an overgrown spider.”
"An overgrown spider who is rarely wrong.”
"My bellicose-let-me-drain-your-blood face has saved your life.”
“And this overgrown-spider pose is about to save yours.”



But Gauri is probably the base of why this book was so alluring-Vikram opposed her and was sly as can be…but I think he was much more tolerable in the beginning of their uneasy alliance (and nicer sooner) whereas Gauri made it harder. She was constantly on alert, always threatening him and, in her mind, thinking of ways to be rid of him (ohhh but he was too cunning). This added an extra layer of animosity between the two, adding tension and a romantic build up that pays off greatly in the end.

“I thought you were going to stay away from me,” she said.
He looked at her, this princess who seemed so dangerously sharp that he might cut himself just brushing against her shadow. “I don’t know how.”



And while the characters were the main draw to the story, for me, the story wasn’t without its addictive elements, as well-obviously. My biggest problem stems from the games. I do agree with my friend, Brittney, that this almost has a Caraval type feel. And while that’s fine, I don’t know that I was in the mood for games that aren’t in fact…games.

She laughed. And Vikram, who had never wanted for his life to slow down but only to move faster and faster to the next thing, found himself craving to live in this second.


Whatever. Call me a square, but I love structured, clear cut games and tournaments in books. I don’t like when the games aren’t clear and when they don’t have clear cut rules, winners, prizes etc. etc. Or, I don’t know, I love the life and death games (Sorry. I’ll just always be a HG type girl…). In this story, I felt the games, and the plot, for that matter, were a bit obscure. And, frankly, I don’t always love obscure.

As was the case with Caraval, though, I did enjoy it here-I just don’t know that I expected it-Which, hey, isn’t this book’s fault, now is it??

One final thing-I’m not a fan of one person being a certain pov and the other being in a totally different pov. I don’t know why it bothers me, but every time it switched I thought about it, and I just don’t like this minuscule distraction-I’m not sure what the point is, but for some reason it happens a lot in stories. I’m one of the few who can’t see past it. I still loved the story, it just served as a distraction I didn’t love.

“Surviving isn’t just about cutting out your heart and burning every feeling into ash,” he said. “Sometimes it means taking whatever is thrown at you, beautiful or grotesque, poisonous or blissful, and carving out your life with the pieces you’re given.”



A wonderful story full of twists and turns, games that leave your mind reeling, banter and a slow burn romance that is totally worth the wait, and writing that immediately enthralls you, this story is a winner. It’s hard to say whether this book will be for everyone, but its promising enough I would suggest everyone give it a try. The characters are worth every page you choose to read, and, frankly, Vikram is worth more than that. I hate that it took me so long to read this ARC, but I’m just glad I’m fulfilling my duty. This book was worth the wait, and I’m glad I can voice just how fun it was-this is not one I’ll soon forget.

Roshani Chokshi returns to her beautifully cultivated world with the tale of two royals fighting for the right to rule their kingdoms in A Crown of Wishes.

A companion novel to The Star-Touched Queen, you should be able to read this book even if you haven't read the previous one, though there are a couple of characters and connections that you might not be familiar with. Gauri, for example, one of the main characters, in the younger sister of Maya, the main character from The Star-Touched Queen.

Told in the alternating perspectives of Gauri, a princess that wishes to save her kingdom from her vicious older brother, and Vikram, a prince who wishes to take true control of his kingdom rather than allow a council to rule it, the story begins in a bit of a heavy handed fantasy method. Vikram's perspective felt a little more fanciful to me and required more work, taking me out of the story whenever it cropped up.

Gauri was vastly more interesting to my mind. Her fierceness was present from the first moment we met her as a prisoner of war. She's been in a dungeon for six months, but her cunning mind has used this time to beguile her jailers into thinking her weak while in fact she's gathered knowledge that will, hopefully, help her regain her strength and mount a force to take back her kingdom from Skanda, her wicked brother.

