Review: Death and Night by Roshani Chokshi

Review: Death and Night by Roshani Chokshi

4 stars eARC Fantasy Gorgeous Cover Novella Review Romance Roshani Chokshi

Death and Night by Roshani Chokshi

Book 0.5 of The Star-Touched Queen series

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: May 2, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Before The Star-Touched Queen there was only Death and Night.

He was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate, destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps, they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span lifetimes.

What I Liked:

Usually I don't bother with novellas, because they're always too short and not really worth the money. ($2.99 for 60 pages? I'm good.) However, when I was invited to read/review this novella, I didn't think twice. I liked The Star-Touched Queen and loved A Crown of Wishes. Friends, this novella was absolutely wonderful, definitely something you don't want to miss if you enjoyed Chokshi's full-length novels.

Death and Night is the story of the Dharma Raja, the god of death, and Night, an immortal being who sells dream fruits and weaves night. The Dharma Raja has been cursed never to love, but he is tasked with finding himself a wife - a queen. He dare not fall for her though. He seeks out Night, who rejects him without a second thought. But Night captivates Death, Death captivates Night, and this is their story.

As usual, Chokshi's writing was lovely and mesmerizing. I don't know how she does it! I was captivated from the start. Sometimes I would go back and reread a scene just to experience it again, not because I needed clarity. I also love her storytelling! And how there are always tales within the story, and how those tales circle back into the main plot. 

I love the South Asian representation! Being Indian, I always get excited to see South Asian protagonists in books written by South Asian authors. You can really see and feel the Indian influence in this book, from the vocabulary to the lore to the mode of dress. 

I'm going to be honest - while I enjoyed The Star-Touched Queen, I didn't LOVE it, especially parts of the romance. I wasn't totally smitten by Amar and Maya's romance. So I was slightly worried that I wouldn't enjoy the romance in this book, because Amar and Maya are reincarnations of Death and Night. In other words, this is the original story, the original incarnations. But I shouldn't have been worried! I loved this love story, as short as it was, more than I loved Amar and Maya's.

This is probably because I loved the equal balance between Death and Night. Death is persistent and keeps visiting Night (with her permission), and they get to know each other well. Death is kind and sweet and thoughtful with Night, so different compared to what everyone thinks of him. Night is bold and fierce and lively, and she is careful with her heart. I liked that both characters go after each other, not just one doing the heavy lifting in the relationship. Death woos Night, but Night chases Death. It's a perfect tug-of-war, in my opinion!

I loved their banter and their chemistry, subtle as it was. I liked watching them fall for each other. Two months passes in this story, even though it does not seem like the story would be long enough for two months to pass. You can tell how much their relationship progresses though, with every scene featuring Death and Night together.  

There are several strong friendships in this book. Death has one friend, Gupta, who is funny and supportive. I love male friendships! Night has a sweet and lovely friend, Nritti, who gets her own happy ending. 

Speaking of happy endings, oh my heart! The ending of this novella is lovely, and exactly what I wanted it to be. I love that Death ran to Night, but Night also had to make a choice, and she chose Death. Perfect! They fought equally to be together, which I loved. LOVED.

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything specifically! Maybe more kissing? More kissing is always good! 

Would I Recommend It:

Even if you're not a novella person (like me), I recommend this novella. It's over one hundred pages and includes a preview of A Crown of Wishes, which puts this file at about 150 pages. This novella does NOT necessarily give insight to The Star-Touched Queen, and it's not required to read in order to read the other books of the series. But it is a lovely addition to the series nonetheless.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars. This is definitely among my favorite novellas of all time! I felt incredibly satisfied after finishing, which is something I can't say after reading other novellas in the past. It was lovely to revisit this world and fall for Death and Night! I liked them more than Amar and Maya - and maybe as much as I liked Vikram and Gauri!

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Blog Tour: A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Blog Tour: A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Blog Tour Companion Excerpt Fantasy Gorgeous Cover Interview Roshani Chokshi Sequel

Hello, friends! Today, I'm sharing a short interview with Roshani Chokshi, author of The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes! Plus, I have an excerpt of the book available below. Go forth and enjoy the awesomeness that is A Crown of Wishes, and its author!

The Star-Touched Queen review | A Crown of Wishes review

Meet Roshani Chokshi!

Describe the evolution of the title—were you calling the book something else at any point (besides the abbreviated ACOW)?

