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paigereitz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
tinky47's review against another edition
5.0
Sik has a busy life; helping his parents run their Manhattan deli and cope with the traumatic loss of his older brother with the help of his brother's best friend, Daud. Mo was killed in a recent trip to the Middle East. Everywhere they look Mo has left memories, and it's hard to go on without him. Late after closing up the deli one night, the deli is attacked by strange creatures. They destroy the deli searching for a stolen treasure, and Sik is terrified and bewildered at the same time, but receives help from a stranger to fight them off.
Sik is taken to a hospital to treat the wounds a blisters from his fight, but is declared patient zero in a plague and kept in isolation. When he is attacked again by the same creatures in his hospital room, Belet, the stranger comes to his rescue again and takes him to her adopted mother, a goddess. Ishtar reveals the true reason for the attacks: a search for the Flower of Immortality.
With the help of Ishtar, Daud, and Belet, Sik battles, gods, demons, and fights to save his parents and his city from a deadly plague.
Sik is taken to a hospital to treat the wounds a blisters from his fight, but is declared patient zero in a plague and kept in isolation. When he is attacked again by the same creatures in his hospital room, Belet, the stranger comes to his rescue again and takes him to her adopted mother, a goddess. Ishtar reveals the true reason for the attacks: a search for the Flower of Immortality.
With the help of Ishtar, Daud, and Belet, Sik battles, gods, demons, and fights to save his parents and his city from a deadly plague.
wiltedpages's review against another edition
5.0
The book opens with Sikander Aziz, a 13 year old boy who works at his parents’ deli and shoves himself into work to avoid dealing with accepting the death of his brother, Mo, who died two years ago. Since then, Mo’s best friend, Daoud has moved into Mo’s room and annoys Sik just like Mo used to.
On one particular night, he hears noises outside so he goes outside of the deli to investigate, armed with a wok (this is important because he only fights with food for the rest of the book). He goes outside to see two ugly alien creatures that are intently discussing how to take Sik out of his home, for unknown reasons. Soon after the creatures get violent, a ninja shows up to save Sik by fighting off Toady and Ratty (the nicknames Sik gives to the monsters).
The next day at school, Sik is covered in hives, courtesy of Sidana and Idiptu (aka Toady and Ratty). Almost immediately, he’s thrown in detention for being snarky in class, along with his classmate, Belet, who’s a snooty, rich, possibly British, student who’s supposedly gotten kicked out of every school she’s been in so far. When they encounter some bullies on their way to detention, Belet beats them up, just like Sik’s mysterious ninja savior from the night before. Wanting answers, he’s brought to Belet’s house, where her adopted mother, Ishtar, explains that Nergal wants something from Sik.
Sik still has no idea what Nergal wants.
I loved this book. I really really hope there’s more. Sarwat Chadda is a fantastic writer and this is the best book I’ve read in over a year, no doubt. 5/5.
For my full review: check out my blog: https://wiltedpages.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/book-review-city-of-the-plague-god-by-sarwat-chadda/
On one particular night, he hears noises outside so he goes outside of the deli to investigate, armed with a wok (this is important because he only fights with food for the rest of the book). He goes outside to see two ugly alien creatures that are intently discussing how to take Sik out of his home, for unknown reasons. Soon after the creatures get violent, a ninja shows up to save Sik by fighting off Toady and Ratty (the nicknames Sik gives to the monsters).
The next day at school, Sik is covered in hives, courtesy of Sidana and Idiptu (aka Toady and Ratty). Almost immediately, he’s thrown in detention for being snarky in class, along with his classmate, Belet, who’s a snooty, rich, possibly British, student who’s supposedly gotten kicked out of every school she’s been in so far. When they encounter some bullies on their way to detention, Belet beats them up, just like Sik’s mysterious ninja savior from the night before. Wanting answers, he’s brought to Belet’s house, where her adopted mother, Ishtar, explains that Nergal wants something from Sik.
Sik still has no idea what Nergal wants.
I loved this book. I really really hope there’s more. Sarwat Chadda is a fantastic writer and this is the best book I’ve read in over a year, no doubt. 5/5.
For my full review: check out my blog: https://wiltedpages.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/book-review-city-of-the-plague-god-by-sarwat-chadda/
hmcdade's review against another edition
5.0
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you @netgalley for the preview of this awesome book by Sawat Chadda. As a Middle school librarian with Muslim students I am excited for City of the Plague God and my students to meet. This is a perfect mesh of Middle Eastern tales, NY and adventure. Fun!!
