Scan barcode
delixi's review
5.0
I have to say that Roshani Chokshi continues to amaze me. The short stories in this book blew me away. I can't even pick a favorite because each of them have such a great message:
From the first story, Death and Night, you can learn that you should not let go of your convictions and ambitions for anyone, not even the person you love, Also, that you can. The second story, Poison and Gold, is all about learning to trust your instinct, forgetting prejudices, and even taking a leap of faith for love. The last story, Rose and Sword, shows you what happens after you think you have a happily ever after.
I think the book has epic love stories like few have ever read before. I am so grateful to NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange fo an honest review
From the first story, Death and Night, you can learn that you should not let go of your convictions and ambitions for anyone, not even the person you love, Also, that you can. The second story, Poison and Gold, is all about learning to trust your instinct, forgetting prejudices, and even taking a leap of faith for love. The last story, Rose and Sword, shows you what happens after you think you have a happily ever after.
I think the book has epic love stories like few have ever read before. I am so grateful to NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange fo an honest review
princessbilbo's review
4.0
I liked this the most out of all of the stories set in this world. There were great characters and stories that drew me in and were engaging. The romance was wonderful. I avoided this b/c the series was just alright, but I'm happy I picked this up.
bookish_notes's review
5.0
What an absolute joy to be back in the world of The Star-Touched Queen series. These stories are as magical and lyrical as ever and this is yet another book you need to savor as your read. They ensnare you and makes it feel like you're really there with the characters. I adore Roshani's writing and she just has this way of bringing this world to life. I will be the first to admit that usually purple prose isn't for me, but there's something really splendid about this series that manages to enrich your soul. I can't help but to fall in love with these stories. These are stories I didn't even know I NEEDED in my life until I read them and I love that the publisher has found a way to print these novellas together into a physical book.
"Death and Night" is a prequel to The Star-Touched Queen, and think reading this story adds so much depth to what we know now of Maya and Amar's story. I've really reading a lot of romance stories lately and this novella is just fluff that gives you the warm fuzzies. It's heart-warming and I love this one so much. There's also really hilarious moments between Gupta and Death and I can read their banter all day.
I almost feel like "Poison and Gold" this was more of a lead-in to "Rose and Sword" (but okay, my faves are Gauri and Vikram, so I'm kind of biased), but it does manage to stand on its own. We met Aasha in A Crown of Wishes and it's lovely to see her story here. I thought this one was really heartfelt as we journey with Aasha and I loved reading her grow as a character. What's really beautiful about Aasha's story is that this is also f/f! So, thank you, Roshani for giving us this wonderful story.
"Rose and Sword", you guys. LIKE. WHAT HAPPENED. MY FEELS. That's just not right. You start off this book with a lovely, sweet novella and then you end of bawling from emotions by the end? This is a story within a story and I really did not expect to be this emotional reading this one. This acts like an epilogue for Gauri and Vikram and I think this story was both wonderful and bittersweet. If you guys love Gauri and Vikram as much as I do, grab a box of tissues.
***Thank you to the publisher for providing me an e-ARC from NetGalley for review as part of a blog tour***
"Death and Night" is a prequel to The Star-Touched Queen, and think reading this story adds so much depth to what we know now of Maya and Amar's story. I've really reading a lot of romance stories lately and this novella is just fluff that gives you the warm fuzzies. It's heart-warming and I love this one so much. There's also really hilarious moments between Gupta and Death and I can read their banter all day.
I almost feel like "Poison and Gold" this was more of a lead-in to "Rose and Sword" (but okay, my faves are Gauri and Vikram, so I'm kind of biased), but it does manage to stand on its own. We met Aasha in A Crown of Wishes and it's lovely to see her story here. I thought this one was really heartfelt as we journey with Aasha and I loved reading her grow as a character. What's really beautiful about Aasha's story is that this is also f/f! So, thank you, Roshani for giving us this wonderful story.
"Rose and Sword", you guys. LIKE. WHAT HAPPENED. MY FEELS. That's just not right. You start off this book with a lovely, sweet novella and then you end of bawling from emotions by the end? This is a story within a story and I really did not expect to be this emotional reading this one. This acts like an epilogue for Gauri and Vikram and I think this story was both wonderful and bittersweet. If you guys love Gauri and Vikram as much as I do, grab a box of tissues.
***Thank you to the publisher for providing me an e-ARC from NetGalley for review as part of a blog tour***
waywordxwitch's review
5.0
~ARC provided by NetGalley~
I have to say Roshani Chokshi is truly becoming my favorite author. She has a lyrical almost magical quality to her writing. These novellas in Star-Touched Stories will be a truly wonderful companion for anyone who has read her two previous Star-Touched novels. Each of these stories made me fall in love with the characters and the entire story itself even more than I did when I read the first two books. I definitely recommend for anyone who's a fan.
I have to say Roshani Chokshi is truly becoming my favorite author. She has a lyrical almost magical quality to her writing. These novellas in Star-Touched Stories will be a truly wonderful companion for anyone who has read her two previous Star-Touched novels. Each of these stories made me fall in love with the characters and the entire story itself even more than I did when I read the first two books. I definitely recommend for anyone who's a fan.
booksandladders's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
I am ugly crying. This was so beautiful. I loved all the stories and just so want someone to smile just for me.
