Sik is a faithful Muslim teenager living in New York, working at his parents' deli, and trying to get over the death of his older brother. When the ancient plague God Nergal wrecks the deli, searching for something he claims is stolen, Sik gets caught in the middle of an ancient feud and an endless search for immortal life. This is a page-turner and I can't wait to read more of Sik's adventures. I enjoyed that it also explores themes of grief and acceptance.

Adventure, powerful gods and heroes, bugging out (literally) monsters, talking sabers? This book is everything I hoped it would be. I was excited to read the ARC of City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda from Net Galley and It did not disappoint. I can't wait to get it in the library!

City of the Plague God follows 13-year old, Sikander Aziz, as he tries to save New York City from, Nergal, the ancient God of Plagues. Sikander, known as Sik to his family and friends, spends most of his time outside of school working in his family's deli. He enjoys his time there, but all of that is threatened when the deli is attacked one night by demons. They're searching for something. Obviously, it's something very important, but Sik has no idea what it could be. He owns nothing that could possibly be of value to a God.

Things spiral very quickly. The deli is destroyed and Sik's parents become quite ill, victims of a new plague. The disease is spreading and Sik knows that Nergal is behind it. He needs to figure out why and stop him before all of Manhattan succumbs. Luckily, Sik is not alone. He has a new friend, Belet, who just so happens to the be the adoptive daughter of the Goddess of Love and War, Ishtar. Together they discover something quite interesting about Sik. He's immortal and didn't even know it! More than that, he holds the secret to eternal life.

I absolutely loved this story. As always with the books published under the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint, it is full of humor and heart. Sarwat Chadda is an incredible writer. The entire story had a fluidity to it that was absolutely enchanting. The way it unfolded was just classic storytelling; so well done.

Having New York City as the setting was fantastic. Also, it was so nice to have a Muslim main character. While this story is based around ancient Mesopotamian mythology, Chadda also incorporated Sik's Muslim faith and Iraqi heritage in a way that was educational and organic. Sik starts out as an underdog in many ways and watching him rise to the occasion, learn and grow, it was just so satisfying.

Overall, this is an absolutely riveting story. One I would recommend to Readers of all ages. If you love mythology, action, humor and New York City, you should absolutely pick this one up!!! Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Books and Rick Riordan Presents, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I appreciate it so much. Now I need to go back and read all of Sarwat Chadda's other books!

Jam packed with action and adventure!
Perfect for middle grade boy's! The Gross factor is next level! Mesopotamian mythology brought to modern NYC its engaging and deals with some very difficult subjects. I applaud the diversity in the hero's brought to our children by RRP. This book is OV which makes it even more special.

My first introduction to this autbor was their book Devil's Kiss. It was a bit of a mature YA but one I still enjoyed and led me to pick up this book. This book I would put in the same category as more of older teens kind of book. However, it was still a very good read. The characters were real and interesting and each with their own agenda. Wonderful.

Another enjoyable fantasy from the RR Presents imprint. Sik is a pretty sympathetic narrator and many of the secondary characters are intriguing and nuanced. I enjoyed learning about some new folklore I was not familiar with. It is a bit gruesome so I'm not sure I'll buy it for my library, but will probably be a great fit for middle school libraries.

Sikander misses his brother so much but work in the deli keeps him busy. When an ancient god, Nergal, comes to visit Sik starts on a grand adventure. Nergal is looking for something and believes Sik's brother sent it to him. Enter Ishtar, Gilgamesh, and a host of other demons. Oh, and don't forget a plague that makes Sik's parents sick and then all of NYC. Can Sik find what Nergal is looking for and save everyone?

I truly love what Rick Riordan is doing with his imprints. This highlights ancient Mesopotamian stories like Gilgamesh and also helps normalize some wording that has been radicalized. This was really good.

For fans of Rick Riordan this one will be a must read. Tons of action and steady paced. The mythology is detailed with most of the mythical characters playing large parts of the story. They are a bit moderized to fit with the times but some of their back stories are added to the mix. While I thought 13 yr old Sik was a bit young to be dealing with what he does in the book nothing was romance based. I would not hesitate to buy this for my young nephews.

