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aureolyn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one cause Covid has made anything relating to a pandemic feel exhausting. But I love myths and legends and it’s always interesting to learn about the different gods, goddesses, and heroes of other cultures. I also got to put stories to familiar names which was great! We follow the MC on his journey of dealing with grief and it really made me think about who and what are important to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Grief, Violence, Death, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
emily_mh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
This was a really interesting and adventurous MG fantasy that showcased Mesopotamian mythology really well. It was also great at confronting serious issues such as the blame put on oppressed communities in times of crisis, and the experience of grief. Belet was definitely my favourite character as I loved how determined and sharp she was. My biggest criticism is that the pacing was a little slow considering this is 350 pages and a MG read.
As a side note, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Vikas Adam did an absolutely phenomenal job.
As a side note, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Vikas Adam did an absolutely phenomenal job.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Animal death, Islamophobia, Violence, Racism, Medical content, Gore, Blood, Murder, Child death, and Ableism
Minor: Vomit, Mental illness, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cancer, Excrement, Physical abuse, Body horror, Confinement, Car accident, Suicide, and Animal death
Pandemic, COVID-19 references, death of a loved one (brother), financial stress, sick parent, insects, refugees/seeking asylum, illness, adoption, HP referenceluckykosmos's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
In the foreword, Riordan worries about the timing of this book, but I honestly think it helped the book - reading this in a time when things are finally, hopefully, turning around, it was cathartic to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Pandemic aside, seeing the loving relationships carrying these characters through, and how that same love was their weakness, was heartwarming. Even more, as much as every book in the RRP universe is a love letter to the author's culture, its particular place here - whether it's Sik's parents being refugees, or responses to Islamophobia - made things feel even more personal and even intimate. I hope dearly this one gets a sequel.
Pandemic aside, seeing the loving relationships carrying these characters through, and how that same love was their weakness, was heartwarming. Even more, as much as every book in the RRP universe is a love letter to the author's culture, its particular place here - whether it's Sik's parents being refugees, or responses to Islamophobia - made things feel even more personal and even intimate. I hope dearly this one gets a sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Gore and Islamophobia
mfieldshalva's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Islamophobia, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Terminal illness and Hate crime
hungryandhappy's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I had never even thought about Mesopotamian mythology before stumbling onto this book. It was really fascinating getting to know different gods and demons, their roles and tales, and see the similarities to myth figures I have read about before.
Sik was a likeable character; he had rage within him that made him behave not always in the right way. Mostly due to the loss of his hero, his big brother. The pain of loss was so clear in Sik I was so sad everytime he had his "talks" with Mo. The memories were keeping him down. He just needed a distraction and what better one that a plague god infecting the whole city??
Great side characters such as badass Belet and actor wannabe Daoud! And so many cats!! I would've loved to live in Belet's house surrounded by all the kitties!!
Action packed, full of emotions and love for a culture many decides to hate doing what we call in Italian "making a bouquet of a single flower" but instead of flower is grass. I was charmed by everything Sik and other characters said about Iraq and its culture. Loved reading the various interjections and greetings. It's going to feel like a home far from home for many muslim american kids and also adults when reading the adventures of Sik!
Will there be more?? I hope so!!
Sik was a likeable character; he had rage within him that made him behave not always in the right way. Mostly due to the loss of his hero, his big brother. The pain of loss was so clear in Sik I was so sad everytime he had his "talks" with Mo. The memories were keeping him down. He just needed a distraction and what better one that a plague god infecting the whole city??
Great side characters such as badass Belet and actor wannabe Daoud! And so many cats!! I would've loved to live in Belet's house surrounded by all the kitties!!
Action packed, full of emotions and love for a culture many decides to hate doing what we call in Italian "making a bouquet of a single flower" but instead of flower is grass. I was charmed by everything Sik and other characters said about Iraq and its culture. Loved reading the various interjections and greetings. It's going to feel like a home far from home for many muslim american kids and also adults when reading the adventures of Sik!
Will there be more?? I hope so!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Racism
leahsbooks's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You can find my full review on my blog:
https://leahs-books.com/2021/01/11/city-of-the-plague-god/
https://leahs-books.com/2021/01/11/city-of-the-plague-god/
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am providing my honest opinion voluntarily.
Sik is the son of refugees who have settled in Manhattan and opened a thriving deli. His older brother has passed away, and Sik has taken on a lot of responsibility helping his parents at their deli after school. My heart broke seeing him deal with his grief while also struggling with his unresolved emotions about his brother. I think this was really well portrayed — a sudden death often leaves people with conflicting emotions, and Sik isn’t quite sure how to deal with these.
Sik is unapologetically Muslim, and I love that about him. He is sweet, funny, and kind, and has no idea how to fight demons or Nergal, the plague god who comes to find him. I love seeing the way that a kid like Sik is portrayed in this story, and placing characters like him front and center as a hero makes him relatable to young people who see themselves in him. Even as he believes in him faith so strongly, he readily accepts the existence of the Mesopotamian gods and goddesses. I loved seeing his character arc, and he experiences such a great change throughout the story.
Belet is the trusty sidekick in this story. As Ishtar’s adopted daughter, she fills in the gaps in Sik’s skills — where he is a smart-aleck that relies on his brains to get him out of tough spots, she’s the brawn that leans on her fighting skills and her awareness of mythology. She complements Sik very well, and they work great as a team. She’s not as in touch with her emotions, and she undergoes a major transformation during the book.
The story is full of action, and moved quickly. I enjoyed reading this way more than I expected to, and there were parts that made me laugh as well. It definitely brought back Percy Jackson vibes. There were some simple Arabic words interspersed into the text (and a glossary to explain the words at the end), and I loved how it changed the perspective around some commonly vilified words associated with Muslims. Several times in the story, Sik relates his quest to a jihad, which is explained as a righteous cause. In this case, it is saving Manhattan from the ravages of the plague god. I loved how that word was reclaimed from how it has come to be viewed. This isn’t a book to be missed!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Grief, Islamophobia, Bullying, and Violence
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