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Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents CITY OF THE PLAGUE GOD, an adventure based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology written by Sarwat Chadda, author of the Ash Mistry series."An epic worthy of Gilgamesh. Chadda brings attention to the less well-recognized mythology of ancient Mesopotamia with engaging humor and wit."--Kirkus ReviewsThirteen-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."Featuring gods and goddesses, and importantly, Muslim heroes, this #OwnVoices tale eerily echoes our pandemic presents; but readers will find escape in the entertaining balance of an apocalyptic setting with irreverent humor."--School Library JournalLook for these other best-selling Rick Riordan Presents titles:

• Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
• The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes
• Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
• Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
• Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

In the heart of a vibrant city pulsates a sinister secret, a clandestine world thriving beneath its bustling streets. This is Mumbai, a city teetering on the brink of disaster. The year is 1918, and the Great Plague has descended upon the world, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Within the labyrinthine alleys and crowded marketplaces, a young girl named Tara is about to embark on a perilous journey that will challenge her beliefs and reveal the extraordinary truth about her city.

Tara is an apprentice nurse, working tirelessly amidst the chaos of the plague-stricken city. Her days are spent tending to the sick and dying, her nights filled with fear and uncertainty. But when her beloved grandmother falls victim to the deadly disease, Tara is determined to find a cure. Little does she know that her grandmother held ancient knowledge, stories of a hidden city beneath Mumbai, where a powerful god lies entombed - a god capable of controlling the plague.

Driven by the unwavering belief that saving her grandmother's life is the key to halting the plague, Tara delves into a subterranean world teeming with mystical creatures and malevolent forces. With the help of a resourceful street urchin, Jai, and an enigmatic historian, Dr. Desai, Tara navigates the labyrinthine tunnels and uncovers the secrets of the city of the plague god. Along the way, she uncovers a plot that threatens not only Mumbai but the entire world.

As Tara delves deeper into the mystery, she finds that the city's fate is intertwined with her own destiny. She discovers a power within her that she never knew existed, a power capable of shaping the course of history. With courage and determination, Tara confronts the forces that threaten to destroy her city and discovers that she is capable of more than she ever imagined.

In this thrilling and haunting tale, Sarwat Chadda weaves a world of magic and danger, where ancient legends collide with the harsh realities of a plague-ridden city. City of the Plague God is a captivating story of courage, friendship, and the power of one girl to change the world.