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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am providing my honest opinion voluntarily.
For my full review of this book, visit: https://leahs-books.com/2021/01/11/city-of-the-plague-god/
City of the Plague God reminds me of the Percy Jackson series, but with an Iraqi Muslim main character, and instead of pulling from Greek mythology, it draws from Mesopotamian mythology. This is an area that I don’t know much about, but my interest is piqued and I’m definitely going to be looking into more of this.
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!
For my full review of this book, visit: https://leahs-books.com/2021/01/11/city-of-the-plague-god/
City of the Plague God reminds me of the Percy Jackson series, but with an Iraqi Muslim main character, and instead of pulling from Greek mythology, it draws from Mesopotamian mythology. This is an area that I don’t know much about, but my interest is piqued and I’m definitely going to be looking into more of this.
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!
I was so ecstatic when I got this review copy from Disney!! Rick Riordan Presents is the coolest thing and so far I have really enjoyed all of the books from the line that I’ve read. It started out in a way that almost felt familiar to me. It was easy to sympathise with the main character, Sik, and his voice stood out at once. It had that lovely mix of action and comedy that I’ve often seen in middle grade books and the plot was always on the move. It’s a book I would consider to be easy to binge! I also loved learning about mesopotamian mythology. It was all introduced in a way that was easy to understand for the reader and I would love to see more in this universe, though I think this was a standalone.
One thing I do want to mention is if you get queasy easily or don’t like books with a gross factor (I just made this term up) then this might not be the best fit for you. I personally don’t like any sort of gore and there were a few scenes where I had to stop reading and distract myself from the vivid descriptions. Besides from that, this was another fantastic title from Rick Riordan Presents and if you like mythology you should add it to your tbr!
One thing I do want to mention is if you get queasy easily or don’t like books with a gross factor (I just made this term up) then this might not be the best fit for you. I personally don’t like any sort of gore and there were a few scenes where I had to stop reading and distract myself from the vivid descriptions. Besides from that, this was another fantastic title from Rick Riordan Presents and if you like mythology you should add it to your tbr!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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:
No
“Thought you might find the corpses of my previous husbands? Sorry, but I keep them in a warehouse in Queens.”
I adored every moment reading this book. A story full of sibling love, learning to live with grief, and the different ways to be a hero.
I love that Sik was a hero who never used a weapon throughout the whole story, both so compelling and different.
Ishtar and Mo stole my heart. It’s been a long time since I read Mesopotamian myths and I loved it entirely.
This was a wild read a year into the Covid pandemic.
I adored every moment reading this book. A story full of sibling love, learning to live with grief, and the different ways to be a hero.
I love that Sik was a hero who never used a weapon throughout the whole story, both so compelling and different.
Ishtar and Mo stole my heart. It’s been a long time since I read Mesopotamian myths and I loved it entirely.
This was a wild read a year into the Covid pandemic.
Myths, a plague god, goddess, zombies and a hero who is constantly proving that labeling a person based on their outward appearance and religion is a mistake. When I heard about this book I was excited to read it, especially since it is part of the Rick Riordan Presents series. The book starts off introducing us to the main character, Sik, a thirteen year old trying to help his family as he deals with the loss of his brother Mo. The excitement begins when he meets Belet and they start an interesting adventure that dives into the myths of Mesopotamia and how a Plague god can wreak havoc on a whole city and the world. The answer to help fight against such an evil force takes our heroes to the underworld, a fight with a giant and a hunt for the cure. Certain parts of the book were a bit dark, the character Daoud plays a part in comic relief but does very little to lighten the mood. Overall, this book is interesting and worth a read if you have enjoyed previous books from this series.
So for its literary value I'd rate it about 4 stars. It's a really great middle grade story that follows the typical hero's journey arc with its own unique twists and Muslim New Yorker vibe. That being said, as a Muslim I see pros and cons in this book, and I will share my thoughts especially for any parents who are considering purchasing this book for their child.
