Book: City of the Plague God
Author: Sarwat Chadda
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Rick Riordan Presents, for sending me an ARC. I am still kind of stunned that I even got this, so thank you so much.

I loved Percy Jackson and I love that Rick now has his own line of books about gods and goddesses from different cultures. This one is about Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is just downright cool. I love the fact that this has a lot of the light hearted nature that I have come to know and expect from Rick Riordan Presents. It also does a great job of adding in Middle Eastern culture and the difficulties that people from that region experience. We get to see how people have fled from the region to have a better life. We get to see the struggles they face as well as the deep bonds that they characters form with each other. It’s not all dark. We have deep bonds of family and friendship, which is something that I love in books.

I really enjoyed the main characters a lot. Sik is our main character. He just wants a normal and simple life. However, this all changes when the gods arrive in Manhattan. Nergal is hunting him, thinking that this thirteen year old holds all of the secrets to an enteral life. Of course, this turns Sik’s life upside down and we see that everything that he has ever known is gone. This includes his family’s business, which his parents have worked so hard for. We see his parents become sicken by Nergal’s disease and now Sik is on the run because he has been labelled as the “Plague Boy.” We get to see him also transform from this somewhat meek character to this person who will do anything to make sure that all of his family’s hard work and dreams don’t go up in smoke. I guess he was like that before now that I think about it. However, the way that it is presented is just pure perfection. This is how a good character arc is done. You will find yourself cheering for Sik and the rest of the gang and your heart breaking whenever things fall apart.

The use of the Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh is golden too. You don’t have to know anything about any of that in order to follow along with what his happening. Sarwat does a great job at making sure you understand who is who and what their roles are. This isn’t done through info dumping either, but through carefully crafted storytelling. You are given little bits of information at all of the right times to know for sure just who is who and what their powers actually are. It’s kind of down in a similar fashion to Rick’s books-if you have read them, then you know what I’m talking about. The way that everything is woven together is just the mark of master storytelling.

The plot is pretty fast paced as well. As soon as the story is started, we are thrown right into the thick of things. This means that there really isn’t a lot of time in the beginning to get to know the characters and their backstory. However, like with the mythology, we get to see bits of the characters’ lives mixed in with the over arcing story. Again, this is the mark of a skilled writer.

As a middle school social studies teacher, I know my students will love this title. They recently discovered Percy Jackson and have been loving it. I cannot wait to share this title with them and for them to read it. One of my classes is actually getting ready to study Mesopotamia, so I couldn’t have gotten this ARC at a better time.

Anyway, this book comes out on January 5, 2021.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/Jizi_3fVx8A

Thank you Disney Worldwide, Rick Riordan Presents, and NetGalley for an ARC.

This book fulfills the promise of the Rick Riordan imprint. It was full of the action interspersed with humor that I have come to expect and love, as well as main characters that are flawed but all the more relatable for being so.

Things I loved:
Main character is an Islamic teen.
Adventures from the epic of Gilgamesh.
Incredibly vivid descriptions of really gross monsters/demons (if you are easily grossed out this one may not be for you).
How grief/loss is addressed.
The complexities and deep beauty of sibling, parent/child relationships, and friendships.
The growth of Sik, the main character.
Descriptions of food.
The cats.

This book was absolutely stunning! One of my favorite reads of the year Sarwat Chadda crafted a beautiful tale of a Muslim American teenager, struggling with loss of his brother and intense responsibility he feels to be there for his parents. The story is gorgeous and captivating! I never wanted to put it down. It carried me from emotion to emotion, and left me with a deep warmth. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone

My name is Sik, and I can't believe all those tales and myths I grew up hearing are actually true. It started when I checked out a noise in the alley and was soon introduced to Nergal, god of disease and plague. Now, my parents are in the hospital with an unknown illness, and I'm staying with Ishtar, Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, and her goddaughter Belet. Belet used her ninja skills to rescue me from an attack at school, but Ishtar seems to think I can be a great warrior. The legendary sword Kasusu disagrees and won't even try to help with training me. I miss my brother Mo, and I can't help speaking to him in my mind. It helps me think about my problems. I don't understand why I've been thrown into the middle of this godly war, but I will do everything I can to save my parents.

