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clairesle's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a recommendation from a friend. I am glad I gave it a chance, although it's much longer than the books I usually read. I enjoyed being whisked away to tenements in New York, the deserts of Syria, and more.The juxtaposition of a hot.-headed Jinni and a soft, kind Golem made for good characters. The descriptions from the author were vivid. Although I don't really think I learned anything from this read, I did find it enjoyable, as well as a good push on my reading stamina. Now I know I am capable of reading 20+ hour audiobooks! Whoo-hoo!
fadae's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
god this book made me feel like i was going to cry, throw up, pass out, and scream all at once. i’m writing this review as i’m ugly crying over the epilogue.
this book asks: what does it mean to be human? what is love? and what is freedom?
through the Jinni, we learn that every choice, every action has consequences. that to be human means to be apart of something bigger—a community, a family.
through the Golem, we learn that empathy is innate and that our nature can be challenged. that to be human means to choose love, to choose ourselves.
this book is a love story… not of romantic love, but of connection and understanding between two beings that is totally undefinable and beyond comprehension. though they were, at their cores, opposites, they chose to be together, to fight for each other, and to return to each other.
i would also love to note the gender commentary (the woman is a creature that required a master and the man is the creature that requires freedom) but i am too emotional right now!
anyway. helene, when i find you, it is sooooo over!
this book asks: what does it mean to be human? what is love? and what is freedom?
through the Jinni, we learn that every choice, every action has consequences. that to be human means to be apart of something bigger—a community, a family.
through the Golem, we learn that empathy is innate and that our nature can be challenged. that to be human means to choose love, to choose ourselves.
this book is a love story… not of romantic love, but of connection and understanding between two beings that is totally undefinable and beyond comprehension. though they were, at their cores, opposites, they chose to be together, to fight for each other, and to return to each other.
i would also love to note the gender commentary (the woman is a creature that required a master and the man is the creature that requires freedom) but i am too emotional right now!
anyway. helene, when i find you, it is sooooo over!
ceskyk's review against another edition
5.0
A truly wonderful story that explores the challenges for new immigrants to NYC in early 1900s. Beautifully blending the surreal and reality, Wecker takes an oft-explored theme and approaches it from the viewpoint of characters that are twice removed from the local culture, both as immigrants and mythical creatures. Very much worth reading!
93ali_mod's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
bridge_enginerd's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
yehudit_r's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great read from start to finish. All the characters were so well developed. The mythology was obviously very well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
everybody's review against another edition
This is the slowest novel I've read in a long time.
I liked following the lives of the protagonists but I couldn't stand waiting endlessly for the obvious to happen.
This is the reason I dropped the book. I got sick and tired of waiting for the plot, which is obviously being set up, to happen. I would've loved reading the same world, same protagonists but without this painfully slow plot.
I haven't actually seen much of the plot itself yet but the basic setup is incredibly obvious and I found the suspense very tiring beyond a certain point.
It felt like dying of thirst while only being able to drink through an absurdly thin straw.
The main bad guy was introduced early on and revealed as the antagonist sometime later, but up to the 50% mark there didn't actually happen ANYTHING. We know who he is, we know what he wants, and a few very cheap plot conveniences have been put in place early on to provide him with the means. I've listened to 10 hours of very enjoyable nothing but I am not willing to wait another 8 hours for the plot to finally happen.
Something I loved about this book is how things are complicated. This is something most books I've read fail at miserably and which is one of the main reasons a lot of writing appears so cheap and clichéed.
Even if the only way of saving the universe is to accomplish some impossible task, things just seem too simple, too neat most of the time.
The world is messy and convoluted. Things just don't align nicely.
On one hand, this book nails this in regards to the cast and their individual backstories but on the other hand, it very much fails at this exact hurdle in regards to the actual plot.
The protagonists are complex and flawed enough to be interesting and the author managed to give an amazing sense of time and place.
I enjoyed the various philosophical discussions that characters had with each other and the author had with the reader or whatnot.
Maybe I am just damaged by the fast-food of fantasy I'm reading most of the time.
I liked following the lives of the protagonists but I couldn't stand waiting endlessly for the obvious to happen.
This is the reason I dropped the book. I got sick and tired of waiting for the plot, which is obviously being set up, to happen. I would've loved reading the same world, same protagonists but without this painfully slow plot.
I haven't actually seen much of the plot itself yet but the basic setup is incredibly obvious and I found the suspense very tiring beyond a certain point.
It felt like dying of thirst while only being able to drink through an absurdly thin straw.
The main bad guy was introduced early on and revealed as the antagonist sometime later, but up to the 50% mark there didn't actually happen ANYTHING. We know who he is, we know what he wants, and a few very cheap plot conveniences have been put in place early on to provide him with the means. I've listened to 10 hours of very enjoyable nothing but I am not willing to wait another 8 hours for the plot to finally happen.
Something I loved about this book is how things are complicated. This is something most books I've read fail at miserably and which is one of the main reasons a lot of writing appears so cheap and clichéed.
Even if the only way of saving the universe is to accomplish some impossible task, things just seem too simple, too neat most of the time.
The world is messy and convoluted. Things just don't align nicely.
On one hand, this book nails this in regards to the cast and their individual backstories but on the other hand, it very much fails at this exact hurdle in regards to the actual plot.
The protagonists are complex and flawed enough to be interesting and the author managed to give an amazing sense of time and place.
I enjoyed the various philosophical discussions that characters had with each other and the author had with the reader or whatnot.
Maybe I am just damaged by the fast-food of fantasy I'm reading most of the time.
salston's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book. I lived it. a great kix of historical fiction and fantacy, with well developed characters.
avidreadr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
5.0
Magical, rich in mythology and arcana. This book really swept me away. This books is “fantasy” but very literary. The author took her time in building the characters’ personas, and that helped me connect deeply with the story. Plus there is so much imagery and sensory detail that you feel you are really there.
I loved how the flashbacks of the past were intermixed throughout, with both storylines coming to a head at the same time.
Loved also that every chapter and section added to either a characters motivation or to move the plot ahead. This book is pretty dark at times but loooveedd how it ended.
I loved how the flashbacks of the past were intermixed throughout, with both storylines coming to a head at the same time.
Loved also that every chapter and section added to either a characters motivation or to move the plot ahead. This book is pretty dark at times but loooveedd how it ended.