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.

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda is the latest installation in Disney-Hyperion’s Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Sik always saw himself as the Enkidu to his older brother Mo’s Gilgamesh. But now Mo’s gone, Nergal the god of plagues, is after him, and Sik, Ishtar the goddess of war and beauty, and her daughter Belet are Manhattan’s only hope.

Every book in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint tells modern stories of myth and legend from around the world. Its diverse and impressive roster of authors bring their unique backgrounds and experiences to the table, and Chadda is no exception. In City of the Plague God, Chadda tells the story of Iraqi children burdened by generational trauma from not only the recent two decades of war but millennia of empires rising and falling over their ancestors’ homeland. Today, they are Muslim kids whose only home they’ve ever known has been New York City. But their connection to the Fertile Crescent is older than Islam.

The way Chadda blends so naturally Sik and other characters’ modern identities and senses of home with their familial identities and home is flawless. From the seemingly crass jokes about Shock and Awe sauces too spicy for mortals to handle to Mo’s absolute obsession with the epics of Gilgamesh and the ancient gods of Mesopotamia, the children and teens of City of the Plague God are uniquely and unequivocally first-generation Gen Zers.

It was sometimes hard to gauge how old Sik and Belet are meant to be. While this is a common issue of middle grade and young adult books featuring what boils down to child soldiers, it feels especially true in City of the Plague God. Between the image on the book’s cover, the fact that Belet is a master sword handler, and they speak with rather adult elegance, these pre-teens could easily be mistaken for older teens or young adults. When lined up next to older teenagers, their ages are more clear, but on their own, you’d be forgiven for assuming Sik and Belet were much older than they are.

The pacing in general in City of the Plague God was tough. Much of the plot for the first half of the book felt haphazard and almost difficult to follow. My attention was not well-kept until more than midway through the story. I was ultimately glad I stuck around because the second half pulls through. But I was disappointed that a significant chunk of the book is missing Belet, despite the great moments this portion does offer Sik on his own.

The main cause for my issue with the pacing is simply that the book takes far too long to capitalize on its mythological grandeur. Ishtar, Nergal, and his demons are introduced right away, but nothing new gets introduced in the mythological department for the next couple of hours’ worth of reading. Had City of the Plague God been more consistent with its incorporation of myth, it would likely have helped the first half feel less of a slog.

I absolutely love that City of the Plague God includes many better-known aspects of the Epic of Gilgamesh and ample material from other Mesopotamian myths and legends. The book shines its brightest when it introduces readers to those stories through the eyes of Sik. He reveres his late brother, who adored all things myth and legend from his ancestral homeland. So when Sik experiences things he recognizes from his brother’s stories, you can’t help but be enamored by them yourself. What is a bit less than thrilling from time to time is the repeated references to Western myths and legends. While I can appreciate that these are brought up to help unfamiliar audiences draw correlations between stories and gods, I feel like it may end up doing some unintended whitewashing, whereas those elements would certainly have been able to stand on their own without it.

City of the Plague God’s greatest strength is how it portrays its themes of home and grief. Sometimes examined independent of one another, but often in the same breath, Chadda can express these themes maturely for his young audience and older readers alike. The relationship between Sik and Belet also feels very realistically pre-teen in how they bicker, don’t always rebound so quickly, and are very quick to find themselves attached to one another over their shared experiences and traumas.

City of the Plague God took a long ramp to get going, but it’s definitely worth the build-up. The way it depicts the first-generation pre-teen is spot on, and its exploration of home and grief are poignant, even if the pacing is not always great, and it awkwardly leans on Western myths and legends for points of reference. Nonetheless, Chadda’s ability to make the reader feel as awed by the ancient myths of Mesopotamia through Sik’s eyes is masterful.

This was a really fun book! I really enjoyed that it was about a subject that I am interested in but not super familiar with, so I got to learn a little more about it. I have always been fascinated with ancient cultures, and I really love how Rick Riordan and his Rick Riordan presents line mix these ancient mythologies with current day, to give a new perspective and make it easier for kids to get interested in these sort of things. The main character in this novel is Sik, and one of the things I especially loved is that he is not a fighter. So often, the new person gets thrown into this world and the first thing they do is train to fight. Sik doesn't do that. He relies on his other strengths and skills, and he still proves himself to be heroic. This isn't something we see often in novels, and it's something I'd love to see more of. I think the one thing I would have liked would be a stronger development of the friendship between Sik and Belet. We do see them becomes friends, but I felt like it was sort of detached, and even by the end, they felt more like reluctant colleagues than friends. But overall, I felt this was really enjoyable, and I like that it's a stand-alone, but the option for a sequel or spinoff is still possible.