This book had a Percy Jackson feel to it, but the backdrop was based on the Iraqi culture. There was a great deal of vocabulary and culture that was unknown to me, so it took a little while to connect with the story. The gods, myths, traditions, and foods were unfamiliar, although most of them could be understood using the story's context. The plot included some mystery, since Sik had no idea what Nergal wanted from him. This allowed me to wonder and search for clues about what was driving the conflict. Belet's character had a common personality found in middle grade books, since she was rather unfriendly and enjoyed fighting. She was similar to Annabeth from Percy Jackson books, although Belet was more insecure. The story touched on immortality and the moral, social issues of living forever. It also presented an interesting take on how a character's immortality might not be permanent. What? Overall, this book shared an introduction to a unique culture and its mythology. While it took me a few chapters to get fully into the story, I'm now very interested in reading a sequel. I recommend you give it a shot.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of City of the Plague God in return for an honest review. This story's main character a 13 year old boy, Sik. Sik's parents immigrated from the Middle East, and own a popular little deli in New York City. Sik is processing what it means to be a middle school aged kid whose parents depend on him to work in the deli, all while processing the loss of his beloved brother who was killed in an accident back in his home country. Sik grew up hearing stories from his brother of Mesopotamia mythology, with his favorite being the powerful Gilgamesh. One night while closing up shop it becomes apparent that the mythology that he's heard, isn't just stories when Sik is visited by the god Nergal. Nergal is looking for eternal life, and believes that Sik has received the secret from his brother. Sik escapes with the help of a truly bad-a** girl, Belet. Together they go on an epic adventure.

This is not a literary masterpiece, nor does it have to be. It is an exciting, quick paced adventure novel who gives a voice to a more diverse cast of characters. Sik notably is a 13 year boy, who is the hero of the story without being a fighter. He doesn't like to fight, he doesn't really fight. He embraces his own approach to saving the world without being the typical sword wielding action hero. Belet, is a tough girl who can and does fight. She also learns that it is okay to show more to herself than that, and how to open up to others.

This is a much needed story for young people in that it gives a new voice to the middle school adventure meets mythology genre. I recommend it for anyone looking to hear a different voice!

Sikander absolutely worshiped his big brother Mo and inhaled every scrap of Mesopotamian mythology and culture he shared. When Mo died, Sik threw himself into keeping the family diner afloat. Then a couple of demons attack the joint, unleashing a wave of disease and decay that could take out all of New York City if Sik can't stop them. He's no warrior, but his new friend Belet, daughter of Ishtar, very much is. Fighting gods, monsters, hysteria, and prejudice, the pair quips their way through an epic adventure. Somehow, it also squeezes in an exploration of grief, a picture of modern Muslim American life, and Gilgamesh.

Um livro cheio de ação, humor e sensibilidade, City of the Plague God foi uma leitura que fez eu me sentir em 2008, lendo Percy Jackson pela primeira vez e morrendo para saber o que vai acontecer na próxima página. Foi uma leitura cativante, original, que retrata uma mitologia até então pouco explorada pelos títulos mais mainstream. Chadda é um ótimo autor, eu amei a ler a aventura de Sik e estou ansiosa para ler mais livros dele!

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A book full of action, humor and sensibility, City of the Plague God took me back to 2008, when I was reading Percy Jackson for the very first time and was dying to know what would happen in the next page, where the author would take me. It was a captivating, original book that delved into Mesopotamian mythology which until know wasn't really explored by the mainstream stories. Chadda is a great storyteller, I loved reading Sik's adventure and I'm dying to read more!

And let's not forget about this awesome cover that is so beatiful that it gives me chills!!!

Honestly, I loved this book!

Back at the beginning of Rick Riordan Presents, when several ethnic main characters were rolling out, such as Aru Shah, I'd wished for a Muslim hero. But honestly, I didn't hold my breath because I'd wondered, how would it be possible to have a monotheistic character in a polytheistic culture? The answer came in Sarwat Chadda's City of the Plague God.

