Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 17

My third young-adult (YA) compilation post for this year features The Gilded Wolves trilogy. Prior to this YA set, I’d only read middle-grade books written by the author.

The Gilded Wolves (Jan. 15, 2019) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is the first novel in a trilogy.>

The wealthy hotelier of L’Eden is a treasure seeker, heir of House Vanth, which was declared a dead line 10 years ago. Séverin Montagnet-Alarie wants his House back. In order to reclaim his birthright, he needs the Babel Fragment for the Order of Babel. To help him is a diverse group of rapscallions: Laila is an Indian cabaret dancer whose ability to read unforged objects that she touches has a sinister backstory, Zofia is a Jewish engineer kicked out of university for being Jewish with a Forging affinity for solid matter (mostly metals and crystals), Tristan Maréchal is Séverin’s brother-in-arms with a Forging affinity for liquid matter (specifically, that present in plants) who has an enormous pet tarantula named Goliath, and Enrique Mercado-Lopez is a Filipino historian banished from his home who wishes he could Forge, but no ability manifested by his thirteenth birthday. Helping with the heist is Hypnos, patriarch of House Nyx, the son of Haitian slaves and a French aristocrat, who, for all of his handsome bluster, really could use some good friends. They’re going to pull off a grand heist that’ll place them all in danger.  They need the Horus Eye, which mysterious rival Roux-Joubert does not want them to have, but to find the Fragment, they will need to locate Fallen House’s meeting place, and no one knew of it even before it was Fallen and had an actual name. Séverin wants the Fragment to become patriarch of the House he grew up in, but the Fragment can wield unimaginable power. Perhaps, even, the power of godhood, but they might lose themselves and break the world in the process.

            Having read Chokshi’s six middle-grade novels from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, I decided I was overdue to try one of her YA novels. The first in The Gilded Wolves trilogy is a YA fantasy with an alternate, magical history that’s tantalizingly dark yet extravagant, multiethnic and inclusive. It’s a confection of sumptuous prose, glittering (mis)adventure and dazzling imagination. The story is evocative and immersive, the characters devilishly charming, and the writing smartly takes on colonialism and cultural appropriation without bogging the story down. We’ve got societal outcasts saving the world, and I expect it’s going to be epic.

            Favorite line: “Secrets keep my hair lustrous.” --Séverin, p. 13

The Silvered Serpents (Sept. 22, 2020) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is the middle novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

The Fallen House has been thwarted, but it’s come at a terrible price. It haunts all of them, Séverin most of all. He’s obsessed with finding The Divine Lyrics, a legendary book which would grant him immortality and godlike powers. Laila seeks it also, but she’s kept her true reason for wanting it a secret. They all think the garnet ring Zofia Forged for her is counting down the days until her birthday, which it is, but it’s way more than that. Séverin, Laila (acting as his mistress), Enrique (a historian), Zofia and Hypnos (House Nyx patriarch) miraculously calculate the coordinates of the Sleeping Palace near Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. They go with Delphine Desrosiers, matriarch of House Kore, Ruslan Goryunov the Bald, patriarch of House Dazbog, which historically trades “in secrets and parchment,” and Eva Yefremovna, “blood Forging artist of impeccable skill” and Ruslan’s cousin. The Sleeping Palace is a near-forgotten mansion of crystalline, ice-Forged animals, broken Muses, mutilated statues without hands and a string of unsolved murders. Secrets are carried by ghosts of the past, and they’re coming to light. The path is gilded with diamonds and treasure, but it’s also inlaid with freezing cold and booby traps.

            The middle novel in The Gilded Wolves trilogy is alluringly dark and dangerous, exquisitely grand and glamorous. The center YA fantasy is a complex filling of smart writing, detailed worldbuilding and epic plotting, making what could be thorny and overwhelming into a story that’s fluid and graceful, even in its horrific moments. Chokshi doesn’t simply place words on the pages willy-nilly, but with the distinct skill of an artisan. It is sleek and diverse, but beware, it’s sometimes bloody, too.

