REVIEW: HollowPox and Aru Shah and the Song of Death

Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend:

Morrigan Crow and her friends in the unit 919 have survived their first year at the wundrous society. During their first year, they helped bring down the ghastly market after all. Now knowing what Ezra Squall is like and determined not to be anything like him, she needs to master the wretched arts but whilst trying to explore and learn about her powers, an illness takes over Nevermoor. This illness, nicknamed Hollowpox, affects the Wunimals into becoming mindless and basically normal animals. This hollowpox affects those Morrigan loves dearly and so Morrigan realises that it is up to her to find a cure and help those wunimals of nevermoor.

As always, Jessica Townsend did a magnificent job with this book and slipping back into this world was something that I simply enjoyed. Townsend really knows how to capture the imagination of the reader with all of the wonderous creations that she explores throughout the narrative, The funny thing about this is that, Townsend would not know of the future of when this book would be released. It was released within the time of COVID-19 and so the premise at this time was quite funny and serves as a way for children to look at our society’s handling of the virus. Despite all of this, the Nevermoor series is such a joy to read and I personally can’t wait for the next one.

5 out of 5 stars.

Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi:

The second book in the Pandava series begins with Aru Shah and her friend Mini, fending off zombies in a mystical shopping center. They find out that someone has stolen the God of Love’s enchanted bow and arrow and they are actually using it to turn the world inside out. They are using it to turn humans into heartless zombies. Like many myths, of course our main character Aru, gets blamed for stealing it and is branded a thief. Determined to prove her innocence, she decides that she will find out who the real thief is, with or without the Gods approval. If she doesn’t investigate and find the real thief, she will be exiled from the otherworld forever. So Aru and Mini team up and find another Pandava Sister, Brynne and her friend Aiden to save the world as it is all or nothing. It rests in her hands and she must find the thief and save the world. This book is full of chaos and adventures that should not be missed out on.

Like the previous book, Chokshi effortlessly weaves Hindu mythology and the modern day together creating an atmosphere that is full of wonder and mystery to people like myself who don’t know much about the Hindu mythology. It is full of the unknown and Aru is a character that is so much fun and brings realisation to us that have no prior knowledge of the mythology. All of the main characters have struggled with the lives that they now lead but lean on each other when the other needs them the most as they all have their own weaknesses and battles to face. As such this would give middle graders the support that they need to actually lean on their friends when they need them the most.

4 out of 5 stars.