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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Pretty good middle grade fiction. 3/5 stars. A couple of weird points of racism that went unchallenged in the narrative, but overall I liked it quite a bit better than The Lightning Thief, and am actually pretty curious to see what happens next.
I would recommend this book for young adults and middle-grade readers who like fantasy, folktales, mythology, and adventure. There are also a lot of characters to keep track of, but the glossary at the back is helpful! Features Hindu mythology, and two perfectly imperfect heroines
CW: multiple gods, demons
CW: multiple gods, demons
love, love, love. magic and mistakes and myths and museums, as well as an imaginative found family adventure. love.
This felt derivative of Rick Riordan. And this is perhaps a small point, but it is strange to have the lead character, a Hindu girl, a reincarnation of Arjuna, have a traditionally Muslim last name.
3.5 Stars all-around.
I had a lot of fun and will definitely be picking up the rest of the series.
There's a couple character inconsistencies, some contrived plot points, and cheesy dialogue, but the world-building was creative, the main character gets to be more likeable by the end, and I am learning a little bit about Indian Mythology. (Definitely a Percy-Jackson level understanding, but still a decent place to start for a middle-grade book.)
I had a lot of fun and will definitely be picking up the rest of the series.
There's a couple character inconsistencies, some contrived plot points, and cheesy dialogue, but the world-building was creative, the main character gets to be more likeable by the end, and I am learning a little bit about Indian Mythology. (Definitely a Percy-Jackson level understanding, but still a decent place to start for a middle-grade book.)
I loved this so much! I can't wait to read the others.
When I first saw this book, I was a bit skeptical of whether it would be good or not. I always thought it would be difficult to write a story that centered on the Hindu canon because unlike other Riordan books which focus on Greek or Roman myth, Hinduism is still practiced today with over a million followers. Moreover, "Hinduism" is a very broad term that can only tangentially describe the amalgamation of thousands of beliefs and practices that arose on the Indian subcontinent over the course of thousands of years, so I was doubtful how aspects of the religion could be incorporated into a modern demigod novel without making modern-day practioners cringe.
Despite all of my concerns, Aru Shah and the End of Time exceeded all my expectations. Although some aspects of the book did make me cringe, I think Choksi did a great job overall imbuing some characters of the Hindu pantheon with new life. I liked how she didn't focus on the main Hindu deities but more detailed aspects , making the rich and intricate details of Hinduism more accessible to a younger audience.
Most of all, I love Aru and her struggles as a Indian-American adolescent girl. Growing up, I was an avid consumer of children's/YA fantasy and I never came across someone who looked like me or had a family like mine be the star of a quest. It is a breadth of fresh air to see a non-traditional heroine like Aru wearing spider-man pajamas wield weapons and defeat enemies.
Despite all of my concerns, Aru Shah and the End of Time exceeded all my expectations. Although some aspects of the book did make me cringe
Spoiler
like hipster Valmiki speaking in rhymeSpoiler
like nagas, asuras, and the Night Bazaar (I also enjoyed the references to the Star-Touched Queen)Most of all, I love Aru and her struggles as a Indian-American adolescent girl. Growing up, I was an avid consumer of children's/YA fantasy and I never came across someone who looked like me or had a family like mine be the star of a quest. It is a breadth of fresh air to see a non-traditional heroine like Aru wearing spider-man pajamas wield weapons and defeat enemies
Spoiler
even if she can be a bit whiny at times
YAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSS!!!!!!!!
Okay, I'll chill out a little and write something like an adult.
This book is FANTASTIC. Aru is a flawed and realistic character with a lot of depth. She and Mini are both so easy to relate to. This book is exciting, often hilarious, and really interesting. Even the glossary is informative but also full of jokes.
Disclaimer: I have pretty much no knowledge of Hindu Mythology, so if anything vastly misses the mark in this book I would not be aware.
Okay, I'll chill out a little and write something like an adult.
This book is FANTASTIC. Aru is a flawed and realistic character with a lot of depth. She and Mini are both so easy to relate to. This book is exciting, often hilarious, and really interesting. Even the glossary is informative but also full of jokes.
Disclaimer: I have pretty much no knowledge of Hindu Mythology, so if anything vastly misses the mark in this book I would not be aware.
If you liked the Percy Jackson series you'll like this even more. Great writing, great characters.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes