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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
AMAZING
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Rick Riordan presents for an ARC of this book. Below is my honest review.
Chokshi, Roshani. Aruh Shah and the End of Time. Rick Riordan Presents, 2018. Hardcover $14.64, ISBN 978-1-36801-235-5
TL;DR: Do I recommend this book? Yes!!! NOW IMMEDIATELY GO READ IT
Genre: Fantasy, and Mythology retelling!
Part of a series? Yes; this is the first of a new series!
Book Summary:
Aru Shah struggles a bit with the truth. Maaaybe she exaggerates things sometimes, but when your mom is always off at museums or dig sites or historical conventions and you live in a museum and everyone else at your new school is super rich and connected, maybe YOU would fudge the truth a bit, too. Fast-forward to Aru needing to light a cursed lamp that she's been forbidden to light just so three bullies won't expose her lies to the entire class. Well, turns out the lamp was cursed! The Sleeper has been released, and if Aru doesn't stop him in 9 days, Lord Shiva will dance the world to its end. Cool.
Enter a pigeon guide, a new soul sister, and a thrilling adventure through the Otherworld, Kingdom of Death, and more. Can Aru stop the Sleeper?
Reader’s Comments:
WHAT THIS IS SO GOOD. Unsurprisingly, it's a great pick for Percy Jackson fans, but it's also just straight up a great book. Humor, great references (was that a Doctor Who reference I spotted?), gross jokes, and quick wit. Such a great read!
Grade Level: 3-6
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Rick Riordan presents for an ARC of this book. Below is my honest review.
Chokshi, Roshani. Aruh Shah and the End of Time. Rick Riordan Presents, 2018. Hardcover $14.64, ISBN 978-1-36801-235-5
TL;DR: Do I recommend this book? Yes!!! NOW IMMEDIATELY GO READ IT
Genre: Fantasy, and Mythology retelling!
Part of a series? Yes; this is the first of a new series!
Book Summary:
Aru Shah struggles a bit with the truth. Maaaybe she exaggerates things sometimes, but when your mom is always off at museums or dig sites or historical conventions and you live in a museum and everyone else at your new school is super rich and connected, maybe YOU would fudge the truth a bit, too. Fast-forward to Aru needing to light a cursed lamp that she's been forbidden to light just so three bullies won't expose her lies to the entire class. Well, turns out the lamp was cursed! The Sleeper has been released, and if Aru doesn't stop him in 9 days, Lord Shiva will dance the world to its end. Cool.
Enter a pigeon guide, a new soul sister, and a thrilling adventure through the Otherworld, Kingdom of Death, and more. Can Aru stop the Sleeper?
Reader’s Comments:
WHAT THIS IS SO GOOD. Unsurprisingly, it's a great pick for Percy Jackson fans, but it's also just straight up a great book. Humor, great references (was that a Doctor Who reference I spotted?), gross jokes, and quick wit. Such a great read!
Grade Level: 3-6
This definitely fulfills the promise of Rick Riordan's Imprints. Aru is a quirky character who is fun to read. I mean, who can predict how hard it would be to fight the apocalypse when you're stuck in your pajamas? Then again, I guess I know a few people who would prefer it that way.
I do hope the writing flows a little better in the sequel. Sometimes it just came across as a new author, but I suppose it's just a matter of being new to the genre. I worry that a few of the pop culture references might unfairly date the book later but they were funny And amazingly recent. I'd almost think they got put in just before printing.
But seriously, all told, I'm ready for book two. Now.
I do hope the writing flows a little better in the sequel. Sometimes it just came across as a new author, but I suppose it's just a matter of being new to the genre. I worry that a few of the pop culture references might unfairly date the book later but they were funny And amazingly recent. I'd almost think they got put in just before printing.
But seriously, all told, I'm ready for book two. Now.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am really glad there is an Indian mythology equivalent for kids to the Percy Jackson series, and am especially tickled that the author has the same heritage as me (Filipino and Indian)!
