katieejayne's review against another edition
5.0
I had no idea I could get so emotional over a children's book about a boy and his fox. But I did. Sam will tell you. I was crying texting him venting about how beautiful but heartbreaking this book was. Admittedly, I do get very emotionally invested in books...
What was perhaps my favourite aspect of this book was the style of narration. It was from both Pax's (the fox) perspective and Peter's (his owner) perspective which added a really magical feel to the book. Seeing what felt like an incredibly accurate view of a human from an animal and the destruction we as a species continue to cause. I have always said that writing about political or sensitive topics in general through the lens of a child affords a certain innocence to the subject that truly makes the reader question the validity of their opinion. A child can be blunt without as many repercussions.
Pax is set during the beginning of a war and feels very much of the time, whether its the first or second world war I can't be sure. The entire novel hinges on this fact that the entire country is preparing for war. Peter is sent to live with his grandfather after his father has volunteered to fight and his beloved companion Pax couldn't go with him. The story is the two of them finding each other again and learning things about their world along the way. Often from the most unlikely of sources. There are some beautiful if unusual friendships and one of my favourite least seen kind of friendship. The kind that transcends ages. Peter makes friends with an older lady who lives out in a cabin and its just so heartwarming.
You will definitely be crying with this one but in the best way possible.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
What was perhaps my favourite aspect of this book was the style of narration. It was from both Pax's (the fox) perspective and Peter's (his owner) perspective which added a really magical feel to the book. Seeing what felt like an incredibly accurate view of a human from an animal and the destruction we as a species continue to cause. I have always said that writing about political or sensitive topics in general through the lens of a child affords a certain innocence to the subject that truly makes the reader question the validity of their opinion. A child can be blunt without as many repercussions.
Pax is set during the beginning of a war and feels very much of the time, whether its the first or second world war I can't be sure. The entire novel hinges on this fact that the entire country is preparing for war. Peter is sent to live with his grandfather after his father has volunteered to fight and his beloved companion Pax couldn't go with him. The story is the two of them finding each other again and learning things about their world along the way. Often from the most unlikely of sources. There are some beautiful if unusual friendships and one of my favourite least seen kind of friendship. The kind that transcends ages. Peter makes friends with an older lady who lives out in a cabin and its just so heartwarming.
You will definitely be crying with this one but in the best way possible.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk
polarclaire's review against another edition
2.0
I literally have no words.....I am so confused on what the point of this book even was?? I'm not trying to be mean but I truly did not understand this book at all.
essinink's review against another edition
4.0
(3.5/5) It's been a while since I read a book with a spread of reviews so indignant about its romantic aspect. I've never figured out just what it is about a love story done right that turns people off, except that it's such a traditionally feminine thing.
The Star-Touched Queen is patterned more after the conventions of myths and folklore than after the modern novel. Its writing is just this side of too-pretty, but the general flavor of the metaphors was more familiar than I expected. (Check out the Song of Solomon, or the Baghavad Gita, or persian poetry sometime. The ancient world--and the middle east in particular--have a very poetic bent with words.). It's a story of love across time between two deities , despite every obstacle in their path.
The plot might not have been technically brilliant, but it was solid. And it was exactly what I needed this week. 4 stars for enjoyment, and I'm marking this as an author to keep an eye on.
The Star-Touched Queen is patterned more after the conventions of myths and folklore than after the modern novel. Its writing is just this side of too-pretty, but the general flavor of the metaphors was more familiar than I expected. (Check out the Song of Solomon, or the Baghavad Gita, or persian poetry sometime. The ancient world--and the middle east in particular--have a very poetic bent with words.). It's a story of love across time between two deities , despite every obstacle in their path.
The plot might not have been technically brilliant, but it was solid. And it was exactly what I needed this week. 4 stars for enjoyment, and I'm marking this as an author to keep an eye on.
maheenrizvi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
3.5
ahoke1990's review against another edition
3.0
Now honestly I had not really planned or added. This book to a to-read list even though. I have heard and seen it talked about everywhere. But I didnt think about reading it. But I saw it at my library and grabbed it. I don't really always want to. Know what a book is about before reading. If the book is good its good. If its bad its bad. The covers are beautiful so that helps a little...well except for the photoshopped girl.
"Staring at the sky in Bharata was like exchanging a secret."
Wow the writing is very flowy,poetic and beautiful sounding. It makes the whole book feel like a dream. But I did not see much of a plot. The plot is either lost in the dream. Or maybe I just dont understand or see it. Not where I thought it was going to go. I thought it was all about horoscopes. Then it just changes into something else.