City of the Plague God is the kind of book that will remind you exactly why middle grade is such an excellent genre. The dialogue is snappy, the pacing is excellent, the mythology perfectly blended into modern-day New York - if you like Percy Jackson, there is no way you can pass this one over. It practically bursts off the pages, and will be a read to remember. There's really only one thing that I thought was missing, and that was funny chapter titles, which tells you how much I loved this book!

Sik is a classic MG fantasy hero - the underdog, not necessarily particularly hero-like, and so very much a kid. This is exactly what makes him the perfect main character - he's so likeable, and his narration bring the reader straight into the action. He channels everything that makes characters like him so relatable, but there's the extra depth that his heritage brings that makes him a really special character for all the kid who never saw a Muslim kid as the hero of stories they love. It's very clear that Sik is written from the heart, and that makes him so great. Belet, the epic fighting ballerina who teams up with Sik, is the competent counterpart to Sik's street smarts. She's impulsive and ready to fight, but she's also a kid and shaken by the way things are going, which is completely understandable given the situation they're in. The pair make a great team, balancing each other out, and they're the ideal heroic duo.

Mesopotamian mythology isn't one of the most common mythologies, but it's one that I find really interesting having read the Epic of Gilgamesh in school. The way that Sarwat Chadda incorporated the mythology with Sik's faith. The gods were very much gods - Ishtar was the most visible, and Chadda depicted her strength and power alongside her flaws and disconnect from the real world in a way that made her very realistic. There was a good mix of mythology fusion and straight up mythology that kept the book very grounded while still being overtly mythological; something that I especially liked was Chadda's interpretation of Gilgamesh and how he would have changed from his days as legend.

While the plague element was a little bit close to him, I thought the plot was really well written, and well paced. The build-up to Sik finding out what was going on and what he needed to do was structured in a way that kept me hooked while not being rushed, and the pivotal plot points were placed in exactly the right moments. I really liked the battle scenes in this - they were not extravagant to the point where it was unrealistic for two thirteen year olds and an actor to come out of alive, but they still felt tangible and the stakes were kept up well. Grief, notably Sik's grief over his brother's death, played a role in this, and Mo's influence on the plot and the choices Sik made was lovely but also heartbreaking at times - this is absolutely a good thing, though.

I can't actually find if this is a standalone or the first in a series, because the ending could lend itself to either yet there's no information about a sequel, but if a continuation happens I will be on it in an instant. City of the Plague God was my first middle grade of the year ad it set my standards so high, fulfilling all my Percy Jackson-inspired desires and generally being a pretty awesome book. If you have any interest at all in it, go read it. Now.

Thank you to Rick Riordan Presents for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This post will be going up on my blog on Tuesday 19th of January and a link will be added to this review on Netgalley.

While I have much respect for this writer and for diversity in characters as well as mythology, this book just felt forced. It felt like the author was trying too hard to focus on the diversity aspect, and as a result, the plot and writing suffered. The book had some fun elements but beyond that, was definitely not the greatest read.

I was beyond excited to receive an advanced reader copy of city of the plague god and it did not dissapoint.! If you like myths, fables and monsters then this is definitely Italy the book for you. If you like Percy Jackson series, then I would suggest you pick this one up. I would 100% recommend!

Another great addition to the Rick Riordan Presents collection! I loved that this story focused on Mesopotamia mythology. Such a fun adventure that teaches kids about another ancient civilization that barely anyone talks about. I know so many kids who will enjoy this newest adventure!

After hitting the 54% mark I decided I probably won’t finish this book. However, I don’t want that to deter anyone from reading it! It’s just not for me. I admit I’m super picky with my middle grade. I don’t think I vibe with this author’s writing style but I did love learning about the Mesopotamian mythology and the culture of the main character Sik. From the half that I read, there were some very funny and charming lines, and I really loved one of the main characters, the goddess Ishtar. But I felt like some of the characters were just comic relief in a juvenile way. For a middle grade I was also surprised at how gross and gory it got. The idea of a plague god is super interesting but I had a hard time stomaching reading about the skin falling off Nergal’s face and the flies flying around him (that he sometimes eats). Nergal also grabs a heart from a dead body at one point and eats it so that was kind of disturbing. Also spoiler ahead but right at about the 50% mark the main character intentionally gets hit by a train, trying to kill himself. It was jarring and came out of nowhere and I definitely didn’t expect it from a book written for a young demographic. Overall I enjoyed my time reading this book but not enough to continue it. I would definitely suggest trying it out for yourself though because it’s a promising read.

City of the Plague God jumps right into adventure and excitement. This is a great read for boys who can't stand reading but love all the action and fight scenes!