Both characters share similar motives, though if I had to choose which one I believed in more it would have been Gauri without question. She might have made slightly foolish decisions, but they were never more foolish than those of any person going to war, fighting for a kingdom. If anything, she trusted too much and that caused her plans to falter, lead to her temporary imprisonment and potential execution. However, it also lead to the opportunity to collude with Vikram and go to the Tournament of Wishes.

The quality of writing was maintained from Chokshi's previous novel, perhaps even improved a bit now that she's had the experience of writing a novel. The descriptions were not overly flowery, which I appreciated, because it let the wonder of the individual events shine without being overpowered. Easily pictured and easily sunk into, this novel takes you on an adventure of peril, of discovery, of battles not only for kingdoms but for one's true self. Vikram and Gauri must fight not only for what they believe is right for their kingdoms, for their people, but for their futures.

While there are no future books planned in this world, I anticipate more books from Roshani Chokshi being highly anticipated. She demonstrated to me with The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes that her knowledge of fantasy is well in hand, as is her writing ability. The future is bright for this author and for those of us lucky enough to read her books.

The Star-Touched Queen was one of my favorite reads of 2016. The story was intricate, the setting rich, and prose beautiful.When I heard about the sequel, I was a little confused. Where was she going to take our characters now? But when I learned A Crown of Wishes was a companion novel that followed Gauri, that's when I got excited.

Gauri has enemies everywhere. The ruler of Bharata, her brother, wants her dead and so do the leaders of Ujijain, where she is imprisoned. When she is called for an audience with Vikram, the prince of Ujijain, however, things change. Together, Gauri and Vikram embark on an adventure to compete in the Tournament of Wishes and win the hearts of their people.

Once again, Roshani Chokshi captured me with the amazing places our characters encounter. The magical realms are rich, vast, and somewhat terrifying, as are the magical beings that inhabit them. I loved the way the stories of magic wove together and the unexpected twists they created in the end of the story.

Gauri and Vikram were both well-crafted, interesting characters. I loved Vikram's sense of humor and was simply delighted to see who Gauri became after losing her sister in the first book. We were introduced to many new characters in this book. The Lord of Wealth and Treasure keeps you on your toes. Aasha was my favorite new character. She was a true fighter.

This book had many themes that really resonated with me, including stories, hopes, dreams, desires, and wishes. A Crown of Wishes is as lovely a read as its predecessor.

I was a great fan of The Star Touched Queen when it came out last year – in part because it was fantasy and I love fantasy unendingly, and in part because I was one of the people who really loved the lyricism in Chokshi’s writing. It felt, and has always felt, that the way she tells a story is intertwined with the type of story she tells. The culture Chokshi takes from almost demands it.

A Crown of Wishes takes what I liked in the first instalment and expands it, with the ever popular overarching plot of a fantastical competition. Whilst the Hunger Games trilogy is the most famous, A Crown of Wishes definitely feels more like Caraval to read. Except, in my opinion, Chokshi does it better.

Whilst this is a romance there isn’t just romance here. The development and growth of the two main characters (Vikram and Gauri) is as important as their growing feeling for one another. Both feel like outcasts in their own homes and both are fighting to claim what they feel is owed to them. Vikram, known as the Fox Prince, lives by his wits. Gauri, the Jewel of Bharata, lives by the sword. They’re a classic tale of opposites, which is what makes them so fun to read.

I read this slowly, savouring the way the story was told. It’s not a sequel, more a companion. But it’s still as magical and engrossing as the first.

Holy cow - I don't know where to begin.

I liked A Star-Touched Queen, it was romantic and magical - but this one. This book. This book knocked everything else out of the ball park. It was BEAUTIFUL. It was so wonderfully written, Roshani Chokshi's writing continues to baffle and awe me. She has a way of stringing sentences that sound like magical songbirds floating around my head. I can't fault them, and I can't get enough of them.