DNF at 15%
This book had some triggering content for me personally and was making me very uncomfortable. I would recommend this but I cannot read it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy to review.

Representation: Muslim-American MC, multiple Muslim supporting characters, one queer person (revealed much later in the book)

A Rick Riordan Presents book, this story tells us Mesopotamian legends, taking us far, far back to the stories of Gilgamesh, Babylon, the deities - Ishtar of love and war, and Nergal of plague and war. This takes place in present-day Manhattan, following thirteen-year-old Sikander Aziz, or Sik, who works at his parents’ deli in the evenings and goes to school. It’s a pretty simple and good life, until one night the deli gets completely destroyed by Nergal, who has come for Sik because he’s sure that Sik holds something important. Sik has to figure out what that is, and with the help of Belet, the adopted daughter of Ishtar, stop Nergal from completely destroying Manhattan and subsequently, the world.

Rating: 4/5 I LOVE that Riordan has this imprint, because I really enjoy learning about all the various mythologies and beliefs around the world. This was incredible! It touched on family, loss, grief, how people deal with that in their own way, Islamophobia and bullies, but it also has snarky jokes, badass fights, god-tier nonsense. Mesopotamian lore is woven throughout, and it was really fun learning about that! If you enjoy the style of the Riordan books or any that were published under this imprint, you’ll like this. Of course, you might not want to read it at the moment since it has a plague in it, so that’s completely understandable. I enjoyed the legend-making regardless.

This book discuses one of the most challenging life experiences that a human will ever face: loss and grief. In a way, I wish I wasn't able to relate so closely to Sik and his experiences.. but when I was going through one of the hardest experiences of my life, Sik and his wit, humor, love, pain, and stories were right there beside me, lending me a hand to hold when I felt I needed a friend.

Chadda writes a wonderful mix of modern times, mythology and culture- while also being a fantastic successor of Rick Riordan; it's very clear how much Rick has inspired him. As I was reading, I found myself laughing and really loving riding along Sik's antics. I think he and our fellow sea loving demi-god would be very, very good friends if they ever had a chance to meet.

This is a strong, fantastic start to another great Rick Riordan Presents series that I am eager to follow along with. There is definitely an opening for continuation, and I hope very much that we can see this series flourish. I highly, highly encourage you pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved it. In my opinion this is one of, if not the strongest, of the Rick Riordan presents books. It’s funny, creepy, and overall a beautiful adventure story. There are few books I’ve read that speak so eloquently about grief and loss

I loved the viewpoint because the hero doesn't see himself as a hero. It reveals a culture and mythology that most in America don't view positively. It really puts them in a whole new light. Very good read!

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint has never let me down before, and indeed, this time through the brilliant lens of Sarwat Chadda, once again I am beyond impressed. I feel that well written books based upon any culture's mythology, transcend age, and this will indeed strike the attention of more than just a Middle Grade audience.

I was enthralled from beginning to end of this perfectly paced, action packed novel. With this gorgeously written, fascinating delve into American Muslim culture and Mesopotamian mythology, Sarwat Chadda blew me away, most certainly hitting bulls eye. I will most definitely picking up anything he has to offer in the future. We need more diverse books in this world, and he hit the mark on this front, as well, with wonderfully & adventurously written prose.

Through the eyes of an American Muslim, Sik, we step into a beautifully crafted fresh piece of diverse literature & look into a fascinating cultural mythology, based upon the Epic of Gilgamesh. I truly loved Sik's bravery & dedication to his family. This undoubtedly sends an important message, about strength, loyalty, and bravery, especially to the target middle grade audience, as well as audiences of all ages.

Anyone who reads about Sik, who will freely step up & take on gods of ancient Mesopotamia when they show up on his doorstep, his hometown, New York City, to keep his parents, who are refugees from Iraq, American dream alive, and try to save those & the city he loves at all costs, will most definitely leave an impression on any reader.