I like the main character Maya. I think she is smart and likeable. I do kinda like the others as well. The romance is not over done. And gradually comes together nice. I don't really like to pay attention to relationships in books. Unless the characters take a long time to come together. The best relationship in this book is with. Mays and the magical horse creature. They have just a good dynamic together. Thr horse is actually silly and funny to me.
I hope the plot comes together better in the next book. Which I will read it eventually. Depends on when its available at my library.
"Staring at the sky in Bharata was like exchanging a secret."
Wow the writing is very flowy,poetic and beautiful sounding. It makes the whole book feel like a dream. But I did not see much of a plot. The plot is either lost in the dream. Or maybe I just dont understand or see it. Not where I thought it was going to go. I thought it was all about horoscopes. Then it just changes into something else.
I like the main character Maya. I think she is smart and likeable. I do kinda like the others as well. The romance is not over done. And gradually comes together nice. I don't really like to pay attention to relationships in books. Unless the characters take a long time to come together. The best relationship in this book is with. Mays and the magical horse creature. They have just a good dynamic together. Thr horse is actually silly and funny to me.
I hope the plot comes together better in the next book. Which I will read it eventually. Depends on when its available at my library.
abinthebooks's review against another edition
1.0
This book was painstakingly stupid. Like so stupid it gave me pain. Why you may ask? Well I'm here to tell you why, or else why did you click on my review?
Retelling(s) - Hades and Persephone
The Terrible Writing
What I want to know, is wtf is this writing? This writing is so flowery, that I wanted to puke. And the fucking metaphors, God the metaphors.
'“I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind.”'
'"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."'
'“What I wanted was a connection, a shared heartbeat that kept rhythm across oceans and worlds. Not some alliance cobbled out of war. I didn’t want the prince from the folktales or some milk-skinned, honey-eyed youth who said his greetings and proclaimed his love in the same breath. I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind.”'
'“I know emptiness. I know the taste of blood against my teeth. I know what it is to fill your belly with iron. I know hunger. I know pain. I know memories that won’t stay. I know the ghost of life and the perfume of souls.”'
'“I take inspiration where I can, and devour it in one piece like I'm starving. Not because I think it's something fleeting that will never return but because I think the best inspiration is the kind that makes you feel urgent. Like you're racing against yourself to get a story on the page while you still remember what that magic feels like.”'
AND THOSE ARE JUST EXAMPLES!
Imagine reading a book with metaphors like that (that make no fucking sense may I add), on every other page.
TERRIBLE ROMANCE
So our girl, Maya is being forced to marry a guy, ok? Get that. And here is exactly what she says after she finds out she's forced to marry a guy:
There was another sorrow, tucked beneath my surprise. Although I had never envisioned marriage, I had thought of love. Not the furtive love I heard muffled in the corners or rooms of some of the harem wives. What I wanted was a connection, a shared alliance cobbled out of war. I didn't want the prince from the folk-tales or sim milk-skinned, honey-eyed youth who said his greetings and proclaimed his love in the same breath. I wanted a love as thick and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind."'
Obviously, she's pretty sad, and maybe even a little pissed about this alliance, couldn't we all agree? NOT EVEN, NOT EVEN 100 fucking pages later she's completely 'enraptured' in Mr. "I can give you worlds'. And how she justifies this pull to marry this dude you may ask?
'"Something else guided my hands.'"
Oh give me a fucking break.
And then, it gets fucking worse. And you know why? Because our alpha male love interest (with dare I say, NO PERSONALITY) is a cheese ball, with the cringiest lines you can conjure.
'“I love you," he murmured into my hair. "You are my night and stars, the fate I would fix myself to in any life.”'
“No matter where we are, we’ll always share the same sky. We can always find each other in the same constellation.”
“The truth,” said Amar, taking a step closer to me, “is that you look neither lovely nor demure. You look like edges and thunderstorms. And I would not have you any other way.”
“My star-touched queen,” he said softly, as if he was remembering something from long ago. “I would break the world to give you what you want.”
“Then what do you want from me?"
"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.”
And finally
“'You know nothing about me."
"I know your soul. Everything else is an ornament.”'
*GAGS*
Next, our weak, idiotic main character named Maya.
God, Maya is such a weak bitch. She has no backbone, and no personality and God she's STUPID! For example:
"'Do these past days mean nothing?" he asked, so gently that my weak self curled around his words. But I would no longer be weak.'
And I was thinking, oh thank God she's finally growing some back bone. But not even two paragraphs later she says this:
"'My promises were true. You seek to punish an illusion without fully knowing. What were your kisses, them? Vengeance?"
The wall of flames shimmered away. Anger still flared inside me, but now it was mixed with something else. Something I couldn't push away, despite fury. Want.'
