Thirteen-year-old Sikander Aziz has to team up with the hero Gilgamesh in order to stop Nergal, the ancient god of plagues, from wiping out the population of Manhattan in this adventure based on Mesopotamian mythology.
City of the Plague God
By sarwatchadda
Sik thought he was a normal teenager, he attends school, has fun with friends and helps in the family Deli, where you will taste the best falafel sandwich of your life. He had a quiet life until Nergal, the plague god, attacks the Deli, spreading a strange disease, starting with Sik’s parents, then New York City.
Sik is on a mission, find a cure to the disease and stop Nergal, and he will not be alone, he will have the help of Belet, a classmate that was trained in weapons thanks to his adoptive mother, the goddess Ishtar, Daoud, a co-worker and other mythical compantions, important in Mesopotemic culture.
It is a novel full of adventures, I loved the mix between Mesopotamian mythology, Arabic and Muslim stories, it has a good balance between ancient mythology and current religion and it is not necessary to have prior knowledge, everything is explained in an entertaining way.
Love the plot twists, I did not see them coming, was my favorite part of the novel, Sik’s adventure, it was not only a journey to find a cure, it was also a journey of personal and spiritual growth.
It is a standalone, which leaves you wanting to know more, although Sik’s story is well-closed, the other characters deserve their own adventure.
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.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, Rick Riordan presents and Sarwat Chadda for the ARC of City of the Plague God in exchange for an honest review.
Sikander is an average, normal boy living in NYC, going to school and helping in his parents Deli. His family is still mourning the loss of his brother 2 years ago. Sik is approached by demons who want something they think Sik’s brother stole from them. Sik doesn’t know what they are talking about or that he is immortal. A ninja steps in to help him fight the demons and he finds out the ninja is Balet, a girl from school. This story shows friendship, which can be platonic between boys and girls, a strong family, mourning a loved one and strength in faith.
I enjoy mythology so as always, I enjoyed that aspect but also the positive theme of the Muslim faith. Young people need to see more of this and I hope this book helps with understanding and acceptance.
Fantastic fantasy adventure, full of Mesopotamian mythology, great characters, and worldbuilding. This story is more than that though it is about friendship, family, and loss, mixed with different cultures and modern times. Extremely entertaining for young readers, fast-paced, and very exciting making it a perfect read for all.
I Have a Wok
Sarwat Chadda brings his own voice to Rick Riordan Presents, with ancient Iraqi myth. After the death of his brother Mo, all Sikander Aziz (Sik) wants to do is work at his Parent’s deli. When his home is threatened by demons looking for something Mo left behind. With the help of Belet, Sik must become the hero of his own story. It just might take some time for him to actually believe that Mesopotamian myth is real. Sik and Belet deal with family, bulling, gross demons, and a plague god. In an original, action packed, dryly sarcastic, adventure to save the world. So, a warning for those sensitive to pandemic narratives. Though, it is satisfying to have a character fight back against a pandemic. The difficulty is that not many people have read Mesopotamian myths. Sarwat Chadda often describes certain mythos and characters compared to other Greek, Britain, and Norse mythologies. Gilgamesh is apparently King Arthur, Heracles, and Thor times fifty thousand. Which, without knowing who these characters are, could be hyperbolic or true. Thankfully, Sik knows his Mesopotamian myth and terminology really well. As he does a fairly good job of defining each new term clearly, and fluidly. There are also a lot of heavy issues and themes tackled in this in this one book. Racism, war, homelessness, religion, and human trafficking to name a few. It is good to have a YA book that does not gloss over real issues, but there is not a lot of fun left in between. City of the Plague God is a great representation of Mesopotamian myth, and a dynamic read.