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Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #3
The Chaos Curse
Creating order out of chaos has frightening consequences in this New York Times bestselling series!
Kiranmala must leave the Kingdom Beyond and travel to her hometown of Parsippany to save Prince Lal, who has been spirited to the unlikeliest of places -- a tree in the yard of her best-enemy-for-life. She also faces evil serpents (of course!), plus a frightening prophecy about her role in the coming conflict between good and evil. Most troubling of all, though, is the way reality all around her seems to waver and flicker at odd moments. Could it be that the Anti-Chaos Committee's efforts are causing a dangerous disruption in the multiverse?
Kiran must grapple with the increasingly tangled threads that threaten to ensnare her...and everyone in the world and the Kingdom Beyond.
Kiranmala must leave the Kingdom Beyond and travel to her hometown of Parsippany to save Prince Lal, who has been spirited to the unlikeliest of places -- a tree in the yard of her best-enemy-for-life. She also faces evil serpents (of course!), plus a frightening prophecy about her role in the coming conflict between good and evil. Most troubling of all, though, is the way reality all around her seems to waver and flicker at odd moments. Could it be that the Anti-Chaos Committee's efforts are causing a dangerous disruption in the multiverse?
Kiran must grapple with the increasingly tangled threads that threaten to ensnare her...and everyone in the world and the Kingdom Beyond.
387 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2020
80 people are currently reading
1671 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
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June 19, 2019I trust Sayantani DasGupta with my life and Vivienne To is always bringing it with her covers.
July 31, 2020
Colonialism, and colorism, and racism - oh my! Wait! No. I mean, one story to rule them all, one story to find them...no not that either. Oompa loompa dopidity di, they got a tiger who's non-binary. Mawriage? Mawriage is what brings us towgether today? Oh shoot, the crunch is happening to me!
Trust me, that will all make sense if you read the book. No promises it will be funny, but I think it is.
Another great entry into the series. I love these books so much and I particularly love the theme of this one.
Trust me, that will all make sense if you read the book. No promises it will be funny, but I think it is.
Another great entry into the series. I love these books so much and I particularly love the theme of this one.
November 18, 2020
4.5 STARS
Full review in my video: https://youtu.be/pf0fhd85weI
Timestamps for titles in description!
Full review in my video: https://youtu.be/pf0fhd85weI
Timestamps for titles in description!
November 19, 2020
The end of Kiran’s story certainly saves the best for last with its usual laughs and thrills to its somber conclusion. A- (91%/Excellent)
March 25, 2021
This was an amazing book. The Chaos Curse has a beautiful lesson to it and it is amazing to think that someone human wrote this. It is a very meaningful book. It's also full of references from some of my other favorite books.
February 6, 2024
ENGLISH VERSION BELOW
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Der dritte und letzte Teil – wie bereits die ersten beiden Teile war er bunt, chaotisch, humorvoll, voller Mythen und Legenden, gespickt mit ein paar Lektionen für das Leben.
Die Trilogie war mal etwas anderes. Mythologische Konzepte, die ich nicht kannte. Teils war mir die Geschichte fast zu chaotisch und schnelllebig. Unterm Strich ist die Serie aber empfehlenswert.
Im dritten Teil gibt es einen nicht-binären Tiger :)
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The third and final part - like the first two parts, it was colourful, chaotic, humorous, full of myths and legends, peppered with a few life lessons.
The trilogy was something different. Mythological concepts that I wasn't familiar with. At times the story was almost too chaotic and fast-paced for me. But the bottom line is that the series is recommendable.
There is a non-binary tiger in the third part :)
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Der dritte und letzte Teil – wie bereits die ersten beiden Teile war er bunt, chaotisch, humorvoll, voller Mythen und Legenden, gespickt mit ein paar Lektionen für das Leben.
Die Trilogie war mal etwas anderes. Mythologische Konzepte, die ich nicht kannte. Teils war mir die Geschichte fast zu chaotisch und schnelllebig. Unterm Strich ist die Serie aber empfehlenswert.
