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marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
I love the old-school mythology in this one, unfortunately, some of the story-telling wasn't as smooth as I was hoping for in this. I am super grateful to call this one of my first myth-ish books of the year.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sik Aziz lives an ordinary life in New York City, working at the deli owned by his Iraqi, Muslim, immigrant parents. Things have been hard ever since his older brother, Mo, died in an accident while in Iraq, helping rebuild the country he was born in and left as a small child. Mo was the adventurous one, the one who breathed life into everything, the storyteller. And as much as Sik misses him, he can't help but resent his brother for abandoning him--not just by dying, but going off on his own adventures, both in the city and abroad.
Adventure comes to Sik one night in the form of two demons who attack the deli, demanding a treasure that Mo supposedly stole, one that grants immortality. The next day, Sik's parents fall deathly ill with a sickness no one has ever seen before. And it is spreading, and spreading fast all over the city. It is the wrath of the Mesopotamian plague god, Nergal, raining down on the city, trying to force Sik to hand over the treasure. But Sik can't hand over what he doesn't have. And obviously Mo didn't find the secret of immortality: he's dead.
Nevertheless, Sik knows that it is his jihad to stop Nergal, and teams up with Ishtar, the goddess of love and war; her adopted daughter, Belet, who is basically a ballerina ninja; Sik's coworker/Mo's best friend/actor wannabe Daoud; a talking scimitar; and an army of cats. Adventures, secrets, and living legends await in the newest highly anticipated title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint!
"City of the Plague God" is highly addictive (read it all in pretty much one sitting!) and an amazing introduction for many young readers (and adults!) into one of the oldest mythologies in the world, Mesopotamian! This is also a phenomenal first in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, as Sik is the first Muslim main character. Chadda is a masterful storyteller from start to finish, beautifully blending ancient and modern, with fantastic contemporary characters and wonderful utilization of mythological figures. At this point, "City of the Plague God" is a stand-alone, but fingers crossed for more of Sik and Belet!
Sik Aziz lives an ordinary life in New York City, working at the deli owned by his Iraqi, Muslim, immigrant parents. Things have been hard ever since his older brother, Mo, died in an accident while in Iraq, helping rebuild the country he was born in and left as a small child. Mo was the adventurous one, the one who breathed life into everything, the storyteller. And as much as Sik misses him, he can't help but resent his brother for abandoning him--not just by dying, but going off on his own adventures, both in the city and abroad.
Adventure comes to Sik one night in the form of two demons who attack the deli, demanding a treasure that Mo supposedly stole, one that grants immortality. The next day, Sik's parents fall deathly ill with a sickness no one has ever seen before. And it is spreading, and spreading fast all over the city. It is the wrath of the Mesopotamian plague god, Nergal, raining down on the city, trying to force Sik to hand over the treasure. But Sik can't hand over what he doesn't have. And obviously Mo didn't find the secret of immortality: he's dead.
Nevertheless, Sik knows that it is his jihad to stop Nergal, and teams up with Ishtar, the goddess of love and war; her adopted daughter, Belet, who is basically a ballerina ninja; Sik's coworker/Mo's best friend/actor wannabe Daoud; a talking scimitar; and an army of cats. Adventures, secrets, and living legends await in the newest highly anticipated title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint!
"City of the Plague God" is highly addictive (read it all in pretty much one sitting!) and an amazing introduction for many young readers (and adults!) into one of the oldest mythologies in the world, Mesopotamian! This is also a phenomenal first in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, as Sik is the first Muslim main character. Chadda is a masterful storyteller from start to finish, beautifully blending ancient and modern, with fantastic contemporary characters and wonderful utilization of mythological figures. At this point, "City of the Plague God" is a stand-alone, but fingers crossed for more of Sik and Belet!
alyssaindira's review against another edition
3.0
**No spoilers were harmed in the making of this review**
"Mankind can number his days. Whatever he may achieve, it is only wind. Do you fear death on this occasion? Where is the strength of your heroic nature?"
