The Serpent’s Secret
Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1
by Sayantani Dasgupta
Adventure
Fantasy
Mythology
Tween
* * * Stars (Pretty good)
Kiranmala thinks she’s just an ordinary Jersey kid, but on her 12th birthday, she finds out she’s really a princess from another dimension. Before she can even really wrap her mind around that her guardians (people she’s thought were her parents all these years) are kidnapped, her house gets ransacked by a rakkhosh – a demon, and two princes (Lal and Neel) show up to rescue her and take her home. Once there, things continue to be complicated – especially after Prince Neel’s demon mother takes advantage of Kiran’s ignorance and transforms Prince Lal and his BFF into gold and silver spheres. Kiran and Neel (and a prophesizing bird) set out on a quest to save ALL the people (or else). Fast-paced and enthusiastic, this should appeal to fans of mythology and fantasy (Percy Jackson folks, I’m talking to you!). Kiran is a fierce and feisty protagonist with smarts and skills. Sometimes it comes off as a little over the top and occasionally the characters seem older than their chronological ages, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun.
Reviewed by YA Librarian