Im dritten Teil gibt es einen nicht-binären Tiger :)
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----------------------------
The third and final part - like the first two parts, it was colourful, chaotic, humorous, full of myths and legends, peppered with a few life lessons.
The trilogy was something different. Mythological concepts that I wasn't familiar with. At times the story was almost too chaotic and fast-paced for me. But the bottom line is that the series is recommendable.
There is a non-binary tiger in the third part :)
Read
June 23, 2020It was very underwhelming. I love how the stories were put together and I love it when Neel and Kiran interact, but there wasn't enough of them 😭. And the ending was okay but felt very fast.
Read
April 27, 2020Read this with my twins. They have really enjoyed this whole series.
July 26, 2020
sad the series is over but super excited for the prequel about the Rakkhoshi Queen Pinki
September 3, 2025
I really like this book.
The jokes and riddles are amazing! (I use them on my family) All of the scenes fit together well and the description for every thing is perfect. The way the stories smash together is super fun to read, I really like it when I get the referance!
The plot is solid and clear, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading and intruiged. The best part of rereading this was that I got to get a clearer look on everything and every detail.
💖💖But the best scenes are definitaly the ones with Kiran and Neel, preferably them showing affection for each other!💖💖
I don't know how I feel about Bunty, or the ending (it was an awesome ending, it just felt unfinishe and I just wanted MORE! *screams/cries*)
The jokes and riddles are amazing! (I use them on my family) All of the scenes fit together well and the description for every thing is perfect. The way the stories smash together is super fun to read, I really like it when I get the referance!
The plot is solid and clear, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading and intruiged. The best part of rereading this was that I got to get a clearer look on everything and every detail.
💖💖But the best scenes are definitaly the ones with Kiran and Neel, preferably them showing affection for each other!💖💖
I don't know how I feel about Bunty, or the ending (it was an awesome ending, it just felt unfinishe and I just wanted MORE! *screams/cries*)
December 5, 2021
"Her Royalosity Princess Kiranmala tricked that nasty bhoot into entering the Lola Morgana thermos all on his own!"
This one was clearly better than the other two.
First and foremost, it was much more manageable to understand what the actual heck was going, which for me was a bit of a problem at times in Book (1 and) 2. However, here the co-workings between story and science were explained very clearly, which made it much easier to follow the story. It also made me appreciate the way the two are spun together more.
Secondly, it's a little less punny. And while normally, I don't mind puns, there was just a bit too much of them in the first two books. And all the rhyming, oh my! There are still puns and rhymes in The Chaos Curse, obviously, but they've both been downsized.
Bunty was funny. He's clearly supposed to be some kind of British tiger, the way he talks.
Kiran is - obviously - a badass. There's a part where she mentions how she's grown since her first adventure started, how she's not standing on the sideline, waiting, anymore, but how she now undertakes action by herself immediately. And she said that about four pages after I was struck by that thought as well.
There's also Shady Sadie the Science Lady, who, ummm, I'm in two minds about. She's obviously terrific, but you see, there's this song from I think the 1970s. It's a true earworm and it's called Shady Lady which… Well, you can guess the lyric. So every time I read about Shady Sadie there was that song...
Anyway, good book, better than the other two as well, good ending. It was both exciting and hilarious.
8.2/10
Average rating for the series: 7.73/10
This one was clearly better than the other two.
First and foremost, it was much more manageable to understand what the actual heck was going, which for me was a bit of a problem at times in Book (1 and) 2. However, here the co-workings between story and science were explained very clearly, which made it much easier to follow the story. It also made me appreciate the way the two are spun together more.
Secondly, it's a little less punny. And while normally, I don't mind puns, there was just a bit too much of them in the first two books. And all the rhyming, oh my! There are still puns and rhymes in The Chaos Curse, obviously, but they've both been downsized.
Bunty was funny. He's clearly supposed to be some kind of British tiger, the way he talks.
