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4.44 AVERAGE
4.44 AVERAGE
Oooh! Now THAT was a fabulous conclusion to the series! The way each of the three "sisters" had to learn that they were more than their weapons---to know how to be Brynne, Mini, and Aru when they have nothing but themselves. To face their fears and rise...Such a great great lesson.
There were also some incredible quotes from this book that will stick with me for quite awhile. I think the two that are worth sharing the most are these:
That's one of the best encapsulations about the challenges of human weakness. Especially when it comes to Christianity and accepting the gift of Christ. I know this author is a practicing Hindu, but man. That one smacks hard of the Bible.
The second quote I really appreciated was:
If only we all simply did that. Show up, do our best, and let it go. I found this book really inspirational for the reader. As a teenager reading this, it would be very encouraging.
As for the story? The loose ends tied up beautifully--even if not as expected.
I don't think I've ever given a 5 book series the same rating for every book before! But this is definitely a solid 4 star series!
There were also some incredible quotes from this book that will stick with me for quite awhile. I think the two that are worth sharing the most are these:
Mankind is stubborn. You can lead them to a pool of righteousness and they will still prefer their poisoned wells.
That's one of the best encapsulations about the challenges of human weakness. Especially when it comes to Christianity and accepting the gift of Christ. I know this author is a practicing Hindu, but man. That one smacks hard of the Bible.
The second quote I really appreciated was:
You just gotta show up...and let go. ------Just think about it. We all have a role in life. Maybe we're someone's sibling or spouse, a teacher or a parent, a ruler or a warrior. And with that comes a duty to show up for the situations life throws at you! After that, you do your best and let everything else go. the outcome? PFFT! Not your problem! People's opinions? Not the point! When you go home and look in the mirror, its your face you've got to look at. No one elses.
If only we all simply did that. Show up, do our best, and let it go. I found this book really inspirational for the reader. As a teenager reading this, it would be very encouraging.
As for the story? The loose ends tied up beautifully--even if not as expected.
I don't think I've ever given a 5 book series the same rating for every book before! But this is definitely a solid 4 star series!
This whole series was fantastic, and I appreciated the way it wrapped up, which included the strong possibility of spin-off series (right?! I'm not the only one who caught that, am I?).
Aru has really come into her own and I love the themes that have shown up in this series through her courage and compassion. Specifically, that everyone's stories deserve to be heard and acknowledged, and that the choices we make in the face of difficult and compelling circumstances are the things that define us.
Aru has really come into her own and I love the themes that have shown up in this series through her courage and compassion. Specifically, that everyone's stories deserve to be heard and acknowledged, and that the choices we make in the face of difficult and compelling circumstances are the things that define us.
It's the final book for Aru Shah and stuff is getting ready. The crew lost their godly weapons and can't get into the labyrinth to get the amrita/nectar of immortality, but that's where the Sleeper is going with Kara and her sun weapon.
It's a book about REAL power and kind of surprising. I love how empowering this book is and fun. The series is really fantastic as far as any series goes and as far as the use of Eastern Indian mythology and culture. I'm here for it and I love it.
Chokshi also kills it with her character creation and execution. I feel like I know every single person in this book and they are all friends with fantastic attributes but also their own human flaws.
It's so impressive and I love it. ❤️
It's a book about REAL power and kind of surprising. I love how empowering this book is and fun. The series is really fantastic as far as any series goes and as far as the use of Eastern Indian mythology and culture. I'm here for it and I love it.
Chokshi also kills it with her character creation and execution. I feel like I know every single person in this book and they are all friends with fantastic attributes but also their own human flaws.
It's so impressive and I love it. ❤️
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
I am very attached to this series, and I love the emphasis placed on sibling dynamics. I was a little concerned at the beginning when I realized how much space was being devoted to getting to the final battle, rather than actually fighting it. I will admit, I was expecting something like "The Last Olympian," where most of the chapters focus on resolving the main conflict, rather than sending the protagonists on a circuitous quest. In this Aru Shah book, I constantly found myself wondering, "Will they be able to wrap up everything in a satisfying way?"