Stepping into the absolutely enthralling world that Sarwat Chadda has crafted masterfully, was a joy. I love all that this book has to offer, and has indeed, left an impression on me, and has increased my love for the Rick Riordan Presents imprint all the more.

I will definitely be recommending this book to all.

I really enjoyed this story. I don't know much about Muslim religion, mythology, or culture and the story provided the perfect window to this world. I loved the characters, especially the cats! I will be recommending this to my patrons.

I received City of the Plague God after attending a virtual conference and while I had been looking forward to reading it, I never expected that I would enjoy it as much as I did.

If you are looking to dive into some myths and legends that may not be as familiar to you as those of the Greeks and Romans, this is a great gateway introduction to all that the Middle East has to offer in that realm. I had certainly heard of Ishtar and Gilgamesh, but this story presented them in a way that made me want to explore their tales outside of it as well.

This book takes you on a journey with a young man named Sikander, who along with his schoolmate, Belet, go on an epic adventure to save the city of New York from the Plague God, Nergal. This is a story of family, friendship, adventure, and digging deep to find the hero inside yourself. It also deals with topics of loss, healing, and recovering from devastating life events.

The Rick Riordin presents series is doing a wonderful job of bringing these lesser mainstream stories to light.

City of the Plague God is a delightful dive into Mesopotamia history with a wonderfully diverse and authentic host of characters that Chadda brings to life in every page. I have to say, I think I have a new favorite Riordan Imprint book. City of the Plague God follows Sikander, the son of Iraqi refugees, after his family's deli is attacked by plague god demons looking for something they're convinced his deceased brother stole from Iraq. Barely escaping with his life, he teams up with Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, and Belet, her adopted daughter, as they try and stop Nergal, the Mesopotamian god of plague and war, as he causes a plague to grip New York City. Though uncomfortably reminiscent of our current pandemic situation, the Plague God brings a little hope and levity to quarantine--who knows, maybe a 13 year old kid will descend on us from the sky in his cat chariot?

Chaddat brings much-needed representation to children's fiction, not shying away from using words like jihad and saying Allahu Akbar and other Arabic phrases deemed "scary" by so many xenophobes. Sik's story and New York family feel authentic and Chaddat makes you care deeply about their lives, their grief, and their love. You'll meet gods and demigods you may not have heard of before, or some that feel as familiar as Zeus. For readers young and old, this is a great adventure that readers of all ages will love.

Another home run from the Rick Riordan Presents publishers, City of the Plague God is a fast-paced adventure from the beginning. Chadda mixes ancient Mesopotamian mythology with modern New York while creating characters who are full of humor, heart and humanity, even if they are some times immortal. Mixed in with these new characters are ones from ancient stories that most readers won’t recognize but will find fascinating. For those readers who have grown up hearing about these gods, goddesses, and other mythological characters, they will enjoy seeing them brought to life in this creative story which hints at a sequel to come. Readers of all ages will enjoy this exciting book!

I have been a fan of almost all of the Rick Riordan Presents books. City of the Plague God is no different, but it's a hard book to read in this time of actual plague.

[su_quote style="modern-orange" cite="Goodreads" url=”GOODREADS LINK TO YOUR BOOK"]

Characters from the Epic of Gilgamesh populate this high-stakes contemporary adventure in which all of Manhattan is threatened by the ancient god of plagues.

Thirteen-year-old Sik wants a simple life going to school and helping at his parents' deli in the evenings. But all that is blown to smithereens when Nergal comes looking for him, thinking that Sik holds the secret to eternal life.Turns out Sik is immortal but doesn't know it, and that's about to get him and the entire city into deep, deep trouble.

Sik's not in this alone. He's got Belet, the adopted daughter of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, on his side, and a former hero named Gilgamesh, who has taken up gardening in Central Park. Now all they have to do is retrieve the Flower of Immortality to save Manhattan from being wiped out by disease. To succeed, they'll have to conquer sly demons, treacherous gods, and their own darkest nightmares. [/su_quote]

I received an eARC of City of the Plague God via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

City of the Plague God needs content warnings for plague, Islamophobia, racism, ableist language, grief & loss depiction, death of a mother on page, death of a brother via motorcycle accident (in past, discussed intensely on page), blood and gore, hospitalization, discussion of homelessness, discussion of immigration issues, and murder.