Kiran is - obviously - a badass. There's a part where she mentions how she's grown since her first adventure started, how she's not standing on the sideline, waiting, anymore, but how she now undertakes action by herself immediately. And she said that about four pages after I was struck by that thought as well.
There's also Shady Sadie the Science Lady, who, ummm, I'm in two minds about. She's obviously terrific, but you see, there's this song from I think the 1970s. It's a true earworm and it's called Shady Lady which… Well, you can guess the lyric. So every time I read about Shady Sadie there was that song...
Anyway, good book, better than the other two as well, good ending. It was both exciting and hilarious.
8.2/10
Average rating for the series: 7.73/10
March 17, 2020
This was so cute! This series is so much fun overall but I really liked how this installment included mythology from other cultures as well with a focus on celebrating our differences without letting them divide us. Not sure if this was supposed to be the last book or if there are going to be more but I would definitely read more of them.
December 2, 2022
Ok so this was very different from the first two books in the series. It was very political I guess. It got to the point where it was kind of off-putting. It didn't have the same fantasy vibes and it wasn't as fun. I probably would have dnfed this if I read it as a physical book. It was still a good book. The vibes were just very off.
April 15, 2020
It was okay. The plot seemed a little scattered and I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed at Kiran. I would not want to be her friend.
July 8, 2021
Kiranmala has just finished rescuing Neel, and now she needs to head another rescue operation to get Prince Lal out of a tree in her earthly hometown. Only the Parsippany, NJ she lands in is seriously wonky. Her parents are acting strange, her best friend is her frenemy and her frenemy is her best friend, and her school principal turns out to be a gorgon?! Something weird is going on with stories, characters and things that don't belong in the Kingdom Beyond or New Jersey keep showing up, and Kiran is becoming more and more convinced it is all her bio dad's slithery, snaky fault. If she and her friends don't stop her bio dad from marrying Neel's mom, it may be the end of the multiverse and all but the most popular stories!
Due to the nature of what is going on with the multiverse in this, DasGupta got to have a lot of fun with characters from other stories popping in. My favorite was a brilliant scene when Kiran totally paraphrases the entire iocane powder scene from The Princess Bride to foil a bad guy. I loved it. I appreciated that DasGupta has a list of stories whose characters/settings appeared in here in the back of the book (usually they aren't named, just described in a way readers should get). Kiran has finally gotten her confidence in being a heroine and now it is time for her to learn some stuff about humility and teamwork to make her a more well-rounded person. Important lessons for all. She and Prince Lal and Prince Neel also have a thing or two to learn about prejudices they harbor which they aren't necessarily aware of. It's handled very well. Overall, this is another fun set of adventures, and I liked this one better than the middle book. Hand this to readers who like cameo appearances from favorite book characters and fantasy mythology adventures.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a teensy hand hold among the kids (some adults kiss and totally gross out the kids). There are battles and some injuries but everyone ends up ok (just maybe sucked into a black hole).
Due to the nature of what is going on with the multiverse in this, DasGupta got to have a lot of fun with characters from other stories popping in. My favorite was a brilliant scene when Kiran totally paraphrases the entire iocane powder scene from The Princess Bride to foil a bad guy. I loved it. I appreciated that DasGupta has a list of stories whose characters/settings appeared in here in the back of the book (usually they aren't named, just described in a way readers should get). Kiran has finally gotten her confidence in being a heroine and now it is time for her to learn some stuff about humility and teamwork to make her a more well-rounded person. Important lessons for all. She and Prince Lal and Prince Neel also have a thing or two to learn about prejudices they harbor which they aren't necessarily aware of. It's handled very well. Overall, this is another fun set of adventures, and I liked this one better than the middle book. Hand this to readers who like cameo appearances from favorite book characters and fantasy mythology adventures.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a teensy hand hold among the kids (some adults kiss and totally gross out the kids). There are battles and some injuries but everyone ends up ok (just maybe sucked into a black hole).
August 12, 2021
Well, I can say that the story is on par with the title, The Chaos Curse. I felt like there were too many subplots or side actions really to get to the final end game, and then poof, the story is resolved.
