Roshani Chokshi's stellar debut The Star-Touched Queen releases today, April 26, from St. Martin's Griffin Teen! Roshani’s imagination and talent shines in her beautiful, lush writing, vivid storytelling, dark undertones with scary creatures, and a working mix of Indian folklore and Hades/Persephone retelling that makes The Star-Touched Queen wholly captivating and one of my favorite books. You learn so much from the Indian culture to the mythology that makes your reading experience smart and that much more fun.
Go forth and read it, and don't be afraid to be your own star-touched queen. ;)
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Young Adult Fantasy, Retelling, Mythology
April 26, 2016 from St. Martin's Griffin Teen
Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?
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.
"Come with me and you shall be an empress with the moon for your throne and constellations to wear in your hair. Come with me and I promise you that we will always be equals."
--Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
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Terminologies
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photo by me
(thank you, st. martin's press, for the arc!) |
Apsara: A celestial nymph known for dancing and associated with the water and clouds. [
more info]
Bhuts: A restless ghost sometimes crafted from improperly performing a deceased's funerary rites.
Gandharvas: Male nature spirits, often depicted as celestial musicians in the court of the gods.
Pishacha: A flesh-eating demon known to haunt ceremonial grounds.
Raja: A title for Indian monarch.
Raksha: A demonic being, though not always malevolent. [
more info]
Soma: A golden nectar which first gave the gods their immortality.
Swayamvara: An ancient Indian practice where women chose their husbands from among a list or lineup of suitors.
Yakshini: Female mythological creatures who guarded earth's treasures and are often considered the equivalent of "fairies." [
more info]
**glossary can be found in the back of the book**
TSTQ lit memes
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Favorite Quotes
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"The worms do not take heed of caste and rank when they feast on our ashes," the Raja said. "Your subjects will not remember you. They will not remember the shade of your eyes, the colors you favored, or the beauty of your wives. They will only remember your impression upon their hearts and whether you filled them with glee or grief. That is your immortality."
--Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
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"It is nice to be nice," said Kamala with a sage nod. "And it is also nice to eat people."
--Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
God love Kamala. XD
"I want to lie beside you and know the weight of your dreams," he said, brushing his lips against my knuckles. "I want to share whole worlds with you and write your name in the stars." He moved closer and a chorus of songbirds twittered silver melodies.
"I want to measure eternity with your laughter."
Now, he stood inches from me; his rough hands encircled my waist. "Be my queen and I promise you a life where you will never be bored. I promise you more power than a hundred kings. And I promise you that we will always be equals."
--Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
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"The best motivation is love," I offered. Beside me, Kamala nodded vigorously. "And food!"
--Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
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"I bet you taste like heartbreak. Young things always do."
--Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
**Quotes are taken from an uncorrected advanced review copy and is subject to change in final copy**
Meet Roshani Chokshi
Roshani Chokshi is the New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen. Her work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Shimmer, and Book Smugglers. Her short story, "The Star Maiden," was longlisted for the British Fantasy Science Award.
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Purchase The Star-Touched Queen
Title: Signs of Life (Rough Romance #2)
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