Pros:
-The Muslim representation is pretty good. There were references to going to the Masjid, Sik's belief in Allah, and Islamic phrases like "subhanAllah," "salam," etc. But I ESPECIALLY loved the use of the word "jihad." It was used in so many different contexts that showed the true nuance and meaning of the word.
-The family relationships overall were well-balanced. It would've been easy to play into typical literary tropes of restricting or embarrassing immigrant/Muslim parents, but there was none of that. Of course it's not a perfect family situation, but Sik's parents were never villainized or considered to be limiting or strict as typical immigrant parents are in literature. Instead, they are lauded for their hard work and sacrifice and there was no unnecessary parent-child conflict - they have a really wholesome relationship.
-The themes of being connected to one's own roots was also well-integrated. The whole mythological aspect was based on Ancient Iraq, and with Sik being Iraqi and not feeling a particular attachment to his home, he went through a good growth arc from being detached to appreciating it more. There were also great acknowledgements about the destructive role that the US Military played upon Iraq without getting too much into details.
-The story and characters are all well-written - the plot was great, the integration with mythology and fantasy was great, and the characters were all great and pretty unique, too.
I have 2 main/major issues:
1) The Oneness of Allah was not handled as well as I would've liked. At one point, Sik questions Ishtar's title as a "goddess," saying "I was brought up as a Muslim, to believe in the Shahada." I really like how he acknowledged this and thought about Allah's oneness in relation to his experiences with these so-called "gods." Ishtar explains that there is an all-powerful, all-mighty god even above her and the other gods, and Sik accepts this as a reasonable explanation, and the Muslim readers or any reader brought up upon monotheism are led to believe this as well. However, this, as Muslims, is utterly insufficient. This is in fact what the Quraysh believed in (multiple gods beneath one more powerful one) and is still complete shirk. Throughout the book there are more references of Sik's belief in the oneness of Allah, however he continues to refer and even acknowledge the other powerful beings as "gods." I understand this is a child's book, but for Muslims it would be more appropriate to refuse to acknowledge those beings as gods but as other powerful entities. This is an important point that I believe should be discussed between Muslim child readers and their parents/mentors.
2. There were a few LGBT references throughout the book that were completely unnecessary. Towards the beginning, although it is very minor, two males (strangers to the character) propose to each other in public. And throughout the book, his close friend Daoud makes far too many remarks on his looks and makeup and it is implied towards the end
Hence, the 2-star rating. Though this book is aimed at Middle Grade readers, I would strongly recommend parental guidance and thorough discussions on these topics as they arise - for Middle Grade as well as Young Adult audiences.
Pros:
-The Muslim representation is pretty good. There were references to going to the Masjid, Sik's belief in Allah, and Islamic phrases like "subhanAllah," "salam," etc. But I ESPECIALLY loved the use of the word "jihad." It was used in so many different contexts that showed the true nuance and meaning of the word.
-The family relationships overall were well-balanced. It would've been easy to play into typical literary tropes of restricting or embarrassing immigrant/Muslim parents, but there was none of that. Of course it's not a perfect family situation, but Sik's parents were never villainized or considered to be limiting or strict as typical immigrant parents are in literature. Instead, they are lauded for their hard work and sacrifice and there was no unnecessary parent-child conflict - they have a really wholesome relationship.
-The themes of being connected to one's own roots was also well-integrated. The whole mythological aspect was based on Ancient Iraq, and with Sik being Iraqi and not feeling a particular attachment to his home, he went through a good growth arc from being detached to appreciating it more. There were also great acknowledgements about the destructive role that the US Military played upon Iraq without getting too much into details.
-The story and characters are all well-written - the plot was great, the integration with mythology and fantasy was great, and the characters were all great and pretty unique, too.
