Aru Shah and the End of Time
Aru Shah and the End of Time is a 2018 American-fantasy-adventure novel written by Roshani Chokshi and published in March 2018 by Disney-Hyperion.[1][2] It is the first of many "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint books, and focuses on twelve-year-old Aru Shah who doesn't fit in at school and often stretches the truth to please her friends, but discovers her Pandava sisters, and the very real world of Hindu Mythology. Abigail L. Dela Cruz did the cover art. Film rights to the novel were optioned in 2018 by Paramount. The novel received critical acclaim, with critics praising the story, the tone, the humor, and the characters. Some critics criticized the story's pace.
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Roshani Chokshi |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Abigail L. Dela Cruz |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Pandava Quintet (bk 1) |
| Genre | Fantasy, Children’s Fiction, adventure |
| Publisher | Disney Hyperion (US) Scholastic Corporation (UK) |
Publication date | March 27, 2018 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 1368012353 |
| Followed by | Aru Shah and the Song of Death |
Plot
The story is told in third person past tense. It follows Aru Shah, who is a twelve-year-old girl, living in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, and often stretches the truth to please her friends, a trait developed due to her mother's distant behaviour. She has a wide imagination, and is ashamed to be living in a museum. While she is at home during school break, three of her classmates arrive at the museum, to find that Aru lied about spending her time in France. Under pressure, she lights the Cursed Lamp of Bharata to prove them wrong (She once told her class the Lamp is real). She accidentally releases the Sleeper, a demon who can freeze time.
After time is frozen in her town, and she herself is briefly frozen, a pigeon enters the museum, and explains that Hindu mythology is real, and that she is a Pandava. They leave to find the other known sister. Expecting a fierce warrior, they are both taken back by germophobic Mini. Afterwards, they visit the Council of Guardians, where they meet Urvashi and Hanuman. Hanuman reveals that the vahanas of the Gods have gone missing, and that the places where the Sleeper walked have frozen. Both of the sisters are claimed, Indra is Aru's soul father, while Dharma Raja is revealed to be Mini's.
The Pandavas are tasked with stopping the Sleeper from awakening The Lord of Destruction,[3][4] who will bring an end to all of Time. They have to find their celestial weapons by going into the Kingdom of Death, which can only be entered by finding the Three Keys (The Sprig of Youth, the Bite of Adulthood and a Sip of Old Age). Indra gives a ping-pong ball to Aru, while Mini is given a compact by Dharma Raja. They go on the quest with the pigeon, which Aru has nicknamed Boo. During the quest, Aru and her companions learn more about themselves, and the Hindu Gods. They grow closer, and eventually become friends. They also find out that their gifts have powers, with Aru's ball carrying celestial light, and Mini's compact having the ability to create or break illusions. They are attacked by several demons, like Bhasmasura (from whom they get the Sprig), and also grant Valmiki a day of their lives in exchange for a mantra for safety. The Sleeper attacks them various times during their journey. Once the Pandavas acquire protection from the Seasons, they are once again attacked by the Sleeper in the Library of the Night Bazaar, where they find the Bite of Adulthood.
There, the Sleeper reveals the pigeon is actually Shakuni, an enemy to the Pandava's during the Mahabharata War. He captures the pigeon, saying that in exchange for his freedom, they must give their weapons to him once they acquire it. Mini leaves Aru when she hears the truth, intending to finish the quest herself. Aru discovers that the Sleeper left behind a cage, which contains clay figures. The clay figures, once exposed to celestial light, become the vahanas of the Gods. They thank her for freeing them, and say that she can call them in emergencies. Uchchaihshravas gives her a ride to the location of the Sip. There, she is reunited with Mini. Collected, the Keys open the Door to Death, and they enter the Kingdom. After tricking the Guardian Dogs, Ek and Do, they go on to meet the Palace of Illusions, a living palace who was once the home for the Pandavas.
Their memories are nearly stolen by Shukra's snow, whom Aru kills by exposing him to his own power. He curses Aru that she will forget what she needs in an important time. After journeying deep into the Kingdom, they find out that their gifts, the ping-pong ball and the compact, are the weapons. They return to Earth. There, Aru summons the vahanas, and develops a plan to assault the Sleeper. It nearly works. However, the Sleeper escapes, ravaging the Museum. Boo, who has been rescued, explains the Sleeper had to wake Shiva at the full moon, which has passed, indicating that they saved the world. In the aftermath of the crisis, Aru and Mini continue school. They discover they have three more sisters out in the world. They have become friends, and get daily lessons from the Guardians. The Frozen are able to move. While training, they see a giant wolf with a golden bow and arrow turn into a girl, whom Boo calls their third sister. At the ending, Aru says she's ready, which was "way better than last Time."
Adaptations
In April 2018 it was announced that Paramount Pictures had purchased the film rights to Aru Shah and the End of Time, beating out one of its competitors, Netflix.[5] Karen Rosenfelt has been named as one of the film's producers.[6]
Sequels
In April 2019 a sequel, Aru Shah and the Song of Death, was released, and continues Aru's story. It was just over 300 pages. A third installment, Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes was published in May 2020, and a fourth book, entitled Aru Shah and the City of Gold has been announced to be released in 2021.[7] An untitled fifth book has been confirmed and will be released in 2022.
Reception
Aru Shah and the End of Time received 3/5 stars from Common Sense Media, which stated that it was a "Flawed but fascinating modern spin on Indian mythology", citing "problems with the storytelling".[8] The book has been listed as one of the "Best Books to Read If You Love Harry Potter" by Oprah Magazine.[9]Rick Riordan said that the book "had everything I like. Humour, great characters and awesome mythology!" Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl said a "new star was born." Reader's Digest said that "This is Percy Jackson meets Sailor Moon." Goodreads gave it a 4.1/5 rating based on 2,685 reviews, along with four and a half stars.[10] The Library Thing gave it 5 stars, saying the book was "fresh. And great." Kirkus Reviews wrote that "in her middle grade debut, Chokshi spins fantastical narrative of feminism and mythology that everyone, including children of Indian origin, will like."[11]
References
- "Does 'Aru Shah and the End of Time' exist within Percy Jackson universe?". Hypable. 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- Bond, Gwenda (2018-04-11). "How Roshani Chokshi came to write a new series for Rick Riordan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- It can also be Kalki
- But he is not mentioned
- "'Aru Shah and The End of Time' Will Kick Off a YA Franchise Led By an Indian Girl". Film School Rejects. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- Fleming, Mike Jr. (2018-04-13). "Paramount Pictures Lands YA Novel 'Aru Shah And The End Of Time'". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- "'Aru Shah And The City Of Gold' By Roshani Chokshi Gets Official Cover". Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- Wheadon, Carrie R. (2018-03-26). "Aru Shah and the End of Time: Pandava, Book 1 - Book Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- Nicolaou, Elena (2020-02-20). "If You Adore Harry Potter, You'll Love These Reads". Oprah Magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- "Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet, #1)". www.goodreads.com.