User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
You Want Mythology? Let’s Get Old School!
It doesn’t get any more ‘Old School’ than Mesopotamia.
Without a doubt, the stories of Sumer, Babylon and the rest of the Fertile Crescent are my favorite myths that I’ve never written about. Fortunately, I don’t have to. Sarwat Chadda knows the stories better than I do, and he is about to take you on a thrill ride you will never forget!
There is so much to love about Mesopotamian mythology. Just the word ziggurat. Is there any cooler word? When I was a kid, I loved learning about those step pyramids. I marveled at the mysteries of cuneiform writing. I stared at pictures of winged lions, freaky dragons, and dudes with righteous curly beards and massive hats, and I wondered why I couldn’t be cool like the Mesopotamians.
Fast forward a few decades, when I became a teacher myself: Every year, my students and I would embark on a unit about Mesopotamia. It was always one of their favorite subjects. We would roll out the clay and practice writing in cuneiform. We’d make our own signature seals so we could sign clay tablets like pros. We would hold trials based on the Code of Hammurabi, meting out harsh punishments like cutting off hands (with red markers. Ah, I’m bleeding!), drowning in the Euphrates (with water guns) or stoning (with wadded up paper balls). The kids would also re-enact the Epic of Gilgamesh, complete with Nerf weapons and fake beards. The Mesopotamians would have been proud, or possibly horrified. Anyway, we had fun.
As for the gods of Mesopotamia – Wow! Those were some crazy deities. Ishtar, goddess of love and war. Nergal, the god of plague and war. Ninurta, the god of hunting and war. You’ll notice pretty much all the gods are the gods of something + war. They had a lot of wars back then. Their stories offer a glimpse at one of the oldest known civilizations, which had a huge influence on Egypt, Greece, Rome and the whole world.
How excited was I when Sarwat Chadda offered to write a book bringing all this wild, wonderful mythology into the modern world for the Rick Riordan Presents imprint? Yeah, I was pretty excited. I’ve been a fan of Sarwat’s books for years – Ash Mistry, Shadow Magic – and I knew he was the perfect guy for the job.
CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD does not disappoint. Our hero Sikandar Aziz is an American Muslim kid born and raised in New York City. His parents are refugees from Iraq. His older friend Daoud is a talented actor who can only seem to get TV roles like “terrorist henchman.” His brother Mo was a U.S. marine who died in action. Sikandar (Sik) is still grieving that loss, trying to help keep his family’s deli business afloat, and dealing with the usual bullies and Islamophobic slurs at school, when he is attacked one night by two rat-faced fellows who claim to be ancient demons. Things just get weirder from there.
Pretty soon, a strange plague grips New York City. (Spoiler alert: Plague gods gonna plague.) Sikandar’s parents fall ill along with many others. In order to stop the sickness and save New York, Sikandar has to plunge into a world of ancient gods, demigods and monsters, and find out the truth about his own secret powers. When we first decided to publish CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD, none of us, including the author, had any idea COVID-19 would take over the year 2020. Once the pandemic happened, we thought long and hard about whether this book was still a good idea, but we decided that really, it is more relevant than ever. It has a lot to tell us about how humans have dealt with such outbreaks over the millennia, because as long as there have been humans, there have been pandemics, even back in Ancient Mesopotamia.
There will be tears and snarky jokes. There will be a badass ninja girl. There will be a chariot pulled by cats, a hero who’s a gardener, and a demon with really bad breath. I can also guarantee there will be frustration when you reach the end of this book, because you will be clamoring to read the sequel immediately. I know I am!
Welcome to the world of Mesopotamian myth as interpreted by the brilliantly creative, wonderfully offbeat mind of Sarwat Chadda. You may never want to leave!
Rating: really liked it
City of the Plague God follows 13-year old, Sikander Aziz, as he battles to save New York City from Nergal, the ancient God of Plagues.
Sikander, known as Sik, spends most of his time outside school working in his family's deli. He loves being there, but all of that is threatened the night the deli is attacked by demons.
They're obviously searching for something, but Sik has no idea what. His family has nothing that could possibly be of value to the God the demons work for.
