The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
sssssoup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Confinement
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse, Medical content, Alcohol, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
While I liked the characters and setting, the pacing of this one left a bit to be desired. I couldn't believe how long each day was; it felt like I would read hundreds of pages before Sheetal actually got to go to bed. And maybe I'm just a stickler for rules, but
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Blood
Minor: Torture
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I kept getting this book from the library and then running out of time to read it, so a buddy read was exactly the incentive I needed to finally read it. And surprisingly, it was really good, and I quite enjoyed my time with the story.
Thakrarâs writing reminded me very much of Roshani Chokshi, specifically her book The Star-Touched Queen, and Anna-Marie McLemoreâlovely descriptions seemingly infused with magic, making even the ordinary seem extraordinary. That and the three-dimensional characters were definitely her greatest strengths; I liked the protagonist Sheetal, and loved her best friend Minal and their relationship.
The story is undeniably slow, and more character-driven than plot-driven, but worth sticking with. While the majority of the book is a series of smaller-scale events that kept me intrigued, the last third was a whirlwind of music, discoveries and power plays. It was entertaining without pause, and led to a rather satisfying conclusion.
Though not a favorite, Iâd definitely say Star Daughter is one of the most pleasantly surprising books Iâve read this year. I recommend it, and I certainly want to read more from Thakrar; if this is her debut, I look forward to seeing how she grows.
Representation
- almost entirely desi cast
- sapphic side couple
- minor achillean side couple
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Torture
Those tagged minor refer to events prior to the story that are mentioned throughout, more so in the second half, but never in graphic detail.taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Physical abuse, Blood, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical content
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
đ It's so wonderful to read a YA fantasy that doesn't center white teenagers or build off European mythology.
đ I wish there had been a lot more world-building in this book - there could have been so much more to the history of the star court and the palace intrigue Sheetal finds herself in the middle of, but instead she is relegated to the sidelines, finding out information secondhand. I would definitely have read a sprawling trilogy version of this book.Â
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
nullandvoidlibrary's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
booksthatburn's review against another edition
This is my second attempt at reading Star Daughter and it just doesnât click with me. I think the thing thatâs irking me is that itâs full of pining for the status quo to be different but we donât actually spend any time in the status quo sheâs objecting to. So changes donât feel important, it just feels like Iâm getting jerked around. Almost as soon as we meet her kind-of-boyfriend we find out he knows her secret so it doesnât feel like a betrayal to me as a reader because I donât have the emotional weight of liking him first... I struggled so much with this book. The MC will say what she thought her state of mind was going to be and then tells us what it actually is... but when the first time we find out what she thought it would be is when it's something different it just feels confused. A minor example that shows this issue without really being a spoiler: the first time we ever hear about Little India in/near her neighborhood is when she finds out it has a magical night market. Cool, yay? But since we didnât visit it at all or have the mundane side of it discussed previously my reaction isnât âwow Little India has a magical night market!â, itâs more like, âoh sure, this new story location (Little India) has a particular feature (a magical night market). Iâm not excited because I had zero expectations as to the existence or non-existence of this place. This really is a minor example, but it comes on the heels of several like it that are definitely spoilers.Â
I didn't get as far as the actual competition part of the narrative, so I can't vouch for how any of that plays out. If you want a story that spends at least the first half feeling like the aftermath for something you didn't get to see, you might like this. I like the MC's best friend, she feels so much more vibrant than the MC, so much so that I wouldn't be surprised to learn that in the second half the book reveals the MC's emotions were dampened by being on Earth or something, that's really the only thing I can think of that would make the flat characterization and lack of tension around the MC's narration feel purposeful. But, for me, I spent almost half the book waiting to care about the story and that just never happened, so I'm calling it quits.
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Torture
CW for blood, kidnapping, imprisonment, torture, violence.