The chaos curse is a supernatural phenomenon that is said to bring havoc and disorder into the lives of those who encounter it. It is believed to be a curse that originates from a dark and malevolent force, with the power to disrupt the natural order of things. The chaos curse is said to manifest in various ways, such as causing unexpected accidents, health issues, financial turmoil, and the breakdown of relationships. Those who believe in the chaos curse often describe a series of unfortunate events that seem to occur back-to-back, leading to a sense of helplessness and despair. The curse is said to be indiscriminate, affecting individuals from all walks of life. It is said to bring chaos into every aspect of a person's life, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unable to regain control.
Fortunately, that whole conflict goes out the window partway through when vampires take over the library and replace the existing regime with a rather more proactive and less bureaucratic system: everyone submits to vampirism or gets killed and raised as a zombie. Kierkan Rufo, Cadderly’s old wannabe-nemesis, gets tricked into drinking the evil madness-inducing elixir in the library’s basement and transforms into a badass vampire with a grudge against the Library. (Drinking evil juice makes you a vampire? Okay, sure, whatever. It’s goofy as hell, but I’ve run with goofier plots before.) Danica and Dorigen blunder into the library during the bloody coup, and then Cadderly and friends have to fight lots of undead to rescue everyone. The whole plot is surprisingly dark, with lots of time spent watching the vampires butcher trapped priests, but it’s the sort of darkness that ties directly into the book’s theme instead of feeling gratuitous.
But it needed to be set up better in earlier books because up until this point he was never more than a minor character, an obstructive bureaucrat who annoyed the protagonist a couple of times. He s good about not exposing himself to risk unnecessarily he ll bail on a fight if it seems like he might get actually hurt, and the final fight happens in a dark, desecrated cellar where he s at his strongest.
It is said to bring chaos into every aspect of a person's life, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unable to regain control. The effects of the chaos curse can be long-lasting and devastating. It is believed that once someone falls victim to the curse, they are trapped in a cycle of chaos and misfortune until it is broken.
The Chaos Curse (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #3) - by Sayantani DasGupta (Paperback)
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.
Review Quotes
Praise for Game of Stars (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #2):
"A must-read for every aspiring Demon Slayer!" -- Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil
* "DasGupta once again wittily meshes Bengali folktales, intergalactic science, and a spectacular world of her own creation in a yarn that is part hero's quest, part immigrant coming-of-age tale." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Action-packed." -- School Library Journal, starred review
"Game of Stars [is] a fun, funny adventure, more exciting than an auto rickshaw ride across dimensions. More Kiranmala, please!" -- Tracy Baptiste, New York Times bestselling author of The Jumbies
"I love this series." -- Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Inquisitor's Tale and A Tale Dark and Grimm
Praise for The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1):
* "Will appeal to those who like their adventures fast and furious." -- School Library Journal, starred review
* "This is a series starter that rivals Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief. A breathtaking adventure." -- Booklist, starred review
"A refreshing take on the hero's quest. laugh-out-loud funny and extremely engaging." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Never a dull moment for our ordinary-girl-turned-demon-fighting-princess Kiranmala in this hilarious, action-packed romp. Also, there is snot. It's, like, everywhere. This combination of crucial elements is everything I love in a book. A brilliant beginning to a fresh (and potentially sticky) new series!" -- Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds
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.
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
There are various theories on how to break the curse, but most involve appeasing the dark force behind it through rituals, offerings, or seeking the help of a spiritual practitioner. However, skeptics argue that the chaos curse is nothing more than a psychological phenomenon, with the perception of chaos being a result of confirmation bias and coincidence. They suggest that when someone believes they are cursed, they tend to notice and remember negative events more prominently, attributing them to the curse rather than random occurrences. Regardless of one's beliefs, the concept of the chaos curse remains a topic of fascination and intrigue. It serves as a reminder of the mysterious and unexplainable forces that some people believe govern our lives. Whether fact or fiction, the chaos curse serves as a cautionary tale to tread carefully and be wary of the unseen forces that may disrupt our lives..
Reviews for "The Unseen Forces at Play: A Look into the Chaos Curse"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Chaos Curse". The plot was convoluted and confusing, with too many twists and turns that didn't make sense. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them and care about their journey. In addition, the pacing was all over the place, swinging between slow and dragging to rushed and frantic. Overall, I found "The Chaos Curse" to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
2. Mike - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish "The Chaos Curse". The writing style was juvenile and the dialogue was cringe-worthy, filled with clichés and cheesy lines. The world-building was weak, with little explanation of the magical elements and how they fit into the story. The plot felt like a jumbled mess, with random events and actions that didn't flow logically. I was extremely disappointed in this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "The Chaos Curse" had an intriguing premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The main character was bland and unrelatable, making it hard to invest in her journey. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, following familiar tropes and clichés. The pacing was also an issue, with long stretches of inaction followed by sudden bursts of activity that felt forced. Overall, "The Chaos Curse" felt like a missed opportunity and left me feeling underwhelmed.
4. David - 2/5 - I found "The Chaos Curse" to be underwhelming and forgettable. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real development. The world-building was shallow, with little depth or originality. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. Overall, it was a mediocre fantasy novel that failed to stand out in the genre.
5. Emily - 3/5 - While "The Chaos Curse" had its moments, overall, I found it to be a bit lackluster. The writing was average, with nothing particularly gripping or compelling about the prose. The characters were okay, but I didn't feel a strong connection to them. The plot had potential but felt rushed and could have benefited from more development. Overall, it was an average fantasy read that didn't leave a lasting impression.