Never mind then.
And when I mean stupid, Jesus I mean stupid. I can't say much, because spoilers, but please take my word for it.
And finally, The Plot
And honestly, I can't say much about the plot, because there isn't one. Or if their was I couldn't see. And even though their isn't a plot, I felt like everything was going over and over and over again. It was repetitive.
Anyways, I'm super dissapointed in this book. I've really wanted to like [a:Roshani Chokshi|13695109|Roshani Chokshi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1544538355p2/13695109.jpg] as an author. I really tried to like this book too. But I don't, and I just don't think she's the author for me.
* * *
Get ready for my rant review, coming soon
Retelling(s) - Hades and Persephone
The Terrible Writing
What I want to know, is wtf is this writing? This writing is so flowery, that I wanted to puke. And the fucking metaphors, God the metaphors.
'“I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind.”'
'"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."'
'“What I wanted was a connection, a shared heartbeat that kept rhythm across oceans and worlds. Not some alliance cobbled out of war. I didn’t want the prince from the folktales or some milk-skinned, honey-eyed youth who said his greetings and proclaimed his love in the same breath. I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind.”'
'“I know emptiness. I know the taste of blood against my teeth. I know what it is to fill your belly with iron. I know hunger. I know pain. I know memories that won’t stay. I know the ghost of life and the perfume of souls.”'
'“I take inspiration where I can, and devour it in one piece like I'm starving. Not because I think it's something fleeting that will never return but because I think the best inspiration is the kind that makes you feel urgent. Like you're racing against yourself to get a story on the page while you still remember what that magic feels like.”'
AND THOSE ARE JUST EXAMPLES!
Imagine reading a book with metaphors like that (that make no fucking sense may I add), on every other page.
TERRIBLE ROMANCE
So our girl, Maya is being forced to marry a guy, ok? Get that. And here is exactly what she says after she finds out she's forced to marry a guy:
There was another sorrow, tucked beneath my surprise. Although I had never envisioned marriage, I had thought of love. Not the furtive love I heard muffled in the corners or rooms of some of the harem wives. What I wanted was a connection, a shared alliance cobbled out of war. I didn't want the prince from the folk-tales or sim milk-skinned, honey-eyed youth who said his greetings and proclaimed his love in the same breath. I wanted a love as thick and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind."'
Obviously, she's pretty sad, and maybe even a little pissed about this alliance, couldn't we all agree? NOT EVEN, NOT EVEN 100 fucking pages later she's completely 'enraptured' in Mr. "I can give you worlds'. And how she justifies this pull to marry this dude you may ask?
'"Something else guided my hands.'"
Oh give me a fucking break.
And then, it gets fucking worse. And you know why? Because our alpha male love interest (with dare I say, NO PERSONALITY) is a cheese ball, with the cringiest lines you can conjure.
'“I love you," he murmured into my hair. "You are my night and stars, the fate I would fix myself to in any life.”'
“No matter where we are, we’ll always share the same sky. We can always find each other in the same constellation.”
“The truth,” said Amar, taking a step closer to me, “is that you look neither lovely nor demure. You look like edges and thunderstorms. And I would not have you any other way.”
“My star-touched queen,” he said softly, as if he was remembering something from long ago. “I would break the world to give you what you want.”
“Then what do you want from me?"
"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.”
And finally
“'You know nothing about me."
"I know your soul. Everything else is an ornament.”'
*GAGS*
Next, our weak, idiotic main character named Maya.
God, Maya is such a weak bitch. She has no backbone, and no personality and God she's STUPID! For example:
"'Do these past days mean nothing?" he asked, so gently that my weak self curled around his words. But I would no longer be weak.'
And I was thinking, oh thank God she's finally growing some back bone. But not even two paragraphs later she says this:
"'My promises were true. You seek to punish an illusion without fully knowing. What were your kisses, them? Vengeance?"
The wall of flames shimmered away. Anger still flared inside me, but now it was mixed with something else. Something I couldn't push away, despite fury. Want.'
Never mind then.
And when I mean stupid, Jesus I mean stupid. I can't say much, because spoilers, but please take my word for it.
And finally, The Plot
And honestly, I can't say much about the plot, because there isn't one. Or if their was I couldn't see. And even though their isn't a plot, I felt like everything was going over and over and over again. It was repetitive.
Anyways, I'm super dissapointed in this book. I've really wanted to like [a:Roshani Chokshi|13695109|Roshani Chokshi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1544538355p2/13695109.jpg] as an author. I really tried to like this book too. But I don't, and I just don't think she's the author for me.
* * *
Get ready for my rant review, coming soon