Hm, I don't know what it is with this book! I did really enjoy it and it wasn't the fact that this kind of book was published during the pandemic. The book reminded me a bit of the Apollo Trials series but didn't quite reach the high bar that series set for me. I think that's why I can't give it 5 stars on Goodreads. I definitely recommend it. It's a great read.

This is so much fun, so well written and so important. There were a few pacing issues in the middle that didn't jive with me, but otherwise, I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an early review copy in exchange of my honest review.

I am a HUGE fan of Rick Riordan's new imprint and its spotlight on non-Greek/Roman culture. So far, I think this is my favourite - possibly because it hits as close to home as my students are probably going to get for books about the Middle East. There was the introduction, not heavy handed, of non-English words/phrases and foods - as authentic as I am capable of evaluating. The story moved quickly and was attention getting. The all to easy circumstances (all the money afforded those who had money and the ease at which a young person manages to escape parental/school consequences while adventuring) are characteristics of the genre - though the author does work hard to have the main character be working class at the beginning.

And the cover is WICKED COOL.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. While the Mesopotamian myths were very interesting, the characters had more depth than I expected and I appreciated the humanness Chanda gave to them. I’d definitely be interested in picking up a sequel if offered.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Please check TW/CW.

I loved this book. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. I mean I expected to like it, but I didn’t expect to be as emotionally attached to the characters as much as I ended up being.

This book really pulled on my heartstrings with the familial (biological and adoptive) and sibling relationships we see. Sikander, Daoud, Mo, Belet, and Ishtar are all so precious to me. I did shed a few tears (so many). The reunion and goodbye scenes actually have lived rent free in my mind the past few days. I can’t stop thinking about these characters and the love they have for each other.

Getting to see Gilgamesh was so interesting! Especially because he is immortal and is a retired, pacifist gardener living in New York.

Also, Nergal is terrifying. I am blaming him fully for the current virus.

An absolute stunner. Fans of the Tick Tiordan worlds and myths, Chadda does not disappoint. Manhattan meats Mesopotamia lore. Sik unknowingly is an immortal. Nergal seeks this immortal life. Thus begins the evil god against poor young Sik. Sik and his friend Belet, who might I add is the adopted daughter of The goddess Ishtar, are joined by Gilgamesh, which honestly is a great take on the mythological hero in modern era, to find the Flower of Immortality to save Manhattan, before Nergal gets to it first.

Perfect for middle grade and honestly anyone that grew up with Riordan books. The torch of Riordan’s myth universe inspires further myth tales by fresh authors with young characters to reach the hearts of middle grade readers

New York City kids will love this story because it's Rick Riordan Presents and it takes place in their hometown!

DNF'd at aruond 35%. I kept waiting for it to get funny and entertaining like the Percy Jackson or Kade seires, but it fell flat.

I absolutely loved this book! It caught my interest when I saw that it was based on Mesopotamian mythology- I remember briefly learning about Mesopotamia in elementary school and being utterly fascinated by it and learning about its gods and goddesses made me want to devour more information!

We follow Sik as he and his family are grieving the loss of his older brother while keeping their family deli afloat. When the family’s deli is attacked by Nergal, in search of the Flower of Immortality, Sik soon finds himself on an adventure to stop the plague that is now affecting Manhattan.

The characters in this story were so great to read; we meet Belet, who is the adopted daughter of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war and she is so unapologetically badass but we also see a softer side to her. Sik is so funny and quick witted but we can feel how much he still grieves for his brother and the grief is so palpable, I had to pause for a bit.

I would absolutely love to read more adventures with Sik & Belet. Would definitely recommend.

CW: Islamaphobia, death of a sibling, bullying, plague/pandemic

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda is a great book for tweens with a fast paced, engaging plot that keep my young readers turning the page. This is a great addition for 5th and 6th grade classrooms.

I'm running a little behind in my reviews, so I am fuzzy on a few details in the story. I read this before starting back teaching distance and in-person at the same time, so please forgive any vagueness in the review. I'm remembering more impressions than anything.

While I found it a bit strange to read about a plague god in the middle of a pandemic, the story made me laugh in quite a few places, but it grossed me out in even more places. I skimmed over some of those parts, but I have some students who will love them.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda is a spirited and historical book with a twist. My son and I loved reading this tale and would recommend to all children and parents as well!

I am a simple reader. I see Rick Riordan’s name. I click.
While I have not read each and every mythology from the Rick Riordan Presents publishing group, I try to keep up with all the various mythos and beliefs published each year. City of the plague God seemed both timely and interesting, coming out in the midst of the current COVID pandemic and taking place in one of the centers of major casualties: New York City.
Outside of the slightly unnerving coincidences, which Rick Riordan and the author Sarwat Chadda mention at the beginning of the book, the story is one of friendship and facing a hopeless situation with hope from within. Admittedly, I forgot about out real-life troubles still occurring with the pandemic because (spoiler) the plague was cured by the end of the book. This story will definitely stick with me both for its timing and the strength held by Sik and Belet throughout the story.

This was such a fun time!! It was so thrilling to see bits and pieces of my childhood weaved throughout the heart of this story. I'm so glad that through Rick Riordan Presents we get to see mythology stories from all over the globe through the eyes of gifted writers who grew up with those stories. I can't even begin to articulate how special and incredible of an experience it was to read a story that is so unapologetically Muslim while being portrayed in a positive light. It's so incredibly important to tell more stories in all forms of media that showcase Muslim joy. The negative connotation and representation in years past of Muslims has been detrimental and needs to be rectified; I'm so glad that in recent years we've had books like this to highlight Muslim voices and take the right steps towards remedying the false and harmful representation usually portrayed in media.

These children, gods in their own right, rampage through disaster after disaster, solving problems as they go. Great read!

