Aru Shah and the City of Gold: Late Review

Hey, guys. I am so excited to see the number of visitors reading my dum articles, it makes me think if I am that dum! Thanks to HBR for recommending my fist article in the blogpost, THE LAST FALLEN STAR: Book Analyzing.

Anyway, today we'll have some chitchat about the latest released book from Rick Riordan Presents of the Pandava series, Aru Shah and the City of Gold. This series is highly acclaimed around the world and I also like the story too.

Before we start, here's what you should know.

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. Please read the book before reading this article. If you've already read the book, then you're welcome. Still, I've tried to keep most of the dramatic parts discreet.

Part 1: The Cover

I like the new cover starring Ravana, a demon king from one of the Hindu mythology epics. He looks devilish and very sinister in the cover too making the readers wonder how the "Potatoes" encounter Ravana. Speaking of Potatoes, this is actually a team which includes Aru, Brynne, Mini, Aiden and Rudy not the vegetable.

Anyway, the cover is good based on the popularity of the antagonist character. But Ravana plays only a little role in Aru Shah and the City of Gold which happens in the city of Lanka and inside the palace of Kubera. This guy wasn't actually Ravana (at least, I don't think he was), he was some kind of reincarnation of Ravana. Like, in the fight scene Ravana's head becomes molded in gold when each time the Potatoes strikes him. Then when it comes to the last head, he somehow trips and dies.

But this cover caused a big promotional occurence for this book because of the popularity of Ravana. And a lot of people liked it whether the scene is important or not. If you think I am 'only' criticizing the cover badly, you're wrong.

The cover made us visualize still keeping us in vague about a scene in the book. The scene was awesome but only covered little part of the whole plot only giving the Pandavas the idea of how Ravana is. This tricky part made us think that there would be Ravana in one of the trials given by Kubera to hold the Nairrata army. But Ravana wasn't there.

In fact, those who knows the popularity of Ravana and his epic venture, would be very excited from the cover that it would help in vast promotional affair for the book. 

Part 2: The Foreword

We're trying to go bit by bit to the next parts of the book. So, here comes the Foreword which is especially written only in this book by Roshani Chokshi apart from the acknowledgement that are written in the end.

From the foreword, Roshani made it clear that the Pandava books won't serve as an introduction for Hinduism or Hindu mythology, rather she hope this story is "a narrow, vivid window peering out into an even brighter ocean of tales and traditions". 

My POV: So, for those guys, who aren't still sure if you read the books, I suggest you read it as mythologies like I do and don't make it controversial. We like stories and we like to read mythologies.

Part 3: Escaping Sleeper's Lair

In this part, Aru finds herself in the Sleeper's Lair and with Kara, who claims herself as Sleeper's daughter. Kara convinces Aru to take her giving her two valuable information, from which one is that the Sleeper calls her his "secret weapon". Aru doesn't get convinced easily, but decides to take Kara with her thinking that if the Potatoes sees any sign of betrayal they can have some talk with her.

Kara and Aru flees the secret lair of the Sleeper through a lair but after encountering a book monster when Aru sees that Kara has a weapon called Sunny which was said to be made from a drop of sunlight.

This part of the book signifies the introduction of Kara and of course the conversation between the two sisters. It also gives Aru a different idea about the sleeper.

Part 4: Finding the Road

Aru wakes up among her friends and then she was informed about all the situations at present which includes the dissolving of the council, curfew in the whole otherworld and so on. Aiden also informs Aru that Kubera had asked them to come in Lanka in certain time and to claim the Nairrata army they need to complete three trials.

Aru reveals the truth about Boo and then that lead to many other arguments. Here there are some heated arguments and an awesome fight too when Aru and Mini eats popcorns! Later Kara tells them where to find the road to Lanka which leads to an argument between her and Brynne. And then they sees the Marmots.

This part of the book mainly explains the weak relationship between Kara and the Pandavas. It also gives us the idea about Kara's skills.

Part 5: Journey to Lanka

Here the Pandavas faces traps. The lacking of trust between Kara and Aru is perfectly visible but is later reinstated when Aru finds that Kara was right abotu an illusion. Here, Aru is seen in a conflicting position of whether she'd support Kara, or she'd go on with her sisters and not let them think that she would be the "untrue sister". 

Here Roshani signifies the role of woman and the behind-the-scenes situation of every myth through Queen Tara. Anyway, the Pandavas encounters a large ocean blocking them from going to Lanka. Here, we find out that Kara couldn't believe that there's a way to go the other side. But Aru proves all wrong. Kara apologizes and Aru apologizes back.

Here, we find the lessening of the weak relationship between the Pandavas and Kara. And we of course find out a small but important scene between Aru and Aiden.

