If there’s anyone out there who’s more excited than we are about Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time, it’s Rick Riordan himself! When you get your copy of Aru, you’ll find this love letter (below) to the story, characters, and writing behind the debut book in the new Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Go ahead, tell ’em Uncle Rick. . .

Aru Shah Is About to Explode Your Head

Have you ever read a book and thought, Wow, I wish I’d written that!?

For me, Aru Shah and the End of Time is one of those books. It has everything I like: humor, action, great characters, and, of course, awesome mythology! But this is not a book I could have written. I just don’t have the expertise or the insider’s knowledge to tackle the huge, incredible world of Hindu mythology, much less make it so fun and reader-friendly.

Fortunately for all of us, Roshani Chokshi does.

If you are not familiar with Hindu mythology—wow, are you in for a treat! You thought Zeus, Ares, and Apollo were wild? Wait until you meet Hanuman and Urvashi. You thought Riptide was a cool weapon? Check out this fine assortment of divine astras—maces, swords, bows, and nets woven from lightning. Take your pick. You’re going to need them. You thought Medusa was scary? She’s got nothing on the nagini and rakshas. Aru Shah, a salty and smart seventh-grade girl from Atlanta, is about to plunge into the midst of all this craziness, and her adventure will make your head explode in the best possible way.

If you already know Hindu mythology, you’re about to have the most entertaining family reunion ever. You’re going to see lots of your favorites—gods, demons, monsters, villains, and heroes. You’re going to soar up to the heavens and down into the Underworld. And no matter how many of these myths you already know, I’ll bet you a pack of Twizzlers you’re going to learn something new.

Can you tell I’m excited to share this book with you? Yeah, I’m pretty excited.

So what are we waiting for? Aru Shah is hanging out in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, where her mom works. Autumn break has started, and Aru is pretty sure it’s going to be a boring day.

Yikes. She is SO wrong.

Rick Riordan