The Bronzed Beasts (Sept. 21, 2021) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

Godhood is coming, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie can feel it, but the group is fractured. Séverin has seemingly betrayed his friends: Enrique Mercado-Lopez, Hypnos Leclair, Zofia Boguska and Laila. Laila thinks the others are dead until they stir to life, and Hypnos’ face falls when he sees the Mnemo bug smashed. Without those clues, they must locate Delphine Desrosiers’ safe house and wend their way through the twisted waterways of Venice on their own. They will find each other, Séverin is determined that this will be so. He’s in possession of the Divine Lyre, and he’s balancing the unhinged whims of Ruslan Goryunov, Patriarch of the Fallen House. They know that the location of the temple where the Divine Lyre can be played is Poveglia (a.k.a. Plague Island), but they don’t know how to access the temple. Laila’s time is winding down. 10 days and counting and already there are times where she can’t feel – not the breath in her, sometimes not even a cut deep enough to cause blood to course down her arm. There are gondola rides on the canal, cemeteries, hidden masquerade balls (courtesy of House Janus), explosions (courtesy of Zofia), siren skeleton songs and shining ziggurat steps. There’s making and unmaking, possible remaking, and there’s always a price to pay.

            Readers return to the darkly alluring, intriguing world in the final installment in The Gilded Wolves trilogy. It’s a beautiful YA fantasy with sparkles and blood, elegance and manipulation, love and angst, mythology and realism, fantastical truths and harsh realities. “The Bronzed Beasts” wraps up a dazzling and dangerous treasure hunt with clues, introspection, history, diversity and inclusion. There’s colorism and its lasting effects on their characters, though readers see that all of these main characters are beloved and worthy of love. To immerse oneself in this trilogy is to have one’s heart wrenched, feel the enduring power of emotion and laugh aloud at Hypnos’ comic relief. What a compelling farewell to a masterfully-imagined, thoughtful fantasy series.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 2

I’m next out the compilation gate with a middle-grade post. In this entry, you’ll find mythology and a legendary, magical chocolatier.

Fury of the Dragon Goddess (Aug. 1, 2023) by Sarwat Chadda.

<This is a sequel novel.>

What would life be without Lugal (Mesopotamian word for war leader), the Mesopotamian god of madness, and his dear old mum, Tiamat, the great dragon goddess of chaos and mother of all monsters? Vacation. Definitely a vacation. Instead, Sikander (Sik) Aziz’s first time in London is anything but a vacation with his brother’s blemish-averse best friend, Daoud, his sort-of demon friend Rabisu and fierce, Kasusu-wielding Belet. They retrieve an ancient clay tablet, the mythic tablet of destinies, amidst a castle of chaos and fire. Sik unwittingly uses it to bring his brother, Mo, back, not initially realizing at what terrible cost. Sik’s troubles only increase alarmingly when the tablet is stolen and Belet’s taken, too. He tries to save her once and is alarmed when she doesn’t recognize him as the Sik whom she defeated Nergal alongside. She doesn’t remember Kasusu, either. Sik gets buried alive in concrete with no one but the ghosts of Bethlem Hospital (better known as Bedlam, a real place, and “a word now forever associated with uproar and discord,” p. 212) to keep him in mind-spiraling company, making it a very long two days. While Sik thinks someone else should take on the ancient gods of Mesopotamia, the fate of the world will, once again, rest on 14-year-old Sik’s shoulders.

            This follow-up to “City of the Plague God” packs in tidal waves of action and earth-shattering adventure of the Mesopotamian mythology sort, where readers encounter terms that are Arabic, Islamic and Mesopotamian (Per Chadda: While all Islamic terms are Arabic, not all Arabic terms are Islamic). “Fury” contains emotional range (not only fury, mind you, though there is that) and humanity amidst danger and chaos. Chadda doesn’t hold back, sprinkling in scenes containing xenophobia and Islamophobia and calling out Western theft of cultural artifacts with deftness that doesn’t take away from the action and adventure of the story. He also deftly and delicately explains the Muslim belief in one God (Allah) alongside the Mesopotamian deities: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. Mama calls them djinn, and that works well enough. She sees them as spirits that decided to defy Allah and make mischief among humanity” (p. 135). For fans of mythology, this multitudes-containing epic tale written by a master storyteller is a must!

