One
day you suddenly learn that you’re the soul daughter of the God of thunder.
From there your life is flipped upside down as you try to fight off the Gods
most evil villain, who is your biological father! Wouldn’t that be an amazing novel to read? It exists in a wonderful Quintet called Aru Shah by author Roshani Chokshi.
Aru Shah has learned that she’s the reincarnation of Arjuna, one of the Pandavas (Five brothers ) , the greatest warriors in Hindu mythology. Arjuna’s father was Indra, God of thunder.
That makes Aru’s soul dad is Indra. We are introduced to Mini, reincarnation of Pandava Yudhistira, soul daughter of the God of death.
We meet Bhima’s reincarnation Byrnne, daughter of the God of wind.
We are also
introduced to twins Nikita and Sheila, reincarnations of the Pandavas twins
Nakula and Sahadeva, and the soul daughters of twin Gods of health and
medicine. We are also introduced to Aiden,a self-proclaimed Pandava adjacent,
his mother being of Godly ancestry, but later learns that he is the
reincarnation of Draupadi, the wife to all the five Pandava brothers! Talk
about awkward :).
Throughout
the series, Aru is fighting the Sleeper, her biological dad she didn’t know
existed. In the fourth book in the series and most recent novel, Aru Shah
and the City of Gold, Aru meets Kara, who unlike her other sisters, has the
same father, the Sleeper. Kara has been living with the Sleeper for the past 2
years and knows some of his very valuable plans and ideas. The Otherworld,
where the Gods reside, is on the verge of being invaded by the Sleeper’s
monstrous army.
Lanka,
the City of Gold is where their mentors Urvashi and Hanuman are imprisoned. The
Potatoes (as the Pandava reincarnations + Aiden call themselves) have to go to
Lanka to pass three tests to get King Kubera’s army that would help them in the
battle. Will they get the army that could change this war? At the end of the
novel, a secret is revealed about Kara’s real identity. She’s given the choice
to join her father, The Sleeper or remain loyal to the Potatoes, which will she
choose?
This
is one of the most wonderful Middle Grade series. Author Roshani Chokshi has
added so much comedy into this book, that it will leave you laughing out loud
while getting a glimpse of tales and traditions of Hindu mythology.
Title: Aru Shah And the City
of Gold
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Illustrator: Designed by Tyler Nevins, Ornament Illustration by Keith
Robinson
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Rick
Riordan Presents, $25.75
Publication Date: April 6, 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781368013864
For ages: 8 –12
Type: Middle Grade Fiction