 |
| Pandava Quartet Book 1 |
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 her latest archeological 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?
********
My Review: 5/5 Stars
Surprisingly I haven't read any of Roshani Chokshi's books yet. And you would think I would have by now since she has some popular ones in young adult, which is a majority of what I read. However! What made me pick up this young adult/middle school book was Rick Riordan. Riordan has established an imprint at Disney Publishing called Rick Riordan Presents. And anything that has his name grabbed my attention. I loved all of his books and no matter how old I get, that won't change. So to me, if he is creating an imprint that focuses on mythology, I am so there. And it doesn't disappoint.
The first in his imprint is Aru Shah and the End of Time. And Roshani Chokshi is a very talented author. I know a lot of different mythologies but when it comes to Hindu mythology I know none. Well that changed. Not only is the book filled with Hindu mythology it is told in a way that made Rick Riordan's books so successful as well. The story was fun, entertaining, adventurous, and had a cast of characters that you will absolutely love! And though it is technically made for a younger audience, any one can read them and still enjoy them.
Our main heroines (you'll get the emphasis later when you read!) are Aru and Minnie. As Pandavas, it is up to them to stop the demon, Sleeper. As they embark on their journey, they learn more about themselves and about the evil they face as they travel through the Kingdom of Death. Great story and I learned it is the first of four! So I am very excited to see where it goes and to learn a lot more about Hindu mythology.
No comments:
Post a Comment