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Pandava #5
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2022)The Pandavas only have until the next full moon to stop the Sleeper from gaining access to the nectar of immortality, which will grant him infinite power. But how can Aru, Mini, and Brynne hope to defeat him without their celestial weapons? The Sleeper and his army are already plundering the labyrinth, and the sisters can’t even enter. Their quest to get in will have them calling on old friends, meeting new allies, and facing fearsome trials, like…performing in a rock concert? When the moment of confrontation finally arrives, it’s up to Aru to decide who deserves immortality, the devas or the asuras. The most unexpected answer will come from a most unexpected place. More surprises and delights, gods and demons, and laughs and tears await in this immensely satisfying conclusion to the wild ride that began with the lighting of a lamp.
Unknown Binding
First published April 5, 2022
171 people are currently reading
6007 people want to read
About the author
Roshani Chokshi
46 books11.2k followersRoshani Chokshi is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling series The Star-Touched Queen, The Gilded Wolves and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which Time Magazine named one of the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Her adult debut, The Last Tale of The Flower Bride, was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and often draw upon world mythology and folklore. Chokshi is a member of the National Leadership Board for the Michael C. Carlos Museum and lives in Georgia with her husband and their cat whose diabolical plans must regularly be thwarted.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 565 reviews
May 23, 2022
Well, this is the end. I truly can't believe this series is over. I was 10 years old when I first came across this series. When I looked at the cover, I truly couldn't believe that there was a book where the main character was Indian. I was not exposed to a lot of Indian protagonists back then, so I was extremely excited to see some rep.
4 years later, as a teenager, I'm still invested in this series, which just goes to show how much this series meant to me.
This book was perfect on so many levels. Loveable characters, interesting plot, hilarious writing: all the components I need in a masterpiece MG book.
I really can't believe it's over...I'm gonna miss these characters. I loved how Chokshi ended this series...I would KILL for an epilogue book!!
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2 MORE DAYS!!!
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Just finished City of Gold! That ending was absolutely crazy. I NEED THIS BOOK DESPERATELY.
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Omg! We have a cover! Darn that's beautiful.
4 years later, as a teenager, I'm still invested in this series, which just goes to show how much this series meant to me.
This book was perfect on so many levels. Loveable characters, interesting plot, hilarious writing: all the components I need in a masterpiece MG book.
I really can't believe it's over...I'm gonna miss these characters. I loved how Chokshi ended this series...I would KILL for an epilogue book!!
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2 MORE DAYS!!!
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Just finished City of Gold! That ending was absolutely crazy. I NEED THIS BOOK DESPERATELY.
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Omg! We have a cover! Darn that's beautiful.
May 28, 2023
tbh i don't think i could encapsulate my feelings about this book and series into a perfect review within the ~17k character limit (and counting) that i have left
but i'm still going to try, in any case.
5 stars, obviously.
(update: the spotify playlist i made: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ux...)
how much do i love this book? this is an unquantifiable number.
to start: i started using post-it notes/tabs again for this book, even though it’s been FOUR YEARS since i last did so.
and yet, i went back to my old ways, because underlining my favorite parts didn’t feel like enough. i wrote in notes and reactions in the margins (therefore i will never lend anyone my copy of this, because it would be hugely embarrassing, considering how i underlined almost every single one of aiden's lines). iprobably unapologetically put hearts around almost every single one of my favorite dialogues between the potatoes, and anxiously put exclamation marks around every single stressful/nervous/sad moment (at one point, literally writing out, excuse me, mrs. chokshi??? on the margins of a specific scene).
i’ve said it so many times, but gods, i wish this existed when i was in middle school. every single review i write for roshani chokshi’s books just ends up being a love letter to her, because of how much i love her writing and just her personality in general, but i think the biggest thing i love about mrs. chokshi is the fact that she managed to take this enormously large, complex, diverse religion, and made this amazing, engaging series about it. i may not have loved all of mrs. chokshi’s books, but the fact that she created this series made me her most dedicated fan, 2 years running. (also, still dying over the fact that SHE REPLIED TO ME ON INSTA)
every single character in this entire series is my favorite: mini, brynne, sheela, nikita, rudy, aiden. but aru just—aru is just different. aru goes beyond being my favorite. to sum up my love for her in one sentence: i dedicated an entire spotify playlist to her. everything about her is so relatable, so funny, so inspiring, so, so, so COOL and EPIC, yet so unbelievable human that i was surprised and disappointed she wasn’t right next to me as soon as i finished this.
i tried to make this last as long as possible, because i was so sure that i would sob out of sadness when i got to the last chapter. instead, i laughed so much throughout it, finishing it with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. everytime i think about how this is the last book, and how i’m not waiting for anything else with "aru shah" written in large font at the top of it, this immense sadness flows through my body, from head to toe, worse than an existential crisis. this is so incredibly slump-worthy, this book, and i am so sure that whatever i read immediately after this will immensely suck, because it won’t have aru popping out making lotr references; it won’t have mini constantly worrying about death; it won’t have brynne talking about her amazing cooking; it won’t have rudy being so inexplicably weird yet endearing; it won’t have aiden taking pictures and quietly sighing at whatever chaotic thing aru is doing; and above all, it won’t compare to the camaraderie the characters in this book have, nor the hilarious, fun way it ties in hindu religion.
to say i love this series is an understatement. the amount i love this series, and this conclusion, is infinte. i love it so much i cannot put it into words. the more i think about it, the more i am seriously debating just re-reading the series again and again for the rest of my life. i love it to the point that i wish i had never read it, so that i could pick up for the first time again.
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currently reading
close to fainting over the fact that mrs. chokshi replied to my comment on her insta post, i have achieved everything i wanted to achieve in my life, and there is nothing more i could ask for.
------------------
book release countdown
but i'm still going to try, in any case.
5 stars, obviously.
(update: the spotify playlist i made: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ux...)
how much do i love this book? this is an unquantifiable number.
to start: i started using post-it notes/tabs again for this book, even though it’s been FOUR YEARS since i last did so.
and yet, i went back to my old ways, because underlining my favorite parts didn’t feel like enough. i wrote in notes and reactions in the margins (therefore i will never lend anyone my copy of this, because it would be hugely embarrassing, considering how i underlined almost every single one of aiden's lines). i
i’ve said it so many times, but gods, i wish this existed when i was in middle school. every single review i write for roshani chokshi’s books just ends up being a love letter to her, because of how much i love her writing and just her personality in general, but i think the biggest thing i love about mrs. chokshi is the fact that she managed to take this enormously large, complex, diverse religion, and made this amazing, engaging series about it. i may not have loved all of mrs. chokshi’s books, but the fact that she created this series made me her most dedicated fan, 2 years running. (also, still dying over the fact that SHE REPLIED TO ME ON INSTA)
"Tell me, have you finally seen reason?"
"Reason?" said Aru, grinning. "Nope. Never met her."
every single character in this entire series is my favorite: mini, brynne, sheela, nikita, rudy, aiden. but aru just—aru is just different. aru goes beyond being my favorite. to sum up my love for her in one sentence: i dedicated an entire spotify playlist to her. everything about her is so relatable, so funny, so inspiring, so, so, so COOL and EPIC, yet so unbelievable human that i was surprised and disappointed she wasn’t right next to me as soon as i finished this.
i tried to make this last as long as possible, because i was so sure that i would sob out of sadness when i got to the last chapter. instead, i laughed so much throughout it, finishing it with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. everytime i think about how this is the last book, and how i’m not waiting for anything else with "aru shah" written in large font at the top of it, this immense sadness flows through my body, from head to toe, worse than an existential crisis. this is so incredibly slump-worthy, this book, and i am so sure that whatever i read immediately after this will immensely suck, because it won’t have aru popping out making lotr references; it won’t have mini constantly worrying about death; it won’t have brynne talking about her amazing cooking; it won’t have rudy being so inexplicably weird yet endearing; it won’t have aiden taking pictures and quietly sighing at whatever chaotic thing aru is doing; and above all, it won’t compare to the camaraderie the characters in this book have, nor the hilarious, fun way it ties in hindu religion.
to say i love this series is an understatement. the amount i love this series, and this conclusion, is infinte. i love it so much i cannot put it into words. the more i think about it, the more i am seriously debating just re-reading the series again and again for the rest of my life. i love it to the point that i wish i had never read it, so that i could pick up for the first time again.
------------------
currently reading
close to fainting over the fact that mrs. chokshi replied to my comment on her insta post, i have achieved everything i wanted to achieve in my life, and there is nothing more i could ask for.
------------------
book release countdown
[03.27.22] upon re-reading aru shah 4, nothing has changed, and my claim from last year still holds true: i am just as ready and willing to die for aru and aiden and brynne and mini as i was last year. my offer still stands.
