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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Fans of The Lightning Thief series will definitely enjoy the first book in this new series penned by Roshani Chokshi. There is even an introductory endorsement by Rick Riordan himself. That being said, this book holds its own. Aru Shah learns she is descended from a Hindu god and goes on all kinds of adventures as she tries to save the world. Also, there is a hidden Easter egg in the form of a sick burn directed towards Donald Trump (without actually saying his name of course) which can be found on page 284. Well played, Ms. Chokshi.
A good fantasy novel for ages 8-11. The story follows Indian-American protagonist Aru Shah as she learns about her divine heritage. Similar to the Percy Jackson series Aru Shah modernizes Hindu religion and myths.
As a protagonist Aru is not without fault and as the story progresses you watch her grow from insecure to confident and capable. Roshini Chokshi writes vividly allowing the reader to clearly visual the story.
As a protagonist Aru is not without fault and as the story progresses you watch her grow from insecure to confident and capable. Roshini Chokshi writes vividly allowing the reader to clearly visual the story.
As expected for the "Riordan Presents" stories, this is fast-paced fun, in the spirit of the Riordan books. A mash-up of modern youngsters with ancient mythologies, featuring lots of jokes and lots of pop-culture references, but leavened with a bit of insight and compassion as our protagonists learn and grow on their epic quest. Some sample passages:
* She hadn’t given much thought as to what a book might taste like. But Adulthood had a strange flavor. Sweet and bitter at the same time, like candied orange peel. It reminded Aru of walking to school on a cold February morning, when the sun was bright but distant and everything was a little too stark.
* She was beginning to think the weapons had a sense of humor. At random times Aru’s weapon, Vajra, liked to shift into lightning-bolt form and zip across the sky before turning into a ball and bouncing in front of her. Aru imagined it saying, Throw me at a demon! Do it, do it, do it! I wanna play. Squirrel!
* The snake boy winked at Mini. She walked into a telephone pole. “You are the Daughter of Death,” hissed Aru. “You don’t walk into a telephone pole because of a boy.” “I didn’t! I tripped. It wasn’t because… you know. It’s not because he did the thing with his mouth where it went up and his teeth showed.” “You mean when he smiled?” “Yeah,” said Mini, rubbing furiously at her bright red cheeks. “That.”
* “What a quaint notion, child,” said Time. “But I am just one part of Time. I am Past Time. You see, there are all kinds of Time running around. Future Time, who is invisible, and Present Time, who can’t hold any one shape. Pacific Standard Time is currently swimming around near Malibu. And I think Eastern Standard Time is annoying stockbrokers on Wall Street. We’re all quite wibbly-wobbly. If what you say is true, I am merely one part of what you must save.”
* “I’m thinking that we should start working on a battle cry.” “What about AAAAAAHHHH-don’t-kill-me?” suggested Mini.
* She hadn’t given much thought as to what a book might taste like. But Adulthood had a strange flavor. Sweet and bitter at the same time, like candied orange peel. It reminded Aru of walking to school on a cold February morning, when the sun was bright but distant and everything was a little too stark.
* She was beginning to think the weapons had a sense of humor. At random times Aru’s weapon, Vajra, liked to shift into lightning-bolt form and zip across the sky before turning into a ball and bouncing in front of her. Aru imagined it saying, Throw me at a demon! Do it, do it, do it! I wanna play. Squirrel!
* The snake boy winked at Mini. She walked into a telephone pole. “You are the Daughter of Death,” hissed Aru. “You don’t walk into a telephone pole because of a boy.” “I didn’t! I tripped. It wasn’t because… you know. It’s not because he did the thing with his mouth where it went up and his teeth showed.” “You mean when he smiled?” “Yeah,” said Mini, rubbing furiously at her bright red cheeks. “That.”
* “What a quaint notion, child,” said Time. “But I am just one part of Time. I am Past Time. You see, there are all kinds of Time running around. Future Time, who is invisible, and Present Time, who can’t hold any one shape. Pacific Standard Time is currently swimming around near Malibu. And I think Eastern Standard Time is annoying stockbrokers on Wall Street. We’re all quite wibbly-wobbly. If what you say is true, I am merely one part of what you must save.”
* “I’m thinking that we should start working on a battle cry.” “What about AAAAAAHHHH-don’t-kill-me?” suggested Mini.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4/5 Stars
This book gave me the same excitement when I was reading the Percy Jackson series for the first time. I am particularly enamored by the writing of this book, and how it makes Hindu mythology more accessible and understandable to those who are reading about it for the first time (aka me).
I personally love the characters that were introduced in this book, they have a great dynamic with each other, and I love how they kind of complement both the highs and lows of each other as well. Overall, this was a delightful read with an amazing adventure, world-building, and an inspirational character development.
This book gave me the same excitement when I was reading the Percy Jackson series for the first time. I am particularly enamored by the writing of this book, and how it makes Hindu mythology more accessible and understandable to those who are reading about it for the first time (aka me).
I personally love the characters that were introduced in this book, they have a great dynamic with each other, and I love how they kind of complement both the highs and lows of each other as well. Overall, this was a delightful read with an amazing adventure, world-building, and an inspirational character development.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love learning about different pantheons. I have read many books which include Greek or Norse Gods but this is the first for Hindu Gods. I really enjoyed it. Will continue with the series for the world of gods and demons. Aru Shah was not my favourite protagonist though. I do like her sense of humour, the references to different tv shows and movies she makes. But her rudeness to others got to me.
It’s cool to read about different cultures mythology. Add Aru’s sense of humor and you’ve got a winner. Roshani Chokshi writes a wonderful adventure filled with great pop-culture references, memorable characters, and a story that funny, fascinating, and full off imagination. I especially loved the Library of everything when she rescued the godly mounts. The only thing I didn’t like was that Aru never came to the conclusion that while imagination is good using it to lie is bad.
I really wanted to like this book. But alas, these characters are the most annoying I’ve encountered.
You know how certain Middle-grade authors like Neil Gaiman, Jessica Townsend, Carson Gail Levine, or Rick Riordan (yes I know how ironic this last one is) have this amazing absurdist charm and humor? Well, Aru Shah’s author tries to emulate it but fails so badly. Maybe for a 5-year-old these jokes ARE funny (never mind the protagonist in this is like 12-13), but the book lost me when it started making “fun” similes with people peeing in a pool.
I just wanted a happy, escapist book right now that wasn’t so heavy (and I was very excited by an own-voices middle-grade fantasy book.) But by chapter four I was questioning whether I was liking anything or if there was anything at all I could save to keep me reading. But there wasn’t. And I had just become way to annoyed with it. I had to DNF. Sorry.
You know how certain Middle-grade authors like Neil Gaiman, Jessica Townsend, Carson Gail Levine, or Rick Riordan (yes I know how ironic this last one is) have this amazing absurdist charm and humor? Well, Aru Shah’s author tries to emulate it but fails so badly. Maybe for a 5-year-old these jokes ARE funny (never mind the protagonist in this is like 12-13), but the book lost me when it started making “fun” similes with people peeing in a pool.
I just wanted a happy, escapist book right now that wasn’t so heavy (and I was very excited by an own-voices middle-grade fantasy book.) But by chapter four I was questioning whether I was liking anything or if there was anything at all I could save to keep me reading. But there wasn’t. And I had just become way to annoyed with it. I had to DNF. Sorry.