Rousing, yet macabre, adventure…
As an adult, I’ve enjoyed Rick Riordan’s various series and how they really bring home an understanding of various mythologies. All the gods and beings become real and remembered as they are crafted into a modern and relatable story. City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda is a great expansion of that model. It’s an engrossing adventure with a lot of wisdom tucked around and about and with relatable characters guaranteed to suck in your own adventurer.

I did find City of the Plague God much darker and with a lot more macabre details (such as maggots and bluebottles slithering in and out characters’ eyes and skin, etc.) than Riordan’s books. But, if that sort of thing doesn’t bother you, the horrific element is pretty much capped there and with one character eating another in a gruesome mouthful. As these gods and creatures are from Mesopotamian mythology and the main bad guy is the god of death, we’ve been forewarned.

Sikander’s story is sadly relatable as he grieves over his brother’s passing and agonizes over how to pursue his dreams while still caring for his parents and their deli. Sik adored his older brother, who dedicated his life to helping people in his homeland throughout various trips that he took there. Sik always stayed at home and looked after the deli, helping his parents. But he wishes his brother had taken him on at least one of his adventures.

But it seems a god of Death thinks Mo gave Sik something to hide and he won’t stop until he has it. He won’t stop threatening Sik’s family, their deli, and the entire city.

Trigger warnings: Graphic violence, gore, disease, and death. This might not be the book that some folks will feel comfortable reading in the midst of a pandemic. For others, it might be a reassuring reminder that nothing lasts forever, no matter how dark the times.

3.5/5 Okay so I enjoyed this book well enough, but I honestly didn't like the depictions of the plague symptoms that the gods had or all the bug stuff. The author wrote about how this plague god had maggots on him and skin peeling and it was super gross! I hated reading that stuff! And I felt that Belet was a bit rude at times and really unlikable when you are first introduced to her. I also didn't like her attitude towards Sik, and I didn't like her comment about Sik's brother's death not meaning as much as her mothers. But overall I enjoyed the novel and I enjoyed being part of the quest with Sik and meeting Gilgamesh as well!

I love the Rick Riordan Presents series! This one is by far the closest in feel to the Percy Jackson series of any I have read. There are even a couple of jibes (wouldn't it be handy if a sword would just magically turn into a pen when it comes to carrying it around New York?). Instead of the Iliad or Odyssey, we get the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Muslim hero who uses cunning much more than violence, and well-developed LGBTQIA+ characters where their sexuality is part of who they are, but not the only piece we see.

The descriptions of the fetid demons and their filth was amazing. I was grossed out more than once, and that's not a very easy thing to do. But it fit so well. Later in the book, as the diseases got more fantastic and the descriptions got further from my wheelhouse, I felt somewhat lost. Also, the glossary in the ARC left something to be desired (pronunciation?), I have confidence that would be fixed. Shout to me if it's not.

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Hyperion, and Sarwat Chadda for the advance ebook in exchange for an honest review. I want kebobs now.

13-year old Sikander is a rare Muslim hero in this urban fantasy that brings Mesopotamian mythology to modern-day New York.

From the very beginning, Sik is pulled into danger by demons serving the plague god Nergal, who believes Sik has a treasure that he desperately wants. The action is non-stop from there, and Sik finds himself moving from one amazing circumstance to another, encountering gods, goddesses, heroes and fantastic creatures from Mesopotamian myths.

The over-arching theme of this story is death and loss, which I wasn't expecting for a book geared toward middle-grade. Sik is struggling with the loss of his brother and he encounters death in various forms throughout his trials.

The author's writing style is engaging, and the pages flew. The side characters had distinct personalities, although I would have liked a little more insight to their motives a bit more.

I really enjoyed this action-packed adventure, and especially appreciated the representation of a non-traditional hero. Also, this was the first story I've read featuring Mesopotamian mythology, and this book has gotten me intrigued enough to seek out more.

‘Rick Riordan Presents: City of the Plague God’ by Sarwat Chadda (Disney-Hyperion)

There’s a gap in young adult fiction that many libraries would find difficult to fill: an adventure story with a Muslim protagonist who saves the world. And libraries are not alone. Even authors who identify with this ideal struggle with such a scenario.

“Growing up Muslim in Great Britain, I knew I couldn’t be the good guy. It was a weird feeling as a kid,” writes Sarwat Chadda in the author’s note to his new novel, “City of the Plague God.” “Is it any wonder, then, that it took me 12 years and 11 books to actually create a Muslim hero?”

Chadda resisted the scenario out of fear that “any celebration of my heritage would be seen as something scary or sinister. Phrases like ‘jihad’ or ‘Allah Akbar’ are so horribly misunderstood nowadays.” But then came “Rick Riordan Presents.”

