Release: January 12th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, Kobo, TBD.
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Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD, an adventure based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology written by Sarwat Chadda, author of the Ash Mistry series. Characters from the Epic of Gilgamesh populate this high-stakes contemporary adventure in which all of Manhattan is under threat 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 get fragmented when Nergal comes looking for him, thinking that Sik holds the secret to eternal life. As it 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.
However, 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 extinction by disease. To succeed, they’ll have to conquer sly demons, treacherous gods, and their own darkest nightmares.
About the Author:
Anyway, now he’s trying to settle in one place and stay out of trouble. Hence his new career as a writer. Also, It’s safe indoors and avoids any form of physical danger.
Throughout his travels, Sarwat has soaked up the myths, legends, and cultures of faraway places. Now, with the Ash Mistry series, he aims to bring these unfamiliar tales of ten-headed demons and blue-skinned heroes back home and put them beside the exploits of Achilles and Thor. His heroes are Prince Rama and the demon-slaying Kali. Isn’t it about time you met them too?
City of the Plague God Review:
I finished reading City of the Plague God in one sitting and could not put it down!
Firstly, I love that the main characters are Muslims. The author did not shy away from representing the characters and the dialogues honestly, and I applaud him. Sik is a great character who gets scared and confused yet faces his fears. I loved his friendship with Belet. She is grouchy most of the time, but she does grow on you. Similarly, I loved Daoud and the energy and comic relief he brought to the story.
Secondly, I loved the Mesopotamian references. I have not idea about Mesopotamian culture and mythology, and it is just fascinating. After reading this story, I researched more on Nergal, Ereshkigal, Ishtar, and Gilgamesh. Additionally, the author wrote the cultural references in a simple yet engaging manner that makes you invested in the culture.
Moreover, the author maintains the same adventurous energy that all “Rick Riordan Presents” books represent. He paces the story in an attractive manner, where the plot builds up with twists and turns. Consequently, as someone completely unfamiliar with the mythology, I had no idea how direction the story would go. There were many memorable moments in the story, like when Sik meets Mo or when Ishtar faces Nergal. Nergal was a ruthless villain and genuinely devious. While it sounds cliched, I enjoyed how he takes over Manhattan with his Poxies.
Although the story is purely fiction, few passages felt very close to reality and unnerved me. Notably, the way the virus spreads reminded me of the difficult time we faced in 2020. Overall, the story is lovely, adventurous, and very creative, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. In my opinion, City of the Plague God is a beautiful addition to the series.
