Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality (2022)

 

*Premise spoilers, which spoil the end of The City of Gold.*

Ending a series is notoriously tough, but in the case of the Pandava quintet, I think Roshani Chokshi nailed it. This book has action, humor, romance, and emotion, and the story is fully propelled by the characters. The Pandavas and their allies are on both a mission and a personal journey, and it all comes together in a thrilling climax.

At the end of The City of Gold, the Sleeper revealed some important secrets about Kara. Amid her feelings of hurt and betrayal, she in turn betrayed Aru and the others. She felt misgivings almost immediately, but the damage had been done. Now, she’s guiding the Sleeper and his army through a labyrinth to find the nectar of immortality, the crux of the whole Otherworldly war. Meanwhile, Aru, Mini, and Brynne have been stripped of their celestial weapons, unsure how to fulfill their mission to stop the Sleeper without their powers. With Aiden and Rudy to back them up, each sister has to dig deep and discover what they’re truly made of.

The Pandavas have always had a complicated relationship with the rest of the Otherworld. The love they receive from the society at large is very conditional, with lots of folks (and devas) souring on them whenever they fumble and welcoming them back into their good graces whenever they succeed. It’s not the most conducive environment for tweens/teens to develop good self-esteem, and with the loss of their weapons, our heroes take a serious hit. Brynne is less confident in herself, Mini’s sense of self-regard is on the floor, and Aru doesn’t know who she is or what she’s good for anymore. But they keep going and keep trying because that’s what heroes do, trying to trust that the power will be there when they need it.

For five books now, Aru has been wrestling with her duty. She wants to do well, she wants to protect her sisters, she wants to make her soul dad proud of her, and she wants to know that she’s on the side of good. But with or without her powers, she doesn’t know what she’s going to do when she confronts the Sleeper. She looks at those doubts and sees them as a failing in her. She doesn’t see the value in it, can’t recognize how important it is not to simply accept everything she’s been told without question, especially when she sees evidence that seems to refute it. What will Aru do? is the question that’s been looming over the entire series, and it’s exciting to see that moment finally arrive.

This is a fantastic series. I love it when kids get wonderfully written, nuanced stories that are made just for them. While the Pandava quintet can appeal to fantasy/mythology fans of any age, it’s also so specific to middle school and early teens, and it handles the complicated emotions and dynamics therein beautifully. Excellent work by Roshani Chokshi. I’m definitely interested in reading more of her work.

Warnings

Violence, scary moments for kids, and thematic elements.