When I first read this this book was going to focus on Gauri, that was enough to seal the deal that I wanted to read it ASAP. And I wasn't disappointed! Gauri is a feisty, honorable, flawed, emotional and beautiful character. The snippet that we got of her in the first book was enough to get my attention and want more. She was a beautiful character to follow, and her journey was a joy to read. And as for Vikram, I'm just going to sit here and swoon for a fair while. I lost count of how many times my stomach flipped with swoony butterflies, sigh.

I will now read EVERYTHING Roshani Chokshi writes, she's got a fan for eternity right here!

I read this book back in December, and I never ended up reviewing it, and now I'm at a loss as to what to say. And I hate that because this book was SO DAMN GOOD and I might have even loved it more than Roshani's debut, which I didn't think was possible, and idk I'm just really sad I didn't spend the time talking about it yet. And that I definitely won't be able to do the book justice at all now. So instead of writing an actual review, which I think would be super hard at the moment, I'm just going to give you a few reasons why you should absolutely read this book. (And while you're at it, if you haven't read The Star-Touched Queen yet, get on that).

1. The banter between Gauri and Vikram. These two were HILARIOUS together. I was cackling aloud so many times. Both of them had their own reasons for wanting to play the game, and they didn't really WANT to work together, but they did. And it made for such banterfully lively conversations that had me shipping these two so hard. Their romance was so sweet and wonderful to watch unfold.

2. The beautiful prose that Roshani weaves throughout the book. This woman is so damn talented, guys. I feel like I'm in another world when reading her stories, which is figuratively true given that they're set in a fantastical world, but it just feels so REAL. The descriptions were vivid and almost dreamlike. It was so enchanting and had me hooked from the very first page! It was diverse and painted in vibrant colors, and a book to savor.

3. The characters themselves. Strong-willed, loyal, and stubborn, Gauri and Vikram were actually quite similar to each other. They were both determined to win this tournament, to secure themselves wishes. They faced dangers and survived on their wit and their strength, but they did not count on the tournament forcing them to face their choices and their deepest desires. I loved the two of them SO MUCH, and I'm so, so glad Gauri got her own story. Siblings are not secondary characters. <3

Rating: 4.5 Paw Prints!

First Line: Vikram had spent enough time with bitterness that he knew how to twist and numb the feeling.
Summary: Gauri is a princess of Bharata. Vikram is the prince of Ujijain. Gauri is a prisoner of Ujijain and therefore a prisoner of Vikram. She has been banished from her kingdom and her throne by her evil brother. When Vikram enters her cell and proposes to free her in if she will travel with him to the Otherworld to enter the Tournament of Wishes she agrees in hopes of escaping and returning to her homeland. As they travel they encounter magical creatures and trials that will test them as they compete for a wish from the gods.
Highlights: The writing and imagery is beautiful. The detail is so colorful and enchanting. I love the cover.
Lowlights: With all the detail and characters it was easy to get lost. At times the story seemed to be shifting and didn’t seem to have a main climax. I expected more from the tournament. It was still fun but not nearly as good as the first book.
FYI: This is the second book in a series but I feel that it can be read as a standalone as well. People are mentioned and seen from the first but they do not alter it without knowing the previous book.

This BOOK. OMG no beautiful words are coming to my heads as I write this review.
I loved the first book, and I loved the second. This was such a beautiful story, the writing is just beautiful and it flows lovely. That cover WOW! like just embrace the fact that both of these stories have some of the most amazing covers. Just like the cover being amazing, so are the characters and this story. It gave me all the feels, and I for one can not wait to read more from this author.

A Crown of Wishes compels the reader from the first page with its lush prose and strong, likable characters. I absolutely loved how Chokshi's infusion of the Indian folklore adds an ancient, rare quality to her novel. I'd recommend A Crown of Wishes to anyone looking to diversify their fantasy reading.

