Aru Shah and the Song of Death
| Aru, and Aiden, fighting crab Varuna's crab together. First edition cover | |
| Author | Roshani Chokshi |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | |
| Cover artist | Abigail L. Dela Cruz |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Pandava Quintet |
| Genre | Fantasy, Children’s Fiction, adventure |
| Publisher | Disney Hyperion (US) Scholastic Corporation (UK) |
Publication date | April 30, 2019 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) (paperback), (audiobook), (e-book) |
| Pages |
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| ISBN | 1368045855 Search this book on  . |
| Preceded by | Aru Shah and the End of Time |
| Followed by | Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes |
Aru Shah and the Song of Death is a 2019 American-fantasy-adventure novel written by Roshani Chokshi and published on 30 April, 2019.[1] When she’s learning how to be a Pandava, Aru is accused of stealing the god of love’s bow and arrow. In order to prove her innocence, she must navigate the serpent realm with Mini and two new companions.[2]
Plot[edit]
Aru Shah, and Mini fend off Zombies in the Night Bazaar, wherein Aru notes that the zombies have something over their hearts. The two see Brynne, their other Pandava sister and a doppelganger of Aru, who steals a golden bow and arrow from Brynne, before disappearing.
Brynne gets officially Claimed by Lord Vayu, and gets a mace that can alter wind direction. She is convinced Aru is the their, and attacks her, knocking her unconscious. She awakens in the Council, with her other sisters, including school classmate Aiden, son of an apsara. Even with evidence, the Council are not convinced that the Pandavas are innocent, and task them with retrieving the bow and arrow. They each are granted mystical items for the quest, and Aru gets a vial of ideas. They decide to visit Kamadeva, the God of Love, who owns the bow and arrow.
While going there, Aru learns that Aiden's mother gave up her position as an apsara, to marry Aiden's father, but they are now getting a divorce. Aiden secretly blames himself. When they meet Kamadeva, he initially suspects them as the thevies, but gradually trusts them. He reveals that, while the arrow can join hearts, it received a darker power from his wife's, Rati, sorrow. It can now rip out hearts, and the affect will become permanent after a while. Anyone who has enchantment knowledge can carve out their soul song to use the weapons. He cannot help them directly, however he reveals that the location of the theif can be revealed through the soul song, which is in the nāga treasury, if they speak the theif's name over it. They must stab the their with the arrow, once it is revealed, thus cleansing the weapons of its dark power, and returning the Heartless to normal. He also gives them Rishi Durvasa's business card.
They travel to the Nāga realm, wherein Aru learns that Brynne is half asura, enabling her to shape-shifting, and is therefore discriminated by almost everyone. They reach the Nāga realms entrance, but Aru is separated from the group. She finds her way to the palace of Varuna and Varuni, the sea gods. Varuni foretells Aru's near future, before she and her friends are reunited, and they fend off a large crab monster.
Varuni and Varuna allow them to use a secret passage into the Nāga treasure. However, they are greeted by three nāginis, who claim to know the theif's name. Mini gives herself up for the name, and, although the others try and stop it, Mini is kidnapped and drained of her energy. The nāginis claim that Mini is safe in Ushas and Ratri's world, and leave behind a Heartgem that belongs to Uloopi, the nāga queen. She used the jewel to save Arjuna, but Takshaka stole it, thus making her age. Aru and Brynne briefly fight, before reconciling. Mini interacts with them in their dreams, causing them to believe that Rishi Durvasa can help them.
They enter the nāga treasury, wherein they are attacked by Takshaka, the guard of the treasury. He is angry at Aru, who he believes is still Arjuna, for burning down his home. He is allied with the Sleeper, and let the theif, who is female, to steal the bow and arrow. The trio quickly discover Takshaka is affected by musical sound frequencies, and Aiden uses this by playing music on his phone. Aru finds the soul song, but Takshaka overcomes the music by destroying the phone. They are almost killed, before Takshaka's grandson, Rudy, intervenes, and hypnotizes him, using music, and lets the Pandavas escape.
