* "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

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.