Sik is his parents' second and American-born child, and, as a result, he feels very different from his older brother, Mohammed, an Iraqi refugee. Still, he dotes on Mohammed (Mo), so when Mo dies on a visit to Iraq, he's devastated about it, even after two years.
The only thing that Sik and his family have of Mo (or what's been noted as being the most memorable), is a set of pressed and framed flowers that Mo wanted his family to keep as part of his botanical expeditions. Unfortunately, they get destroyed when supernatural creatures invade Sik's home and completely wreck it. The loss is devastating, but the creatures are insistent that Sik has some sort of treasure that Mo sent to him among the flowers.
Unfortunately, they won't rest until they find it. This means giving his parents an uncurable plague and infecting the rest of the city with it too. With the entire city turned against him, it's up to Sik to find the "treasure" and reverse the disease. The only people that could possibly help him? A goddess of love and war, her adopted warrior daughter, and Mo's best friend, Daoud, who's obsessed with acting and his looks.

What I Liked:

1. I love that Sik is smart (unlike a lot of middle-grade male main characters), Daoud is the one to provide comic relief (his obsession with his looks is hilarious), and the numerous war cats peppered throughout the story. While I did wish that the muslim representation was a bit stronger in this (though I am slightly conflicted on this because middle grade children may get tired of discussing a religion that don't know very much of but they still should), I did appreciate that Islamophobia was addressed.

2. I also really like the highlight on the refugee crisis, especially since so few people in the world really seem to be aware of it. Perhaps this book/series could help address some of the issues regarding it.

3. I love the familial bonds in this book! I love how close Sik and Mo are and I love how Sik feels the need to take care of his parents rather than the other way around. And then there's Daoud...

A few things that I would recommend Sarwat Chadda if he chooses to continue the series:

1. While I did appreciate the Muslim representation, I think maybe next time, there could be at least some more women with hijabs and more men with beards. Islamophobia was addressed, but still, maybe a little more on the actual Islamic-ness?

2. Sik should go on more quests that take up the span of the book. The "quest" in City of the Plauge God wasn't the way I had hoped it be (in terms of length and excitement) though the book overall was good. Perhaps something like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series or Roshani Choksi's Aru Shah series could serve as examples.

3. And finally, since this is an ARC copy (provided by Netgalley), I'd noticed that there were quite a few formatting errors including random spaces in the middle of the words, repeated words, and a part of the story when two or more sentences may have been missed in the storyline. Considering that this was an ARC copy, however, it did not detract any points.

(Also on Goodreads)

These Rick Riordan imprint books are fabulous - I am grateful to have read so many of them. They are hero's quest/journey books, in which the unlikely hero has an obstacle in life to overcome, and myths and legends lead the way in the journey of self-discovery and self improvement. This particular book, City of the Plague God, is no exception. Set in New York City in modern times, the unlikely hero is 13-year-old Sik Aziz. Sik just wants to keep his family deli afloat. His parents are not the same since the untimely death of his older brother, Mo. One night Sik hears a commotion in the dumpster outside the deli, and the chain of events this commotion triggers sets him on his own hero's quest to save the life of his parents and his city. It turns out nothing is as it seemed to be, but along the way, Sik learns more than he ever dreamed about ancient Mesopotamian mythology and lore - and about himself - than he ever believed he would.

Younger readers can appreciate the dry humor and the (horrifically disgusting) action of the story, although it may be a challenging independent read for some struggling readers; it will make a great class read aloud. Reading City of the Plague God as an adult, trying to imagine it through the eyes of students, I believe middle grade readers will appreciate the action, adventure, and the mythology. From a diverse standpoint, Sik's parents are Iraqi refugees, and taught both of their sons to embrace and respect both their Muslim culture and newer American lifestyle. The scattering of Muslim phrases throughout the story are educational for all readers, and are appropriate for learning and understanding myths, legends, culture and history. This is a really great book for kids - and for adults, too!