Hey guys, so I finished this book. I was really looking forward to learning more mythology and for some humor and just a light hearted read. I got exactly what I asked for. I learned a bit of mythology, this was interwoven in the pages through dialogue and background detail. I got some humor, mostly from Sik, and he was more witty than anything. Along with some sarcasm and some humorous situation. Additionally, it was a relatively easy and quick read. You could quickly consume the dialogue and still understand the story. The descriptions were both intricate yet vast. Intricate when needed to describe the shape of a being (some powerful imagery there) and vast when just needed to put you within the story. The plotline of the story itself did not really start to emerge until the second half, where things got going, action wise. I feel like the first half was needed background for the second, easy enough to read. However, because the first half can drag just a tad, getting to the second half...one might potentially lose interest. Do not get me wrong, I liked the premise of the story and what it represents, among other things, I just was not entirely as emotionally invested as I could of been. That is entirely a me problem. The characters were great. We have Sik, just a teen trying to get by in life when his life is turned upside down for the second time. All he wants to do is try to help his family. There is no greater heroic deed than that. In order to do that, he gets involve with Belet, an adopted daughter of Ishtar. Belet is so relatable, all she wants is to try and be worthy of her mothers love, but at the same time has a shield around herself to keep from feeling too deeply about things, to save herself from disappointment. Belet is a nice, badass female warrior, and every story should have one. Then there is Ishtar, who is quite the character and I thought she was both refreshing and intriguing. I honestly want to read more about her, can she have her own novel? Please? Ishtar was an interesting perspective on the difference form love and war can take. It was definitely interesting. Then there are the bad guys who be the badguys, kinda typical behavior of henchmen and their leader who wants to help himself and bring chaos to the realm. Yeah...I felt that this book was more character driven than anything. However, if you are not entirely connected to the characters....yeah... The plot was there, and there was some action, but by that point, I just wanted to see how things end. Overall, pretty alright book, fast read, some good content with characters and such. Remember, this is all my opinion, if you want your own, read the book. Until next time, bye.
"Mankind can number his days. Whatever he may achieve, it is only wind. Do you fear death on this occasion? Where is the strength of your heroic nature?"
Hey guys, so I finished this book. I was really looking forward to learning more mythology and for some humor and just a light hearted read. I got exactly what I asked for. I learned a bit of mythology, this was interwoven in the pages through dialogue and background detail. I got some humor, mostly from Sik, and he was more witty than anything. Along with some sarcasm and some humorous situation. Additionally, it was a relatively easy and quick read. You could quickly consume the dialogue and still understand the story. The descriptions were both intricate yet vast. Intricate when needed to describe the shape of a being (some powerful imagery there) and vast when just needed to put you within the story. The plotline of the story itself did not really start to emerge until the second half, where things got going, action wise. I feel like the first half was needed background for the second, easy enough to read. However, because the first half can drag just a tad, getting to the second half...one might potentially lose interest. Do not get me wrong, I liked the premise of the story and what it represents, among other things, I just was not entirely as emotionally invested as I could of been. That is entirely a me problem. The characters were great. We have Sik, just a teen trying to get by in life when his life is turned upside down for the second time. All he wants to do is try to help his family. There is no greater heroic deed than that. In order to do that, he gets involve with Belet, an adopted daughter of Ishtar. Belet is so relatable, all she wants is to try and be worthy of her mothers love, but at the same time has a shield around herself to keep from feeling too deeply about things, to save herself from disappointment. Belet is a nice, badass female warrior, and every story should have one. Then there is Ishtar, who is quite the character and I thought she was both refreshing and intriguing. I honestly want to read more about her, can she have her own novel? Please? Ishtar was an interesting perspective on the difference form love and war can take. It was definitely interesting. Then there are the bad guys who be the badguys, kinda typical behavior of henchmen and their leader who wants to help himself and bring chaos to the realm. Yeah...I felt that this book was more character driven than anything. However, if you are not entirely connected to the characters....yeah... The plot was there, and there was some action, but by that point, I just wanted to see how things end. Overall, pretty alright book, fast read, some good content with characters and such. Remember, this is all my opinion, if you want your own, read the book. Until next time, bye.