Roshani: Lol. So. In my drafts folder for ACOW, the “working” title was “THAT DREAD SLIPPERY THING” because this book put me to work and I both loved and hated it and always felt like I was trying to chase down what the book wanted to be. BAH!

Name some other YA novels that you loved that are written by Indian authors.

Roshani: So, this first one is not a YA novel, but I read it in college and it devastated me. A FINE BALANCE by Rohinton Mistry. I also loved CLIMBING THE STAIRS by Padma Venkatram, and the middle grade ASH MISTRY series by Sarwat Chadda!

What is one thing you hope readers will get out of A Crown of Wishes?

Roshani: I hope they close the book grinning. And maybe that night, they’ll dream about stories. And maybe the next day, they’ll see a bird dart from a tree and wonder if it came from Kubera’s court. 

If you will be part of the Tournament of Wishes and you can choose your partner either real or fictional character, who will you pick to join you in Alaka? This book is about wishes so obviously I have to ask, what would you wish for if you won the Tournament of Wishes?

Roshani: I would wish for no need of wishes, with the condition that I’m not killed or incapacitated. And as for partner, I would choose Agnieska from UPROOTED because she’s powerful, hilarious and would probably not mind taking frequent snack breaks… 

Any hints on your next project? Will you continue to use mythology as your inspiration?

Roshani: I can pretty much guarantee that mythology will always be in my stories. My next YA project is THE GILDED WOLVES. It’s a dark, sultry, ish-heist story set in the glamorous La Belle Epoque era of Paris. I love it to pieces, and I can’t wait for readers to meet the characters and world! 

About the Author:

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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About A Crown of Wishes:

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Book Two of The Star-Touched Queen series

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: March 28, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels.

Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Check out The Star-Touched Queen!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

The Excerpt:

The guards unbound my wrists and shoved me into a red room. I waited for them to go before pulling out a small silk bag of pearl dust I had swiped from the cosmetics table. I repeated the flimsy plan in my head: Throw the dust in his eyes, gag him, steal his weapons. If the Prince made a sound, I’d hold the dagger to his throat and hold him ransom. If he didn’t make a sound, I’d make him free me for his own life. I knew I couldn’t get far on my own, but most people could be bribed, and if bribery didn’t work, threats always did.

I was glad they hadn’t taken me to a throne room. The last time I was in a throne room, Skanda had ripped away my hopes for the kingdom and destroyed my future.

Arjun did not meet my eyes. And he refused to look up when his new bride and my best friend was hauled into the room. Nalini sank to her knees. Her gaze was frantic: leaping back and forth from me to Arjun and the dead on the ground. Skanda’s knife was pressed to her throat, sharp and close enough that beads of blood welled onto her skin.

“I know what you want,” said Skanda.

I closed my eyes, shuttering the memory. I looked around the room, wondering which corner was the best position for attacking. At one end, a trellis of roses covered the wall. My chest tightened. I used to grow roses. One trellis for every victory. I had loved watching the blood red petals unfurl around thorns. Looking at them reminded me of my people’s love: red as life. A month before Skanda had me thrown over the Ujijain border, he had set them on fire in a drunken stupor. By the time I got there, it was too late. Every petal had curled and blackened.

“You think these flowers are tokens of Bharata’s love for you,” he had slurred. “I want you to see, little sister. I want you to see just how easy it is for everything you plan and love and tend to go up in flames.”

I’ll never forget what burning roses look like. All those scarlet petals turning incandescent and furious. Like the last flare of the sun before an eclipse swallows it from the sky.

“You think they love you now, but it doesn’t last. You’re the rose. Not them. They are the flames. And you’ll never see how quickly you’ll catch fire until you’re engulfed. One step out of the line I draw, and they will set you on fire.”

I turned my back on the roses.

I chose a corner of the room, and then sank my teeth into the in- sides of my cheek. It was a habit I’d picked up on the eve of my first battle. Nerves had set my teeth chattering, so I brought out a mirror and glowered at myself. The glowering didn’t help, but I liked the way my face looked. The small movements made my cheekbones look as sharp as scimitars. And when I tightened my lips, I felt dangerous, as if I were hiding knives behind my teeth. Biting my cheeks became a battle tradition. Today I went into battle.