They visit Rishi Durvasa, who refuses to help them at first, but then shows them an entrance to the Dreamworld. There, they find and rescue Mini, and return. Mini reveals that the theif is Shurpanakha. It is revealed through the soul song that she is in the Ocean of Milk, and is planning to use the Heartless to steal Amrita, the nectar of immortality. While the quartet journey to the Ocean, they are tested by Agni, who's insatiable hunger is finally satisfied by Aru's gift, and they are joined by Hiri, a shapeshifter.
They sneak inside Lanka, where the Amrita is kept. They are discovered by Shurpanakha, who is called Lady M by her followers. The Pandavas are taken aback by her slowly fading beauty, and kindness. She says she is stealing the nectar, because her true story is fading. Her true name is Meenakshi, and she wanted to be remembered for her triumphs. She was used as a scapegoat in the War, but she doesn't want to be remembered as that, and the Amrita can help with it. She tries to persuade them into joining her, but when they refuse, she turns Aiden into a Heartless, and unleashes the others on them. Aru, using Hira's abilities, tricks them into giving her the bow and arrow, before stabbing Lady M, which releases a song of death. Takshaka flees during the pandemonium.
Lady M speaks her final words, before dying. The Heartless return to normal. Thd Pandavas are held in court, where Takshaka tries to incriminate them, but fails. Aru returns Uloopi's jewel, and Uloopi has Takshaka arrested. It is revealed later that be escapes. They later return the bow and arrow to Kamadeva.
Aru is approached in her sleep by two twins, who claim that she is "her", and that she will save them next year.
Reception[edit]
While writing about the second book, Aru Shah and the End of Time, Kirkus Reviews complemented the complexity and morality of the characters.[3] The book was widely well received and was released to rave reviews. About the book, Kirkus Reviews further said, "Chokshi seamlessly weaves Indian cosmology and pop culture into a refreshingly feminist plot laced with witty dialogue. The most compelling feature of the novel, however, is the complexity of its characters, who, despite their divinity or semidivinity, are at their core very human."[3]
The Laughing Place praised the specific character of Aru Shah, saying "Part of what makes [the Pandava Quintet] so enjoyable is Aru Shah. She has that sarcastic wit and the silly antics that make any reader laugh and smile" and "Chokshi seamlessly blends Hindu mythology into a modern world. By putting a human face on the legends and myths that have been around for thousands of years, she provides us with a modern-day story that shows kids struggling with the world they live in. Readers get to understand and deepen their connection with Aru and Mini, are introduced to Aiden and Brynne, and learn to empathize with the villains like Lady M."[4]
It reached no.7 in Best Children’s Books of 2019, in Times of India. [5] It was also included in Nerd Much's 100 Best Fantasy Books of 2019,[6] along with Professor Franklin’s Annotated Bibliography of Young Adult Literature[7]
Sequels[edit]
The book is the second in the Pandava Quintet series by Roshani Chokshi. A first sequel, Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes, was been announced and was released on April 7, 2020.
Another sequel, Aru Shah and the City of Gold, has been announced and will be released on April 6, 2021.[8] A fifth novel, currently untitled, will be published in April 2022.
References[edit]
- ↑ Magi, Hae. Riordan Wiki Fandom https://riordan.fandom.com/wiki/Aru_Shah_and_the_Song_of_Death. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Magi, Hae. Rik Riordan Presents https://rickriordan.com/rick-riordan-presents/. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 ARU SHAH AND THE SONG OF DEATH | Kirkus Reviews. Search this book on
- ↑ Gowsell, Bill (2019-05-13). "Book Review: "Aru Shah and the Song of Death" by Roshani Chokshi". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- ↑ "Best children's books of 2019". The Times of India. December 30, 2019.
- ↑ "100 Best New Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books of 2019". June 9, 2019.
- ↑ Franklin, John (January 5, 2021). "Professor Franklin's Annotated Bibliography of Young Adult Literature, 2019—20". Open Educational Resources - English and Modern Languages.
- ↑ "Aru Shah and the City of Gold | Roshani Chokshi Young Adult and Middle Grade author". Retrieved 2021-02-26.
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