From there, things spiral very quickly. The deli is destroyed and Sik's parents become quite ill, victims of a new plague. The disease is spreading fast and Sik knows that Nergal is behind it. He needs to figure out why and stop him before all of Manhattan succumbs to the mysterious disease.
Luckily, Sik is not alone. He has a new friend, Belet, who just so happens to the be the adoptive daughter of the Goddess of Love and War, Ishtar.
Together they discover something quite interesting about Sik. He's immortal and didn't even know it! More than that, he holds the secret to eternal life.
I absolutely loved this story. As always with the books published under the
Rick Riordan Presents Imprint, it is full of humor and heart.
Sarwat Chadda is an incredible writer. The entire story had a fluidity that was absolutely enchanting. The way it unfolded was just classic storytelling; so well done.
Having New York City as the setting added some extra charm for me. Also, it was so nice to have a Muslim main character.
While this story is based around ancient Mesopotamian mythology, Chadda also incorporated Sik's Muslim faith and Iraqi heritage in a way that was educational and organic.
In many ways, Sik starts out as an underdog and watching him rise to the occasion, learn and grow, was just so satisfying.
Overall, this is an absolutely riveting story. One I would recommend to Readers of all ages. If you love mythology, action, humor and New York City, you should absolutely pick this one up!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Books and Rick Riordan Presents, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate it so much.
Now I need to go back and read all of Sarwat Chadda's other books!
Rating: really liked it
This book is basically about a pandemic.
It's crazy to think about this book having been written in 2018 but published in 2021. The world has changed so much in that time, and I understand why the author might have felt a certain way about publishing this last year when it had first been scheduled to come out.
A city overrun by plague and disaster probably seemed like such a fantastical idea at the time of writing, and yet, here we are today.
This book was an interesting read, but I simply could not rate it any higher than the 3.25/5 stars I gave it. I wanted more from the story than I got. I wanted to dive into this world of mythology the way I had when I read Percy Jackson, and I couldn't.
The mythology of it didn't feel immersive. We only meet three of the gods and don't really get into their histories, other than Ishtar. Where are the other gods? How does this mythology blend into our world, the way we see Greek mythology seamlessly woven into reality when reading Percy Jackson?
I think that this book would have worked as a series diving into Mesopotamian mythology and really exploring The Epic of Gilgamesh. It's the oldest myth from the oldest civilization, and I would have loved to know more about it. I would have loved to see a whole pantheon of gods and see what they have been doing all these thousands of years.
Then there were the characters that I liked but didn't love. Sik was alright. He was generally nice enough and always willing to do what needed to be done to stop Nergal. Belet was interesting, but I didn't necessarily like her. She had moments where I liked her and moments where I wanted to tell her to shut up. And their friendship felt a bit forced to me.
And yet, there were things I enjoyed about the story!
One of my favorite things about this book was how it tackled religion. It balances current Islamic beliefs so wonderfully with ancient Mesopotamian mythology, not negating either, but having them exists in almost separate spheres. On the one hand, Sik believes in one true god. On the other hand, he dines with Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, and fights Nergal, the god of plagues. And it all just flows and works wonderfully.
I also generally liked the writing. I haven't read any of the author's books, but his writing is easy to read.
In general, I thought the plot and the characters and everything overall was 'ok' and nothing more.**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**Follow Me Here Too:
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Rating: really liked it
A plague takes over the city of Manhattan and Sik has to take down the evil God Nergal to save the world. If only someone could do that to save us from Covid because I am starting to lose my mind ya’ll. I digress.
Reading City of Plague God unlocked a memory of me back in 6th or 7th grade learning about the history of Mesopotamia. We didn’t learn too much about the mythology so I found it super interesting to get some background on it. Chadda definitely did his research!
I love the characters and thought that it was funny, I actually laughed out loud a few times. Sik is charming and witty, which is always appreciated in a main character. My only complaint is that there are a lot of broken sentences and I’m not sure if it’s because it’s targeted to middle grade readers but it drove me crazy. It does jump around a bit in the plot as well but I think it’s because this might be a standalone? There are a lot of unanswered questions so I would definitely pick up the second book if that comes out. Also, I loved the authors note. I am looking forward to reading future Rick Riordan Presents books!