            Notable lines: “The desire to make the world a better place. That is the ultimate jihad” (p. 237). (A jihad is “a righteous struggle.”)

            Book One: City of the Plague God

The Spirit Glass (Sept. 5, 2023) by Roshani Chokshi.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Age 12 cannot come fast enough for Corazon Lopez, for that is the age that she can finally begin training as a babaylan, a rare mortal who guards the boundaries between the human world and the realm of spirits, under the teaching of Aunt Tina. When her magic awakens, she plans to bring her parents, Emilio and Althea, back to life, no longer needing to rely on the soul key that allows them to visit for a few hours every Saturday evening. A regular visit to the Midnight Bridge – a bridge between the human and spirit realms – brings an encounter with a vengeful ghost, who steals Corazon’s precious soul key. Aunt Tina tells her she must retrieve the key, so they can help the ghost move on, but the ghost refuses to rest. She’s looking for her “light.” With her on this quest is Saso (short for Samson), her companion anito. “They are the spirits of mountain rivers, streams and trees. The more powerful the babaylan, the more powerful and impressive the companion anito.” (Possibly the most impressive thing about Saso is his imagination. He says he’s a crocodile, but he looks like a small, blue gecko.) They also encounter Leo, a spirit guide who wants to write a ghost story. The spirit realm is imbalanced, and it must be restored, so says Librarian Bulosan, a kapre, which is “a tree giant who is often depicted as exceptionally hairy and fond of cigars.” Corazon will have to get two blessings and, at one point, calls on the assistance of a manananggal, depicted as beautiful (as opposed to hideously scary), and looks like a flying torso carrying Legs. Yes, her legs are named Legs. They must overcome insurmountable odds and right what is imbalanced.

Imagine my disappointment when I learned that this was a standalone novel and not the start of a new series delving into Filipino mythology! I didn’t think Chokshi could create a character more entertaining than Aru Shah, but she achieves that with this story that contains laugh-out-loud humor, but also imbues sorrow. Saso’s bloodthirsty personality is what had me in stitches. Just as magical transactions are known when they’re fair trades, a system of bargains and balances, so this story is well-balanced with comedy and tragedy. It’s a spellbinding middle-grade novel with an adventurous plot and excellent prose. Standalone though it is, it’s a new fantasy classic!

P.S. I want to live in a sentient house that sneaks pancit defiantly into my lunch bag!

 Wonka (Dec. 19, 2023) by Sibéal Pounder.

   Inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

   Based on the screenplay by Simon Farnaby and Paul King.

   Story by Paul King.

<This is a media tie-in novel.>

Before there was Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka’s giant-yet-mysterious chocolate factory, before there were Scrumdiddlyumptious bars and golden tickets, there was a much younger Willy Wonka. A Willy Wonka full of magical, chocolaty dreams, where a “little orange man with the green hair” (an Oompa-Loompa) is real to Wonka but make-believe to everyone else, and chocolate creations such as the Hoverchoc, which will cause a person to levitate, exist. This Wonka is far from his chocolate factory. His reality is that he doesn’t even own a small kiosk, much less a storefront. He can’t with the Galeries Gourmet a.k.a. the Chocolate Cartel. Slugworth, Fickelgruber and Prodnose keep a record of their dirty deeds in a green ledger. It’s kept in a secured vault, guarded by a corrupt cleric and 500 chocoholic monks. The Chief of Police’s face isn’t clean, either. His face is stuffed with chocolate. To make matters worse, when Wonka neglects to read the fine print (Noodle, an orphan, did try to forewarn him), he winds up as a washhouse worker. It’ll take him 27 years, 4 months and 16 days to make up what the crooked Mrs. Scrubitt and Mr. Bleacher claim he owes in silver sovereigns. Wonka has company with others who failed to read the fine print: Abacus Crunch (Chartered Accountant), Piper Benz (plumber by trade), Larry Chucklesworth (professional clown) and Lottie Bell (switchboard operator). Wonka is full of dreams. How can he turn those dreams into reality?

