When the first book in the Pandava Quartet, Aru Shah and the End of Time, hit store shelves, I devoured the story as quickly as humanly possible. It was a worthy title to launch Rick Riordan Presents, and I’m happy to report the sequel lives up to the hype.
Song of Death takes place shortly after Aru and Mini’s last adventure. The victories and failures of their first mission are still fresh, but there’s little time to linger. A new problem has fallen into their laps, and if they have any hope of continuing on in their journey as Pandavi Sisters, they have a mystery to solve.
Someone stole the god of love’s bow and arrow, and Aru, Mini, and their recently-discovered sister Brynne are prime suspects. If they don’t discover the thief and get the bow back in time, all three of them will be kicked out of the Otherworld forever.
I fell in love with Aru in End of Time because she wasn’t your run-of-the-mill hero. Sure, she wanted to do the right thing, but her first instincts were deceit and self-preservation. Whereas some people are born to be heroes, Aru has had to work hard to prove to the world — and herself — that she’s also deserving of that title.
Her journey continues in Song of Death. She’s gotten more of a handle on this hero business, but that doesn’t mean she never struggles. While she and Mini are finally in a good place, adding Brynne to the mix has made everything go topsy-turvy once again. Brynne and Aru bring out the worst in each other from the beginning, and it’s a battle to get them to trust one another.
I can’t say I blame either one of them. Both girls have big personalities and a lot of demons (literal and figurative) that they still need to face. Brynne has been training hard to ensure no one doubts her capabilities as a Pandava Sister, but the biggest doubts always come from within. She’s hard as a rock on the surface, but she’s terrified on the inside.
It takes awhile for Aru and Brynne to see eye to eye, but once they do, there’s nothing stronger than a bond forged in the heat of battle. You’re at your rawest when you’re forced to face your fears in front of an audience, and both these girls must do that time and time again in Song of Death.
Mini is there to act as a calming salve for these two fiery warriors, and I can’t help but love all her strange quirks. She is unapologetically herself because she doesn’t know any other way to be, and I think the world would be a better place if we all acted a bit like her. But maybe with fewer neuroses. She does have a lot, after all.
Our other newcomer, and someone else who tries to build a bridge between Aru and Brynne, is Aiden. It’s clear from the beginning that he’s harboring more than one secret, but it’s not hard to fall in love with him. He’s an adorable, kind, artistic soul who must also face his own doubts and demons.
Aru Shah and the Song of Death is just as interesting, action-packed, and hilarious as End of Time. You won’t be bored reading this, and you will certainly have trouble keeping your laughter to yourself. Out of all the series to come out of Rick Riordan Presents, the Pandava Quartet is the one that makes me feel the same way I did when I was reading Percy Jackson for the first time.
And let me tell you, I don’t say that lightly.
More than anything, Song of Death (and the whole series, really) is about family. It’s about the family you have, the family you’ve lost, and the family you make. It’s not all good, but it’s not all bad, either. In the end, we all must do what we can with what we’re given.
Not all parents are good parents. Aru can attest to that, given she’s the daughter of the Sleeper, but Brynne and Aiden feel a similar pain when it comes to their own parents. Not everyone can have wonderfully invested (if somewhat overbearing) parents like Mini — and that’s okay.
What these characters lack in blood relations, they make up for in the found family they have fostered over the course of two books. For Aru, that started with Mini and Boo. Now, it’s grown to include Brynne and Aiden.
It’s a family they’ve all chosen, and sometimes that’s even more remarkable. There’s no obligation there. Instead, it’s a commitment they have embraced despite any fear that it may not be returned.
That’s a different kind of loyalty, but one just as strong as any familial bond.
Aru Shah and the Song of Death has no problem keeping up with the breakneck pace established in its predecessor. It also kicks the door to the Otherworld wide open. We get to see new places, meet new characters, and fight new creatures, all while never forgetting the task at hand. It truly is a remarkable story full crazy adventures, difficult lessons, and unyielding friendships.
Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi is available wherever books are sold! You can order it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, and Book Depository, or add it to your Goodreads list.
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