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
I am ugly crying. This was so beautiful. I loved all the stories and just so want someone to smile just for me.
shannonxo's review
4.0
Roshani Chokshi does it again with her beautiful way with words. This is a collection of short stories set in the the Star-Touched Queen world featuring characters you already know and love. I usually stay away from novellas, and definitely away from short-story collections because rarely are they worth the time or effort. You never get enough or too much is crammed in to the point it makes no sense and you hate it.
Not the case here.
A run-down of my thoughts on each short story.
1. DEATH AND NIGHT
My favourite, hands down. It is basically the prequel to The Star-Touched Queen you didn't know you needed but secretly wished would land in your lap. This tells the story of Night incarnate and the Lord of Death and how they met and came to be lovers, and let me tell you, this was perfect. It was lush and swoony and romantic and utterly wonderful. The magic and the world-building was top notch in this. The rest of this book could have been trash and I'd still finish in the hopes of getting another moment that resembles this particular tale. I literally have nothing bad to say about this one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. POISON AND GOLD
This was probably the one that could have tanked the ship for me. This one takes place after the events of A Crown of Wishes, and focuses on Aasha going through a series of tests and trial to become the new Spy Mistress. I really liked Aasha in ACOW, but I fell off the wagon here. It was a story that felt too long and boring and frankly, unasked for. The spy mistress angle should have been more exciting, but was not. I wanted more of a story of discovery of the world for her, but it became more about her, personally and her insecurities and weaknesses.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. ROSE AND SWORD
I enjoyed this one as well! Not as much as the first, but more so than the second. It focuses on Gauri as she travels to the underworld to save Vikram from illness and death on the eve of their wedding. I love Gauri and Vikram together, so I was delighted to get more of their banter and dynamic together. My major complaint with this was it was too short. It needed—no, deserved more. Chop Aasha's story in half by speeding up the pace and give those pages to Gauri.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall, I enjoyed this. It was a great companion piece to the Star-Touched world and came at a good time for me, not wanting to leave that world just yet.
Not the case here.
A run-down of my thoughts on each short story.
1. DEATH AND NIGHT
My favourite, hands down. It is basically the prequel to The Star-Touched Queen you didn't know you needed but secretly wished would land in your lap. This tells the story of Night incarnate and the Lord of Death and how they met and came to be lovers, and let me tell you, this was perfect. It was lush and swoony and romantic and utterly wonderful. The magic and the world-building was top notch in this. The rest of this book could have been trash and I'd still finish in the hopes of getting another moment that resembles this particular tale. I literally have nothing bad to say about this one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. POISON AND GOLD
This was probably the one that could have tanked the ship for me. This one takes place after the events of A Crown of Wishes, and focuses on Aasha going through a series of tests and trial to become the new Spy Mistress. I really liked Aasha in ACOW, but I fell off the wagon here. It was a story that felt too long and boring and frankly, unasked for. The spy mistress angle should have been more exciting, but was not. I wanted more of a story of discovery of the world for her, but it became more about her, personally and her insecurities and weaknesses.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. ROSE AND SWORD
I enjoyed this one as well! Not as much as the first, but more so than the second. It focuses on Gauri as she travels to the underworld to save Vikram from illness and death on the eve of their wedding. I love Gauri and Vikram together, so I was delighted to get more of their banter and dynamic together. My major complaint with this was it was too short. It needed—no, deserved more. Chop Aasha's story in half by speeding up the pace and give those pages to Gauri.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall, I enjoyed this. It was a great companion piece to the Star-Touched world and came at a good time for me, not wanting to leave that world just yet.
emiann2023's review
5.0
This collection has three novellas and an extended excerpt from The Gilded Wolves.
I absolutely adored Death and Night and Rose and Sword. I was a major fan of both couples from the original books, so these were an absolute delight to read.
I was never much of a fan of Aasha in Crown of Wishes, so I really didn't find as muchto love about Poison and Gold. It was okay, but I never really connected with Aasha the way I did Gauri and Maya.
The extended look at The Gilded Wolves really just whet my appetite and now I am super excited to read the whole thing. Ugh. Cannot wait.
Overall, this collection was a pleasure to dive into, and I hope there are future books with Hira. ;)
I absolutely adored Death and Night and Rose and Sword. I was a major fan of both couples from the original books, so these were an absolute delight to read.
I was never much of a fan of Aasha in Crown of Wishes, so I really didn't find as muchto love about Poison and Gold. It was okay, but I never really connected with Aasha the way I did Gauri and Maya.
The extended look at The Gilded Wolves really just whet my appetite and now I am super excited to read the whole thing. Ugh. Cannot wait.
Overall, this collection was a pleasure to dive into, and I hope there are future books with Hira. ;)
madamenovelist's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
kristie5's review
4.0
If you are a fan of Roshani Chokshi then you are going to love this novella. As always the writing is beautiful and magical and all three stories were wonderful additions to this series. I would definitely recommend reading The Star Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes before getting into this novella as there are spoilers. Overall, I really enjoyed all of these stories and it answered some questions that I had from the first two books.
angelabookworm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0