natcommon's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
So much fun! If you like Percy Jackson or Aru Shah, you will love this. ^_^
So much fun! If you like Percy Jackson or Aru Shah, you will love this. ^_^
ethan_libra's review against another edition
3.0
For the most part, this was pretty fun! I enjoyed the unique setting and fun concepts that this story played with. I also liked the characters, despite thinking that some of them were barely developed into their own unique and memorable character. I wasn't big on the humor, but it was nothing more than a passing dislike. It also fits into some of the tropes that come with middle grade adventure books; for example, there's a prophecy, mysterious parentage, a wise-cracking animal sidekick, and a love interest whom the main character initially hates. Finally, I found the beginning to be a bit of a slog, and the climax to be really confusing. However, enjoyable. I'll try a sample of the next book and determine if I want to continue.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Review copy: ARC provided by publisher.
This book. With the very first sentence readers know this is going to be a wild ride. Kiranmala's birthday is described this way, "The day my parents got swallowed by a rakkosh and whisked away to another galactic dimension was a pretty crap-tastic day." If you are wondering, rakkosh are carnivorous, snot-trailing demons with horns, fangs, and talons who also happen to speak in rhyme.
The Serpent's Secret is an amazing adventure with princes, flying horses, demon queens and more. Kiran is obviously astounded by this whole series of events, but she is not one to run away from a challenge. She jumps into the fray in spite of fears and with the help of her new friends she goes on a quest for her parents.
I loved Kiran's voice. She has a fabulous sense of humor and made me laugh over and over again. She has a fun way with words. When I would just say hurry up, she says things like, "Let's move it along, haven't got all night here. On a bit of a pre-apocalyptic deadline." She's also loyal to those she loves and will do just about anything for them. I am a fan.
Dasgupta provides a great author's note at the end that includes information about the traditional folktales that were inspiration for this story. They are tales from West Bengal, India and were the stories that Dasgupta heard as a child from her relatives when she visited.
Recommendation: You will definitely want to get this book as soon as possible especially if you enjoy exciting adventures with plenty of humor. Kiranmala is fabulous and I can't wait to share her with students.
This book. With the very first sentence readers know this is going to be a wild ride. Kiranmala's birthday is described this way, "The day my parents got swallowed by a rakkosh and whisked away to another galactic dimension was a pretty crap-tastic day." If you are wondering, rakkosh are carnivorous, snot-trailing demons with horns, fangs, and talons who also happen to speak in rhyme.
The Serpent's Secret is an amazing adventure with princes, flying horses, demon queens and more. Kiran is obviously astounded by this whole series of events, but she is not one to run away from a challenge. She jumps into the fray in spite of fears and with the help of her new friends she goes on a quest for her parents.
I loved Kiran's voice. She has a fabulous sense of humor and made me laugh over and over again. She has a fun way with words. When I would just say hurry up, she says things like, "Let's move it along, haven't got all night here. On a bit of a pre-apocalyptic deadline." She's also loyal to those she loves and will do just about anything for them. I am a fan.
Dasgupta provides a great author's note at the end that includes information about the traditional folktales that were inspiration for this story. They are tales from West Bengal, India and were the stories that Dasgupta heard as a child from her relatives when she visited.
Recommendation: You will definitely want to get this book as soon as possible especially if you enjoy exciting adventures with plenty of humor. Kiranmala is fabulous and I can't wait to share her with students.
moon_rose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kansas_b's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
britneyfan19's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
This book was good.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
Middle grade fantasy adventure based on Bengali folklore.
I really liked how the author included backmatter explaining the inspiration for characters, plot points, and even rhymes in the story. It is impressive work to take so many different elements and assemble them in a coherent arc.
That being said, I personally don't enjoy the quest narrative in fantasies. I was a full fledged adult when I realized this about myself! I like many types of fantasy, but not the quest journey. Travel to multiple places, meet kooky characters, collect the magical objects to defeat the foe/win the day/help goodness prevail! Not my fantasy jam. It's too much like a bead necklace which has all the flashiest beads helter-skelter strung together. This novel does hang together, but I didn't feel compelled to keep picking it up. However, it does have a fast-paced plot and reasonable motivation, so I think other readers, like the target youth audience, will enjoy it.
It reads like Race to the Sun: I love how the culture is represented, I like the character development (realistically sassy without being a total jerk, like the writer knows actual preteens), I want to recommend to all my adventure-loving readers, but I personally don't care about the quest.
I do wonder if a sequel would be structured differently?
I really liked how the author included backmatter explaining the inspiration for characters, plot points, and even rhymes in the story. It is impressive work to take so many different elements and assemble them in a coherent arc.
That being said, I personally don't enjoy the quest narrative in fantasies. I was a full fledged adult when I realized this about myself! I like many types of fantasy, but not the quest journey. Travel to multiple places, meet kooky characters, collect the magical objects to defeat the foe/win the day/help goodness prevail! Not my fantasy jam. It's too much like a bead necklace which has all the flashiest beads helter-skelter strung together. This novel does hang together, but I didn't feel compelled to keep picking it up. However, it does have a fast-paced plot and reasonable motivation, so I think other readers, like the target youth audience, will enjoy it.
It reads like Race to the Sun: I love how the culture is represented, I like the character development (realistically sassy without being a total jerk, like the writer knows actual preteens), I want to recommend to all my adventure-loving readers, but I personally don't care about the quest.
I do wonder if a sequel would be structured differently?
raeleechoins's review against another edition
2.0
To me it felt exactly like the Percy Jackson series, except set in Indian mythology. I hated the main princess character - she’s too bratty.
skyhazzard's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was really fun. I listened to it on audio and I think I’m going to want to read physically going onward just so I don’t miss anything, sometimes I get distracted listening to audio and especially if it’s not just contemporary. So because of my short attention span this will be brief.
I really enjoyed the Indian influences in the story, out of everyone’s culture I’ve always been most intrigued by theirs. I also really appreciated the fact that the characters felt their age, Kiran would go on about something and I’d be like yep I remember those days. The creatures in the story were really cool and I loved that there was a slightly annoying but endearing talking bird. 😂
I really enjoyed the Indian influences in the story, out of everyone’s culture I’ve always been most intrigued by theirs. I also really appreciated the fact that the characters felt their age, Kiran would go on about something and I’d be like yep I remember those days. The creatures in the story were really cool and I loved that there was a slightly annoying but endearing talking bird. 😂