Book Title: Aru Shah and the Song of Death
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Length: 381 pages
Genre: Fantasy; Juvenile Fiction; Mythology
Spice Level (if applicable): 0 / 5*
Series: Pandava #2
Overall Rating: 9 / 10
Overall Thoughts:
Aru and Mini are introduced to use once again in the middle of trouble. They are chasing a thief through the Night Bazaar when zombies attack! They are unsuccessful in retrieving the item and the Gods and Goddesses intervene. However, the Pandavas are not being saved but rather accused of stealing Kamadeva’s bow and arrow; the Pandavas are tasked with finding the stolen items in ten mortal days, finding the thief and plunging the arrow through their heart to return the hearts to the zombies. Talk about stress!! Of course, there are consequences if they fail. If they fail, they will lose their memories and return to being ordinary humans. Additionally, Aru and Shah are introduced to Aiden and Brynne.
Brynne is their newest Soul sibling, another Pandava. Aiden is not a Pandava but rather a son of an immortal-turned-mortal; and also Aru’s classmate. Aru, Mini, Aiden, and Brynne are forced to work together, even if they clash a bit. It takes awhile for Aru to warm up to Brynne, a very strong individual with powers over the wind, self-confidence issues, and a love for food and cooking.
Much like in the first book, there are challenges and obstacles that await the Pandava’s + Aiden as they work towards success. They go to the sea, are attacked by a giant swan, fight a giant talking crab, rescue Mini, and learn to work as a team. They must find out what Queen Uloopi’s missing head jewel is? What does King Takshaka have to do with all this trouble? Why is the thief hoping to accomplish it by stealing the bow and arrow? And finally, what does all of this have to do with the Sleeper?
Oh, I had a blast finding out all the answers to these questions. Chokshi is brilliant at introducing Hindu myth and folklore to readers in a friendly manner, while also telling the different sides to stories. Heroes, Villains, and Monsters all have good and bad sides, they all have moments of weakness in which their actions don’t always turn out well for everyone. Aru, Mini, and Brynne learn lots about their incarnation’s past lives, and spend quite a bit of time on learning how they will continue on living with such large shadows to stand up to.
I cannot wait to see what challenge befalls our Pandava’s and Aiden. Will Aiden and Aru fall in love? What does the Sleeper have in store for the world? Who will be the remaining two Pandava siblings?
” And anyway, families weren’t like a box of standardised-test-taking number two pencils. Families were like a box of assorted-color sharpie markers: different, kinda stinky (but not in a bad way), and permanent whether you liked it or not.”
Page 59
Illustration Discussion:
Aru Shah and the Song of Death depicts Aru and Aiden squaring off against the giant crab, wielding lightning and electric scimitars. A strong scene that depicts two of the protagonists. I do wonder why we don’t see Mini (or Brynne) on the cover, this is the second book and still no Mini. The cover is beautiful and shows a scene from the book and a common battle tactic that Aru and Aiden use. I think this is an excellent cover for Juvenile Fiction, using bright colours, strong characters that are children, and a fight scene. This cover is meant to draw in readers, and I think it would work.
Spoilers Bee-ware!
You have been swarmed. Reading past this post means that you understand that you might spoil the book for yourself.
Stats + Facts:
There were 8 fight scenes.
The Pandava incarnations share a mind link, allowing them to communicate telepathically. There are 15 times the link was used.
3 new people are introduced as the protagonists: Aiden, Brynne, and Hira.
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