City of the Plague God is an excellent addition to the Rick Riordan Presents collection.

Sik (Siksander) finds himself caught up among ancient forces when Nergal (Mesopotamian god of war and pestilence) thinks that he has an important artifact from Iraq. However Sik is just a regular (he thinks, at least) 13 year old kid trying to keep his parent's deli successful. With aid from friends such as Ishtar (goddess of love and war), Belet (Ishtar's adopted daughter), and Gilgamesh (as in the Epic of...), can Sik fight off the plague that is overtaking everything he loves?

City of the Plague God definitely feels closer to Tristan Strong than Percy Jackson- basically because Sik is also not a demi-god, although he finds himself in godly realms.

Something I really appreciated is that Sik is able to maintain his own religion throughout the book. He's a practicing Muslim, and that is interwoven in the story- and it's explained how the Mesopotamian 'gods' don't negate the existence of one true God/Allah. The religious piece is so often left out of literature, and I'm so glad that Chadda included it... especially since Islamophobia has been quite entrenched for decades now.

While I wouldn't classify this as "couldn't put it down," it had a solid story and continuously kept my interest. I'll definitely be adding this to my classroom library, and may even try to incorporate it as a read aloud next year.

First, let's just take a moment to look at that cover. Even if I didn't love the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, I would have picked this up based on that image alone. I've been looking forward to this one for awhile, and was fortunate enough to see Sarwat in a virtual panel earlier this fall. This novel focuses on the deities and mythology of Mesopotamia. City of the Plague God follows Sikander Aziz, the son of Iraqi immigrants, as he works in their deli and continues to process the loss of his older brother, who died two years ago. His world is disrupted when minions of Nergal, the god of disease and war appear, demanding the treasure his brother stole. What follows is an action packed tale as disease and pestilence grips the city, while Sik finds himself in the company of Belet and Ishtar. Themes of family, loss, and prejudice are masterfully woven throughout. It's always wonderful to see less familiar mythologies get a chance to shine in these books, and this is one of the best examples. City of the Plague God is highly recommended for Percy Jackson, mythology, and adventure fans of all ages. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC. This review originally published at Bookworms in the 'Burg: https://bookwormsintheburg.blogspot.com/2020/11/city-of-plague-god.html

Thoughts: So… reading a book about plagues during a pandemic is probably not the best thing to do in the world. The story can get disgusting at times – all right, a lot of the time – with maggots and slime and ick all over the place. So… reading this book while eating a snack or meal, also not a good thing to do if you’ve got a weak stomach. Actually, if you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip a lot of this book. But, that being said…it is a well-written book that will probably appeal to the younger set. Any kid who likes disgusting stuff will love it. Add in Mesopotamian mythology with Gilgamesh, Ishtar, Negral, etc. and you have an interesting read. Sik is an excellent character as he has problems but finds solutions (usually) that help him get through. The conflicts between him and Daoud (his brother’s best friend), Sik’s parents, and his dead brother are realistic and believable. He believes he is the one stuck doing duty at his parents’ deli while his brother Mo gets to travel the world having adventures—except Mo gets killed. When Sik meets up with Mo in the underworld, he realizes some truths about himself. I loved how Daoud came through in the end and changed from being so self-centered.

The story is full of action, gross details, fighting, and mythology. There’s some humor with the one demon speaking only in rhyme. And interesting details about Ishtar’s home. Kind of like Dr. Who’s TARDIS, it’s much bigger on the inside. And the story has a satisfying ending that makes it a good stand alone, but also gives you hope that there might be more.

Opinion: I can’t say I liked the story mostly because of the ick factor. But beyond that, it is a good story. It’s well-written and gives good insights into what it’s like to be an immigrant from the Mid-East in New York. Especially through the eyes of Daoud who would love to be an actor with a starring role but keeps getting hired as a terrorist or other similar part. It even made me want to go read the story of Gilgamesh again. I would recommend this book to anyone who’s into the Rick Riordan mythology series but again, beware of the ick factor.

Thanks to Disney Worldwide and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone.