A door in the distance creaked. I ran through what I knew about the Prince of Ujijain. They called him the Fox Prince. And given the way some of the soldiers had jealously said his name, it didn’t seem like a name given because his face had animal features. He spent part of every year at an ashram where all the nobility sent their sons. Reputedly brilliant. Not good. Weak with weapons. Excellent. The guards were fond of retelling the story of his trial with the council. Prince Vikram had to submit to three tasks in order to be named heir of Ujijain—give the dead new life, hold a flame that never burns, and deliver the strongest weapon in the world. For the first task, he whittled a piece of bark into a knife, proving that even discarded things could be given new life in purpose. For the second task, he released a thousand jars of fireflies and held the small insects in his hand, proving that he could hold a flame that never burned. And for the last task, he said that he had poisoned the council. Desperate for the antidote, the council named him heir. The Fox Prince then revealed that he had lied and proved how be- lief itself was the strongest weapon in the world.

I rolled my eyes every time I heard the tale. It sounded like some- thing that villagers with a restless imagination would spin beside a fire. I’d heard another rumor about him. Something about his parentage. That he was an orphan who’d moved the Emperor to pity. But I doubted the vicious Emperor would be moved in such a way. The guards told me that the Emperor kept great beasts at his side that could tear the throat out of anyone who dared to cross him.

Footsteps shuffled down the hall. I clutched the silk bag of pearl dust. The Prince might be clever and eloquent, but you can’t talk your way out of death and I wasn’t going to give him a chance to speak. All my intelligence told me that he was no match for me. I’d have him on his knees and begging for his life in a matter of moments.

A final door opened. The Fox Prince was here.

Swoon Thursday (#216): A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Swoon Thursday (#216): A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Companion Fantasy Gorgeous Cover Romance Roshani Chokshi Sequel Swoon Thursday

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi!

I'd like to think I have a number of virtues. But patience has never been one of them. The moment the door closed, I caught his lips against mine. Swift and urgent. Our hands moved hungrily across each other. His fingers dug into my waist, pulling my hips to his.

At once, time was too fast and too slow and distance felt like an illusion we were trying to shatter. I pushed him against the door, tearing off his jacket. Vikram stood there, a tilt to his head as he let himself be appraised. The corded lines of his muscles caught the light, and my eyes roved from his broad shoulders down the lean, carved plane of his torso. I kissed him again. Slowly. As if the trial of tomorrow were an eternity away. We traded heartbeats until we kissed to one cadence, and I didn't know where we stopped and started.

- eARC, pages 249-250

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Star-Touched Queen review | A Crown of Wishes review

I'm cheating a little, because I read this book last week. This week's reads haven't been super swoony so far. I adored this scene (and the book)!

Review: A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Review: A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Companion eARC Fantasy Gorgeous Cover Review Roshani Chokshi Sequel

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Book Two of The Star-Touched Queen series

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: March 28, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as a prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Faced with a future of exile and scorn, Gauri has nothing left to lose. Hope unexpectedly comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighboring land and her sworn enemy kingdom. Unsatisfied with becoming a mere puppet king, Vikram offers Gauri a chance to win back her kingdom in exchange for her battle prowess. Together, they’ll have to set aside their differences and team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

Reaching the tournament is just the beginning. Once they arrive, danger takes on new shapes: poisonous courtesans and mischievous story birds, a feast of fears and twisted fairy revels.

Every which way they turn new trials will test their wit and strength. But what Gauri and Vikram will soon discover is that there’s nothing more dangerous than what they most desire.

What I Liked:

Last year, I read The Star-Touched Queen and while I enjoyed it overall, I didn't love it like most people did. It was a wonderful story, but I wanted the hero to be less one-dimensional, and I wanted the romance to be more direct and present. I am extremely pleased with A Crown of Wishes because it has everything I liked in The Star-Touched Queen - AND the issues I had with The Star-Touched Queen are not present in this book. I liked A Crown of Wishes more than The Star-Touched Queen, and I think it is better than its predecessor.

Vikram has always known that he will inherit the throne of Ujijaiin but he will only ever be a puppet Emperor. The council has never treated him like a full-blood prince - given that he was adopted by the Emperor. When Vikram is invited to play in the Tournament of Wishes, he does not refuse. He must find a partner, and that leads him to Gauri. Gauri, princess of Bharata, has been a prisoner for months. When the prince of an enemy kingdom offers freedom in exchange for her being his partner in a deadly and magical game, she accepts, hoping to kill him and be rid of him quickly. But they discover that they needed each other more than they realized, if they want to make it out of the Tournament alive, and win. The prize is a wish for any victor, and both Vikram and Gauri have desires born of their cruel pasts. But desires are dangerous, just as dangerous as secrets.