This title is a great addition to the burgeoning tide of books set in the far east, and based on eastern fairy tales or folk lore. I know very little about Indian folklore or Hinduism, but it didn't matter. The author's style and plot kept me interested and I was easily able to fall into her world.

Gauri is a banished princess-with-attitude, who is determined to outsmart her villainous brother and win back not only her kingdom, but the freedom of one of her closest friends (or sister, I can't recall - I haven't read the first in the series so I was a bit muzzy on parts of the backstory). Her banishment sends her to a neighboring kingdom, and she appears on the doorstep of prince Vikram, whose battling his own demons.

The two decide to pair off to fight a magical game called The Tournament of Wishes, the winner of which can claim a Wish. They cross over into an eastern fairyland populated by demons, life-sucking wraiths and tricksters whose only goal is to stop the humans from winning. I loved the world building and imagination, and the dual POVs were tightly drawn to show the personalities of both Gauri and Vikram. Because of course, the challenges cut at the heart of each character, and force them to confront their fears, mistakes and failures. At first, their alliance is uneasy but that shifts as they realize they must have each other's back bc nobody else does.

While my feelings for The Star Touched Queen were hazy, my love for A Crown of Wishes is undisputed. It is like Chokshi took a look into my heart and delivered me a fantastic love story, characters who were wonderfully complex, and blended that with wit, humor, and wisdom.

Let me begin with the characters. We may witness the tournament through their eyes and in their heads, they will find themselves a home in our hearts. Gauri is a talented warrior who has learned to guard her heart, both from sadness and love. Vikram longs for what is rightfully his, but is denied by a dangerous secret. Aasha may consume desires, but that does not stop her from a fierce and impossible yearning of her own. Their raw memories as well as their experiences during each trial, round out their intricacies and carve a spot in your heart.
I want to take a moment to talk about this novel’s romance: it is absolutely a million times better and more realistic. Not only am I sucker for enemies turned to lovers, but their relationship and trials demand the uncovering of their secrets. I was totally sold. Give me more because I love each of them and their love.

It is not only a tale of love, but of also freedom and justice. And throw in some riddles, rhymes, and philosophy. But don’t forget the characters that tug your heartstrings and quests that make you believe in magic. The ending is fantastic, sewing up loose threads, hinging on agency and forgiveness.

I absolutely loved The Star-Touched Queen. It was magical and lyrical, and pretty much everything I always want in a book. So when I knew that there was going to be a sequel about Maya’s sister, Gauri, I was excited to say the least.

You know, I think I loved A Crown of Wishes perhaps even a tad more than The Star-Touched Queen because of Vikram. I adored Vikram. And I loved that there were chapters from his POV because it allowed me as a reader to get to know him beyond Gauri’s interpretation of him as a companion and love interest. He was a mix of sassy and sweet, which is pretty much the perfect combination, okay? His one-liners were amazing. I don’t know how Gauri resisted for so long because I was swept off my feet practically the moment he was introduced *swoons*

The writing style in A Crown of Wishes was quite different to its predecessor, but no less lovely. There were still beautiful, lyrical passages, but since this was from Gauri’s POV the changes made sense. She’s not as whimsical as Maya, and she’s hardened a lot because of the treatment of her brother. I loved her. She was a badass heroine without being an emotionless ice statue. She cares about people, and her kingdom, and her sister. She is great with knives, but she isn’t always so great with being honest about her feelings but she has feelings and she acknowledges them and feels them. And I just loved seeing a badass character who didn’t rely on being soulless and ruthless to be badass.

I was intrigued by the storyline, and I absolutely know that I am going to read this book again. Because I flew through it there were probably things that I missed and I have a feeling that A Crown of Wishes is the type of book that will stand the test of a re-read (which is quite a feat, really).