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I GOT AN ARC!! Thank you Netgalley. Give me all the middle grade books, please and thank you
Rating: really liked it
3 solid stars! | I really enjoyed this book but not much the protagonist. I also didn't like that I didn't get to know much of mesopotamian mythology which is why I was interested in this book. But it was cool and enjoyable!
Review to come.
Rating: really liked it
20/2/20
We have a cover folks and she's a beauty!!! So excited!!!!!
27/11/19
Gosh! It's hard not to stan this imprint! I mean, Mesopotamian mythology and a muslim boy as main character?! SIGN ME UP!
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Rating: really liked it
Star Rating:
—> 4.5 StarsThe Rick Riordan Presents imprint has never let me down before, and indeed, this time
through the brilliant lens of Sarwat Chadda, once again I am beyond impressed.
I truly feel that well written books, based upon any world mythology transcend age, and this will indeed
strike the attention of more than just a Middle Grade audience.
I was
enthralled from beginning to end of this perfectly paced, action packed novel. With this gorgeously written, fascinating delve into
American Muslim culture and
Mesopotamian mythology,
Sarwat Chadda blew. me. away. I will most definitely picking up anything he has to offer in the future.
We need more diverse books in this world, and Chadda hit the mark on this front, as well. Through
wonderfully written prose, and
one heck of an adventure, he truly
made sure that diversity, culture, & the mythology shone through.
Through the eyes of an American Muslim kid l, Sik, we step into a beautifully crafted fresh piece of diverse literature & look into a fascinating cultural mythology, based upon the Epic of Gilgamesh.
I truly loved Sik's bravery & dedication to his family.
This undoubtedly sends an important message, about strength, loyalty, and bravery, especially to the target middle grade audience, as well as audiences of all ages.
Anyone who reads about Sik, will LOVE HIM! He's a kid who will freely step up & take on Gods of ancient Mesopotamian origin when they show up on his doorstep, & in his hometown, New York City...
all to keep his Iraqi refugee parents' American dream alive, and try to save those & the city he loves
at all costs.
Both Sik, & his story will undoubtedly leave readers with a feeling of true heart and new understanding of topics of great value..
Stepping into the absolutely enthralling world that Sarwat Chadda crafted masterfully, was a joy.
I loved everything this book had to offer, and it increased my love for the Rick Riordan Presents imprint all the more!
I will definitely be recommending this book to all.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!__________________
YAYYYYYY ! Arcccccccc!
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK!
(Confession: I am OBSESSED with all world mythologies. Honestly obsessed. I cannot wait to slice open a pocket between universes & step into this one! Yes, yes, I know to close it afterwards or mess with the fabric of reality blah blah but we're getting off topic here. 😉)
Anddddd based upon the Epic of Gilgamesh? Uhhh, yeah!
I haven't read it in 15 years, since my freshman year in HS, but I still remember the absolutely enthralling mythology there... and I am SO ready to go back into the Epic, but this time through the eyes of Sarwat Chadda.
BRING ON ALL THE MYTHOLOGY! WOO! BRING ON THE
MESOPOTAMIAN MYTHOLOGY!
SO HERE FOR IT !
Rating: really liked it
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly cannot even remember how I came across this book, but I know I was instantly sold when I read it would be inspired by ancient Mesopotamian mythology. This sounded so unique that I instantly preordered it. I also have really enjoyed what I have read from the Rick Riordan Presents series, so I knew this would be amazing. I am incredibly grateful for actually getting an eARC.
Sarwat Chadda’s City of the Plague God follows thirteen-year-old Sikander Aziz as his normal life working at his parents’ deli is disrupted. Sik used to learn about ancient Mesopotamian mythology, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, with his brother, Mohammed, but he knows that this is just made up. However, everything changes when Nergal, the ancient Mesopotamian god of disease, shows up and demands that Sik give him the secret to eternal life that his brother Mo stole before his death. This forces Sik to team up with his brother’s best friend (and possibly romantic partner) Daoud, the goddess of love and war named Ishtar, and her daughter Belet in order to defeat Nergal and save New York City from the plague god.