Part 6: Meeting Kubera

This part is one of the most important part of the whole book in the making of the plot. Here Kubera gives them the trials and the Pandavas bargains about more. Kubera also shows them a clip of Boo where Boo is heard to criticize the Pandavas.

Brynne becomes angry even with Kara and changes her mind about Kara. Kara felts hurt. 

Part 7: Completing the Trials

I won't tell the whole plot, but Aru or especially the Pandavas learns some things:

• Brynne fails and learns which is the true way of winning the first trial.
• Kara becomes a Potato.
• Mini proves to be a very decent in heart.
• Uttanka tells them his story.
• The Potatoes except Kara faces their worst danger in the second trial.
• Kara falls and goes to a deep sleep, but later healed in the third trial.
• Aru learns an important lesson.
• Aiden proves to be wise (and to consider that sometimes being neutral isn't good).
• A dark prophecy haunts Aru and especially Aiden.

In these trials, a special chapter where the point-of-view was from Brynne. It was somehow odd based on the way the books are written, but to give the readers a glance of the trials it was necessary. But I somehow think it shouldn't have been done which makes the POV way of the literature quite different.

Anyway, the trials have tested the Pandavas and the Pandavas proved themselves too. In this trials, Roshani cleverly made Aru, Mini, Brynne and Aiden learn through giving Aiden a chance to learn and prove themselves by installing Uttanka.

We also see the loyalty of Kara and the Potatoes' feelings about Kara.

Part 8: Facing the Worst Danger of All

This part I intended to include the last part avaiable. Because titling this part would be very spoiler-y. Anyway, in this chapters some important lessons are learned:

• Aru isn't the untrue sister.
• All the cellestial weapons of the Pandavas are destroyed.
• Boo dies but is reincarnated and hatched with special care from the Potatoes.
• Aru has a birthday party.
• The best romance scene in all the four books is here but ends with tragedy.
• Krithika Shah returns and tells them all about a way to stop the Sleeper.

The conflicting emotion in Kara and her feelings is now visibly seen. Aru also finds out that Sleeper is a more a liar than she herself is. And Kara is seen to be the reincarnation of Karna, the brother of the Pandavas and their ultimate enemy. But don't think Kara is like that, as I've still some thoughts that Kara has emotions and she tries to make things right too. Maybe Kara's way is different than the Pandavas.

From the myth we can see that, Karna later realizes that he had fought his brother at the very end. I think Kara though Kara realizes we can see that she is not actually bad or I mean much better than Karna (why'd someone go on to fight some guys without getting the info that he was fighting his brothers?). And don't judge the Pandavas with their reincarnation and if you do, you'll fail to understand the Potatoes or especially Aru.

Part 9: How things worked?

This whole book worked out for the whole plot of the next book or the last book of the Pandava series. Here Kara is established as a character and were given some quite important personalities to move on the in the next books. The Pandvas were also given some new personalities and especially Aru. We may also find Krithika Shah in the next book, directly helping the Potatoes.

Anyway, I won't spoil the next book too. We will keep that in another article that I will try to work on before the Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality comes. I've tried my best to give you what's necessary with not revealing the plot. But it is totally hard for me and I respect the reviewers more who do that after reading a whole fantastic book!

While editing this article, I had to continuously deduct some paragraphs which reveals much of the plot. Then I had to add again and maybe deduct again. This took some time, until I found the right thing to do. In the first two chapters, you may've found that I've revealed much of the plot, but as there is a sneak-peek for that, so I decided to make it little less-vague.

From re-reading the article, I found that the best I could do to make this article fruitful came from the part 1. And I know you guys, that you all have already known what does that mean from the next parts. Another info I'd like to say about is that, there are some marketing stuffs I've written; so if you think they're wrong, please take into consideration.

DISCLAIMER: All Pandava related information, plots and characters are copyright owned by (c) Roshani Chokshi. The cover illustration for  the book is copyright owned by (c) Abigail L. Dela Cruz. The Diego ideas are owned by Diego Gonzalez of HBR.

NOTE: 'Part 2' may raise controversial opinions. As I've said, I read this books as a part of mythology which you should do. And for clear information, please read the whole foreword from Aru Shah and the City of Gold. Thank you Roshani Chokshi for not heeding the words of others and gifting us with new books.

READ: 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 ; Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality

CONNECT WITH ROSHANI: Website ; Instagram  ; Twitter

CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram ; LinkedIn ; Blogger

IMPORTANT LINKS: Read Riordan ; Pandava series ; Rick Riordan Presents   

RECOMMENDED: Listen The Half-Blood Report episodes for the book: Episode 75 - Aru Shah and the City of Gold Review ; Episode 74 - An Interview with Roshani Chokshi ; Episode 73 - Aru Shah and the City of Gold Final Predictions