I liked the ancient gods/goddesses and how they were portrayed in the book. It was super interesting to read about the myths of ancient Mesopotamia and how they were added in this book. It was a very fun and interesting read, perfect for readers ages 10-13.

Thank you to @NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Rick Riordan Presents for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Sarwat Chadda's City of the Plague God. This middle grades novel will be released in January 2021. All opinions are my own.

City of the Plague God is a mythology inspired, fantasy, adventure middle grades novel. The novel is based on the mythology of Ancient Mesopotamia and includes a new spin on the ancient story of the famous hero Gilgamesh. Sik Aziz spends most of his time working in his family's deli, Mo's (named after his beloved brother). One night, Sik is locking up the deli when Nergal, god of plague, and his lackeys appear. Nergal demands that Sik hand over what his brother stole from Iraq. It turns out Mo found an ancient power with the ability to turn you immortal and Nergal wants it. Nergal begins by giving Sik's parents a mysterious disease before spreading illness across the city. Now Sik, who is immortal but doesn't know it yet, must set out on a mission to save his family, the city he loves, and the world before it devolves completely into chaos, plague, and death.

I love mythology-inspired novels and the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. I remember learning about Mesopotamia in middle school and was pleasantly surprised that I actually remembered several elements of the story. I love that City of the Plague God introduces middle grade readers to a Muslim hero. It is so incredibly important for readers to be able to see themselves in books and know that they can be hero too. There are also some great messages about family and loss in the book. Both Sik and Belet have to deal with the loss of a loved one and each does so in a different way. I have already pre-ordered the book and can't wait to share it with my students. The fact that Sik is fighting Nergal the god of plague seems incredibly timely and I think my students will be able to easily connect to it. The book is full of culture and history as well as being action-packed. It's a quick-paced and fun to read. I know my 7th graders are going to devour it.

I was able to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley. Oh man — so many things I loved in this Rick Riordan Presents imprint about Mesopotamian mythology! I learned a ton while reading this book and CANNOT WAIT to pass it along to my 8th grade students. I’ve already pre-ordered it for my classroom and have gushed about it in class. My students were especially intrigued by the timeliness and relatability of battling Negral, the god of plagues! The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is absolute genius for introducing middle school kids to the rich cultures of our world. If you get the chance and you’re a Percy Jackson fan, you NEED to read this book!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43517256-city-of-the-plague-god

Each new book from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint just gets better better. Sarwat Chadda's addition of The City of the Plague God is just another great book in this imprint. Sarwat's mythology is Mesopotamian and one that I am not that familiar with but by the end of the story I picked up a lot of it and I would love to know more. This book follows Sik. A kid just trying to do good and help his family at their deli. But everything changes with the god of plagues, Nergal, comes looking for Sik because he believes Sik is in possession of something quite valuable. And when Nergal attacks and Sik's parents get caught in the crossfire and are in comas with a disease Nergal gave them, well it is up to Sik to find the cure and defeat Nergal. But he isn't alone. He has Belet, the adopted of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, and the goddess herself to help. But even with the help of a goddess it may not be enough to defeat Nergal. Follow Sik has he discovers something about himself that changes everything and as he and his friends fight demons and gods to save New York City! Great book. Lot of fun. And like I said I learned a lot of Mesopotamian mythology along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book.

“City of the Plague God” was what I spent the last two days reading. Perhaps it wasn’t the best thing to read during a pandemic, but also quite appropriate. It is the story about Sikander who suddenly finds himself in a war against Negal, the ancient Mesopotamian God of War and Pestilence as he tries to regain his immortality. With Ishtar, her daughter and some human and inhuman help, Sikander does what he can to save Manhattan from the Plague God.

I really liked this book. It fits brilliantly into the Rick Riordan imprint and it does an amazing job portraying Islam and ancient Mesopotamia in a very positive light... which is something that we need right now.

Sik is a muslim teenager in New York City who spends his days running his family deli. His life quickly takes a turn when ancient Mesopotamian demons and a plague god attack his deli looking for something they believe he’s stolen. When his parents become deathly ill as a result of this attack, Sik teams up with a ninja-like girl in his class and her immortal mother, the goddess of love and war, to save New York City and his parents from the plague god.

