You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
In the author's note at the end Polydoros talks about how antisemitic violence in the US, especially the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, inspired him to write a YA fantasy with Jewish characters. And for me, an American Jew in 2022, the book hit home with me for the exact same reason. The lives of the characters in this novel are completely shaped by antisemitism. They fled pogroms in Europe only to find that they will never fully be considered American and that their language and appearance will forever mark them as outsiders. Until a few years ago I thought that there was essentially no antisemitism in the United States. I was very wrong. So I found it very moving to be reminded of the struggles of my ancestors and the way history continues to haunt our lives.
Polydoros also does an amazing job of wrapping this all up in a taut, compelling mystery and queer romance. My only critique is that the ending drags on a bit too long and some of the story beats were easy to see coming.
Polydoros understands what fantasy can do. We can excavate forgotten histories and use magic to understand our lives and our communities when realism fails.
Polydoros also does an amazing job of wrapping this all up in a taut, compelling mystery and queer romance. My only critique is that the ending drags on a bit too long and some of the story beats were easy to see coming.
Polydoros understands what fantasy can do. We can excavate forgotten histories and use magic to understand our lives and our communities when realism fails.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ok, so this book was well done. But it‘a certainly not like a dark-fantasy romance. Despite from one fantasy element, it’s very dark and it’s very real. It has really genuine portrayals of antisemitism and assault and abuse that makes it more than just a YA historical fiction murder mystery.
But I really enjoyed the book. It kept me intrigued the entire way through, and yes, even tricked me at some points. The romance was one of the best I’ve seen in a YA book - not too much to take over, but enough to make its point. Also, praise to the moments of explicitly asking for consent from the love interest, which should seem like the bare minimum, but you rarely see it.
I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction lately, so I’ve seen a lot. And I want to ask what is up with the side character trope of the loud socialist feminist girl who lives downstairs but is never the main character?
Also, I enjoyed the weaving in of Jewish culture, and especially Yiddish phrases. They were there a lot. And yes, they made me feel seen, and realize just how much culture I take for granted in my life. I even was motivated to flip back to the glossary throughout the book to double check what I knew.
This book is worth a reread. I don’t know if I will immediately, but at least I’m considering it.
But I really enjoyed the book. It kept me intrigued the entire way through, and yes, even tricked me at some points. The romance was one of the best I’ve seen in a YA book - not too much to take over, but enough to make its point. Also, praise to the moments of explicitly asking for consent from the love interest, which should seem like the bare minimum, but you rarely see it.
I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction lately, so I’ve seen a lot. And I want to ask what is up with the side character trope of the loud socialist feminist girl who lives downstairs but is never the main character?
Also, I enjoyed the weaving in of Jewish culture, and especially Yiddish phrases. They were there a lot. And yes, they made me feel seen, and realize just how much culture I take for granted in my life. I even was motivated to flip back to the glossary throughout the book to double check what I knew.
This book is worth a reread. I don’t know if I will immediately, but at least I’m considering it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The coming-of-age element of Alter growing into himself and learning to accept his queerness was a really lovely B-plot alongside the main effort to get rid of his dybbuk. I found Alter a compelling and believable protagonist, and appreciated that by the end of the book he had learned he had others around himself to rely on. It was a joy to read such a fully Jewish book, depicting different struggles and various approaches to assimilation, and I liked that it was set in Chicago!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
mysterious
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
Read this book after Sacha Lamb suggested it in a podcast, and it filled the hole in my heart left from finishing When the Angels Left the Old Country. A lot of similarities with that book, quite a few differences, but just as good with a similar feel.
The characters are standout and very engaging. Alter, the man haunted by his past and the death that follows him trying to make an honest living. Frankie, the smug and confident leader of a Robin Hood-style lovable thieves gang. Raizel, the staunch anarchist (historical anarchists yay!) and investigative journalist.
Very much a book about labor rights and the competing ideologies between the three characters. Alter trying to work with the status quo, Raizel looking for labor reform, and Frankie gaming the system. Very queer book from beginning to end. A lot can also be said about how we hold on to grief.
The characters are standout and very engaging. Alter, the man haunted by his past and the death that follows him trying to make an honest living. Frankie, the smug and confident leader of a Robin Hood-style lovable thieves gang. Raizel, the staunch anarchist (historical anarchists yay!) and investigative journalist.
Very much a book about labor rights and the competing ideologies between the three characters. Alter trying to work with the status quo, Raizel looking for labor reform, and Frankie gaming the system. Very queer book from beginning to end. A lot can also be said about how we hold on to grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Vomit
Minor: Terminal illness
Possession is a major theme of this book.
The lead character prepares bodies for burials and that process is described several times.
The "panic attacks" I tagged include detailed hallucinations.
The adult/minor relationship is in a character's backstory and not portrayed as an okay thing by the text (thankfully).