            Although I’ve yet to watch the film of the same title, Willy Wonka is a classic character. When I spotted this movie tie-in novel at my local library, I jumped at the opportunity to be the first checkout. This origin story, written by Pounder, is a delectably fizzy blend of magic and mayhem, cocoa-filled dreams and hearty emotion with sprinkles of humor and dashes of cunning. The story’s adversaries are as easy to despise as lima beans (I simply don’t like them), while Wonka and his washhouse cohort are easy to root for. The storyline can be followed with ease, and the sugary magic is intoxicating. The worm water, on the other hand, I’d keep a great distance from. In fact, I’d eat lima beans instead. Happy trails as you live in a world of pure imagination!

"Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality" by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality (Apr. 5, 2022) by Roshani Chokshi.

*This is the final book in a pentalogy.*

Note: SPOILERS ahead, but nothing outside of the dust jacket.

Without Vajra, the celestial lightning bolt, Aru Shah feels powerless, and doubts plague her on their (Aru, the other Pandava sisters, Aiden and Rudy) journey to reach the nectar of immortality, exacerbated by her half-sister's betrayal and her feelings toward the villainous Sleeper (a.k.a. Suyodhana). Aru, Mini, Brynne, Aiden and Rudy are given one piece of the Sun Jewel by Agni, the god of fire, when Aru initiates the IO(F)U coin. They have to reunite its other two pieces, which will mean encountering more Otherworld characters, fighting more battles (not all with physical weapons) and risking death. Everyone has a story, as evidenced by those Aru and her friends encounter, but when stories become lost or forgotten, bitterness can make a ferocious adversary. Aru, Mini and Brynne have been told they may earn back their celestial weapons, which they must do, as they won't otherwise be able to access the labyrinth, in which somewhere hides the nectar. The Sun Jewel will lead them there, but the Sleeper and his army have a great head start with Kara leading them, along with Sunny, her trident. The twins, Nikita and Sheela, mostly visit through dreams and their powers have been unaffected, younger as they are, but they are doing what they can and are prepared to join the final battle in full battle regalia (so Nikita will be in a ball gown, of course). Sheela has been trying to reach Kara, and when she does, what Kara learns will flood her with doubts. And anger, sadness and hurt. When they reunite, will it be like the most awkward family reunion ever? How will Aru decide who gets immortality? Why must such weight rest on her shoulders, especially when she feels such powerlessness?

            What a series ender! There are supporting characters with murderous intent who are really only misunderstood, devastated by choices foisted upon them to make them the killers they are and those embittered by their lost stories. Aru mires in such doubt in herself, as do Mini and Brynne at points along the way. No one wants to find oneself at the lowest point, but sometimes that's what it takes to begin reaching for the light. The final book is heartfelt and hilarious with fierceness and sincerity that can occur within paragraphs of each other. The story runs the gamut of emotions, and Chokshi writes in such a way as to make them almost palpable on this adventure that doesn't stop until the story ends. It shines with love and with strength, including the strength of sisterhood (blood relation not required), but shows readers vulnerability in the characters, too. The Hindu mythology and the South Asian representation are wondrous, and Chokshi's wit has kept me rolling through the entire series. Awesome. Superb. Deeply entertaining. Go Potatoes! (And Ammamma.) (And Rudy Rocks.) :-)

            P.S. I would still adopt that Palace of Illusions.

            P.P.S. I want a battle ball gown.

            Pandava Series Book One: Aru Shah and the End of Time

            Pandava Series Book Two: Aru Shah and the Song of Death

            Pandava Series Book Three: Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

            Pandava Series Book Four: Aru Shah and the City of Gold

Rutabaga's Reads 2021: Part 10

As anticipated, here is my second middle-grade compilation post for 2021.

Aru Shah and the City of Gold (Apr. 6, 2021) by Roshani Chokshi.