This story was so incredibly captivating. I loved reading more about ancient Mesopotamia because it was always one of my favorite topics in history classes. Chadda brings this mythology alive in a new and unique way. It was very descriptive and atmospheric in a way that made me feel like I was right there experiencing it with Sik. Nergal’s chaos challenges the characters but also brings them together. I really enjoyed seeing how the characters came together to develop friendships. They were all very distinctive and brought something different to their team. The way Sik stepped up and changed throughout the novel was really powerful to read about as well. I really appreciated and enjoyed how the author incorporated humor throughout this novel too.
Chadda does an amazing job crafting his story, and I loved being able to experience this book and all it does for Muslim representation. Sik is the first Muslim main character in the Rick Riordan Presents line. It is so incredibly important for people to see themselves reflected in stories. I genuinely cannot wait for young Muslim readers to meet Sik and his family. Chadda’s author’s note emphasizes the importance of this even more. The author himself grew up with the stereotype that Muslims are villains, and he never saw them getting to be the heroes. City of the Plague God challenges this head on by addressing Islamophobia. The author also uses these things along with the fact that Sik’s parents are Iraqi refugees to discuss immigration and refugees as well.
I cannot wait to get my finished final copy of this book. It is definitely something I can see myself reading again, and I am so excited to have it available in my future classroom. City of the Plague God was such a captivating read full of rich mythology. It is balanced perfectly with a great cast of characters, an epic adventure, and humor.
Thank you to Disney Publishing, Rick Riordan Presents, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this novel before its release on January 12, 2021.
*Content warning: bullying, loss of a loved one, pandemic and plague, Islamophobia*
Rating: really liked it
Bold, brave, and full of surprises! I couldn't stop turning the pages. Chadda balances an action-packed story with his trademark humour and a deft handling of Sik's immigrant identity that feels relevant and important in today's world.
Rating: really liked it
An adventurous, funny, engaging read with so much heart at the center of it.
Rating: really liked it
This was charming and witty, with complex characters, action-packed adventures and most importantly - CATS. Serious topics such as discrimination and immigration were covered and deftly handled.
The writing and plot were a bit choppy at times but it did not deter me from enjoying it. Overall, I highly recommend!
Rating: really liked it
Funny, poignant, and everything I love about middle grade fantasy.
Rating: really liked it
I really liked the idea behind this book, since I'm a sucker for mythology. But I feel like it was supposed to be about Mesopotamian mythology and yet 400 pages later and I still barely know anything about it.
When I read Rick Riordan's books I didn't feel like I had to look up every name or term because he talked about and explained all of them, so when I finished the book I felt like I could easily score an A+ on a random GM test.
I kinda had to google almost every god and beast and other terms used because they are not explained well, but rather randomly thrown at us.
ANYWAY, I liked the idea and I think if it was a duology or a trilogy it would have felt much more natural, because reading a book about such a broad subject as mythology, as a person who literally had zero knowledge when it came to Mesopotamian mythology, is bound to make the reader confused. So like, maybe expand the lore and dedicate more books to it. Just my opinion.
- - - -
??
Mythology AND Rick Riordan ??
Rating: really liked it
Following the death of his brother, Mo, Sik deals with his grief by helping his refugee parents’ deli. But when Mesopotamian god Nergal attacks the business in an attempt to find a stolen treasure, a chain reaction spreads a plague infecting the city, Sik’s parents included.
As the story explodes from here, Sik and his best friend, Daoud, an aspiring actor, team up with the goddess Ishtar and her combat-ready adopted daughter, Belet. The result is an adventure worthy of the superhero Sik and his friends most admire, Gilgamesh — who, not unexpectedly, makes an appearance in the story.
This is a fun fantasy adventure for the middle-grade audience, introducing to the readers all the Seriously Cool Bits about Mesopotamian mythology. Chadda juggles a lively story, appealing characters, and deftly deals with stereotypes and weighty topics such as Islamophobia, terrorism and anti-Arabism.
Another nifty, highly readable entry in the Rick Riordan Presents series.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Rating: really liked it
[Islamophobia, racism, ableist language, grief & loss depiction, death of a brother in motorcycle accident recounted, death of a mother (on-page), death from being run over by a train, blood & gore depiction, plague & pandemic (central theme), hospital, serious illness of a parent, war themes & military violence recounted, refugee experiences mentioned, homelessness mentioned, murder & attempted murder, and major g