I like the prose Chokshi uses here more than the prose of the original PJO books - she employs a better balance of contemporary, everyday language, witty quips, and more reflective, even artistic turns of phrase. My main issue with the novel is while it is overall very fast-paced, the opening and rising action feel rougher and less complete than the rest of the story, and readers are not really given time to really take in the way Aru’s life is changed by her mythological destiny. There is also not much depth yet to the characters, and some of Aru’s traits are talked about a lot more than actually shown.
I found the use of Indian mythology really interesting, clever, and accessible. It is so correct that the vehicle for mythological heritage here is REINCARNATION, and that brief line from Aru's mom about being more than a womb to carry a divine child hits really hard. The cultural touchstones and issues brought up ring very true, even if deeper themes are mostly only hinted at. I also appreciate howDuryodhana/Suyodhana is implied to be a complex figure, not entirely evil, as this too is in line with my favourite interpretations of him from the Mahabharata.
Overall this is a promising start to a series, but I would hope for it to go more in-depth and for stronger characterisation as it goes on.
I like the prose Chokshi uses here more than the prose of the original PJO books - she employs a better balance of contemporary, everyday language, witty quips, and more reflective, even artistic turns of phrase. My main issue with the novel is while it is overall very fast-paced, the opening and rising action feel rougher and less complete than the rest of the story, and readers are not really given time to really take in the way Aru’s life is changed by her mythological destiny. There is also not much depth yet to the characters, and some of Aru’s traits are talked about a lot more than actually shown.
I found the use of Indian mythology really interesting, clever, and accessible. It is so correct that the vehicle for mythological heritage here is REINCARNATION, and that brief line from Aru's mom about being more than a womb to carry a divine child hits really hard. The cultural touchstones and issues brought up ring very true, even if deeper themes are mostly only hinted at. I also appreciate how
Overall this is a promising start to a series, but I would hope for it to go more in-depth and for stronger characterisation as it goes on.
adventurous
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've only ever read one of Rick Riordan's series (The Kane Chronicles), but I am familiar with his work and the way that he has grown and learned as an author ever since his first Percy Jackson book. I was so delighted to hear of his new imprint, and I was looking forward to picking up this first book.
I know super vague stuff about the Hindu mythology. Like...I know a few common gods and goddesses and generally what they're attributed to, but nothing more. So reading this was not only a great experience because of the superb writing, but because I learned a great deal! There really is something to say about own voices books; any white person who wrote this book wouldn't be able to pinpoint and thoroughly expand on the little nuances that come from growing up in and around this Hindu world. That's just fact.
So reading this was not only refreshing because Roshani Chokshi didn't try to dumb any of the mythology down for a white audience (not to say people do this regularly, but I've read a few books that feel this way) but it was also super fun. I laughed out loud a lot! I said every Indian name out loud numerous times so I was saying it correctly in my head. I really related to Aru's abandonment issues because of her mother. I also thoroughly enjoyed Mini as a character too. The whole package deal was a fantastic, fun and totally engaging story.
Needless to say, I immediately recommended this to my boyfriend after reading it myself and he read it all in one sitting the following day!
All in all this was a spectacular read. I can't wait to read more of Aru's stories and to also see what new mythology I can learn about from more of the books in this imprint!
I know super vague stuff about the Hindu mythology. Like...I know a few common gods and goddesses and generally what they're attributed to, but nothing more. So reading this was not only a great experience because of the superb writing, but because I learned a great deal! There really is something to say about own voices books; any white person who wrote this book wouldn't be able to pinpoint and thoroughly expand on the little nuances that come from growing up in and around this Hindu world. That's just fact.
So reading this was not only refreshing because Roshani Chokshi didn't try to dumb any of the mythology down for a white audience (not to say people do this regularly, but I've read a few books that feel this way) but it was also super fun. I laughed out loud a lot! I said every Indian name out loud numerous times so I was saying it correctly in my head. I really related to Aru's abandonment issues because of her mother. I also thoroughly enjoyed Mini as a character too. The whole package deal was a fantastic, fun and totally engaging story.
Needless to say, I immediately recommended this to my boyfriend after reading it myself and he read it all in one sitting the following day!
All in all this was a spectacular read. I can't wait to read more of Aru's stories and to also see what new mythology I can learn about from more of the books in this imprint!
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