*This is the fourth novel in a pentalogy.*

It’s no secret that Aru made a wish to Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree, right near the third story’s end. Oddly enough, she cannot remember what she wished for, but she’s fairly certain that she didn’t wish for a sister named Kara. Kara claims to be the Sleeper’s daughter, too, and she was found in his lair, so … *shrugs shoulders*. She doesn’t want to trust her at first, but Kara is eager to be helpful, to be part of the Potatoes. Plus, she has a cool trident, and it looks like something wielded by a god, yet it’s Kara that wields it. The Pandavas (a.k.a. the Potatoes) know that they’re speeding closer to war with the Sleeper and his army. Kubera, ruler of Lanka, the city of gold, promises to give them powerful weapons to help prevent Sleeper and Company from taking over the Otherworld. Granted, Kubera also calls them “blips of mortality,” and he’s a god, so he clearly doesn’t care if they pass his trials. Best of luck and all that!

            Chokshi’s Pandava series is one of magic and adventure (and misadventure), but reading it is pure magic. The way the author immerses readers in the slice of Hindu mythology she writes about (because it is vast and stories vary from state to state within India) is complex and rich with witty banter, strong South Asian female leads (though Aiden and Rudy are good company, complementing the rest of the Potatoes nicely and amusingly) and a plot that only rushes forward. However, there are also layers of mistrust, jealousy and even betrayal to break through, lest the group crumble due to the lack of camaraderie and support of one another. Reading the “Aru Shah” books brings me great joy, and they’re so mesmerizingly written that I hope you’ll read them, too, if you haven’t already, yet enjoy mythology.

            P.S. I want to befriend a golden-furred mongoose (Kubera has so many). Because they’re mongooses. Very agile. It’s an added bonus that Kubera’s mongooses hiccup/cough up precious gemstones.

            Book One: Aru Shah and the End of Time

            Book Two: Aru Shah and the Song of Death

            Book Three: Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Oct. 31, 2017) by Jessica Townsend.

*This is the first novel in a series; it’s also a debut novel.*

Fair weather turned foul? The kitchen cat died? There was fire damage because the school lunch lady left the stove burner on overnight, and it was clearly her own fault? Whatever the misfortune, go ahead and blame Morrigan Crow. She was born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born; she’s on the Cursed Children’s Register and everything. Why cursed? Well, on top of bringing supposed misfortune to her locale, she will die on the next Eventide. Normally a 12-year Age, this one comes a year early. Morrigan already felt cheated expecting to die right as she turned 12. But 11? Remarkably, Morrigan receives multiple bids on Bid Day. It’d be unheard of for a “cursed child” to receive one. But Captain Jupiter North “of the Wondrous Society, the League of Explorers, and the Federation of Nevermoorian Hoteliers” does arrive at Crow Manor. And he whisks her off in the nick of time, barely avoiding the Hunt of Smoke and Shadow, taking her to the Hotel Deucalion. Nevermoor itself is a wonder, a Free State housing the illustrious Wundrous Society, a secret world of magic and wonderment. It’s wholly unlike where she fled from: the town of Jackalfax in the state of Great Wolfacre in the Wintersea Republic. In Nevermoor, Morrigan has the opportunity to become a member of the Wundrous Society (or Wunsoc), but there are rigorous trials that she must endure to vie for one of nine spots … and there are 500+ candidates competing. But no pressure! Not passing a trial only means that Morrigan will get kicked out of Nevermoor and have to face the Hunt again. Certain death! But again, no pressure! Because what Nevermoor can give Morrigan are things she’s never really had: a family (Jupiter, Dame Chanda, Fenestra) and friends (Hawthorne Swift, kinda-sorta-maybe John Arjuna Korrapati a.k.a. Jack).