Still, I loved the side plots that peppered this novel, specifically how the three Pandava sisters were tested to get their weapons back. It was fun and exciting to have chapters scattered throughout from Brynne, Mini, and Kara's perspectives, and it left me on my toes whenever Aru was featured. (It was clear when Brynne was about to get Gogo back, and the same with Mini and her Death Danda. But any Aru chapter could've been her test, so as a reader, I felt just as alert and anxious as the main character, wondering how she would know when the pivotal moment was upon her.)
I also enjoyed Rudy's character. Although none of the romances in this novel were a big appeal for me (they were fine, just not the main event), having Rudy tag along was entertaining, and his jokes often made me smile. Comic relief characters, my beloved.
I'm glad that Sheela got such a big spotlight in this final installment. She and Nikita are the least prominent Pandava sisters, getting less narrative weight than Kara, it often feels like. But Sheela was given an important role, or rather she chose to play an important role, by visiting all of her sisters in their dreams, including Kara. Those chapters stood out to me, and while I feel like the ending was a little rushed (Kara's especially), it would not have had nearly as much of an emotional impact without those Sheela scenes.
To continue with the abruptness of the ending... It isn't as though the pacing sped up for the final chapters; in fact, most of the previous installments end similarly, with a single chapter leading into their next adventure. But for the finale, I was hoping to get more than one chapter wrapping things up, answering my questions, and maybe showing scenes from each of the major characters' perspectives. The ending wasn't bad by any means, and it's a sign of how meaningful these characters are to me that I wanted to see more of them as soon as I flipped over the final page.
I would recommend this series wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys: middle grade novels; Percy Jackson-style stories; books that focus on sisters; and plots that alternate between lighthearted/humorous and heartbreaking/emotional. Even "joke" characters like Rudy have depth, and I'm constantly moved by seeing the insecurities of characters who seem like the most confident ones in their group. The series' humor is not diminished by these serious moments. Rather, they make every emotion more poignant for me, and they allow for analyses of how the characters use humor to cover up their insecurities: a two-for-one-deal granting both joy and angst.
Still, I loved the side plots that peppered this novel, specifically how the three Pandava sisters were tested to get their weapons back. It was fun and exciting to have chapters scattered throughout from Brynne, Mini, and Kara's perspectives, and it left me on my toes whenever Aru was featured. (It was clear when Brynne was about to get Gogo back, and the same with Mini and her Death Danda. But any Aru chapter could've been her test, so as a reader, I felt just as alert and anxious as the main character, wondering how she would know when the pivotal moment was upon her.)
I also enjoyed Rudy's character. Although none of the romances in this novel were a big appeal for me (they were fine, just not the main event), having Rudy tag along was entertaining, and his jokes often made me smile. Comic relief characters, my beloved.
I'm glad that Sheela got such a big spotlight in this final installment. She and Nikita are the least prominent Pandava sisters, getting less narrative weight than Kara, it often feels like. But Sheela was given an important role, or rather she chose to play an important role, by visiting all of her sisters in their dreams, including Kara. Those chapters stood out to me, and while I feel like the ending was a little rushed (Kara's especially), it would not have had nearly as much of an emotional impact without those Sheela scenes.
To continue with the abruptness of the ending... It isn't as though the pacing sped up for the final chapters; in fact, most of the previous installments end similarly, with a single chapter leading into their next adventure. But for the finale, I was hoping to get more than one chapter wrapping things up, answering my questions, and maybe showing scenes from each of the major characters' perspectives. The ending wasn't bad by any means, and it's a sign of how meaningful these characters are to me that I wanted to see more of them as soon as I flipped over the final page.
I would recommend this series wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys: middle grade novels; Percy Jackson-style stories; books that focus on sisters; and plots that alternate between lighthearted/humorous and heartbreaking/emotional. Even "joke" characters like Rudy have depth, and I'm constantly moved by seeing the insecurities of characters who seem like the most confident ones in their group. The series' humor is not diminished by these serious moments. Rather, they make every emotion more poignant for me, and they allow for analyses of how the characters use humor to cover up their insecurities: a two-for-one-deal granting both joy and angst.
This one was really hard to get into. The pace was slow and things were so bleak for so long. It took me three tries to finally get through it, and it felt like the ending was just okay.
3,5-4 stjerner.
Noget mørkere og mere dyster end sine forgængere, men stadig en fin afslutning på serien.
Noget mørkere og mere dyster end sine forgængere, men stadig en fin afslutning på serien.
Sad to see this series end, but thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Pandava sisters and Hindu mythology