I will say that I have mixed emotions for the final installment, it felt like the same issues I had with Game of Stars continued into the final book and I was just over it after a while.
For instance, I have trouble rooting for wreckless, jealous characters and I would never want to be Kiranmala's friend. Apparently since Kiranmala went through certain adventures, now she was an "expert"?!?! But the only thing she was an "expert" in was in risking her friend's lives and getting those closes to her injured.
Overall, the idea of different stories merging into one and having to stop it sounds interesting, but I was just confused and bored throughout the story.
I will say that the audio books are the best way to experience these stories! While this series started out great and ended up a disappointment for me I still recommend it because I know others will enjoy it.
I will say that I have mixed emotions for the final installment, it felt like the same issues I had with Game of Stars continued into the final book and I was just over it after a while.
For instance, I have trouble rooting for wreckless, jealous characters and I would never want to be Kiranmala's friend. Apparently since Kiranmala went through certain adventures, now she was an "expert"?!?! But the only thing she was an "expert" in was in risking her friend's lives and getting those closes to her injured.
Overall, the idea of different stories merging into one and having to stop it sounds interesting, but I was just confused and bored throughout the story.
I will say that the audio books are the best way to experience these stories! While this series started out great and ended up a disappointment for me I still recommend it because I know others will enjoy it.
June 24, 2022
A+ EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My first reason, for loving this book was that I love the character’s personalities. Because let’s just say, who does not like a brave person in a female role as an activist? It’s people like Mati, the PSS( pink sari skateboarders), and Princess Kiranmala that can make a big change in the world and the fact that girls can be just as strong as boys!
My second reason is, that it shows that people ( in this book people and rakkhosh.) from different races and countries with different cultures work together and make their own stories that can expand the universe and multiverse stopping the “Big Crunch.”
My third reason is that it’s a fun book, but my only comment before you start reading this one is read them in order.
Series: Kiranmala and the kingdom beyond:
- The Serpents Secret
- The Game of Stars
- The Chao’s Curse
More books you may like:
- The Force of Fire
- Debating Darcy
My first reason, for loving this book was that I love the character’s personalities. Because let’s just say, who does not like a brave person in a female role as an activist? It’s people like Mati, the PSS( pink sari skateboarders), and Princess Kiranmala that can make a big change in the world and the fact that girls can be just as strong as boys!
My second reason is, that it shows that people ( in this book people and rakkhosh.) from different races and countries with different cultures work together and make their own stories that can expand the universe and multiverse stopping the “Big Crunch.”
My third reason is that it’s a fun book, but my only comment before you start reading this one is read them in order.
Series: Kiranmala and the kingdom beyond:
- The Serpents Secret
- The Game of Stars
- The Chao’s Curse
More books you may like:
- The Force of Fire
- Debating Darcy
August 9, 2022
And with that, the story of Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond ends. "The Chaos Curse" was chaos with a lot of story and explanation, but I didn't feel like DasGupta went into it in a way that suits me personally. She had so much she wanted to share and wrap up in the last book that it got messy.
HOWEVER, she did an excellent job with this book and everything I learned from her 2 previous ones tied together with this one, which is absolutely superb (we love when an author gives flashbacks or includes stuff from prior books), and I genuinely had a blast with "The Chaos Curse"
HOWEVER, she did an excellent job with this book and everything I learned from her 2 previous ones tied together with this one, which is absolutely superb (we love when an author gives flashbacks or includes stuff from prior books), and I genuinely had a blast with "The Chaos Curse"
May 15, 2020
I feel like I say the same thing every time I finish one of Sayantani DasGupta's books: I wish I had books like this when I was 12! I love them. They remind me of my childhood and all the different stories that were read to me. I loved that this book not only included traditional Bengali stories but all sorts of other stories and mythology from around the world. Loved this book and I look forward to reading more.