Sik is a devout Muslim and refers to his quest as a jihad and it felt really real and beautiful. He even talks to Ishtar about his faith and how he doesn't really believe in her as a goddess, and it's a lovely conversation.

My heart broke with how much Sikander loved his family and their deli, and how far he would go to protect all of them. I also really appreciated how Daoud doesn't really change from the beginning of the novel. Instead, the way Sik sees him changes as he realizes more of who his brother's friend really is. The way they worked together to save the world made me incredibly happy.

It also broke my heart as I realized how similar and how different their world's reaction to new disease was. We don't get the full picture because Sik is barely in the real world, but we do see the racism that people attach to his family simply because Nergal came to New York via their home.

One thing that I loved about this book was the way that the author refused to name any slurs that were used in the book. They were just called slurs or racist and that was that. I felt that it was a good way to say that yes, it happened, without forcing the kids this book is intended for to read those slurs.

I wish that the solution they came up with would work on COVID, but alas, this is the real world. So I'll happily recommend this book for anyone who can handle reading about the plague right now. You can pick up a copy from Bookshop or Amazon through our affiliate links!

[su_box title="ABOUT CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD" style="default" box_color="#ff4400" title_color="#f2f2f2" radius="3" class=""]

Title: City of the Plague God

Author: Sarwat Chadda

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Length: 400 Pages

Release Date: January 12, 2021

Rating: Recommended

Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary Fantasy

Representation: Muslim Iraqi-American Male main character, Muslim Author, Iraqi female main character, Muslim Iraqi male author

[/su_box]

Disclaimer: All links to Indiebound, Bookshop.org, The Book Depository, The Ripped Bodice and Amazon are affiliate links. If you buy through those links, LFAI will make a small amount of money off of the sale.

This book is another stunning addition to my growing collection of middle grade mythologies. Growing up, the Epic of Gilgamesh was a story revered and seeing this interpretation of a high stakes adventure set in the modern times was an incredible reading experience. I love the characters, the banter, the fast paced action and tension, and the overall immaculate vibes of this book. Can't wait to see how the rest of Sik's adventures unfold!

The latest entry in the Rick Riordan Presents series, Sarwat Chadda's City of the Plague God introduces us to Sikander Aziz, younger son of Iraqi refugee parents, and his kind-of-friend Belet, adopted daughter of the goddess Ishtar. Sikander, whose parents run a popular Arabic/Mediterranean deli, misses his older brother Mo, who recently passed away. Sik is only thirteen but is a very responsible young man, who helps his parents run their business in lower Manhattan. Imagine his shock when the Mesopotamian god Nergal shows up with some demons (one of which speaks entirely in rhyming couplets) claiming that Sik has something that his brother Mo stole! Saved by the feisty Belet, the adopted daughter of Ishtar, goddess of love and war, Sik embarks, rather unwillingly, on an adventure to save Manhattan, his parents, and his friends, from Nergal the Plague God, whose plague dogs run rampant in the city Sik loves.

Chadda has written a well-paced and truly fascinating tale using Gilgamesh and the gods and goddesses of Mesopotamian mythology. He also manages to reframe aspects of Arabic and Islamic culture in ways that are instructive for teaching tolerance and understanding. (In particular, I loved his use of common Islamic terms that are all too often misused or misconstrued, such as jihad, a righteous struggle that is often personal.) Chadda touches on the prejudice and bullying that Sik has had to put up with, though Sik is rather inured to it at this point. But this story makes young readers identify strongly with Sikander, his love of family and his feelings of loss for his brother. Belet is also a fabulous, fearless character. I hope that we will see more novels from Chadda in this world. This novel, begun before the start of the pandemic, encourages young people to be strong in the face of our present adversity.

The audiobook, narrated by Vikas Adam, was delightful.

I received an advance review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.