Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

The second book in the Pandava Quartet begins with Aru Shah and her best friend, Mini, in an enchanted shopping center fending off zombies.Someone has stolen the god of love's enchanted bow and arrow, and they are using it to turn innocent humans into (literally) heartless, zombielike fighting machines. To make matters worse, Aru gets framed as the thief. The council of gods and Uloopi, the naga queen, give the two Pandavas an ultimatum: find and defeat the real thief in 10 days' time or be exiled from the Otherworld forever. Aru and Mini unite with two other heroes—a new Pandava sister, Brynne Rao, and her best friend, Aiden Acharya—to save the world from mass destruction. On their numerous adventures in the Otherworld, from a giant-swan attack to their journey to the Ocean of Milk, Aru contemplates difficult questions about what it means to be good or evil, the role of duty, and the power of a good story. In this sequel to Aru Shah and the End of Time (2018), Chokshi seamlessly weaves Indian cosmology and pop culture into a refreshingly feminist plot laced with witty dialogue. The most compelling feature of the novel, however, is the complexity of its characters, who, despite their divinity or semidivinity, are at their core very human.This will leave fans enthralled and clamoring for more. (Fantasy. 10-13)

ALA Booklist (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

In this adventurous sequel (Aru Shah and the End of Time, 2018), Aru has been framed by a doppelgänger who has stolen Cupid's bow and arrow and is turning humans into zombies, which, in a nod to the Kingdom Hearts games, are referred to as Heartless. This brand-new adventure features more pop-culture-wielding characters who are all imbued with the charm and nerdy one-liners that readers have come to expect from Chokshi's characters. As Aru and her crew explore the Otherworld, they interact with mythological creatures, all of which are defined further in the book's glossary. Chokshi mentions that "India is GINORMOUS, and these myths and legends vary from state to state," and in this Otherworld, readers will encounter fiery cows and nightmare hounds, as, ultimately, they learn to listen to every side with empathy. An entertaining ride filled with gods, goddesses, mythical creatures, and even a birthday celebration. Series fans will be thrilled to dive back into this rich and layered world.

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Aru is accused of stealing the god of love's bow and arrow. She's given ten days to return them or be stripped of her Pandava (reincarnated demigod) memories and banished from the Otherworld. The story moves at a breakneck pace as Aru encounters legendary beings from Hindu mythology, who comically interact with the modern world. The importance of how you see yourself is at the heart of this entertaining second installment. Glos.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The second book in the Pandava Quartet begins with Aru Shah and her best friend, Mini, in an enchanted shopping center fending off zombies.Someone has stolen the god of love's enchanted bow and arrow, and they are using it to turn innocent humans into (literally) heartless, zombielike fighting machines. To make matters worse, Aru gets framed as the thief. The council of gods and Uloopi, the naga queen, give the two Pandavas an ultimatum: find and defeat the real thief in 10 days' time or be exiled from the Otherworld forever. Aru and Mini unite with two other heroes—a new Pandava sister, Brynne Rao, and her best friend, Aiden Acharya—to save the world from mass destruction. On their numerous adventures in the Otherworld, from a giant-swan attack to their journey to the Ocean of Milk, Aru contemplates difficult questions about what it means to be good or evil, the role of duty, and the power of a good story. In this sequel to Aru Shah and the End of Time (2018), Chokshi seamlessly weaves Indian cosmology and pop culture into a refreshingly feminist plot laced with witty dialogue. The most compelling feature of the novel, however, is the complexity of its characters, who, despite their divinity or semidivinity, are at their core very human.This will leave fans enthralled and clamoring for more. (Fantasy. 10-13)