January 24, 2022
After rescuing Neel from the underwater prison, Kiranmala and friends travel to New Jersey to rescue Lal from being trapped in a tree. Sesha and his minions have created the Anti-Chaos committee and different stories are merging together. In order to end chaos once and for all, Sesha plans to marry Neel's mom, The Demon Queen. Will Kiranmala be able to stop the marriage and preserve chaos?
This was a good ending to the series. I've loved DasGupta's word play throughout.
This was a good ending to the series. I've loved DasGupta's word play throughout.
June 24, 2021
At first I was a bit confused by the mixing of stories, but I love the way it all came together. This was a great end (?) to the trilogy.
And that other book I mentioned when I finished the second one, it's a prequel!!! 😻😻😻 I'm stoked!
And that other book I mentioned when I finished the second one, it's a prequel!!! 😻😻😻 I'm stoked!
May 2, 2021
So fun.
July 22, 2021
perfect ending to this wonderful series, so wholesome <3
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November 2, 2023
Trigger & Content Warnings
Internalised racism & colourism
Arrow violence
Internalised racism & colourism
Arrow violence
March 19, 2020
Third in the series. The story continues to develop. Characters are further developed and readers see back stories as Kiran and Neal travel back in time to prevent his mom from marrying her dad when they were young. She also rescues Prince Lal and works to restore order in the Kingdom Beyond.
The series has provided insights into the myths woven through the books. This book seemed to bog down and drag at times. The plot connections stretched a little too far for my taste.
The series has provided insights into the myths woven through the books. This book seemed to bog down and drag at times. The plot connections stretched a little too far for my taste.
June 12, 2021
Normally I try to be familiar with what my kids read before letting them read it. My oldest saw an ad for the first book in the series so I checked it out for her and we both read it. She was instantly a fan. Second one was ok. We got this one and I let her have it first. My daughter loved it. It wasn't something I'd recommend reading as an adult but after all, it is written for pre-teens. Only 2 things that concerned me in this 3rd installment of the series: the bashing of the tradition of marriage as an outdated and irrelevant institution and an introduction of non binary terms. Other than the fact that it's just not something I want to have my kids introduced to in a children's fiction novel, it made for some confusing reading when the tern didn't match up with the character (i.e. them when it was referring to only one person instead of a group). If we pursue the next book from this author I will definitely be pre-reading it to see if there is any other agenda-pushing happening before giving it to my kid.
November 7, 2020
After having saved Neel and loosing Ai Ma Kiran realizes that now she must also save Lal. Just when Kiran thinks that things are getting better there is news that Sesha is marring Pinki, Neel's mother. This is really confusing news since the last time they were seen Pinki and Sesha were so angry at each other. Things keep getting weirder because the stories from all the dimensions keep getting mixed up and the people in the Kingdom beyond are going crazy. Will Kiran be able to stop this story imbalance or will Sesha actually be able to collapse the stories?
February 5, 2021
The Chaos Curse was a strong ending to the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond trilogy. I enjoyed reading it, partly because of the unexpected events that DasGupta arranged. The ending was a happy one.
My only negative criticism was toward the end the extended (to me) push for reading a diverse array of books was prolonged. I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment; I just felt it was overdone.
I have always loved learning about the mythology of various cultures and this trilogy introduced me to a new set which has enriched my learning experiences.
My only negative criticism was toward the end the extended (to me) push for reading a diverse array of books was prolonged. I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment; I just felt it was overdone.
I have always loved learning about the mythology of various cultures and this trilogy introduced me to a new set which has enriched my learning experiences.
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April 17, 2024This book is amazing! I’m pretty sure its the last book in the series so I’m super duper sad that it’s over
This part has spoilers:
I really hope there will be a spin-off series or an other book. I think this is possible because SPOILERS
Naga escaped and he seems to 7lives and is super hard to kill.
This part has spoilers:
I really hope there will be a spin-off series or an other book. I think this is possible because SPOILERS
Naga escaped and he seems to 7lives and is super hard to kill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2025
What. An Odd. Book.
I considered laying out all the things I found weird, but I think I'd rather just forget.
I considered laying out all the things I found weird, but I think I'd rather just forget.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews