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Cover of THE GODS OF NEW YORK
4.28

Based on 323 Goodreads ratings

THE GODS OF NEW YORK

by his perceived mismanagement on numerous fronts. Corruption scandals undermined his administration. Homelessness surged, due in part to federal funding cuts, reductions in mental health in\u002Dpatient care, and local government failures. AIDS was killing thousands of New Yorkers. With City Hall slow to act on the latter, playwright and activist Larry Kramer tried to out the closeted mayor and lambasted federal health officials like Anthony Fauci. Conservative writer William F. Buckley Jr. said people with HIV should be tattooed to prevent its spread. Meanwhile, crack decimated poor neighborhoods, as “an inherently biased law” imprisoned many Black users and spared white users of powder cocaine. Violent crime and racial conflict stoked by tabloids made Al Sharpton famous and fueled international interest in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Rudy Giuliani’s profile rose as he prosecuted Wall Street crooks. And Donald Trump, after making some bad business deals, “was now refashioning himself into the city’s white id,” Mahler writes. When Trump made inflammatory statements after five Black and Latino teens were accused—falsely, it turned out—of raping a woman in Central Park in 1989, famed columnist Jimmy Breslin wrote that he had “destroyed himself” as “all demagogues ultimately do.”"

Book Details

Publisher:Park in
Published:1989-01-01
Pages:465
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780525510

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This urban fantasy adventure plunges readers into a New York City where ancient deities walk the streets disguised as ordinary citizens, blending mythic stakes with contemporary city life. The narrat...

Our Review

This urban fantasy adventure plunges readers into a New York City where ancient deities walk the streets disguised as ordinary citizens, blending mythic stakes with contemporary city life. The narrative follows a young protagonist who discovers the city's supernatural underbelly, forcing them to navigate a hidden world of divine politics and mortal danger. Vivid descriptions transform iconic New York landmarks into settings for epic confrontations, making the familiar landscape thrillingly unpredictable. The fast-paced plot weaves together elements of various world mythologies, creating a rich tapestry where gods from different pantheons coexist in a fragile, modern equilibrium.

What sets this story apart is its clever exploration of how ancient powers adapt—or fail to adapt—to the 21st century, examining themes of belief, power, and relevance in a rapidly changing world. The protagonist's journey from ordinary city dweller to key player in divine affairs provides a compelling entry point for young readers, balancing extraordinary circumstances with relatable emotional growth. Teen readers who enjoy mythology retellings and urban fantasies will find themselves completely absorbed by this fresh take on legendary figures navigating contemporary challenges. The novel successfully makes the case that magic and divinity might be hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right person to notice.

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