The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes
by Rick Riordan, Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci KimAlso by this author: Daughter of the Deep, The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen, #1), A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen, #2), The Lords of Night (A Shadow Bruja Novel), Tiger Honor (Thousand Worlds, #2), Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1), Tristan Strong Destroys the World (A Tristan Strong Novel, Book 2), Tristan Strong Keeps Punching (Tristan Strong #3), Paola Santiago and the River of Tears (Paola Santiago #1), Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares, Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows (Paola Santiago #3), The Last Fallen Star (Gifted Clans #1), The Last Fallen Moon (Gifted Clans, #2)
Published by: Rick Riordan Presents on September 28, 2021
Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Anthology
Pages: 496
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents ten new stories--including one of his own--about beloved heroes that sprang from the imaginations of some of the best middle grade authors working today.
A cave monster . . . an abandoned demon . . . a ghost who wants to erase history . . . a killer commandant . . . These are just some of the challenges confronting the young heroes in this highly entertaining anthology.
All but one of the heroes previously starred in a popular book from Rick Riordan Presents. You''ll be reunited with Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Min the fox spirit, Sal and Gabi, Tristan Strong, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz, and Riley Oh. Who is the new hero? Read Rick Riordan''s short story to find out!
Ten bestselling and award-winning middle grade authors contributed to this collection: Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci Kim, and Rick Riordan, who also served as the editor.
The cultures represented by these own-voices stories are: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic.
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Bite-sized Rick Riordan Presents adventures.
- A little bit more fun with some of their favorite RRP characters.
- An anthology featuring diverse mythologies and settings.
- More Gum Baby. (And honestly, who doesn’t want that?!)
- A brief introduction to some of the current RRP series and characters.
- Great way to hook reluctant readers who want smaller stories and a greater sense of accomplishment.
Many thanks to Rick Riordan Presents and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Quotes taken from an unfinished version and may differ from the final product.
I knew immediately that I needed to read this book. Obviously. It just goes without saying that if Rick Riordan Presents publishes something, I need to get my hands on it. No questions asked. Well, a few questions asked. Like is Gum Baby involved, how concerned do I need to be for my feels, and will I be introduced to fun new mythology (yes, maybe just a little, and of course).
The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities is an addictive anthology filled with humor, adventure, diverse mythology, and, of course, your favorite Rick Riordan Presents characters! See your favorites in new bite-sized adventures or meet some for the first time.
I always say that anthologies tend to be a mixed bag for me, and that was true of this one. There were a couple of stories that I didn’t love, and I think that’s always the case when you have a group of things. There’s bound to be a series or two from Rick Riordan Presents that every reader doesn’t enjoy as much as the others, and that’s just personal preference. As far as anthologies go, though? This one is hecka strong and is a must-read for anyone who enjoys any of the Rick Riordan Presents books.
In true Rick Riordan Presents fashion, the short stories in this anthology present a whole range of different mythologies and cultures.
The cultures represented by these own-voices stories are: Indian, Mesoamerican, Korean, Cuban, Black American, African, Navajo, Mexican, Mesopotamian, and Celtic. There is absolutely something to be learned from each story and something to love about every culture’s beliefs and stories. The diversity of the authors and characters has always been a big draw for me about Rick Riordan Presents, and this anthology continues to deliver on that.
While I think readers will get more out of this anthology collection if they’ve already read the series, it is not necessary to have read the series before picking up this anthology.
I actually only read about a third of the series represented in this anthology before picking it up. In fact, surprisngly, I found that it’s a wonderful way to meet new characters. The authors do a fine job introducing the characters and their world well enough for readers to pick up and run with it, even if they’re coming in with no prior knowledge. There are actually two short stories for series I haven’t read yet where I loved the short stories so much that I’ve bumped those series up my TBR and will for sure be checking them out!
Why don’t I just let the stories speak for themselves, hmm? Let’s do a quick round of what I’ll call mythology speed-dating. Maybe you’ll find your perfect match as I introduce you to some of my favorite short stories?
The Cave of Doom by J.C. Cervantes
The Storm Runner
One-line Summary:
Reports of a weird monster with a human face lead Brooks and Zane to Isla Pájaros to check it out . . . and they discover something strange and sinister on the island. More than just eyeless birds (as if that wasn’t enough).
First Lines:
Technically, I’ve never met the guy. But he’s the reason Brooks and I discovered the eyeless birds that saw us before we saw them.
Yeah, I know. How can birds with no eyes see anyone? I’ll get to that and everything else.
Favorite Quote:
“The snakes are real.”
“Oh.” That was so not comforting.
The Gum Baby Files by Kwame Mbalia
Tristan Strong
One-line Summary:
The real world ain’t ready for Gum Baby and her escapades when she and her comrades end up at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and find something supernatural stealing the stories that are housed there.
