Parents' Guide to

Game of Stars: Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, Book 2

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Girl becomes demon slayer in fun fantasy game show spoof.

Book Sayantani DasGupta Fantasy 2019
Game of Stars: Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, Book 2 Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In GAME OF STARS: KIRANMALA AND THE KINGDOM BEYOND, BOOK 2, Kiranmala's New Jersey parents set up their intergalactic TV set just in time to see ads for the game show Who Wants to Be a Demon Slayer? Kiran is only vaguely interested in the mayhem, until she sees Prince Lal on camera delivering a message directly to her: Join him as a hero and rid the world of demons. Her parents forbid Kiran to leave the universe, so it's off to regular-kid middle school. But she doesn't even get in the front door before two giant birds with human heads hypnotize her for a blood sample -- a requirement for entering the game show. And then, Prince Neel's rakkhoshi mom shows up begging Kiran to rescue her son, who's being held captive for the show. Moments later, Kiran's traveling through a wormhole. When she arrives in the Kingdom Beyond, she notices how different it is from her last visit. Nobody is working or at school and everyone is in line to compete for glory and riches.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
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Kids say (1):

This sequel suffers from the same rushed storytelling as we found in Book 1, but it keeps things intriguing with West Bengal folk tale influences and a send-up of reality and game shows. There are so many great places author Sayantani DasGupta could slow down and show us this wild world. It's like we're all spinning in a wormhole with Kiran through hectic scenes of rhyming demons and ghosts and riddling witches and living underwater palaces and demon dentist offices. DasGupta is welcome to spend a whole chapter describing a demon dentist office down to the kind of chair a giant serpent king could even recline in. It would be fascinating and potentially hilarious to read. Right now DasGupta relies heavily on ridiculous character banter to supply the humor, when there's plenty to be gleaned from the fabulous setting if she'd only take the time to describe it.

DasGupta could slow down with her characters, as well. Kiran does a lot of trying not to think about her hair turning green or what it's like to have the bad guy for a dad or why she's so hard on Neel all the time. If she did stop to ponder these things, Game of Stars would be richer for it. Still, there's much to enjoy here, and plenty of places for the sequels to go.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Parents can talk about the game show mania in Game of Stars. Why is everyone in the Kingdom Beyond so obsessed? How did their lives change? What does Kiran think about the fame?

  • What does the author's note say about the inspiration for the Pink-Sari Skateboarders? How do they represent female empowerment? How does Kiranmala?

  • Will you read more from this series? What do you think is next for Kiran and Neel?

Book Details

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