The books in this compilation represent my first
middle-grade post for the year. I’ve been reading a lot of middle-grade (MG) fiction
this year, so I expect three MG compilations for 2021!
*This is the third novel in a pentalogy (originally
a tetralogy).*
The reincarnated Pandava sisters (Aru, Mini and Brynne) have
one mission: rescue two targets, one of whom is close to blurting out a
prophecy which could spell victory for the Pandavas or the Sleeper. It turns
out the “targets” are the remaining Pandava sisters: twins Nikita (sometimes
Nikki) (has the gift of chlorokinesis) and Sheela (a clairvoyant). Their soul
fathers are the Ashvin twins, meaning they’re the reincarnations of Nakula and
Sahadeva, “the brothers famous for their beauty, archery and equestrian skills,
and wisdom.” They rescue the twins, but the mission fails, because the
Sleeper’s minions hear the prophecy, so the now-five Pandava sisters, Pandava adjacent Aiden (affectionately called “Wifey”)
and new friend Prince Rudra (Rudy) of Naga-Loka (naga, yes, he’s a serpent
prince) embark on a different mission. They must locate Kalpavriksha, the
wish-granting tree that came out of the Ocean of Milk when it was churned by
the asuras (sometimes good, sometimes bad semidivine beings). War between the
devas (Sanskrit term for the race of gods) and the demons appears imminent, but
Aru is convinced that she can turn everything around if she reaches
Kalpavriksha first and makes her wish. Like the saying goes: Be careful what
you wish for. What Aru may learn may cause her to hate the Sleeper, but what is
obvious is that the world is complicated. Right and wrong are not “as easily
divided as the black and white sections of an Oreo.” Plus, you know, the world
is not a cookie.
Of the
stories I’ve read in the Rick Riordan
Presents imprint, the Aru Shah books are hands-down my favorite. (They’re
all good, truly, but I currently favor this series.) There’s no such thing as
lag time in this story. It is lightning-paced and the magical Otherworld
remains so believable that I continuously want to be able to jump into the
story and visit all of the places. The author notes that the Hindu mythology
focused on is but a slice of the mythology. Even with a slice, the story
remains fully packed with action, legend and lots of words I need to look up in
the Glossary. The characters are witty and pick on each other with fondness,
battles are intense but not scary, and the entirety of the story is compelling,
diverse and multifaceted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find me a
lightning bolt that can transform into a hoverboard.
Fun fact: The
Ashvin twins are often depicted with the faces of horses. Nothing against
horses, but, fortunately, Nikita and Sheela do not carry such physical traits
as that.
Book One in
the Pandava series: Aru Shah and the End of Time
Book Two:
Aru Shah and the Song of Death
Never After: The
Thirteenth Fairy (Dec. 1, 2020) by Melissa de la Cruz.
*This is the first book in a series.*
North Pasadena, California, is a place where nothing ever
happens, according to 12-year-old Filomena Jefferson-Cho. But on the day that
her way-too-overprotective parents finally let her walk to the bookstore by
herself to get the 13th and final book in the Never After series, not only is there no book, but a cute boy in a cloak who reminds her of Never After’s
hero, Jack Stalker, follows her toward home and she saves them from an Ogre’s
Wrath by using a fairy spell like is used in the series. (Mind. Blown.) Turns
out, it really is Jack Stalker, and
he’s accompanied by his loyal friend Alistair Bartholomew Barnaby, whom she
recognized right away. Filomena isn’t quick to believe Jack, but is eventually
swept up by the story come to life. It turns out the first 12 books aren’t only
tales, but stories of a real place. Queen Olga, an ogre of Orgdale, wants
Aladdin’s lamp for the powerful magic of the genie residing inside. She’s been
driving away the fairies, but it’s the 13th fairy, Carabosse, who’s
not been seen since the day she cursed Westphalia’s baby princess (Eliana). The
princess was never found, either. Carabosse knew she’d become reviled, but she
accepted that to put her plan in motion to save Never After and her baby niece.
“Until
one carrying my mark arrives–
Until
the dragons rise–
And
the wolves return–
To
wake you all from nightmares deep.” --Carabosse (p. 175)
I’ve
enjoyed multiple books by de la Cruz, and I include this first book in The Chronicles of Never After series.
One of the bits I loved immediately is that Filomena is adopted and, like me,
has parents that love her. There’s a part where she thinks, “Maybe fairies
would be nicer than most kids.” She’s referencing kids rudely wondering if
she’s “black or Asian or white or what on earth was she (all of the above).”
Filomena has “curly dark hair, dark brown eyes, and skin the color of maple
syrup.” Her dad is Korean-Filipino and her mom is British. While I grew up an
adoptee born in Korea (South) with Caucasian parents and didn’t have that exact
rudeness flung at me, I do personally understand what it’s like to wonder about
one’s biological kin. And, as an adult, that mostly translates to, “I wonder if
there’s anything in my birth family medical history that I might wish I were
aware of?”
Happily,
this story read quickly. It has elements that I expect of a middle-grade novel,
such as middle-school angst, the latest cute boy and mean kids (who also exist
as mean trolls, so that works well for them). And it has elements that I
appreciate like a complex female protagonist, quirky but likable characters
(main and supporting), magic and action that keeps the story moving swiftly
forward. There are lines dropped that refer to other characters we are familiar
with (or think that we are). Sure,
the antagonists are a bit one-sided, but this story remains a refreshing twist
to the fairy tales we learned about as kids. I’m pleased that no one ended up
as “ogre toast,” so that I can look forward to the next installment.
One True King
(June 2, 2020) by Soman Chainani.
*This is the sixth/final book in a series / final in a related trilogy.*
*SPOILERS included,
though not major spoilers*
Camelot is a mess, and friends/allies young and older are
dying. Japeth the Snake is masquerading as his twin brother, King Rhian,
reigning over Camelot, trying to kill Tedros, Agatha, Sophie and the rest of
their friends and allies. From Tedros, he wants Camelot’s ring, because if he
destroys it, he believes he’ll become the One True King, able to destroy the
Storian and use his own pen to write the stories he wants. Perhaps even bring
back the one person he loved. Groups of friends are on other quests, but it’s
not like the first stories. They’ve gone beyond Good and Evil (they’re dealing
with an evil supreme, if that can be a thing). They’ve gone beyond Ever Afters.
It’s still the Tale of Sophie and Agatha, but so many others are involved. One
group needs to locate Merlin (and things turn very interesting with the Merlin
they find). Others remain at the School for Good and Evil. Others’ whereabouts
are unknown. But how are Evers, Nevers, the teachers that remain alive and the
occasional outside ally going to defeat Japeth and all of the other kingdoms
that are on Camelot’s side? Not Tedros’ Camelot, but Japeth-as-King-Rhian’s? How
will Tedros win his late father’s (the
King Arthur) tests when he can’t seem to decipher the clues and Japeth is
always two steps ahead?
I have been
steadfast in my reading of all six of Chainani’s stories, but let me say right
off that I truly hope that these stories are DONE. Certainly, the author has
created a storybook empire, but it’s now teeming with so many characters
outside of the main characters that I’m certain I couldn’t name them all
anymore. Not only this story, but the series overall, I have found to be
bewitching, dark, witty and thrilling. I’ve been abhorred by a main character
that’s been frighteningly evil but has also shown goodness. I’ve detested many
of the deaths but have also found it satisfying if a supremely evil character
hasn’t survived. I applauded the Knights of Eleven when female knights were all
chosen, I rejoiced that the series reached its version of a happily-ever-after,
and my eyes may have misted when a character couldn’t stay a little longer
because, “The work is done,” but mostly I’m happy that this series appears to
be complete. These stories have showcased that true love is messy (though
hopefully not this violently messy) and that Good and Evil isn’t simply black
and white. There is a vast swath of gray in-between.
Book One:
The School for Good and Evil
Book Two: A World Without Princes
Book Three:
The Last Ever After (did not review)
Book Four (The Camelot Years 1): Quests for Glory
Book Five (The Camelot Years 2): A Crystal of Time
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