Thank you @netgalley for the preview of this awesome book by Sawat Chadda. As a Middle school librarian with Muslim students I am excited for City of the Plague God and my students to meet. This is a perfect mesh of Middle Eastern tales, NY and adventure. Fun!!
libbey_wolfe's review against another edition
5.0
I'd recommend City of the Plague God to anyone who enjoyed reading the Percy Jackson Series or the Aru Shah series. I myself got so immersed in Sikander "Sik" Aziz's adventure that I finished the book in a less than a day. If I could give it 1o stars I would.
hudsone45's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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
4.0
marieintheraw's review against another edition
4.0
I love the old-school mythology in this one, unfortunately, some of the story-telling wasn't as smooth as I was hoping for in this. I am super grateful to call this one of my first myth-ish books of the year.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sik Aziz lives an ordinary life in New York City, working at the deli owned by his Iraqi, Muslim, immigrant parents. Things have been hard ever since his older brother, Mo, died in an accident while in Iraq, helping rebuild the country he was born in and left as a small child. Mo was the adventurous one, the one who breathed life into everything, the storyteller. And as much as Sik misses him, he can't help but resent his brother for abandoning him--not just by dying, but going off on his own adventures, both in the city and abroad.
Adventure comes to Sik one night in the form of two demons who attack the deli, demanding a treasure that Mo supposedly stole, one that grants immortality. The next day, Sik's parents fall deathly ill with a sickness no one has ever seen before. And it is spreading, and spreading fast all over the city. It is the wrath of the Mesopotamian plague god, Nergal, raining down on the city, trying to force Sik to hand over the treasure. But Sik can't hand over what he doesn't have. And obviously Mo didn't find the secret of immortality: he's dead.
Nevertheless, Sik knows that it is his jihad to stop Nergal, and teams up with Ishtar, the goddess of love and war; her adopted daughter, Belet, who is basically a ballerina ninja; Sik's coworker/Mo's best friend/actor wannabe Daoud; a talking scimitar; and an army of cats. Adventures, secrets, and living legends await in the newest highly anticipated title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint!
"City of the Plague God" is highly addictive (read it all in pretty much one sitting!) and an amazing introduction for many young readers (and adults!) into one of the oldest mythologies in the world, Mesopotamian! This is also a phenomenal first in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, as Sik is the first Muslim main character. Chadda is a masterful storyteller from start to finish, beautifully blending ancient and modern, with fantastic contemporary characters and wonderful utilization of mythological figures. At this point, "City of the Plague God" is a stand-alone, but fingers crossed for more of Sik and Belet!
Sik Aziz lives an ordinary life in New York City, working at the deli owned by his Iraqi, Muslim, immigrant parents. Things have been hard ever since his older brother, Mo, died in an accident while in Iraq, helping rebuild the country he was born in and left as a small child. Mo was the adventurous one, the one who breathed life into everything, the storyteller. And as much as Sik misses him, he can't help but resent his brother for abandoning him--not just by dying, but going off on his own adventures, both in the city and abroad.
Adventure comes to Sik one night in the form of two demons who attack the deli, demanding a treasure that Mo supposedly stole, one that grants immortality. The next day, Sik's parents fall deathly ill with a sickness no one has ever seen before. And it is spreading, and spreading fast all over the city. It is the wrath of the Mesopotamian plague god, Nergal, raining down on the city, trying to force Sik to hand over the treasure. But Sik can't hand over what he doesn't have. And obviously Mo didn't find the secret of immortality: he's dead.
Nevertheless, Sik knows that it is his jihad to stop Nergal, and teams up with Ishtar, the goddess of love and war; her adopted daughter, Belet, who is basically a ballerina ninja; Sik's coworker/Mo's best friend/actor wannabe Daoud; a talking scimitar; and an army of cats. Adventures, secrets, and living legends await in the newest highly anticipated title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint!
"City of the Plague God" is highly addictive (read it all in pretty much one sitting!) and an amazing introduction for many young readers (and adults!) into one of the oldest mythologies in the world, Mesopotamian! This is also a phenomenal first in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, as Sik is the first Muslim main character. Chadda is a masterful storyteller from start to finish, beautifully blending ancient and modern, with fantastic contemporary characters and wonderful utilization of mythological figures. At this point, "City of the Plague God" is a stand-alone, but fingers crossed for more of Sik and Belet!
librariansrule's review against another edition
4.0
So much fun! Kids will absorb this book and then beg for the next one.