Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi // Review

Title: Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet #1)
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Middle-Grade,Fantasy
Pages: 368
Rating: 5 Stars

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Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales,
she’ll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from their latest archaeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?

One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru’s doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don’t believe her claim that the museum’s Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.

But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it’s up to Aru to save them.

The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?

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Thanks to Edelweiss and Rick Riordan Presents/Disney Hyperion for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book from Rick Riordan presents, with Disney Books. If your a fan of Riordan’s book’s then this is a must read, its full of hindu mythology, wittty character’s and an epic quest to save the world. I loved learning more about Idian culture and Hindu mythology, I have never heard any stories about it before. This is why diversity in book’s is so important. I had so much fun reading this story, it’s told from the point of view of Aru as she embarks on her journey.

This was an AMAZING book!! I couldn’t put it down, its such a fun read. It’s fast paced with short chapter’s. This was my first book by Roshani Chokshi, will have to pick up A Star Touched Queen soon. Chokshi has such a beautiful and magical way of telling a story. Her writing sucks you in and makes you want more.  While reading this book I got so immersed into the story that I forgot it was middle grade. Also look at that cover its absolutely stunning !!

Aru is a wonderful character, she is sassy and has a big imagination that gets her into trouble. Which is basically where this book starts, Aru is trying to impress the popular kid’s from school by telling them about a cursed lamp. Of course the kid’s don’t believe her so to prove her story Aru lights the lamp allowing a powerful demon to escape. Turns out that Aru is one of five reincarnated heroes from Indian mythology.

The side character’s are also amazing, Mini comes off as a little neurotic, she knows all these facts about germs and death. She has insecurities about herself and worries about being left behind.She is quirky and that’s what I lover about her.The friendship and sisterly bond that Aru forms with Mini is wonderful. Another character that I adored was Boo, who is a pigeon. He is the chosen guardian for Aru and Mini on the journey. He is so sassy, I love it!!

This was a great middle grade book full of adventure and witty characters.Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series will love this book. I highly recommend that people of all ages read this book, you wont be disappointed.

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