Riordan, of “Percy Jackson” fame, publishes only about four books a year under the Disney-Hyperion Presents imprint, but each of those publications are important literary additions to the middle grade canon: They specifically aim to publish “great middle grade authors from underrepresented and backgrounds to let them tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their own heritage.”

And so we have Chadda’s “City of the Plague God,” the story of 13-year-old Iraqi American Sikander “Sik” Aziz, who will be tasked with stopping the Mesopotamian plague god Nergal from destroying New York City.

Following the death of his brother, Mo, during a trip to Iraq, Sik deals with his grief by throwing himself into the work it takes to help run his refugee parents’ deli. But when 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.

Chadda does an admirable job in constructing not only the story but, through dialogue and plotting, overcoming stereotypes and weighty topics such as Islamophobia, terrorism and anti-Arabism.

“So, when are you gonna play a hero,” Sik asks his friend, Daoud, who laughs at the question.

“Guys like us don’t get to be heroes. You know that.”

“Why,” asks Sik. “‘Cause you’re an Arab, or ‘cause you’re a Muslim?”

“Take your pick, cuz. Take your pick,” Daoud says.

But in this story, at least, Sik, Daoud and their friends do get to be heroes — and Chadda shows the way, crafting a novel that joins ancient gods with the fundamental Muslim belief in one God with enviable skill.

Sik helps run his parents deli in NYC. One night he hears a noise out back in the alley and when he investigates he finds some demons wreaking havoc in the dumpster and then has a run in with Nergal (an ancient god of plagues). Nergal says that Sik has something he wants, but Sik has NO IDEA what Nergal is talking about. Luckily, Sik doesn't have to figure things out alone. With the help of Belet (daughter of the god of war and Nergal's niece), Gilgamesh (of the epic tale), his dead brother Mo's best friend Daoud, and Mo himself (yes, he's still dead), Sik and his friends work to stop Nergal from destroying NYC with his plague. A great story full of adventure and interesting characters. I had never thought much about Mesopotamian mythology before, but now I'm intrigued and hope there will be more adventures with Sik.

Fantastic fantasy adventure, full of Mesopotamian mythology, great characters, and worldbuilding. This story is more than that though it is about friendship, family, and loss, mixed with different cultures and modern times. Extremely entertaining for young readers, fast-paced, and very exciting making it a perfect read for all.

Thank-you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As an avid reader of anything Greek and Roman Mythology, I found author Sarwat Chadda’s ability to weave an adventurous tale into Mesopotamia mythology, simply fascinating.

City of the Plague God, follows Sik, a grief-stricken thirteen-year-old boy navigating through the loss of his older brother and the strain of tending to his family’s deli.

His world is quickly thrown into further peril when a Mesopotamian god shows up searching for something he believes
Sik has in his possession. Along with his new friend Belet and her adoptive mother, Ishtar, the three set out to save the world. Along the adventure, Sik is forced to face his fears as he readies to defeat the God of Plagues and War.

This is truly a beautifully written story about loss, love, friendship, and facing ones fears while educating the reader on Mesopotamian mythology and Muslim culture.

I highly recommend this book as a must read for 2021! However, before warned, you won’t want the book to end and will be disappointed the sequel isn’t out already.

Every addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint brings something special and unique into the world, and this is no different.

Sarwat Chadda does not disappoint in bringing the mythology of Mesopotamia to a more modern audience. This is a great book, with talking swords, mythical cats, and a rotten villain (quite literally rotting). It brings both adventure and an emotional depth that isn't common in stories written to a middle-grade audience. The struggle to find one's identity, and to be true to both the place of your birth and your new home is one that's so important and relevant in today's world.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves middle-grade adventure stories with elements of fantasy and mythology. This is definitely a good choice for anyone who connects to Percy Jackson, as Sik reminds me a lot of Percy. Both unlikely heroes, who didn't really give much thought to the idea of myths coming to life until they were staring it in the face. They just want to be normal kids, but unfortunately, fate has different plans.

As a side note, I really love how this imprint gives a platform and representation to backgrounds that are not normally presented to such a wide audience. I hope this becomes a series instead of staying as a stand-alone novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for my copy. I appreciate it immensely!

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.

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*

This book is AMAZING. It taught me so much about a culture and mythology that I have no background in, but in an accessible and fun way.

The main character is relatable, funny, brave, and principled. Despite all of these strong attributes, he's very much just a kid, and I think he's the perfect narrator for a children's story.

The side characters are likewise complex and entertaining, and the plot is high stakes and engaging. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.