City of the Plague God, by Sarwat Chadda

[mrissa]

Review copy provided by the publisher.

I am worried about this book.

It's a romp through Mesopotamian mythology, transported into the present day in a story about a Sikander, an Iraqi-American kid who works at his parents' New York deli. Gilgamesh makes cookies, there are some truly excellent cats and demons and fashionistas--generally it's a really fun middle grade fantasy.

I am concerned that people might not find that out for themselves, because of the title and the year in which it's coming out.

And I can't even say, oh no, that's just a marketing convention...because actually it's not, it definitely is a book about a plague god ravaging New York, all sorts of people get horrifically ill in this book, including the protagonist's parents. There is a section where the protag can't visit his unconscious parents in their hospital rooms but can only observe them through the windows, and...yep, that's a very real thing right now. If you're not up for dealing with that in your fun kids' fantasy, you're going to want to steer clear of this quite well-done book, because that's the book it is. With writing and publishing being what they are, I expect it was written before any of this, and yet...well. You can see why I'd be concerned. It's sort of an "enjoy at your peril" situation.

Comments

[swan_tower]

My tactic with things like this has been to buy them on the understanding that I'm not going to read them right now. Which is only a partial solution, since books depend for their success on people talking about them and getting other people to buy them . . . but at least I can do that much.

Library

[magenta]

The Hennepin County Library has it on order, so I put in a hold By the time I get it, I may feel I can read it.

[sovay]

it definitely is a book about a plague god ravaging New York

Is this a book featuring Nergal?!

[mrissa]

Centrally. Yes.

[sovay]

Centrally. Yes.

Sold. All other underworld figures a bonus.

[mrissa]

You will find some bonus.

[sovay]

You will find some bonus.

*crosses fingers for Namtar, will settle for any number of demons*

Thank you for the heads-up on the existence of this book.

[davidgillon]

That subject and timing is sort of anti-serendipitous. It might attract a few readers, but I'm pretty certain it'll be too close to the bone for many.

[thanate]

preordered, thank you. Fingers crossed for you, little book.