ALA Booklist (Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gauri, sister to runaway princess Mayavati of Bharata, has been captured and imprisoned, forced to marry an enemy prince. Her devious, power-hungry brother, Skanda, tortured her for years before casting her off to the opposing kingdom of Ujijain. But Prince Vikram has also been coerced into the marriage, and he seeks out Gauri after a sage suggests she is mystically significant. Vikram is intent on using his wits and Gauri's martial skills to enter the Tournament of Wishes magic quest that will give them both an out, though it may be fraught with more peril than either could imagine. Chokshi's debut, The Star-Touched Queen (2016), was lush and gorgeously written, and Chokshi has only improved; this lovely companion tale boasts a stronger narrative structure in addition to the delightful prose. Chokshi's characters are dreamers at heart, longing for magic in a world where they don't expect to find it. Fans of the first book will find this to be a worthy successor.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Princess Gauri (The Star-Touched Queen) strikes a bargain with Vikram, the sly prince of a neighboring kingdom. With her fighting ability and his cunning, Vikram proposes that they can win the Tournament of Wishes. The pair must face vividly imagined mythical creatures inspired by Indian folklore--as well as their growing feelings for each other. As in the previous book, the plotting is intricate and the prose luxurious.

Kirkus Reviews

Set in the same Indian-inflected fantasy world as The Star-Touched Queen (2016), Chokshi's sophomore effort examines fear, desire, and ambition as three protagonists compete in the Tournament of Wishes.The most compelling of the characters is Aasha, a vishakanya curious about the human life she left behind when she received the Blessing and became a poisonous courtesan. Her subplot is a beautiful exploration of vengeance and healing. It is here that the worldbuilding is most nuanced and deftly woven. At other times, the prose is exceedingly allegorical and overwrought. The two human contestants—Vikram, the puppet prince of Ujijain, and Gauri, the exiled princess of Bharata—make an unlikely pair. Their relationship relies heavily on witty banter punctuated by imminent peril that is designed to draw them closer together. In many respects the book reads like nested fables. Alaka, the otherworldly Kingdom of Desire where the tournament takes place, is full of wondrous creatures and deities from Indian mythologies, all representative of lessons the protagonists need to learn as they complete their Herculean tasks. With a happily-ever-after reminiscent of beloved fairy tales, this is a great pick for voracious readers who like their bejeweled princesses to have hard edges. (glossary) (Fantasy. 12 & up)