I have 2 main/major issues:
1) The Oneness of Allah was not handled as well as I would've liked. At one point, Sik questions Ishtar's title as a "goddess," saying "I was brought up as a Muslim, to believe in the Shahada." I really like how he acknowledged this and thought about Allah's oneness in relation to his experiences with these so-called "gods." Ishtar explains that there is an all-powerful, all-mighty god even above her and the other gods, and Sik accepts this as a reasonable explanation, and the Muslim readers or any reader brought up upon monotheism are led to believe this as well. However, this, as Muslims, is utterly insufficient. This is in fact what the Quraysh believed in (multiple gods beneath one more powerful one) and is still complete shirk. Throughout the book there are more references of Sik's belief in the oneness of Allah, however he continues to refer and even acknowledge the other powerful beings as "gods." I understand this is a child's book, but for Muslims it would be more appropriate to refuse to acknowledge those beings as gods but as other powerful entities. This is an important point that I believe should be discussed between Muslim child readers and their parents/mentors.
2. There were a few LGBT references throughout the book that were completely unnecessary. Towards the beginning, although it is very minor, two males (strangers to the character) propose to each other in public. And throughout the book, his close friend Daoud makes far too many remarks on his looks and makeup and it is implied towards the end
Spoiler
that he was once in love with Sik's (now dead) brother. Of course, the references could be considered by the pure-hearted to be a strictly platonic or brotherly love, but from Dauoud's actions, personality, and frequent mentions to his relationship with Mo, it is clear to me that there was once romance involved.Hence, the 2-star rating. Though this book is aimed at Middle Grade readers, I would strongly recommend parental guidance and thorough discussions on these topics as they arise - for Middle Grade as well as Young Adult audiences.
A fun take on the modern myth! I really enjoyed the inclusion of Islam and the shared origins of the myths and characters. The blend of what once was Mesopotamia and what is now Iraq was very good. Some of the writing was a little awkward but not uncommon in books for this age range. My only critique is I wish the same sex relationship was less subtle, though I do think that the subtly made sense to an extent in terms of the book.
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!
I loved this book, and let me tell you why!
There are three things that I look for in a story about mythology that I need for it to be fantastic. They are:
1. A relatable main character, which Sikander is through and through. He is struggling with his grief for his brother who passed away, all while helping his parents run their deli. He knows where his passions lay and life and that is cooking at the deli. He's not seeking glory, he is true to himself and who he is throughout the whole book. Sik shows us a small glimpse into the Muslim religion and his world, which I found both fascinating and enlightening.
2. It has to teach me something! So fun fact I took a course on Mesopotamia in high school, and then again in university, and this book still managed to teach me tons. I'm no slouch when it comes to mythology, so I was excited to test my knowledge against this book, and I was blown away by how much I learned. I knew about the gods but had never heard of the Epics of Gilgamesh. i also found the weapons and their lore fascinating.
3. It has to be entertaining! They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and oh boy does this book fits that bill. Sarwat Chadda crafted a story so amazing that fans of Percy Jackson will not be disappointed. It has all the amazing story telling we have come to know and love from Uncle Rick, but if I may dare to say, so much more. I really do hope that this becomes a series because I need more!
Bonus points given for sassy animal sidekick.... I'm looking at you Sargon
Go now and read this book!
There are three things that I look for in a story about mythology that I need for it to be fantastic. They are:
1. A relatable main character, which Sikander is through and through. He is struggling with his grief for his brother who passed away, all while helping his parents run their deli. He knows where his passions lay and life and that is cooking at the deli. He's not seeking glory, he is true to himself and who he is throughout the whole book. Sik shows us a small glimpse into the Muslim religion and his world, which I found both fascinating and enlightening.
2. It has to teach me something! So fun fact I took a course on Mesopotamia in high school, and then again in university, and this book still managed to teach me tons. I'm no slouch when it comes to mythology, so I was excited to test my knowledge against this book, and I was blown away by how much I learned. I knew about the gods but had never heard of the Epics of Gilgamesh. i also found the weapons and their lore fascinating.
3. It has to be entertaining! They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and oh boy does this book fits that bill. Sarwat Chadda crafted a story so amazing that fans of Percy Jackson will not be disappointed. It has all the amazing story telling we have come to know and love from Uncle Rick, but if I may dare to say, so much more. I really do hope that this becomes a series because I need more!
Bonus points given for sassy animal sidekick.... I'm looking at you Sargon
Go now and read this book!