First Lines:
Each of us carries parts of it—chapters, scenes, even just a few words. And when we come together? That magical world is brought to life. And as long as we continue to pass on the story of its existence to others, it can never be completely destroyed. Maybe, just maybe, word by word and line by line, we can rebuild that special place we call our own.
Favorite Quote:
The Loneliest Demon by Sarwat Chadda
City of the Plague God
One-line Summary:
Sik is forced to team up with his former enemy in order to get the demon back to the underworld where it belongs . . . though the journey is anything but easy and some doors are better left unopened.
First Lines:
“Ya Allah! You again?” I said, pausing from filling the pita. “Get lost! I’m not interested!”
The demon glowered, or I think she did. I was too busy spooning Cairo sauce over the falafel to study her face.
Favorite Quote:
“Of all the mortals I’ve known in my long, long life, you are by far the most average,” she said.
Aaaaand how about a little love for the crossovers in the stories?!
These were some of my favorite moments, when the stories sort of bled together and elements of another story popped up. I won’t share them all (because discovering them is half the fun), but I want to share just a few of my favorite crossover scenes!
“IT’S SAP!” yelled Gum Baby so loud that everyone in every universe heard her.
Fine. Whatever. A universe where you could catch a ghost with sap that looks and smells exactly like spoiled honey.
— Calamity Juice by Carlos Hernandez
Three . . .
I saw stars.
Two . . .
I saw a kid in a trench coat and a funny hat riding a unicorn. Oh, man, I really was losing it.
— The Cave of Doom by J. C. Cervantes
“Hey!” said a kid, who went flying past me on the back of a unicorn. “Watch where you’re swinging that thing!”
And then he was gone. “Hey, Rabisu, did you just see—”
“Someone ride by on a multicolored unicorn?” She shook her head. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Me neither,” I said. There was only just so much weird you could handle in one day.
— The Loneliest Demon by Sarwat Chadda
About the Authors:
Click on the links to be taken to their websites!
- Roshani Chokshi
- J.C. Cervantes
- Yoon Ha Lee
- Carlos Hernandez
- Kwame Mbalia
- Rebecca Roanhorse
- Tehlor Kay Mejia
- Sarwat Chadda
- Graci Kim
- Rick Riordan
3 winners will win a finished copy of THE CURSED CARNIVAL AND OTHER CALAMITIES, US Only.
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Week One
| 9/1/2021 | YA Books Central | Excerpt |
| 9/2/2021 | Kait Plus Books | Excerpt |
| 9/3/2021 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review |
| 9/4/2021 | @Curlygrannylovestoread | Review |
Week Two
| 9/5/2021 | #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Review |
| 9/6/2021 | A Dream Within A Dream | Review |
| 9/7/2021 | Nonbinary Knight Reads | Review |
| 9/8/2021 | The Bookwyrm’s Den | Review |
| 9/9/2021 | Log Cabin Library | Review |
| 9/10/2021 | Lifestyle of Me | Review |
| 9/11/2021 | Emelie’s Books | Review |
Week Three
| 9/12/2021 | @pagesofyellow | Review |
| 9/13/2021 | Locks, Hooks and Books | Review |
| 9/14/2021 | More Books Please blog | Review |
| 9/15/2021 | Little Red Reads | Review |
| 9/16/2021 | Don’t Judge, Read | Review |
| 9/17/2021 | Fyrekatz Blog | Review |
| 9/18/2021 | booksaremagictoo | Review |
Week Four
| 9/19/2021 | The Phantom Paragrapher | Review |
| 9/20/2021 | BookHounds YA | Excerpt |
| 9/21/2021 | Cindy’s Love of Books | Review |
| 9/22/2021 | dinipandareads | Review |
| 9/23/2021 | hauntedbybooks | Review |
| 9/24/2021 | Books a Plenty Book Reviews | Review |
| 9/25/2021 | Books and Zebras @jypsylynn | Review |
Week Five
| 9/26/2021 | The Momma Spot | Review |
| 9/27/2021 | Zainey Laney | Review |
| 9/28/2021 | @fictitious.fox | Review |
| 9/29/2021 | Two Points of Interest | Review |
| 9/30/2021 | PopTheButterfly Reads | Review |
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ALL I WANT IS MORE GUM BABY!!! I’m about to pick this up next week but aaah, I’m already so super excited 😍
Dini @ dinipandareads recently posted…The Magical Readathon 2021: The Novice Path
This is 100% a legitimate want/need. I hope you loved it! Can never have enough Gum Baby, that’s for sure. 😀
Oh how fun! I love that the authors did short stories from their existing RRPresents series. 🙂
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…WIP Wednesday for 8 September 2021
Yes! I hadn’t realized that going in. I thought they just asked the authors to do a short story collaboration, so I was really pleasantly surprised. (Also, I’m apparently just bad at reading blurbs? Haha)