One thing that I was extremely excited to discover is that this book is written in dual POV - we get Gauri's first-person POV, and Vikram's third-person POV. I complained about how I thought Amar felt so one-dimensional, in The Star-Touched Queen. Well, that problem was very, very fixed in this book, given the second POV (Vikram's).

I'll start with Vikram, since the story starts with Vikram. I would argue that this book is just as much Vikram's as it is Gauri's - she does not hold the spotlight. Vikram is the Fox Prince, an eighteen-year-old prince who is clever and very intelligent. He is not a warrior, and he doesn't even carry weapons. That surprised me, because what prince in any world (made-up or real) isn't trained to be a warrior? I liked that Vikram is different in that sense - he isn't an alpha, he isn't a warrior. He isn't a passive, scared boy either. I love how clever he is, and how he is so patient and steady.

Gauri, on the other hand, is a warrior princess. She is brash and bold and wild. She wants her throne, and she is determined to get it, doing whatever it takes. Gauri is the "alpha" in this story, the one who demands and takes and bosses. I liked her a lot because I could see parts of myself in her. She isn't cold-hearted like many believe her to be (like she believes herself to be). There is more to Gauri than the Jewel, the princess of Bharata, the warrior. 

The two of them together is like fire and ice. They antagonize each other, needle each other, irritate each other, but they stick together, save each other's lives, and look out for each other. Their friendship (at first it's friendship) is a slow-growing thing that doesn't have the best start. But I liked seeing them grow to care for each other, and then I liked seeing that turn into something else.

This book isn't a necessarily a romance, but I loved the romance. I loved how Vikram and Gauri's romance is a slow-burn one that is also more direct and strong than the romance in The Star-Touched Queen. Neither character here plays games with each other, or runs from each other. Rather, they learn each other and find their way. Even with Gauri's emotional and mental armor, and Vikram's selflessness, the pair never shy away from each other. It's a sweet romance.

This story is so much fun to read! Fun, and sometimes heartbreaking, but a lot of fun and sometimes hilarious. Vikram and Gauri travel to the Otherworld in order to try to win a wish for themselves. They must complete several tasks, and also try to stay alive. The tasks require both of their strengths, and for them to overcome their weaknesses and fears. This story is so thorough and engrossing - you'll feel like you've read a lifetime's worth of a story, and not a month's worth.

Also, props to the author for doing such good research and/or including so much of her culture in this book. As an Indian girl, I can't tell you how happy it makes me to read a book that features aspects of Indian culture, written by an Indian author. Chokshi does a lovely job with the Indian influences she incorporates in the story. 

Masterful storytelling and writing, as always. I think everyone agreed that the writing of The Star-Touched Queen was phenomenal. The author gets even better, in this book. I love how lush her writing is! Also I have to say, I love how many food references there were. So. Much. Food.

I won't say anything more because I don't want to spoil anything, but I really enjoyed this book. I loved the dual POVs, the character development, the romance, the Tournament. The ending is PERFECT. Trust me, it's a great ending, and it's so satisfying. I'd love to know the logistics of a certain aspects of the ending, but maybe the author will write an epilogue. Or a book three...?

What I Did Not Like:

I honestly can't think of anything to write about here! The author "fixed" the issues I had in book one, so I'm pretty satisfied. Maybe seeing Gauri feel more guilty over a certain aspect of the ending? It was her fault, in any case. Let me keep quiet!

Would I Recommend It:

I recommend this book, whether you liked The Star-Touched Queen or not, whether you read The Star-Touched Queen or not. Remember, I liked it but didn't totally love it like many people did. I can safely say that this book was (even) better. This book is full of great diversity, rich culture, and lovely storytelling and writing. And a gorgeous cover!

Rating:

4.5 stars. I'm rounding to 4 stars which is technically the same rating I gave The Star-Touched Queen, but know that I liked this book more. Both books had a tough and admirable heroine, but I think the inclusion of Vikram's POV and the stronger romance made this companion sequel a better book than The Star-Touched Queen! 

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Waiting on Wednesday (#195): A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Waiting on Wednesday (#195): A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Companion Fantasy Roshani Chokshi Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

Book Two of The Star-Touched Queen series

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: March 28, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

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 differences 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. 

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

I liked The Star-Touched Queen and am definitely looking forward to reading its companion novel. This cover is so pretty!