            I bought this on a whim and am so very pleased that I did. It’s no Harry Potter (but nothing ever will be except Harry Potter, so), but it is wildly imaginative, cheekily charming and happily spellbinding. It is a splendid adventure and a fast-paced one, at that. Townsend has crafted this world with care and opulent detail. I imagine the scenes that readers construct in their minds to be as impressive as the world-building within the pages. The cast is diverse, and the magic isn’t so wand-wielding magical as it is clever. But that isn’t all that makes this story, for the core relates to Morrigan herself. It isn’t discovering what Gossamer is (“an invisible, intangible network”). It’s far deeper and highlights the complexity of someone realizing her own worth. Morrigan has moxie, but it’s hope and bravery and self-love that’s been sorely missing. And which she needs in her life. We all do.

            P.S. I wish Fenestra (Fen) were in my life. She’s a Magnificat (not to be confused with the Christian canticle, which is spelled the same). Fen is actually a giant, talking cat.

            P.P.S. Remember to befriend Frank. He’s a vampire dwarf (not a dwarf vampire – do be sensitive). He will not bite you. At least, I don’t think so.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Oct. 15, 2019) by Kwame Mbalia.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

What happens when 7^th-grader Tristan Strong goes on an adventure in which he encounters West African gods (like Nyame, the sky god, and Anansi, the Weaver and trickster, whose normal form is that of a spider) and African-American folk legends (like Brer Fox, John Henry and High John)? Lots of bickering. Yep, working together isn’t their thing, but Tristan wants to return to Alabama. Thanks to a fight with Gum Baby (a sassy, living doll who’s sticky with sap), Tristan knocks a bottle off the Bottle Tree, and it shatters, releasing a haint (evil spirit) who calls himself Uncle C. He winds up in Alke, a place that is “the dream to your world’s reality. The tales, the fables, the things you think are made up, they exist here” (p. 76). The Maafa and its minions (fetterlings a.k.a. iron monsters and poisonous brand flies) are hunting them. Many Midfolk have fled to MidPass (it’s here that Tristan first encounters John Henry), an island in the Burning Sea, but it is attacked when Tristan, Ayanna, Gum Baby and Chestnutt aim to reach Nyame’s Palace to collect the Story Box. They need Anansi’s help to repair the hole in the sky above MidPass and also to enable Tristan to return home. But how does one barter with a trickster? Tristan is an Anansesem, a storyteller, and when he tells stories, they come alive. The world listens to him, and he listens to it. The stories in his late best friend’s (Eddie) journal aren’t simply stories. But will Tristan trust in his Anansesem abilities to use them to save Alke? How? How does storytelling defeat the Maafa, a feeling of “devastation and destruction, hunger and greed.” The Maafa survives on pain, but it came with the other gods: “It came here with the first of us. The sadness to our joy.”

            The first thing I thought when reading this story was, “I will be reading the rest of this trilogy.” Coming into this novel, I’d heard of MidPass gods like John Henry and High John and the Brers (Fox, Rabbit, Bear) but I was not familiar with the West African gods at all. I love mythology and so happily learned more about this one. This novel is wildly busy, like a magical rollercoaster roving on a topsy-turvy, right-side-up-and-upside-down track that only moves at top speed. Concluding the story is like that feeling you get when a wild rollercoaster suddenly comes to a stop -- your hair is riotously unkempt, your face feels both frozen and flushed (maybe that’s just me), and you can’t move right away. Mbalia’s novel is constant action and adventure. The only thing I missed was a Glossary at the book’s end, as this story is a trove of mythology. Like Rick Riordan says of Tristan’s adventure, “…the sky’s the limit. Wait, no. Tristan punched a hole in the sky. There are no limits.” So, go forth and be limitless! (But also responsible. Please don’t do anything illegal or uncouth.)

            My favorite line comes from High John, who purposely aggravates one of Nyame’s guardians, Leopard. Leopard has just growled at High John, so High John says, “Purr at me again, little kitty, I'll be wearing you soon.” (p. 455)

            Another line that made me chuckle: “When grown-ups get on their high horses, those things gallop for days.” (--Tristan, p. 119)

Rutabaga's Reads 2021: Part 6

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!

Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Apr. 7, 2020) by Roshani Chokshi.

*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 13^th 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 13^th 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