The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities SPOILERS

 

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities is out now. While Rick Riordan is no stranger to short story collections, this time it includes the other authors from his Presents line of books. Ten different writers grace the 464 pages of this book. Myths from all over the world and most of the continents are represented. At first glance, it’s a bold experiment.

 

Rick Riordan perfected his style in his earlier Percy Jackson books. There’s a spunky hero, usually a bit sarcastic, who feels out of place among their school and family. At times, it follows the Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey with reluctance at their calling. Along the way, the reader is either introduced or reacquainted with classic mythology. His Presents line replicates this success by finding other authors that have a similar style to write about the mythology from their specific upbringing instead of having a white guy write about Anansi. At the bookstore, Riordan’s series are available as a set with all Book Ones together. There is also a set of all Book Ones from the Presents line. Those sets can feel intimidating, but this book serves the same purpose in one volume. It makes a lot more sense for one book to introduce a variety of heroes for the reader to pursue afterwards.

 

Telling a short story is a skill. All these authors have published full-length books so it’s clear some forgot how to write a shorter tale or never had it. These weaker stories have pacing problems, depending too much on telling instead of showing. However, they’re very few. The majority of stories have a natural starting place and a believable flow, making one eager to start the next one.

 

One of the stand-out “Calamities” is Kwame Mbalia’s tale about the Gum Baby. She’s a modern retelling of the “tar baby” from the Uncle Remus stories and such a delight that Tristan Strong’s absence wasn’t felt until that last line. I’d still love an adaptation of the Strong series just to see how they would work in the jokes about "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah". Another favorite is by Tehlor Kay Meija. I admit that I’m a sucker for Chupacabra stories. They’ve been spotted in my county before.  Doesn't Bruto look adorable on the cover above? Also, Rebecca Roanhorse’s story was very memorable complete with science leading to the villain being vanquished.

 

New readers won’t be lost joining in on these heroes’ journeys already in progress. Current readers will love the continuation and hints towards the next book in that series. The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities is a fantastic collection of stories from myths across the globe. Every protagonist commands our attention and encouragement. Go check it out at your favorite local bookseller, online store or library!

 

6/8

 

P.S. If you’re an email subscriber for Disney Books, their current email has a deal to download the first Tristan Strong book for just 99 cents!

Lost Legends: The Rise of Flynn Rider Review SPOILERS!

 

 

 

Lost Legends: The Rise of Flynn Rider by Jen Calonita comes out today at your local bookstore or online in eBook form. The gorgeous cover depicts twelve-year-old Rider, having found his look complete with vest and satchel. It’s a juvenile book aimed towards ages 9-12. Not that suggested ages have stopped a lot of us before. How does this book rate?

 

As the reader gets to know this younger Eugene, before he changed his name, his tale comes off similar to Clint Barton. Eugene and Arnie are just two orphan boys sticking by each other no matter what, but an uncertain future awaits them. They can’t stay at the boys’ home forever. A circus provides an enticing opportunity for making money and traveling the world. If you know Barton from 616, you know it doesn’t work out quite that way. This reader was also reminded of last year’s origin book, Poe Dameron: Free Fall by Alex Segura where Dameron also joined up with a group of criminals at a young age and regretted it.

 

In life, people make mistakes, but it remains frustrating even as adults. Of course, it would be important to stress how people make mistakes that need to be fixed especially as part of growing up. Having books where our heroes make mistakes could be like an older Blue’s Clues where instead of finding clues, you’re yelling at your protagonist that they’re making the wrong choices. There are also good lessons about people growing apart as they grow up and talking about your problems. Sometimes, our mistakes even lead to other opportunities.

 

The beginning of Lost Legends comes from Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure where the animated series revealed that Eugene was none other Horace, the lost infant prince of the Dark Kingdom. In the prologue, readers are reminded how King Edmund was unable to save his kingdom, having to send his son away. It would be a sweeter scene if Eugene’s mother had a name other than “wife”. While the series never named her, couldn’t Disney have come up with one for the book? It just feels misogynistic and out of place in the Tangled universe.

 

Multiple cameos pop up in the book, including Maximus’ first encounter with Eugene. Most characters come from Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventures, including Pascal’s mom and Cassandra. Eugene’s friend, Arnie, changes his name to Lance Strongbow and was in several episodes. While fans of Tangled and all its extras will love the care that has been taken to work in all these elements, the question becomes what will someone think who’s only seen the film? Will they be curious about all these characters they don’t know? Or will they feel like they’re missing out? Even for fans of the series, there are a lot of unanswered questions. How come Eugene didn’t go straight and become an adventurer? Why did Lance go to prison? When and how did Eugene meet up with the Baron again? Will all these and more be answered in further books?

 

Despite all these flaws, Calonita makes the most with what she’s given. Eugene is as lovable as ever. It is great finding out more about the characters and surroundings. The best part is her pacing. Calonita knows just how to keep the excitement going. Even still moments are full of complications. It’s a cute book that’s worth a read if you’re already a fan.

 

6/10

 

Thank you to Net Galley and Disney Press for the advance copy!