Let me just say that if you’re as obsessed with reading mythology as I am, you’ll want to get your hands on this book. I devoured this book and its beautiful writing and descriptions just took my breath away. Honestly, Shveta’s celestial world just comes to life and seems to jump off of the page. The journey that this young protagonist takes to discover herself is lovely, and I really enjoyed exploring the family themes going on within this story. Sprinkle in a little romantic drama, and it’s definitely a great read for me. This is a story you’ll want to read again and again.
This story is about Sheetal, a young woman who is half mortal and half star. She’s used to keeping secrets, like pretending to be normal. Unfortunately, when her magic goes a little out of control and her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, it’s time for Sheetal to go to her mother to learn how to control the power within her. She’ll arrive at a court glittering with wonders and dark truths. She’ll be entered into a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens and must win or Sheetal may never be able to return home.
One of my favourite aspects of this story was the writing as it has a very lyrical quality to it, and the imagery is just so clear. Also, the food culture. Do not read this book on an empty stomach because I promise you that whatever you reach for will not compare to what Shveta describes in her books. Another thing I loved was a scene with a beautiful market. I’ll admit, with such beautiful writing, I did want a deeper exploration of the starfire magic that Sheetal has because I think it would have made the story even stronger.
Character-wise, I liked Sheetal, but I didn’t love her. It’s possible because she felt a little uncertain of herself, which is the point of this book, and the journey to help her build her self-confidence. I wanted her to love herself a little more. We do get some growth toward the end that I definitely enjoyed. Her aunt was the character I was fascinated by and who’s journey was the most interesting to me. She had a surprising amount of depth to her, even though she’s not involved for a good portion of the book. However, the life lessons and memories that have influenced Sheetal’s way of thinking come up again and again. She’s a hard character because she’s gone through terrible things, not because she’s a terrible person. Yet she still cares so deeply, and so it was so sweet to see.
The romantic aspect of this story was funny to me, because while I thought it was cute, there was something a little humorous to it. This is mainly because it feels JUST like how a young couple would behave when they have a big disagreement. Totally into each other, but refuse to concede. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of moments where I was definitely shaking my head at the antics between these two. They have good hearts, and the connection between them was definitely interesting.
While I finished this book in one sitting, I definitely feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it over the course of a few days instead. It’s a story to be savoured, not raced through. The premise is something you’ll definitely want time to enjoy and mull over, and there while there were words that I looked up during and after reading because I wanted to be sure what they meant, you can definitely tease out word meanings from the context clues.
There were a couple of things that I wish had been a little more developed/didn’t understand. I haven’t read one of the inspirations behind this book (Neil Gaiman, please don’t come for me), but I’ll admit that this book definitely made me want to go and read it. This aside, something that I wished were a little more fleshed out was the competition for succession. I was excited because it seemed like it was going to be this very intense thing, but to be honest it fell a little flat for me. This is my personal opinion, and I’d love to discuss it if you think differently! The other part of it was that there wasn’t a very defined antagonist. It mostly works, but there were moments where I think the story would have been enhanced if things were clearly defined.
Overall, I loved this story. It was such a beautiful story, and there’s a larger focus on family that I enjoyed more than I thought I would. This is one that I would definitely go back and re-read, because I suspect that I’ll discover something new the next time I read it. I’m rating this story an 8/10. I’m excited to see what else comes from this author! Definitely put it on your TBR list, or request it from your public library! I don’t think you’ll want to miss it.
Star Daughter is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 11th 2020.
Will you be picking up Star Daughter? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
This gorgeously imagined YA debut blends shades of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and a breathtaking landscape of Hindu mythology into a radiant contemporary fantasy.
The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him. A star like her mother, who returned to the sky long ago.
Sheetal’s quest to save her father will take her to a celestial court of shining wonders and dark shadows, where she must take the stage as her family’s champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens–and win, or risk never returning to Earth at all.
Brimming with celestial intrigue, this sparkling YA debut is perfect for fans of Roshani Chokshi and Laini Taylor.