musingswithmiranda's review against another edition
5.0
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*
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*
nonny_mouse's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not good with expressing my feelings but I feel empowered as heck seeing an Iraqi protagonist
tanilian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my Nokley was this book amazing or what! I mean, I knew it would be good, but this book was beyond wonderful! I already can't wait for the next book (there is a next book, right!?!) and I'll be looking up that Ash Mistry series that Sarwat Chadda already has out! Yay!!
ezra_19227's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing! I hope this becomes a series. I loved the creativity and the inclusion of the myths.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This book is told from the unique perspective of a Muslim boy. Recently, I've read MG and YA stories told from Muslim POVs, but all of them have been from a girls' perspective. The male perspective gives a surprisingly different dynamic. Chadda doesn't shy away from the fact that Muslim men don't ever get to be the heroes in Western stories---a fact that is addressed directly throughout the book. He also uses the word jihad to describe the characters' struggles. I will fully confess that I read this word and internally flinched. I've never heard it used in anything but a negative light, and it's obvious that Chadda is well aware of those negative associations and he's working to counteract them. I honestly appreciated this reminder (and repudiation) of my own cultural biases.
As I said, the MC is a teenage boy. The story follows Sik, a thirteen-year-old boy who grew up hearing stories of the epic hero Gilgamesh and his many mighty deeds. When Sik's brother dies while on a trip to Iraq, Sik feels like his family is broken in ways that can't be fixed. He pours his time and energy into his family's deli, but he feels like nothing he can ever do can make up for the loss they've experienced. Then one day, the Mesopotamian plague god shows up at his door, insisting that Sik has something precious in his possession from Sik's brother. He destroys the deli and infects Sik's parents (and, soon, the rest of Manhattan) with a deadly disease. Sik teams up with the goddess of love and war (and her daughter Belet) to try and defeat the plague god.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is how seamlessly Chadda interweaves many seemingly unrelated elements. Tiny details from the beginning of the story become important later. For instance, Sik completely misunderstands and misjudges his brother's best friend, a character who becomes vitally important by the end of the book, and seemingly bothersome details about him transform into something new by the end. The story explores the themes of love and loss, family, friendships, and what it means to fight for your homeland and those you love. It's also full of adventure that will appeal to Rick Riordan Presents' typical fans.
I truly hope this turns into a series so we can follow Sik's and Belet's further adventures!!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
As I said, the MC is a teenage boy. The story follows Sik, a thirteen-year-old boy who grew up hearing stories of the epic hero Gilgamesh and his many mighty deeds. When Sik's brother dies while on a trip to Iraq, Sik feels like his family is broken in ways that can't be fixed. He pours his time and energy into his family's deli, but he feels like nothing he can ever do can make up for the loss they've experienced. Then one day, the Mesopotamian plague god shows up at his door, insisting that Sik has something precious in his possession from Sik's brother. He destroys the deli and infects Sik's parents (and, soon, the rest of Manhattan) with a deadly disease. Sik teams up with the goddess of love and war (and her daughter Belet) to try and defeat the plague god.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is how seamlessly Chadda interweaves many seemingly unrelated elements. Tiny details from the beginning of the story become important later. For instance, Sik completely misunderstands and misjudges his brother's best friend, a character who becomes vitally important by the end of the book, and seemingly bothersome details about him transform into something new by the end. The story explores the themes of love and loss, family, friendships, and what it means to fight for your homeland and those you love. It's also full of adventure that will appeal to Rick Riordan Presents' typical fans.
I truly hope this turns into a series so we can follow Sik's and Belet's further adventures!!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***