There were a quite lot of lovely side characters, and side stories, as well. One of my favourite side characters was the vetala. I thought he was hilarious and he kind of reminded me of Kamala, which is high praise because Kamala is my everything. I also really loved Aasha, who actually has a few POV chapters. She was 100% not straight because when she was talking about kissing she said that she’d kiss a girl or a boy and can we just shout from the rooftops about this, please? I really, really want Aasha’s book because I feel like there is so much to read about her and her life, and a queer story from Roshani Chokshi would be out of this world amazing. Also a quick shout out to the Serpent King because reasons.

I don’t even really have much more to say about this book because its twists and turns are something that you should have no idea of when reading it. I highly recommend A Crown of Wishes to anyone who loves YA fantasy because this is going to become a staple in the genre, I can tell.

© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

You could carry a story inside you and hold it up to the light when you needed it the most.

Amazing story! A must read! Didn't want this book to end. Vikram and Gauri will deal with desires, fears and take part in a journey of self-discovery. A tournament of wishes where a wish comes at cost. Take a journey into this beautiful story. You will not regret it!

Being a huge fan of A star Touched Queen, I simply could not wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. Often times sequels do not live up to their predecessor, but that’s not even remotely the case with this book. A Crown of Wishes was mesmerizing. Beautiful, fluid writing, amazing characters and intense world-building brought this story to life, and now I truly cannot say which book is my favorite.
Gauri and Vikram are stunning characters. They are young and bold, Gauri a warrior and Vikram a prince, both having experienced betrayal, death and loss. With that being said, there is still an innocence to them that I truly adore.
There is no trust between the two characters - Gauri has been held captive by her brother and Vikram has been played by his father, trust is not something either hand over willingly. But, together they enter a contest for one wish. Having never heard of the tournament of wishes, they enter the contest blindly, and quickly learn that they can’t compete alone. Not only are they entered into a contest of unknowns, they are also paired with a known enemy.
I cannot end this review without focusing a little bit more on the writing. It is exquisite! Roshani Chokshi’s use of rich descriptions and perfect word choice casts a magic spell on the reader. Her writing is vibrant and fluid and walks you through a magical realm made up of fantasy and lore. It grips you by the hand as it slowly reveals the depth of the characters, the stunning world and the stories of the people who dare to enter it.
It has to be very obvious that I loved this book!
5/5 stars

A companion to Star Touched Queen, but with a different feel. The writing is less flowery and there is more action in this title. While I enjoyed both, I think STQ appealed to me more. I think that each book will have a large audience and will definitely read Roshani Chokshi's future books.

A Crown of Wishes is a companion novel to The Star-Touched Queen that can be read independently of the first novel in the series. While it can be read independently, I would actually also recommend reading the other novel (either before or after) simply because it's an excellent novel that shouldn't be missed. The writing is so stunning, as you might already know if you've read The Star-Touched Queen. There's such a magical feel to the prose, which very much suits the world in which the book is set.

The banter between the two protagonists is hilarious, and there were so many quotable interactions that I'm sure will pop up on Goodreads quotes. I really appreciated how the romance developed slowly between the two of them, mostly stemming from seeing glimpses of each other's hidden aspects throughout the novel, either from just being around each other or from magic.

I really liked Aasha, a secondary character whose point of view we saw in a couple of chapters. While I won't say too much about her storyline as it could get slightly spoilery, I would definitely have liked to have seen more from her. The host of other secondary characters were also very intriguing, from Kubera, the Lord of Wealth who runs the Tournament of Wishes, to the Serpent King, to many, many other characters based on Indian mythology.

The ending was quite satisfying, tying off all those loose threads in the plot. I'm quite impressed with how conclusive Chokshi's novels are, there's hardly anything to criticise about how they end, except maybe the fact that they actually do end (I could definitely keep reading her beautiful prose). We also got some cameos from book one, which was a nice touch.

All in all, A Crown of Wishes is an excellent follow up to Chokshi's first novel. I would certainly read more books in this universe or any others she may write; her writing is simply gorgeous.

Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
World Building: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5