I want to start by saying that it’s well past time we had a Muslim hero to read about, and that City of the Plague God is a worthy addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. As a whole, I’d give this book about 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I loved the setting of this book. I’m definitely biased because I live in NYC, but similarly to Percy Jackson, the fantastical feels stranger and more unusual (in a good way!) when it’s juxtaposed with real places you know and love. 5 stars on setting!

I also loved the premise. The “ancient gods still live among us” idea is no longer new thanks to Rick Riordan, but Sarwat Chadda adds his own twists and turns to make his book unique. 5 stars to the premise, as well.

In terms of the characters, I definitely liked reading about Sik and Belet (our two young heroes). They were well written, although not, I think, outstandingly so. Both felt older than their stated age and were extremely serious most of the time. And look, that’s not a bad thing! They’re teenagers who are racing against time to save a whole city and facing horrors doing so. Admittedly, though, their personalities did feel a little boring at times. Daoud, the other younger hero, was not my favorite to read about. His character was slightly weird (the main character, Sik, thinks the same), and his role felt a little too much like Deus Ex Machina at the end. The godly characters/immortal adults, on the other hand, felt extremely well fleshed-out and were fascinating (and often hilarious) to read about. 3.5 stars to the young characters, 5 stars to the older characters.

Regarding the plot, one or two plot points felt way too predictable, but for the most part, this book kept me on my toes! There were two or three really nice plot twists that I definitely didn’t see coming. I also want to mention that aspects of the myth of Gilgamesh are threaded throughout this book’s plot, and everything related to this was done extraordinarily well. Not saying more because spoilers! 4.5 stars for plot.

If you’re wondering if it was weird to read about a pandemic in NYC while living through a (very different) pandemic in NYC, it was extraordinarily disconcerting. I didn’t find it hard to read per se. Just disconcerting. For example, if there’s a pandemic going on in a book, now I expect to see characters wearing masks for protection in that book. Some things like that just weren’t there because a) the author couldn’t have predicted his book would be released during a pandemic, and b), he hadn’t lived through a pandemic at the time he was writing this.

While this book works as a standalone (everything important to the main character is resolved by the end of the book), I feel that it would work even better as the first book of a series, and I sincerely hope that Sarwat Chadda turns this into a series.

I was able to post this review before the actual release because I received an early e-book in exchange for an honest review. But I did want to let everyone here know that I enjoyed this book enough that I will be purchasing a physical copy for my own shelf.

I admit, books set in NYC that get small things wrong make me cranky: the location for this deli was one such oops. Beyond that, however, this is a great way to introduce readers to the Gilgamesh story - taking the mythology, gods and goddesses of Mesopotamia and bringing them into our day and age via Sik, the remaining son of the deli owners. Sik's older brother was a botanist, killed in Iran a few years before the story; Sik, sadly, hasn't taken over the community garden and tended the seeds sent back from abroad. Then the deli is destroyed... and Sik, self-adopted brother Daoud and Belet, a girl that insists on getting involved have to save the world from a plague.

The mingling of Islam, older beliefs and American culture is done so well, a trademark of the Rick Riordan imprint. This isn't the start of a series, but it certainly could be.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

Sarwat Chadda is a welcome new voice in YA mythology. This book is easily comparable to Riordan's magnificent examples of titles that bring ancient cultures and their legends into the 21st century.

A human boy in New York City is challenged by monsters and goddesses from his culture's history and he learns to draw on the strength and determination of his parents and ancestors. I hope there is a sequel to this book in the works because I want to see Sik learn to reconcile the young man he is to the young man he can become. Highly recommend the reader check out the glossary first if you're not familiar with Mid East mythology and culture.

Totally recommend this book for all ages! It's enlightening, entertaining, and has a fallible but brave young male protagonist. Everyone who's ever fought a monster, real or imaginary, will understand what Sik goes through in this story. A great book to share with the whole family.