Oh, I absolutely loved this one! I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this as much as I did because I'm not familiar with Mesopotamian mythology, but it was so fun to read and I absolutely fell in love with it. Sarwat Chadda paints a beautiful picture of Mesopotamian mythos, and one of Sik and his family. I loved the story and it kept me feeling excited every single page, so much so that I finished it in about 4 hours.

The only thing I wish is that there was more to come, especially with how the story left off with Belet and Ishtar. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing about this wonderful book.

My enjoyment of this book is definitely a case of "it's me, not you". Yet again I was enticed by a really cool synopsis, even though I know that the Chosen One trope frequently leaves me more exasperated than entertained. So shame on me. But regardless of my weird tastes, this book really delivers!

The good news is that the actual intended audience for this read will love it! Middle Grade readers will enjoy the snappy dialogue, Sik's witty remarks, and all of the nonstop action. All the things that didn't land with me as a boring adult reader will absolutely hit the mark with all the young readers Chadda aims to educate and entertain.

There are so many things Chadda does really well in this book. The mythology is really cool and he does a great job introducing characters that will be new for most readers in a very approachable way. Even though we don't get to know them as well as we could throughout an entire series, Chadda makes sure that readers take away the specific defining features for each character. AND he accomplishes all of this without being preachy or making it feel forced - introductions are woven into the action sequences in a seamless way that made the story move along really quickly. Fun note: kids will especially love the PG body horror some of these descriptions include! Personally, I enjoyed the cats (you'll see!)

Much like he weaves the myths into his tales, he also incorporates a lot of real world issues just as casually. Characters encounter racism and religious persecution, harmful stereotypes and some of the darker sides of the immigrant experience. These instances are stark and they stand out in Chadda's work, while being written so smoothly. Just like the myths, Chadda makes sure his readers are experiencing and learning as they go along. Nothing feels forced or unrealistic. It never feels like Chadda was writing off of a checklist of hot button issues. He just makes it work and it's really beautifully done.

Same skill level applies to how Chadda writes grief. It's very raw and confusing and can sometimes be combined with other conflicting emotions. I respect the heck out of the fact that he decided to bare all of those truths on the page. It's an unfortunate reality that many kids will relate to that journey, but it's just as important for those who can't to see it played out on the page, too. Added bonus points for not sugar coating anything for child audiences. Elements of Sik's story represent life for so many and I appreciate Chadda not being afraid to serve it up as it is just because his work is for younger audiences.

Aside from the many things that the author does really well, I also just enjoyed the fantastic Muslim and Iranian rep. There is even a bit of queer rep, although very subtle. Chadda crafts some great characters in these pages and I love thinking about how youngsters who don't often get to see themselves positively represented in media will have this epic hero tale to find themselves immersed in.

All in all, definitely a cool mythological adventure exploring relatively uncharted territory. Sassy characters, fast-paced action, and a ton of heart make this a really well-rounded standalone that any young reader would enjoy.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for a review copy.

This was a great, adventurous read. I enjoyed this unique mythology . I feel like it was set up at the end for a sequel, and I hope there is one to continue the story. I may also look for others in this imprint with different cultures.

Book Review: City of the Plague God
Middle Grade Fiction by Sarwat Chadda

A timely tale for our pandemic season, CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD draws on lesser-known Mesopotamian mythology to spin its tale of adventure in New York City.

Thirteen-year-old Sikander “Sik” Aziz works in his Iraqi refugee parents’ deli and mourns his dead brother Mo. One night, two demons show up demanding something for their boss, Nergal the Plague God, something they think Sik has. Rampaging through the deli, they infect Sik’s parents with a gruesome disease, turning them into patients zero. Only by the timely intervention of a mysterious girl ninja does Sik manage to escape.

With his parents in the hospital and infection spreading, Sik is taken in by Ishtar, the Goddess of Love and War. Turns out, her adopted daughter Belet is the surly ninja who rescued Sik. The three team up to defeat Nergal’s evil plans. They’re joined by Gilgamesh, now a pacifist vegan baker living in Central Park, and Kasusu, a sarcastic talking sword.

Throughout, the action is peppered with humorous bits and asides, as when Kasusu claims to have been Excalibur. “I thought Excalibur would have been a bit…bigger?” said Sik. Kasusu huffed. “Size isn’t everything.” Sik’s quips throughout help ground the mythological elements and make him seem more like a modern kid.

With help from a clever homeless girl, Sik and Belet locate the container ship Nergal arrived on, only to find that his infection has spread to many more New York residents, turning them into monsters or making them desperately ill. When Sik figures out that Nergal seeks a plant that grants immortality — a plant which Sik’s brother Mo sent back home from Iraq before his death — the race is on to find it before Nergal and his demons can.

In amidst the nonstop action, Chadda deftly weaves in details of Islamic culture: the soup kitchen run by the local imam; the experiences of Iraqi refugees; the way Hollywood typecasts Middle Eastern actors as villains; as well as the deli’s delicious kebabs, hummus and hot sauce. Muslim identity is a central theme here, and Chadda even addresses the dichotomy between Sik’s Muslim faith and the existence of gods and goddesses. (Cleverly labeled “The Thor Conundrum,” as in is Thor a god or a superhero?)

In the end, the story balances heart, action, and humor in a post-apocalyptic setting where teens can rise to a challenge and Muslims turn out to be heroes.

I loved this story about Sikander who spends his time working in his parent's deli after school but is now up against ancient Mesopotamian god, Nergal, god of disease. I think it is wonderful that kids are being introduced to such a wide variety of cultures and myths through the "Rick Riordan presents" imprint. I don't think I had ever read a book based on Mesopotamian mythology before and it has definitely sparked my curiosity and I am eager to learn more!