Aru Shah and the City of Gold

Starred review from April 1, 2021
A soul and a story all in one. Aru Shah wakes up in the immediate aftermath of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (2020) to find herself imprisoned in the Sleeper's lair, staring at his other daughter, Kara, a half sister she didn't know about until this moment. Needing to escape and get back to her other Pandava sisters, Aru agrees to bring Kara with her. Two months have passed and much has happened since she last saw her companions: Travel to the Otherworld has ended, their mentors are missing in the city of gold, and its ruler, Lord Kubera, has summoned the Pandavas to compete in his trials three days hence. If they win, Kubera will give them command of the only army that can defeat the Sleeper's troops, who are marching to Lanka to find a certain weapon capable of destroying all godly defenses and rendering his enemies powerless. Aru, Mini, Brynne, Aiden, and Kara must look inside themselves and find freedom in letting go, as distrust, jealousy, and betrayal could upend everything. Chokshi's ability to craft stories of adventure, humorous dialogue, strong South Asian female characters, and Hindu cosmology is pure magic. With each entry, the series expands into deeper and richer experiences, delving into more complex themes of friendship and family without sacrificing any of the clever banter. Beautifully written and a joy to read. (Fantasy. 9-14)

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