[06.11.21] i amslightlyfreaking out over seeing brynne, rudy, mini, aiden, and aru on that cover, because all five of my faves are literally ON THE FRONT COVER OH MY GODS
[04.14.21] mrs. chokshi. i may be a tad dramatic right now, but i mean it when i say that i would literally die for aru, aiden, mini, brynne, rudy, nikita, sheela, and kara. I MEAN IT.
[03.28.21] my excitement levels for this cannot be explained within the confines of the english nor the tamil language, so: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 2, 2022
'It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.'
After the shocking and sad cliffhanger at the end of Aru Shah and the City of Gold, where Kara betrayed the Pandavas and destroyed their celestial weapons, we see how our Pandavas are living without their celestial weapons. They are sad and struggling of course and they only have until the end of the full moon to find the labyrinth where the nectar of immortality is hidden. What's even more concerning is that they have no backup from any of the gods and they can't enter the labyrinth without their celestial weapons. But they can't stop now, not after fighting the battle all the way to get here so obviously they'll have to find a way to stop the Sleeper once and for all.
This was completely action-packed like the previous books and the Pandavas dive straight into how they can stop the sleeper. They don't have a great start after losing their celestial weapons but they don't stop trying and leave no stone unturned. Some favors are called in, and sometimes they just have to rely on their knowledge of mythology, and sometimes it is as simple as relying on their wits. They doubt themselves. Basically, they are tested every which way. I liked the growth part of each of the characters including Aru although she still isn't exactly on my favorites list.
Now onto the things that were on my wish list and were sort of touched upon were Aiden's mum's background. I can't say it was done exactly how I was hoping it to be but it was definitely touched upon and I liked it.
I also liked how Aru admitted that she used to lie frequently and that was wrong. Because this was the biggest turn-off for me in the first book as it is not okay to teach young kids to lie and cover that up as imagination. That was good on Roshani Chokshi's behalf to actually touch upon.
I loved the mythology in this. Well, mythology has been my absolute favorite part of this series so it came as no surprise. But I loved the non-famous parts of the mythology that were woven beautifully into this.
I know I keep on repeating myself but I have loved Mini and Aiden since the beginning but in this for me, Brynne and Rudy shined like no other. I think the way Aiden handled that personal thing with Aru could have been better but I'd let it slide as he's a teenager. Nikita and Sheela are always amazing. I also liked the minor characters and their backgrounds. They were all really good. But Brynne and Rudy have become my new favorites.
The first book wasn't the best of the starts for me but we have all come a long way and I am so glad that I continued with this series because I did end up loving it for the most part. The writing improved, the story-telling improved and the characters' arc and development improved.
I am especially happy about the ending. I am not good with good-byes but this was a satisfactory conclusion. Also, it is an end but it is an open end and if the writer ever decided to write another book, I'd certainly read that. I could be wrong about this but I did read somewhere that this has been picked up for a TV series so that's great news. I can't wait to watch it.
4 stars
After the shocking and sad cliffhanger at the end of Aru Shah and the City of Gold, where Kara betrayed the Pandavas and destroyed their celestial weapons, we see how our Pandavas are living without their celestial weapons. They are sad and struggling of course and they only have until the end of the full moon to find the labyrinth where the nectar of immortality is hidden. What's even more concerning is that they have no backup from any of the gods and they can't enter the labyrinth without their celestial weapons. But they can't stop now, not after fighting the battle all the way to get here so obviously they'll have to find a way to stop the Sleeper once and for all.
This was completely action-packed like the previous books and the Pandavas dive straight into how they can stop the sleeper. They don't have a great start after losing their celestial weapons but they don't stop trying and leave no stone unturned. Some favors are called in, and sometimes they just have to rely on their knowledge of mythology, and sometimes it is as simple as relying on their wits. They doubt themselves. Basically, they are tested every which way. I liked the growth part of each of the characters including Aru although she still isn't exactly on my favorites list.
Now onto the things that were on my wish list and were sort of touched upon were Aiden's mum's background. I can't say it was done exactly how I was hoping it to be but it was definitely touched upon and I liked it.
I also liked how Aru admitted that she used to lie frequently and that was wrong. Because this was the biggest turn-off for me in the first book as it is not okay to teach young kids to lie and cover that up as imagination. That was good on Roshani Chokshi's behalf to actually touch upon.
I loved the mythology in this. Well, mythology has been my absolute favorite part of this series so it came as no surprise. But I loved the non-famous parts of the mythology that were woven beautifully into this.
I know I keep on repeating myself but I have loved Mini and Aiden since the beginning but in this for me, Brynne and Rudy shined like no other. I think the way Aiden handled that personal thing with Aru could have been better but I'd let it slide as he's a teenager. Nikita and Sheela are always amazing. I also liked the minor characters and their backgrounds. They were all really good. But Brynne and Rudy have become my new favorites.
The first book wasn't the best of the starts for me but we have all come a long way and I am so glad that I continued with this series because I did end up loving it for the most part. The writing improved, the story-telling improved and the characters' arc and development improved.
I am especially happy about the ending. I am not good with good-byes but this was a satisfactory conclusion. Also, it is an end but it is an open end and if the writer ever decided to write another book, I'd certainly read that. I could be wrong about this but I did read somewhere that this has been picked up for a TV series so that's great news. I can't wait to watch it.
4 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 12, 2021AAAAAAAAAH THE COVER I AM CRYING
ITS SO GOOD
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK
I CAN'T ---
ITS SO GOOD
I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK
I CAN'T ---
April 5, 2022
Star Rating: —> 5 GLEAMING Stars
🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
Holy freaking moly this was THE PERFECT ENDING to the Pandava’s Story! But but but…… 🥺SO SAD IT‘S OVER! 😭😭😭
RTC
I recommend this series 1000% to ANYONE, & EVERYONE, OF ALL AGES!!!
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WOOOAHHHHHH— This cover is JAW-DROPPING! LOVE IT. 😍😍😍
🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟
Holy freaking moly this was THE PERFECT ENDING to the Pandava’s Story! But but but…… 🥺SO SAD IT‘S OVER! 😭😭😭
RTC
I recommend this series 1000% to ANYONE, & EVERYONE, OF ALL AGES!!!
_______________
WOOOAHHHHHH— This cover is JAW-DROPPING! LOVE IT. 😍😍😍
May 10, 2022
Rating: 4.5 stars
★★★★★
Oh gods, where do I even start? This was the perfect conclusion to The Pandava Quintet and I loved every part of it.
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality picks up a few months after Aru Shah and the City of Gold—the Pandavas are now weaponless and will have to find their own way to defeat the Sleeper and their newly made enemy—Kara. Through countless trials which totally does not include a musical number, they should now navigate their way through strengths and weaknesses all while pretending to be completely oblivious to a certain birthday present.
I loved all the new characters introduced here, and their interactions (except a couple did feel underwhelming)—Tumburu is definitely my favorite out of all. Oh and did I mention a mysterious U.B.E.R driver who happens to play the flute and smells of butter? And the end was just what we needed. It wraps the series neatly and doesn’t go with the usual happily ever after, but a bittersweet one. I promise you’re gonna love this book!
★★★★★
Oh gods, where do I even start? This was the perfect conclusion to The Pandava Quintet and I loved every part of it.
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality picks up a few months after Aru Shah and the City of Gold—the Pandavas are now weaponless and will have to find their own way to defeat the Sleeper and their newly made enemy—Kara. Through countless trials which totally does not include a musical number, they should now navigate their way through strengths and weaknesses all while pretending to be completely oblivious to a certain birthday present.
I loved all the new characters introduced here, and their interactions (except a couple did feel underwhelming)—Tumburu is definitely my favorite out of all. Oh and did I mention a mysterious U.B.E.R driver who happens to play the flute and smells of butter? And the end was just what we needed. It wraps the series neatly and doesn’t go with the usual happily ever after, but a bittersweet one. I promise you’re gonna love this book!
April 29, 2022
And finally the second longest series I’ve read in many years comes to an end, the only one before this being Throne of Glass. But when I first started ToG, I had the first six books in my hand and only had to wait a couple of years for the finale. But for this series, once I finished the first, I diligently waited for every sequel to release and have loved jumping into this world again. I am very bad at keeping up with sequels anymore but this is one series (can’t believe it’s middle grade too) which I haven’t been able to let go of coz it’s too precious for me. And I can finally say all the waiting and this journey has been worth it.
There’s really not much I can say newly about the writing or characters that I haven’t already rambled on about in my previous four reviews. But this was a great ending, where the author let all her characters feel helpless and hopeless, and when they felt they had nothing left to give or lose, the author gave them all the courage to dig deep within themselves to discover their true strength. It was really heartening to see each character overcome their deepest fear to do what they felt and knew was right. Even after all these books, this finale is not short of quests or adventures and we get one after the other till the end, including the war we have all been waiting for since the beginning.
The writing had its joyful moments even amid despair and that’s what makes this series so much fun to read. And I always treasure the new stories from Hindu mythology that the author tries to throw light upon in each book - here we meet more of the figures from our myths who are forgotten or whose stories aren’t told in the they want like the many apsaras, Urmila and even Jambavan. We also get glimpses of some of our old favorites from the previous books and that was lovely. And I feel the way the author ended the war was very satisfying and embodied the overall theme of this series - that everyone deserves to be loved and remembered and respected for who they are. And there was exactly one small phrase/incantation in Telugu and I’m gonna remember the joy I felt at reading it forever.
In the end, I may not always be a fan of the middle grade age group of books but that’s mostly because I’m too old for them, but this is the exact kind of storytelling I like in MG - a super fun way to explore the myths and stories of a culture or religion (in this case Hinduism), a great group of characters who give us all the found family feels, lots of adventures and tests to pass, and ultimately the lovely writing which is funny and poignant and keeps us entertained throughout. I had a gala time through this series, remembering the joy of my childhood discovering these age old stories, and I hope everyone who picks this up will feel the same.
There’s really not much I can say newly about the writing or characters that I haven’t already rambled on about in my previous four reviews. But this was a great ending, where the author let all her characters feel helpless and hopeless, and when they felt they had nothing left to give or lose, the author gave them all the courage to dig deep within themselves to discover their true strength. It was really heartening to see each character overcome their deepest fear to do what they felt and knew was right. Even after all these books, this finale is not short of quests or adventures and we get one after the other till the end, including the war we have all been waiting for since the beginning.
The writing had its joyful moments even amid despair and that’s what makes this series so much fun to read. And I always treasure the new stories from Hindu mythology that the author tries to throw light upon in each book - here we meet more of the figures from our myths who are forgotten or whose stories aren’t told in the they want like the many apsaras, Urmila and even Jambavan. We also get glimpses of some of our old favorites from the previous books and that was lovely. And I feel the way the author ended the war was very satisfying and embodied the overall theme of this series - that everyone deserves to be loved and remembered and respected for who they are. And there was exactly one small phrase/incantation in Telugu and I’m gonna remember the joy I felt at reading it forever.
In the end, I may not always be a fan of the middle grade age group of books but that’s mostly because I’m too old for them, but this is the exact kind of storytelling I like in MG - a super fun way to explore the myths and stories of a culture or religion (in this case Hinduism), a great group of characters who give us all the found family feels, lots of adventures and tests to pass, and ultimately the lovely writing which is funny and poignant and keeps us entertained throughout. I had a gala time through this series, remembering the joy of my childhood discovering these age old stories, and I hope everyone who picks this up will feel the same.
August 13, 2023
“Here it was. The nectar that had united gods and demons, split oceans, summoned wonders, and destroyed lives. Such was the cost of attaining a sip of the eternal.”
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality is the last installment in the five book series that is the Pandava series. It is its closing statement and its farewell. It is its last hurrah and the last chance to bring this vivid, fun, and colorful adventure to an end that will feel satisfying and well-earned.
It does not disappoint. It does not leave a desire unfulfilled.
With the gloomy and dispairing way that Aru Shah and the City of Gold left us, we have a rougher start than usual, but it's all the more interesting because of it; the more serious atmosphere being a good reflection of the heavy stakes that are now unavoidable. Chokshi makes a great job of balancing this new mood with the old breezy banter, and the mix is nothing but enthralling.
“But heroism was nothing like what she had understood from all her books. There was no shining armor to protect her from emotions she didn’t want to feel. There was no magical horse leading her into battle between clearly divided good and evil. Even the monsters weren’t so monstrous.”
From the start, we can tell that this final chapter in the pandavas story is going to be a bit more mature than all the previous ones; that the slow, subtle growth that we saw with each passing book was about to be accentuated and called forefront to shine. It was all the experience of each year condensing.
Having each and every one of the characters have a moment to showcase how much they have learned and grown was a nostalgic and emotional move. And seeing their personalities shine all the brighter through the change made it feels as victorious as it was meant.
Of course, Aru's maturity is one of the most comforting and satisfying to see, she is the protagonist, and seeing her go from a goofy little kid to a teen with good cheer but a good head-on-her-shoulders and wiseness beyond her years is a great sight. However, I dare say that Brynne and Mini's arcs felt a little closer to my heart, though all the lessons they learn are quite beautiful.
I did miss seeing a bit more of other, a bit less central, characters, as they always spiced up the story. It is understandable, however, that as the last book in the series, this one needed to focus more on reaching the end of the stories of the main characters.
“Hope hurt. Aru felt each one of her hopes as if it were a fresh bruise.”
Plot-wise, I have no qualms about how things ended.
Having reached this point in the story, how things were going to be handled was the last big question mark left for us to solve, and I was fully prepared for it to be a tad frustrating. It was nothing of the sort. Sure, the solution was a bit cheesy but that is fitting for this story.
No, what we see here is all the threads, all the lessons, all the adventures seen through all the previous books come to weight and influence the way things go in the end. Little would have felt more appropriate.
Even through the pain and heartache and strife, the series remained true to itself all the way to the end, and that characteristic brand of lesson is a bright note to say goodbye.
“It’s my story. I’ll tell it however I want.”
For not being the targeted audience for this series, I can say that I had a blast with each and every one of these books. Aru's exploration of the classic Hindu mythology was fun and exciting each time, and it always felt like coming back home when a new installment came out.
The hardest part of any adventure is saying goodbye, and that is as true now as it has always been. It's a good thing that we can revisit the series any time, and go back to cheer the pandavas through their adventures infinite times.
Here's to the lessons learned, and the freshness of a world well-explored and well-loved.
“Maybe what most people wanted wasn’t immortality and fame, but the reassurance that their existence had meant something. No matter how long… or how brief. Maybe being eternal meant becoming a story worth telling.”
___________
That was a very satisfying end for the series. I like it.
RTC.
___________
Well, I'm finally doing it. I'm finally finishing this series. I can't believe it took me this long to get to it.
From what I remember, the last book left us in quite the pickle so I'm expecting a lot of emotions to come my way; aside from that, I have no idea how this series will conclude.
March 13, 2022
A fitting conclusion to the Aru Shah series. It was phenomenal to see the characters emerge and grow as young adults. The pacing continued to be quick. I look forward to bringing this into my classroom. It left just a little opening for additional adventures but won’t leave you hanging. The narrator was fantastic. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who wants an amazing adventure.
May 21, 2022
What an INCREDIBLE series! I’m so sad this is the last book. It was phenomenal though. The high stakes, race against time element was at an all time high in this one, & it was a very fast-paced read. These characters are so amazing, & they will always have a piece of my heart. I will always remember by bond with Aru over movies, love for Home Depot, disgust for yellow starbursts, &(thanks to her actually)being creeped out by butterflies now lol. Mini has come such a long way. She realizes that she wasnt powerful in spite of her fear. She was powerful BECAUSE of it. She’s still our lovable morbid Mini though lol with her morbid facts, liking creepy things/places, wanting monsters for pets occasionally. And she had me screaming YES, with the customer service representative bit! Lol Then our strong Brynne, so vulnerable on the inside. She realizes that she might be smaller, she wasn't as powerful sometimes-& that’s ok. When someone choses to see you only as small & weak, it makes them careless. There’s power in that. I also have a new way I want to try hot chocolate thanks to her. Rudy is so sweet. His love for the Rock, & finding out he has the Beauty & the Beast soundtrack cemented my love for him lol. & the Band! Yes! & Wifey. So many heartwarming scenes with him, & what he does in this book made me love him even more. So many great messages of course. The importance of stories, the truth, being remembered. Also, even the bad parts of life serve a purpose, even if we don’t understand. Sometimes you have to be powerless to understand what it means to be powerful. And all you can do is the best you can. The ending was absolutely epic. Some parts bittersweet, but I understand. These are just the best. So much adventure, culture, danger, friendship, family, mythology, heart, & the most amazing humor. HIGHLY recommend. Another BEAUTIFUL cover by Abigail L. Dela Cruz as well!💜
December 19, 2022
A lovely ending to an amazing series!
October 3, 2024
read 5:
sobbing. but also, my heart is full.
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read 4:
THERE WAS A TELUGU PHRASE IN THIS, HOW THE FUCK DID I NOT NOTICE THAT BEFORE?? ALSO NIKITA AND SHEELA ARE ON THE BACK COVER??? I CAN’T ANYMORE.
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read 3:
i’m starting to feel like nothing could ever compare to this masterpiece.
(put me in such a slump that i was rereading my favorite parts of this series for days.)
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read 2:
i have a feeling that this won't be the last time this year that i reread this series. these are such perfect comfort reads.
-------
read 1:
"sometimes being strong demanded the courage to be weak."
i can't believe it's over. when i started this series, i had no idea i would love it so much. but honestly, these were so amazing, i never really had a choice. i could be a grumpy nitpicker, and find a bunch of little things that i think should've been done differently. but honestly, for these books, i don't want to.
even though i read most of this series in under a week, it feels like so much longer. i feel like i've known these characters forever, from their chaotic personalities and crazy schemes to the top notch banter and lovable camaraderie. it makes me so sad to think that i won't see them again (aside from the reread i'm already planning asap). the character work in this series was simply phenomenal. they've come so far since the start of the series, yet remained so real and true to themselves. every single one of them has my heart.
i still can't quite believe that this was inspired by hindu culture, and that choksi remained faithful to the original stories, all the while spinning something completely new. i'm in love with the world she built.
i'm at a loss for what else to say here, so i'll just end with this: i loved every single moment of this series, and there's honestly not a single thing i would change.
⪼ 5 stars.
sobbing. but also, my heart is full.
-------
read 4:
THERE WAS A TELUGU PHRASE IN THIS, HOW THE FUCK DID I NOT NOTICE THAT BEFORE?? ALSO NIKITA AND SHEELA ARE ON THE BACK COVER??? I CAN’T ANYMORE.
-------
read 3:
i’m starting to feel like nothing could ever compare to this masterpiece.
(put me in such a slump that i was rereading my favorite parts of this series for days.)
-------
read 2:
i have a feeling that this won't be the last time this year that i reread this series. these are such perfect comfort reads.
-------
read 1:
"sometimes being strong demanded the courage to be weak."
i can't believe it's over. when i started this series, i had no idea i would love it so much. but honestly, these were so amazing, i never really had a choice. i could be a grumpy nitpicker, and find a bunch of little things that i think should've been done differently. but honestly, for these books, i don't want to.
even though i read most of this series in under a week, it feels like so much longer. i feel like i've known these characters forever, from their chaotic personalities and crazy schemes to the top notch banter and lovable camaraderie. it makes me so sad to think that i won't see them again (aside from the reread i'm already planning asap). the character work in this series was simply phenomenal. they've come so far since the start of the series, yet remained so real and true to themselves. every single one of them has my heart.
i still can't quite believe that this was inspired by hindu culture, and that choksi remained faithful to the original stories, all the while spinning something completely new. i'm in love with the world she built.
i'm at a loss for what else to say here, so i'll just end with this: i loved every single moment of this series, and there's honestly not a single thing i would change.
⪼ 5 stars.
August 14, 2022
#1) Aru Shah and the End of Time ★★★★★
#2) Aru Shah and the Song of Death ★★★★☆
#3) Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes ★★★★☆
#4) Aru Shah and the City of Gold ★★★★☆
This series is a treat. Hilarious and lovely and full of female friendship and girls supporting each other.
▷ Representation: Indian-American mc & scs; bisexual sc.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
April 20, 2022
rep: indian
and that’s the end to the pandava series. been chasing for the finale ever since book one when aru shah realized she has powers and is the reincarnation of one of the five pandava brothers. aru shah has been through a lot with her pandava sisters. learning to trust herself and the people around her has been a journey. she has voluntarily visited, stumbled upon, thrown into multiple different magical places, meeting the deities that she only knew in mythology.
aru shah started with lying to her schoolmates but ended up with life-long friends who are more like sisters. she worked through her emotions in many occasions and have experienced betrayals that hurt beyond belief. in aru shah and the nectar of immortality, aru shah is mostly in despair. as the world is ending around her, aru shah lost her godly weapon and consequently, she’s unable to cross the enchanted border that housed the nectar of immortality. moreover, things are awkward between her and aiden, the pandava’s wifey, the boy who she shared a kiss with in the previous book. there’s more to aiden’s reaction to their kiss and it seems like everyone but aru shah knows the truth.
similar to aru shah’s situation, mini and brynne are lost without their godly weapon but soon they realized they were more than the equipment. rudy and aiden follows closely to the pandava sisters as they ventured to combine three parts of a magical stone that gives them a sliver of hope in saving the world. i love the little things that happened between mini and rudy. though not much is explored between them, rudy’s ever-lasting cheer and comical presence definitely helped lighten things up. as for aiden, he will resolve some of his internal struggles for his godly family. as for the two astral sisters, nikita and sheela are working behind the scenes. they are slipping into dreams, creating outfits, and gathering forces while the rest of the sisters worked towards the nectar of immortality.
to conclude, i absolutely enjoyed the entire series. i can’t believe it’s over now that i’m done with the finale. roshani chokshi created a world with characters i want to read about forever. all i can think is aru shah and her friends’s future. they are so young and their potential is unlimited.
and that’s the end to the pandava series. been chasing for the finale ever since book one when aru shah realized she has powers and is the reincarnation of one of the five pandava brothers. aru shah has been through a lot with her pandava sisters. learning to trust herself and the people around her has been a journey. she has voluntarily visited, stumbled upon, thrown into multiple different magical places, meeting the deities that she only knew in mythology.
aru shah started with lying to her schoolmates but ended up with life-long friends who are more like sisters. she worked through her emotions in many occasions and have experienced betrayals that hurt beyond belief. in aru shah and the nectar of immortality, aru shah is mostly in despair. as the world is ending around her, aru shah lost her godly weapon and consequently, she’s unable to cross the enchanted border that housed the nectar of immortality. moreover, things are awkward between her and aiden, the pandava’s wifey, the boy who she shared a kiss with in the previous book. there’s more to aiden’s reaction to their kiss and it seems like everyone but aru shah knows the truth.
similar to aru shah’s situation, mini and brynne are lost without their godly weapon but soon they realized they were more than the equipment. rudy and aiden follows closely to the pandava sisters as they ventured to combine three parts of a magical stone that gives them a sliver of hope in saving the world. i love the little things that happened between mini and rudy. though not much is explored between them, rudy’s ever-lasting cheer and comical presence definitely helped lighten things up. as for aiden, he will resolve some of his internal struggles for his godly family. as for the two astral sisters, nikita and sheela are working behind the scenes. they are slipping into dreams, creating outfits, and gathering forces while the rest of the sisters worked towards the nectar of immortality.
to conclude, i absolutely enjoyed the entire series. i can’t believe it’s over now that i’m done with the finale. roshani chokshi created a world with characters i want to read about forever. all i can think is aru shah and her friends’s future. they are so young and their potential is unlimited.
October 28, 2023
Wciąż nie dowierzam, że to już koniec. Że tak niepozorny początek doprowadził do wielotygodniowej przygody. Nie zawsze było idealnie, ale zawsze z uśmiechem zaczynałam kolejne przygody Aru i Drużyny Ziemniaków. Tym razem nie było inaczej - fantastyczny tom, świetne zakończenie, które nie pozostawiło po sobie niesmaku, tylko takie zadowolone westchnięcie. Trochę smutne, bo to już koniec, ale jednak jestem bardzo usatysfakcjonowana, bo wszystkie wątki zostały zakończone, Ziemniaki dostały swój happy ending, a ja nie wiem, czy najpierw siegnąć po kolejne książki Roshani, czy jednak z serii Rick Riordan poleca. Tak czy siak - mam ochotę na oba i choć uśmiecham się szeroko, to w głębi serca trochę za nimi tęsknię, bo to była naprawdę świetna ekipa ♡.
Sceny z dobieram talentów muzycznych - bezcenne ♡.
Sceny z dobieram talentów muzycznych - bezcenne ♡.
December 16, 2022
I DEAPERATLY BEED THIS IM DYING
———
OMG, the cover is so prettyyy!!!!!!!
And for once everyone's depicted as they were described.
———
OMG, the cover is so prettyyy!!!!!!!
And for once everyone's depicted as they were described.
August 27, 2024
“There is more than one kind of darkness, and none is darker than doubt, for the light required to illuminate it belongs not to a jewel or a flame, but your very soul.”
➳ 3.5
TW: death, death of a loved one, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, sexism, violence, war.
A nice conclusion to a really fun middle grade series.
In terms of using middle grade fantasy to teach about complicated emotions, no one is doing it like Roshani Chokshi. There were so many moments in this series where she deftly explained/sorted through a character's emotions in a way that would make kids feel seen/understood and this installment is no different.
The core of this novel is Aru not truly knowing what she's fighting for anymore or if there's even any reason for her to fight at all. There are lot of other things that go into it, but throughout the story she's consistently been shown that the world isn't quite as easily divided as she had once assumed.
For a finale, I felt like this fell a bit flat. The pacing felt a bit slow and I never felt the urgency of this being the final book where everything finally comes to a head. In fact, the final battles felt kind of lackluster compared to previous installments.
That isn't to say this was a bad finale or that we receive no closure, because that's not the case. There are a lot of bittersweet moments sprinkled in and I do appreciate the fact I didn't feel like the author was beating me in the head with the 'remember! everything is ending! look at where they started! remember the first time they met each other?' stick that a lot of authors use because that's my mortal enemy lol.
It just felt a bit... empty, for the last book, I guess?
I will say! (without spoilers) I loved the creative choices made about certain characters at the end. It was messy and painful, while ultimately hope-filled and I was so happy to see that was the direction it went in.
Overall, like I said, this was a nice conclusion. This is genuinely a really good middle grade series and I completely recommend it to anyone looking for a good series for a kid in their life (or that just wants to revisit the nostalgic vibes of MG fantasy.)
➳ 3.5
TW: death, death of a loved one, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, sexism, violence, war.
A nice conclusion to a really fun middle grade series.
In terms of using middle grade fantasy to teach about complicated emotions, no one is doing it like Roshani Chokshi. There were so many moments in this series where she deftly explained/sorted through a character's emotions in a way that would make kids feel seen/understood and this installment is no different.
The core of this novel is Aru not truly knowing what she's fighting for anymore or if there's even any reason for her to fight at all. There are lot of other things that go into it, but throughout the story she's consistently been shown that the world isn't quite as easily divided as she had once assumed.
For a finale, I felt like this fell a bit flat. The pacing felt a bit slow and I never felt the urgency of this being the final book where everything finally comes to a head. In fact, the final battles felt kind of lackluster compared to previous installments.
That isn't to say this was a bad finale or that we receive no closure, because that's not the case. There are a lot of bittersweet moments sprinkled in and I do appreciate the fact I didn't feel like the author was beating me in the head with the 'remember! everything is ending! look at where they started! remember the first time they met each other?' stick that a lot of authors use because that's my mortal enemy lol.
It just felt a bit... empty, for the last book, I guess?
I will say! (without spoilers) I loved the creative choices made about certain characters at the end. It was messy and painful, while ultimately hope-filled and I was so happy to see that was the direction it went in.
Overall, like I said, this was a nice conclusion. This is genuinely a really good middle grade series and I completely recommend it to anyone looking for a good series for a kid in their life (or that just wants to revisit the nostalgic vibes of MG fantasy.)
April 23, 2022
Rockstar book tours present!!! Aru Shah and the nectar of immortality by roshani chokshi!!! I first want to say thank u to Jamie for putting me on the tour for this book as it’s one of my most anticipated reads for the year and it didn’t disappoint me! This book was sent to me to read and review so thank u again Jamie and Disney books!
——————————————————————-
So it’s going to be hard to talk about this book as it is the fifth and final book for the Aru Shah series! Which fun fact this was the first book from Rick riordan present company so I’m kind of sad that I finished it lol! Before I forget to tell u my star rating is 5/5 stars!
——————————————————————
This book series has so many of my favorite things I love in a series! It has a chosen one, many quest, talks about bravery and courage, and heavy in the Hindu mythology! Which I never knew anything before reading this series! It’s hard to talk about this book without spoiling it but just know I really loved it! One other thing I loved about this series is the title for the chapters they r so funny!!
So there u have it, that is my non-spoiler book review for Aru Shah and the nectar of immortality! Let me know down below if u have read this book series? And if u liked it or not or if u finished with it? Have a great day or not the choice is ur and stay safe stay healthy and happy reading!
#arushahandthenectarofimmortality #roshanichokshi #disneybooks #rickriordanpresents #rockstarbooktour #pandavaseries #mglit #middlegradebooks #weneeddiversebooks #booksagramer #booknerd #bookishphoto #bookworm #igreads #igbooks #bookreview #spoilerfreereview
——————————————————————-
So it’s going to be hard to talk about this book as it is the fifth and final book for the Aru Shah series! Which fun fact this was the first book from Rick riordan present company so I’m kind of sad that I finished it lol! Before I forget to tell u my star rating is 5/5 stars!
——————————————————————
This book series has so many of my favorite things I love in a series! It has a chosen one, many quest, talks about bravery and courage, and heavy in the Hindu mythology! Which I never knew anything before reading this series! It’s hard to talk about this book without spoiling it but just know I really loved it! One other thing I loved about this series is the title for the chapters they r so funny!!
So there u have it, that is my non-spoiler book review for Aru Shah and the nectar of immortality! Let me know down below if u have read this book series? And if u liked it or not or if u finished with it? Have a great day or not the choice is ur and stay safe stay healthy and happy reading!
#arushahandthenectarofimmortality #roshanichokshi #disneybooks #rickriordanpresents #rockstarbooktour #pandavaseries #mglit #middlegradebooks #weneeddiversebooks #booksagramer #booknerd #bookishphoto #bookworm #igreads #igbooks #bookreview #spoilerfreereview
April 29, 2022
“I was meant to witness history, and now I am reminded to look at the world anew.”
If my job didn’t leave me so exhausted I would have finished this wayyyy sooner. Also just been distracted with a lot of movies and new shows (Moon Knight is the shit). Anyways, let’s talk about the book!
4 excellent stars. Reeling from the shock and betrayal at Aru’s 15th birthday, the girls are left to face their inner demons. Each one is tested in different ways as they try to figure out how to still be heroines and save a world without their godly weapons. As they journey to the nectar of immortality their self-esteems are at an all time low and while they certainly haven’t stopped trying to save the world, they’re all not sure how they’re going to do it without their weapons. Aru is especially dark because of the double whammy of Kara being her actual sister and losing Vajra. Actually also Aiden distancing himself from her after this kiss so triple whammy. Throughout the book each girl confronts their insecurities and overcomes them. Brynne realizes that it was not her wind mace that made her strong, but herself and her abilities. Mini learns to embrace all of her fears and accept them as a part of her, knowing that the important thing is that she overcomes those fears and chooses to go on. Aru realizes that she’s not useless just because she’s missing her lightning bolt and that her mind is more than enough for everyone.
Getting to the Amrita is a complicated process. First they had to gather the pieces of the Sun Jewel because only the light of the sun can pierce the darkness of the maze the Amrita resides in. Then they had to find one of the entrances to the maze and actually reach the door. And then they had to navigate the maze itself to get to the actual nectar and the Sleeper with his army. Along the way they get into many misadventures with Rudy’s great x 10000000 (or whatever the number is) grandfather, a robotic bear, an Otherworld talent competition where you can win the chance to perform at the end of the world, Aiden’s grandma, and literal night mares as in horses made of nightmares. I still love learning about the Indian mythology and it’s clear that Chokshi put a lot of love into these encounters. There’s a heavy theme of remembrance throughout the novel. Each creature they encounter has their own story to tell that has been either forgotten or inaccurate. When the potatoes leave each one they place Aru with the task of remembering them because someone has to. I feel like this could have used a bit more development, but it was still done well.
The girls go through so much growth in here. Aiden and Rudy too. I love how supportive Rudy is of Mini. He doesn’t push her to date him or anything like that. He’s quite comfortable in showing his affection for her without expecting anything in return. He cheers her on when she’s down and cracks jokes to make her smile. Rudy is so unapologetically himself that it’s great. Sure he’s a little spoiled and a bit goofy, but he’s sweet and talented. Aiden is a bit broody in here, but he comes around. I’m so glad his prophecy didn’t happen in the way it sounded. The Sleeper remains as complex a villain as ever. In many ways, he reminds me of Wenwu in Shang Chi. A family man who lost his way and turned to a world of darkness. He made me emotional, and that just means Chokshi is a fantastic writer.
I docked the star because the ending was a bit predictable for me. Throughout the book Aru struggles with exactly what she’ll do with the nectar once she gets it. It can’t get into the hands of her father, but she also doesn’t think it should go back to the gods. She’s torn by her loyalties to them and what she personally feels is the right thing to do. I knew from the jump what the only solution could be and I was right. So when it happens it’s not a big revelation to me which took away from my enjoyment of the novel a bit. Kara’s fate caught me off guard though. Her betrayal was a serious offense to the gods so I figured they would have to punish her. The gods may be a bit more chill with the girls, but some things need consequences. The epilogue was short and sweet. Everyone gets their happy ending and they’re living their best lives as the teenagers they are. There are a couple hints at the possibility of more adventures. They are still Pandavas after all.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I’ve been reading this series since it first came out and every year it has been such a joy to have a new Aru Shah book to read and smile at. This was a great end to the series, but I’m truly sad to see it go. I’ll miss the Potatoes and their adventures. There is the potential for more stories, maybe with Nikita and Sheela when they’re older. I love their personalities and their powers are so cool. For now though, it’s clear that Aru’s story is well and truly done. Uncle Rick really knew what he was doing when he started Rick Riordan Presents. Middle grade novels inspired by diverse mythology written by own voices authors? Genius. And now, I shall leave you with a few more quotes that caught my eye.
“There is more than one kind of darkness, and none is darker than doubt, for the light required to illuminate it belongs not to a jewel or a flame, but your very soul.” - Agni
“All the weapons in the world cannot help you if you do not know what you’ll do with them.” - Agni
“It’s scary to love people.” - Sheela
“I guess sometimes it takes being powerless to understand what it means to be powerful.” - Mini
“The heart that, up to the end, had never stopped belonging to them.”
If my job didn’t leave me so exhausted I would have finished this wayyyy sooner. Also just been distracted with a lot of movies and new shows (Moon Knight is the shit). Anyways, let’s talk about the book!
4 excellent stars. Reeling from the shock and betrayal at Aru’s 15th birthday, the girls are left to face their inner demons. Each one is tested in different ways as they try to figure out how to still be heroines and save a world without their godly weapons. As they journey to the nectar of immortality their self-esteems are at an all time low and while they certainly haven’t stopped trying to save the world, they’re all not sure how they’re going to do it without their weapons. Aru is especially dark because of the double whammy of Kara being her actual sister and losing Vajra. Actually also Aiden distancing himself from her after this kiss so triple whammy. Throughout the book each girl confronts their insecurities and overcomes them. Brynne realizes that it was not her wind mace that made her strong, but herself and her abilities. Mini learns to embrace all of her fears and accept them as a part of her, knowing that the important thing is that she overcomes those fears and chooses to go on. Aru realizes that she’s not useless just because she’s missing her lightning bolt and that her mind is more than enough for everyone.
Getting to the Amrita is a complicated process. First they had to gather the pieces of the Sun Jewel because only the light of the sun can pierce the darkness of the maze the Amrita resides in. Then they had to find one of the entrances to the maze and actually reach the door. And then they had to navigate the maze itself to get to the actual nectar and the Sleeper with his army. Along the way they get into many misadventures with Rudy’s great x 10000000 (or whatever the number is) grandfather, a robotic bear, an Otherworld talent competition where you can win the chance to perform at the end of the world, Aiden’s grandma, and literal night mares as in horses made of nightmares. I still love learning about the Indian mythology and it’s clear that Chokshi put a lot of love into these encounters. There’s a heavy theme of remembrance throughout the novel. Each creature they encounter has their own story to tell that has been either forgotten or inaccurate. When the potatoes leave each one they place Aru with the task of remembering them because someone has to. I feel like this could have used a bit more development, but it was still done well.
The girls go through so much growth in here. Aiden and Rudy too. I love how supportive Rudy is of Mini. He doesn’t push her to date him or anything like that. He’s quite comfortable in showing his affection for her without expecting anything in return. He cheers her on when she’s down and cracks jokes to make her smile. Rudy is so unapologetically himself that it’s great. Sure he’s a little spoiled and a bit goofy, but he’s sweet and talented. Aiden is a bit broody in here, but he comes around. I’m so glad his prophecy didn’t happen in the way it sounded. The Sleeper remains as complex a villain as ever. In many ways, he reminds me of Wenwu in Shang Chi. A family man who lost his way and turned to a world of darkness. He made me emotional, and that just means Chokshi is a fantastic writer.
I docked the star because the ending was a bit predictable for me. Throughout the book Aru struggles with exactly what she’ll do with the nectar once she gets it. It can’t get into the hands of her father, but she also doesn’t think it should go back to the gods. She’s torn by her loyalties to them and what she personally feels is the right thing to do. I knew from the jump what the only solution could be and I was right. So when it happens it’s not a big revelation to me which took away from my enjoyment of the novel a bit. Kara’s fate caught me off guard though. Her betrayal was a serious offense to the gods so I figured they would have to punish her. The gods may be a bit more chill with the girls, but some things need consequences. The epilogue was short and sweet. Everyone gets their happy ending and they’re living their best lives as the teenagers they are. There are a couple hints at the possibility of more adventures. They are still Pandavas after all.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I’ve been reading this series since it first came out and every year it has been such a joy to have a new Aru Shah book to read and smile at. This was a great end to the series, but I’m truly sad to see it go. I’ll miss the Potatoes and their adventures. There is the potential for more stories, maybe with Nikita and Sheela when they’re older. I love their personalities and their powers are so cool. For now though, it’s clear that Aru’s story is well and truly done. Uncle Rick really knew what he was doing when he started Rick Riordan Presents. Middle grade novels inspired by diverse mythology written by own voices authors? Genius. And now, I shall leave you with a few more quotes that caught my eye.
“There is more than one kind of darkness, and none is darker than doubt, for the light required to illuminate it belongs not to a jewel or a flame, but your very soul.” - Agni
“All the weapons in the world cannot help you if you do not know what you’ll do with them.” - Agni
“It’s scary to love people.” - Sheela
“I guess sometimes it takes being powerless to understand what it means to be powerful.” - Mini
“The heart that, up to the end, had never stopped belonging to them.”
April 18, 2022
the ending was so sad like wtf
i have so much to say on this book. but I found 2 typos in it too so-
but it was really good lmao
rtc
---
4/4/22: yooo it's coming out TOMORROW and I'm so exciteddddDdD
read the first 6 chapters already and I am OBSESSED with it <333
slay, aru!
---
2.28.22: i realised aiden kinda looks like a drunken bruno for some reason idk
maybe he just needs some facial hair-
OK IM SORRY YOU DIDN"T SEE NOTHING
---
WAIT GUYS
so like when the graphic novel teaser was released I was like 'the artist better make aiden look really hot or else aruden would be ruined for me' or something like that because YK aru describes aiden as really good looking idk??
BUT THEN TODAY I REALISED AIDEN WAS ON THE COVER
i dont know how i didn't see this before but... i mean it's the best we got ;")
i still don't know what to think about aiden's complexion but rudy's expression is g o l d <3
and also who's that big snake in the back? rudy's grandfather or smth? (sorry look i haven't read that one in a while and i dont remember their name pleaseeee) my guess is that the big bad snake dude teams up with the other big bad dude (the sleeper...) and then aru has to fight them
spoiler: a pandava dies. i think? either kara or aiden (if roshi really hates us i mean yeah she would make aiden die) because honestly that's what i would do if i wrote aru shah...
VERY LEGITATE PREVIEW OF NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/...
^^ click here ^^
OK IM SORRY ITS AN INSIDE JOKE IN FANDOM but it's very real...
i have so much to say on this book. but I found 2 typos in it too so-
but it was really good lmao
rtc
---
4/4/22: yooo it's coming out TOMORROW and I'm so exciteddddDdD
read the first 6 chapters already and I am OBSESSED with it <333
slay, aru!
---
2.28.22: i realised aiden kinda looks like a drunken bruno for some reason idk
maybe he just needs some facial hair-
OK IM SORRY YOU DIDN"T SEE NOTHING
---
WAIT GUYS
so like when the graphic novel teaser was released I was like 'the artist better make aiden look really hot or else aruden would be ruined for me' or something like that because YK aru describes aiden as really good looking idk??
BUT THEN TODAY I REALISED AIDEN WAS ON THE COVER
i dont know how i didn't see this before but... i mean it's the best we got ;")
i still don't know what to think about aiden's complexion but rudy's expression is g o l d <3
and also who's that big snake in the back? rudy's grandfather or smth? (sorry look i haven't read that one in a while and i dont remember their name pleaseeee) my guess is that the big bad snake dude teams up with the other big bad dude (the sleeper...) and then aru has to fight them
spoiler: a pandava dies. i think? either kara or aiden (if roshi really hates us i mean yeah she would make aiden die) because honestly that's what i would do if i wrote aru shah...
VERY LEGITATE PREVIEW OF NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/...
^^ click here ^^
OK IM SORRY ITS AN INSIDE JOKE IN FANDOM but it's very real...
December 23, 2023
SUCH an amazing way to end an incredible series! I loved the perspectives of Brynne, Mini, and Kara, as well as everyone’s character development. Though I would have liked more development from Aiden, as well as his relationship with Aru, I do have to remind myself that my 12 year-old self would have absolutely adored that romance. I continued to love the sibling relationships, and the other main characters. Kara was a really fascinating character and Rudy is just such a cutie. A couple of scenes made me laugh out loud, and I absolutely loved the inclusion of the night mares.
I loved this series overall- it’s so much fun to learn about Indian mythology, and I’m excited to read more about that and by Roshani Chokshi. I would recommend this to really anyone 10+, but especially mythology/fantasy fans!
Other Reviews:
"Aru Shah and the End of Time"
"Aru Shah and the Song of Death"
"Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes"
"Aru Shah and the City of Gold"
I loved this series overall- it’s so much fun to learn about Indian mythology, and I’m excited to read more about that and by Roshani Chokshi. I would recommend this to really anyone 10+, but especially mythology/fantasy fans!
Other Reviews:
"Aru Shah and the End of Time"
"Aru Shah and the Song of Death"
"Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes"
"Aru Shah and the City of Gold"
April 25, 2022
I really enjoyed Chokshi’s fifth and final Pandava novel, ARU SHAH AND THE NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY. I’m a little sad to see the end of this wonderful series, but all good things must come to an end. And the end was supremely satisfying.
Through four different novels, the sisters—and particularly Aru, Mini, and Brynne—used their celestial weapons to defeat their enemies. But when those weapons were destroyed by Kara, all three had to find their own strengths to carry on. In short, they had to come to terms with their own fears to learn that their power lived within them; that their weapons only supplemented their natural characters.
The author did a really good job of ensuring that readers would be satisfied with the ending, especially considering that the Sleeper died and Kara had her memories wiped clean. I’ve read stories by other authors where a death nearly derailed the entire story, but Chokshi did a masterful job of revealing Aru’s conflicted feelings (and Kara’s as well) prior to the end, preparing readers for the outcome.
I really enjoyed this series and hope to read many other books by the author.
Through four different novels, the sisters—and particularly Aru, Mini, and Brynne—used their celestial weapons to defeat their enemies. But when those weapons were destroyed by Kara, all three had to find their own strengths to carry on. In short, they had to come to terms with their own fears to learn that their power lived within them; that their weapons only supplemented their natural characters.
The author did a really good job of ensuring that readers would be satisfied with the ending, especially considering that the Sleeper died and Kara had her memories wiped clean. I’ve read stories by other authors where a death nearly derailed the entire story, but Chokshi did a masterful job of revealing Aru’s conflicted feelings (and Kara’s as well) prior to the end, preparing readers for the outcome.
I really enjoyed this series and hope to read many other books by the author.
July 5, 2022
~ AAC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion ~
I received this as an audio - and I am not disappointed. I really love anything Rosh writes. She is such a great world builder and her characters are always memorable. I love the fact that everyone really grew into themselves in this book - no matter what the cost was. I also love the banter and references thrown in. This was such a great ending to this series - everything wasn't all sunshine and roses, which is realistic. Anyway, I'm always going to recommend anything she writes - she's one of my top 5.
I received this as an audio - and I am not disappointed. I really love anything Rosh writes. She is such a great world builder and her characters are always memorable. I love the fact that everyone really grew into themselves in this book - no matter what the cost was. I also love the banter and references thrown in. This was such a great ending to this series - everything wasn't all sunshine and roses, which is realistic. Anyway, I'm always going to recommend anything she writes - she's one of my top 5.
May 5, 2022
Oh my friking god, the cover is as gorgeous as ever. It has my fave of da Potatoes on it!!!!!!!!!! I now forgive you, Roshani Chokshi, for your suuupppeeerrr infuriating cliffhanger in the last book. :D
I cAn NoT wAiT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cAn NoT wAiT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 22, 2022
I literally do not care that there is no title or a summary. I will read whatever Chokshi writes in this last installment of the Pandava series!!
April 9, 2022
I think Lord Krishna would like this book.
April 7, 2022
4.5 stars
I don't want to talk about it.
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21 March 2022
15 DAYS TILL SUYODHANA COMES BACK HOME TO ME. I miss him so much
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19 January 2022
only 75 days till my dilf comes back home to me,,,,only 75,,,I can do this
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4 November 2021
suyodhana,,,,come back Mr dilf is April here yet
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14 May 2021
missing suyodhana on this fine morning,,
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I genuinely don't think I will survive this ARU MINI AIDEN KARA BRYNNE SHEELA NIKITA COME BACK TO ME
I don't want to talk about it.
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21 March 2022
15 DAYS TILL SUYODHANA COMES BACK HOME TO ME. I miss him so much
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19 January 2022
only 75 days till my dilf comes back home to me,,,,only 75,,,I can do this
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4 November 2021
suyodhana,,,,come back Mr dilf is April here yet
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14 May 2021
missing suyodhana on this fine morning,,
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I genuinely don't think I will survive this ARU MINI AIDEN KARA BRYNNE SHEELA NIKITA COME BACK TO ME
September 14, 2025
The thrilling conclusion. It was perfect. I just wish there was more.
August 15, 2022
Nawet potwór nie jest potworem we własnej historii.
Chokshi, jak ja ciebie...
W ostatniej części Kronik Pandawów Aru, Mini i Brynne... przeżywają kryzys. Przez lata przygotowywały się na ostateczną bitwę o nektar nieśmiertelności, a dopiero co przeżyły brutalną zdradę w ich szeregach i do tego muszą teraz od nowa udowodnić, że zasługują na błogosławieństwo bogów i żeby w ogóle stawić się przeciwko wrogowi. Ta sytuacja zmusza dziewczyny, by poddały się refleksji: co czyni je bohaterkami?
Roshani Chokshi ma w sobie to, że w ostatnich częściach nie lubi się spieszyć. Czytelnika aż goni już na to pole ostatecznej bitwy, ale musi poczekać na swoje bohaterki i na moment, kiedy to one będą gotowe. Postacie Chokshi mają swoje cele i wiedzą, do czego dążą, i pokonują tę drogę ostrożnie, ale stanowczo. Każda z głównych bohaterek podczas tej serii zmagała się z pewną wątpliwością czy strachem i w tej części dostała czas, by się z tym konstruktywnie zmierzyć. A te sceny są poruszające, świetnie napisane i należą do najlepszych w całej serii. Muszę przyznać, że mi też pomogły, w zmierzeniu się z własnym niepokojem.
Roshani Chokshi ma w sobie to, że w ostatnich częściach nie lubi się spieszyć. Łatwo jest znaleźć podobieństwa między serią o Aru Shah a uniwersum Percy'ego Jacksona autorstwa Ricka Riordana, w końcu to pod opieką wujka Ricka Roshani wystartowała ze swoją opowieścią o Pandawach. Jednak dla Chokshi to coś więcej; ona wychowała się w tej religii i opowieściach, sama nazywa swoją serię listem miłosnym do swojej kultury, i tę miłość bardzo się wyczuwa. To ostatnia, przynajmniej na jakiś czas, szansa, by pokazać czytelnikowi swój ukochany magiczny świat, więc autorka docenia swój czas, wykorzystuje go i pokazuje nam swoje ulubione miejsca i przedstawia, nawet mniej znane, intrygujące ją mity. Dzieli się z nami tym wszystkim i zabiera na piękny, pożegnalny spacer.
Kroniki Pandawów to dla mnie idealna seria dla młodszych czytelników. Otwiera ich na całkowicie nową kulturę i uczy akceptacji wobec ludzi innych od siebie. Przedstawia im tak pozytywnych bohaterów a równocześnie różnorodnych, aby zawsze mogli odnaleźć postać, z którą będą mogli się utożsamić. Do tradycji męskich bohaterów wprowadza twist i główną rólę przejmują małe dziewczynki, i dają czadu. Jest małą kapsułą czasu ze wszystkimi współczesnymi odniesieniami. Stanowi idealną całość i w ostatniej części wspaniale widać, jak te wszystkie doświadczenia bohaterek łączą się w jedną spójną historię. Sprawia wrażenie prostej opowieści z gatunku literatury dziecięcej, a to naprawdę ważna i złożona historię o postrzeganiu dobra i zła, rodzinie, poczuciu winy i przede wszystkim przebaczeniu. Dostarcza odpowiednich emocji; w pewnym momencie musiałam się zatrzymać i zaniemówiłam. Pod koniec mocno się popłakałam. No i, na co zawsze będę zwracać uwagę, Roshani napisała jednego z moich ulubionych fikcyjnych antagonistów oraz tak samo świetną relację między nim a głównym protagonistą. Gratulacje, Chokshi.
Czy mogę się do czegoś doczepić? Może do tempa powieści, ale to też, jak powiedziałam, pewna cecha stylu Roshani i również w pewnym sensie to doceniam. Czuję też niedosyt, ale zdaję sobie sprawę z tego, że... ta seria nie była kierowana ku mojej grupie wiekowej i wiadomo, że poprowadziła ją w odpowiedni dla swojego targetu sposób, i tak ją skończyła. Co nie oznacza, że zakończenie jest złe, ono jest najlepsze, tylko chciałabym posiedzieć w tych wątkach dłużej. Jednak teraz podejrzewam, że po prostu bardzo nie chcę żegnać się z tymi bohaterami i to ten żal ściska mi serce.
Naprawdę. Naprawdę uważam, że Roshani napisała najlepsze zakończenie do tej historii. Jest wspaniałe.
Czasami czułam przy tej historii złość, właśnie z przyczyny przed chwilą podanej, a równocześnie czułam, jak rumienią mi się policzki, bo czułam, że tak, to jest to. Dokładnie to, czego chciałam i potrzebowałam.
Roshani Chokshi udowadnia, jaką ogromną wartość stanowi dla współczesnych czytelników.
Powiedziałam, że seria o Aru Shah nie była kierowana ku mojej grupie wiekowej, i to prawda, co nie oznacza, że czytelnicy powyżej 15 roku życia nie będą się tymi książkami tak na serio cieszyć. Ba, mam wrażenie, że może bardzo dużo im dać. No ej, w końcu samej mi stuknęły 24 lata. Gorąco polecam, wam wszystkim.
Bardzo miło było was poznać, Pandawowie. Dziękuję za to, co razem przeszliśmy, i mam nadzieję, że jeszcze kiedyś znowu się zobaczymy.
Kochanie ludzi to straszna rzecz - powiedziała Sheela. - Nikki mówi, że to jak spacer tuż nad przepaścią.
PS. Not gonna lie, bawi mnie to, że nie dość, że Śpiący i Prentiss mogliby chodzić do tej samej grupy wsparcia, to jeszcze w tej części i "Monsters of Men" znalazłam podobne moim zdaniem sceny, które wzbudziły we mnie te same emocje. Aru Shah i Chaos Walking, supreme serie.
Chokshi, jak ja ciebie...
W ostatniej części Kronik Pandawów Aru, Mini i Brynne... przeżywają kryzys. Przez lata przygotowywały się na ostateczną bitwę o nektar nieśmiertelności, a dopiero co przeżyły brutalną zdradę w ich szeregach i do tego muszą teraz od nowa udowodnić, że zasługują na błogosławieństwo bogów i żeby w ogóle stawić się przeciwko wrogowi. Ta sytuacja zmusza dziewczyny, by poddały się refleksji: co czyni je bohaterkami?
Roshani Chokshi ma w sobie to, że w ostatnich częściach nie lubi się spieszyć. Czytelnika aż goni już na to pole ostatecznej bitwy, ale musi poczekać na swoje bohaterki i na moment, kiedy to one będą gotowe. Postacie Chokshi mają swoje cele i wiedzą, do czego dążą, i pokonują tę drogę ostrożnie, ale stanowczo. Każda z głównych bohaterek podczas tej serii zmagała się z pewną wątpliwością czy strachem i w tej części dostała czas, by się z tym konstruktywnie zmierzyć. A te sceny są poruszające, świetnie napisane i należą do najlepszych w całej serii. Muszę przyznać, że mi też pomogły, w zmierzeniu się z własnym niepokojem.
Roshani Chokshi ma w sobie to, że w ostatnich częściach nie lubi się spieszyć. Łatwo jest znaleźć podobieństwa między serią o Aru Shah a uniwersum Percy'ego Jacksona autorstwa Ricka Riordana, w końcu to pod opieką wujka Ricka Roshani wystartowała ze swoją opowieścią o Pandawach. Jednak dla Chokshi to coś więcej; ona wychowała się w tej religii i opowieściach, sama nazywa swoją serię listem miłosnym do swojej kultury, i tę miłość bardzo się wyczuwa. To ostatnia, przynajmniej na jakiś czas, szansa, by pokazać czytelnikowi swój ukochany magiczny świat, więc autorka docenia swój czas, wykorzystuje go i pokazuje nam swoje ulubione miejsca i przedstawia, nawet mniej znane, intrygujące ją mity. Dzieli się z nami tym wszystkim i zabiera na piękny, pożegnalny spacer.
Kroniki Pandawów to dla mnie idealna seria dla młodszych czytelników. Otwiera ich na całkowicie nową kulturę i uczy akceptacji wobec ludzi innych od siebie. Przedstawia im tak pozytywnych bohaterów a równocześnie różnorodnych, aby zawsze mogli odnaleźć postać, z którą będą mogli się utożsamić. Do tradycji męskich bohaterów wprowadza twist i główną rólę przejmują małe dziewczynki, i dają czadu. Jest małą kapsułą czasu ze wszystkimi współczesnymi odniesieniami. Stanowi idealną całość i w ostatniej części wspaniale widać, jak te wszystkie doświadczenia bohaterek łączą się w jedną spójną historię. Sprawia wrażenie prostej opowieści z gatunku literatury dziecięcej, a to naprawdę ważna i złożona historię o postrzeganiu dobra i zła, rodzinie, poczuciu winy i przede wszystkim przebaczeniu. Dostarcza odpowiednich emocji; w pewnym momencie musiałam się zatrzymać i zaniemówiłam. Pod koniec mocno się popłakałam. No i, na co zawsze będę zwracać uwagę, Roshani napisała jednego z moich ulubionych fikcyjnych antagonistów oraz tak samo świetną relację między nim a głównym protagonistą. Gratulacje, Chokshi.
Czy mogę się do czegoś doczepić? Może do tempa powieści, ale to też, jak powiedziałam, pewna cecha stylu Roshani i również w pewnym sensie to doceniam. Czuję też niedosyt, ale zdaję sobie sprawę z tego, że... ta seria nie była kierowana ku mojej grupie wiekowej i wiadomo, że poprowadziła ją w odpowiedni dla swojego targetu sposób, i tak ją skończyła. Co nie oznacza, że zakończenie jest złe, ono jest najlepsze, tylko chciałabym posiedzieć w tych wątkach dłużej. Jednak teraz podejrzewam, że po prostu bardzo nie chcę żegnać się z tymi bohaterami i to ten żal ściska mi serce.
Naprawdę. Naprawdę uważam, że Roshani napisała najlepsze zakończenie do tej historii. Jest wspaniałe.
Czasami czułam przy tej historii złość, właśnie z przyczyny przed chwilą podanej, a równocześnie czułam, jak rumienią mi się policzki, bo czułam, że tak, to jest to. Dokładnie to, czego chciałam i potrzebowałam.
Roshani Chokshi udowadnia, jaką ogromną wartość stanowi dla współczesnych czytelników.
Powiedziałam, że seria o Aru Shah nie była kierowana ku mojej grupie wiekowej, i to prawda, co nie oznacza, że czytelnicy powyżej 15 roku życia nie będą się tymi książkami tak na serio cieszyć. Ba, mam wrażenie, że może bardzo dużo im dać. No ej, w końcu samej mi stuknęły 24 lata. Gorąco polecam, wam wszystkim.
Bardzo miło było was poznać, Pandawowie. Dziękuję za to, co razem przeszliśmy, i mam nadzieję, że jeszcze kiedyś znowu się zobaczymy.
Kochanie ludzi to straszna rzecz - powiedziała Sheela. - Nikki mówi, że to jak spacer tuż nad przepaścią.
PS. Not gonna lie, bawi mnie to, że nie dość, że Śpiący i Prentiss mogliby chodzić do tej samej grupy wsparcia, to jeszcze w tej części i "Monsters of Men" znalazłam podobne moim zdaniem sceny, które wzbudziły we mnie te same emocje. Aru Shah i Chaos Walking, supreme serie.
April 5, 2022
The Pandava Quintet by Roshani Chokshi holds a special place in my heart. It kicked off Rick Riordan Presents just over four years ago, and I instantly fell in love with Aru Shah. She was a bit like Percy Jackson—impulsive and riddled with doubt, eternally getting into trouble and yet always finding the best way through—but existed in a world I knew little about. She swung the door into Hindu mythology wide open in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Roshani Chokshi is a brilliant storyteller, and one of her greatest strengths is taking the time to highlight each character’s weakness and letting them work through their fears in their own time. Never does the story feel like it’s dragging or like it's rushing forward. Everything happens for a reason, in its own time, right when it needs to.
Much of Nectar of Immortality is about being at your lowest point and finding the strength to pick yourself up, dust off your shoulders, and keep going. It’s not always easy, and you don’t always know what you’re going to do until the moment comes, but that’s okay. It would be nice if we had all the answers all the time, but no one does. Sometimes it’s better to trust your instincts and have your friends by your side.
The series in a way that both closed the door on this story and kept the Pandavas alive in my mind in a way that made it feel like they’d always be there when I needed them.
Roshani Chokshi is a brilliant storyteller, and one of her greatest strengths is taking the time to highlight each character’s weakness and letting them work through their fears in their own time. Never does the story feel like it’s dragging or like it's rushing forward. Everything happens for a reason, in its own time, right when it needs to.
Much of Nectar of Immortality is about being at your lowest point and finding the strength to pick yourself up, dust off your shoulders, and keep going. It’s not always easy, and you don’t always know what you’re going to do until the moment comes, but that’s okay. It would be nice if we had all the answers all the time, but no one does. Sometimes it’s better to trust your instincts and have your friends by your side.
The series in a way that both closed the door on this story and kept the Pandavas alive in my mind in a way that made it feel like they’d always be there when I needed them.
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