Crown of Flames (The Fire Queen #2)

by Sayantani DasGupta

Overview

From New York Timesbestselling author Sayantani DasGupta comes the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Force of Fire

Pinki never expected to be the leader of the resistance — in fact, she’s gone on record spitting at the idea. But as domination and persecution of rakkosh continues, she summons her courage for a triumphant return to reluctant leadership in this thrilling sequel.

Readers will be brought back into the fantastical world of the Kingdom Beyond, where there are always serpents to fight, riddles to solves, and a corrupt government to overthrow.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338766820
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/19/2023
Series:	Fire Queen Series , #2
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	615,646
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sayantani DasGupta is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Bengali folktale and string theory-inspired Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond books, the first of which — The Serpent's Secret — was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Booklist Best Middle Grade Novel of the 21st Century, and an E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book. She is also the author of Debating Darcy, a contemporary young adult reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sayantani is a pediatrician by training, but now teaches at Columbia University. When she's not writing or reading, Sayantani spends time watching cooking shows with her trilingual children and protecting her black Labrador retriever Khushi from the many things that scare him, including plastic bags. She is a team member of We Need Diverse Books, and can be found online at sayantanidasgupta.com and on Twitter at @sayantani16.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Force of Fire:

* “Passionate, thought-provoking, and riotously funny.”—Kirkus, starred review

* “Flawlessly timed comic relief, fast-paced action and adventure, and more than enough romance and mystery to keep the pages turning.”—Booklist, starred review

* “An enchanting and humorous tale that is sure to please fans of Roshani Chokshi and other ‘Rick Riordan Presents’ authors.”—School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

2022-07-27
Impulsive choices once again rake fire demon Pinki over the coals just as revolution flares in this sequel to Force of Fire (2021).

Taking a (somewhat) more earnest tone in her latest entry into the Kingdom Beyond, DasGupta pitches her young rakkhoshi into an unwilling competition for Demon Queen or King that not only pits her against newfound friends Aakash and Kumi, but entails picking rival consorts and then killing all but one if she wins. Naturally, rather than getting her first choices for consorts, events force her into promising to name smarmy, stupid Prince Rontu and all-too-clever but equally smarmy (“Pinki, my dear darling demented dumpling! My murderous and dangerous future Demon Queen!”) Sesha, son of the dominant Serpentine Empire’s cruel Governor-General. Meanwhile, in a plotline drawn from India’s struggle to win independence from British colonizers, resistance leaders (wearing homespun rather than imported fabrics and talking of a future salt march) stage a peaceful demonstration that empire police meet with horrifying violence. In line with her demonic nature, Pinki’s first impulse may be to blast foes into ash, but as she receives instruction in the principle of ahimsa, or active nonviolence, she reluctantly begins looking for less harmful ways of resolving conflicts…particularly after the outcome of the competition leaves her far more powerful and knowing than before. The author closes with notes on the Bengali context in which her story is steeped. Illustrations not seen.

Fired up with wild action and vivid worldbuilding. (Fantasy. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews