Aru Shah and the End of Time (August 2021) Buddy Read Discussion - May & Dine

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on August 10th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 08/10
August 10: Chapters 1-4
August 11: Chapters 5-8
August 12: Chapters 9-12
August 13: Chapters 13-16
August 14: Chapters 17-20
August 15: Chapters 21-24

Week of 08/16
August 16: Chapters 25-28
August 17: Chapters 29-32
August 18: Chapters 33-36
August 19: Chapters 37-40
August 20: Chapters 41-44


PARTICIPANTS
~ May
~ Dine

[May]

Just read the first four chapters and I'm already interested in the story! (view spoiler)[ I'm curious to know who her other "siblings" will be and how the quest will go. (hide spoiler)]

[Diné *The Lazy Kitsune*]

I just finished the first four chapters too. Aru is so relatable to me as a character. I grew up in a very white area and went to a very white school. And I used to lie to make up for the dullness of my life when I was her age.

[May]

It's cool you find her relatable! I couldn't really relate in that aspect because I went to a school that was very diverse. But I know how Aru felt in terms of wanting to fit in with her peers!

[May]

I read up to chapter 8 so far! (view spoiler)[ I had a feeling she'd end up being daughter of the king of the heavens. Right now, I feel like all the different names of the deities are hard to keep track of. Hopefully I start to remember who's who 😅 (hide spoiler)]

[Diné *The Lazy Kitsune*]

May wrote: "I read up to chapter 8 so far! [spoilers removed]"

I know what you mean 😅 I googled images for all of them to have some kind of mental picture. I read to chapter 16 and I feel like Chokshi’s descriptions are not enough for me to properly visualize different places.

[Diné *The Lazy Kitsune*]

I am on chapter eighteen and I'm still a little fuzzy on Sleeper's motivation. These are not spoilers, I just can't figure things out from previous chapters. So he wants to wake up Shiva, but he can't without celestial weapons? That's why he follows the girls? What about the countdown, then? Sleeper will freeze all the time until the new moon, but he also has to wake up Shiva and he can't?

[May]

I read up to chapter 16 today!

And yeah, it is a little confusing regarding Sleeper's motivations. From what I understood, the Sleeper needs the weapons to wake up Shiva and they need to find the weapons first. And yeah I think the countdown is just how long they have before time is frozen forever. So the Sleeper has two goals in mind: wake up Shiva and to have time frozen forever

[May]

I read up to chapter 20 so far. If I get the chance, I might continue later today. (view spoiler)[ I'm really curious to learn more about Subala and his connection to the Sleeper! (hide spoiler)]

[Diné *The Lazy Kitsune*]

May wrote: "I read up to chapter 20 so far. If I get the chance, I might continue later today. [spoilers removed]"

right? and (view spoiler)[about connection between Sleeper and Aru's mother (hide spoiler)]

[May]

Chapter 34: (view spoiler)[ The Sleeper is her dad?! I was not expecting that! (hide spoiler)]

I think I'm going to finish this book today, I have about 50 pages left!

[May]

Just finished the book! It was an entertaining read :D

(view spoiler)[ I'm looking forward to finding out who the other sisters are, especially when they hinted at the next sister is someone who stole one of the celestial weapons. (hide spoiler)]

[Diné *The Lazy Kitsune*]

May wrote: "Chapter 34: [spoilers removed]

I think I'm going to finish this book today, I have about 50 pages left!"

I'm glad I didn't call it. I hate spoiling good twists. Now I'm really curious about the ending!

Chapter 35: really appreciate Dr Who reference when Time says that they're all "wibbly-wobbly"

[May]

Diné *The Lazy Kitsune* wrote: "May wrote: "Chapter 34: [spoilers removed]

I think I'm going to finish this book today, I have about 50 pages left!"

I'm glad I didn't call it. I hate spoiling good twists. Now I'm really curious..."

Same here, I liked how she used a Doctor Who reference to explain how time worked! I also liked the Friends reference she included towards the end of the book!