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mayab56's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Xenophobia, Trafficking, and War
rainbowpizzastars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
If I could rate this 7/5 or even higher, I would.
An absolute masterpiece. Easy to slip into (accessible writing style), caught my attention and kept it, covered so much ground (literally and figuratively)…satisfying story and characters (oh my gosh, Little Ash!). Has a little bit of everything - identity, adventure, mystery, the supernatural, the bonds between us, and a bit of historical fiction. Also, a new kind of story in a way - there are queer and ace Jewish characters and the story is fully from a Jewish perspective.
You will have an easier time with the story if you are familiar with the Talmud and also Jewish fairy tales/supernatural beings, as well as the history behind Jewish immigration out of the Pale of Settlement, but there is also a glossary in the back of the book to help. (Love a glossary!)
First book I’ve read in a couple months that had me hooked and left me satisfied. Love it!
An absolute masterpiece. Easy to slip into (accessible writing style), caught my attention and kept it, covered so much ground (literally and figuratively)…satisfying story and characters (oh my gosh, Little Ash!). Has a little bit of everything - identity, adventure, mystery, the supernatural, the bonds between us, and a bit of historical fiction. Also, a new kind of story in a way - there are queer and ace Jewish characters and the story is fully from a Jewish perspective.
You will have an easier time with the story if you are familiar with the Talmud and also Jewish fairy tales/supernatural beings, as well as the history behind Jewish immigration out of the Pale of Settlement, but there is also a glossary in the back of the book to help. (Love a glossary!)
First book I’ve read in a couple months that had me hooked and left me satisfied. Love it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, and Blood
Jewish queer/ace representationbetzal_eel's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
I absolutely loved this book, and it's become one that I return to as a comfort read when stressed. I feel like the fantasy/folklore elements and the historical ones are woven together well, and the bond between the protagonists feels very deep and real. My one complaint is that I feel like the very ending feels a bit rushed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism and Antisemitism
The scene with these content warnings happens while the characters are on Ellis Islandmeganpbell's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
Fans of Good Omens’ Aziraphale and Crowley will find so much to love about another angel-demon odd couple, Uriel and Little Ash! Warm-hearted, whimsical, and wise, this queer, Jewish historical fantasy follows these two unlikely partners in pursuit of performing a mitzvah for a lost girl from their tiny shtetl in the Old Country all the way to Ellis Island and a Lower East Side full of immigrants, strikers, radicals, and many newfound friends!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Ableism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Deportation
tangleroot_eli's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
One of the rare books that made me wish I got along better with audiobooks. It has the cadence and flow of a folk tale or fable and would probably be lovely to hear. That's not to say that reading the printed book wasn't a delight, because it was. I just would've loved to have it in my ears as well as my eyes. It's a love letter to the Jewish immigrants to the US in the late 1800s and early 1900s and the fierce, devoted, rabble-rousing spirt they brought with them. I can never get enough of those - especially the ones written with as much warmth, heart, and spirit as this one is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Ableism and Pregnancy
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book so much I can’t talk about it because my thoughts inevitably devolve into unintelligible noise. From the first page (figuratively, because I read the audiobook) it was like the story vibrated at the same frequency as my brain.
It’s a fundamentally queer, neurodivergent and Jewish story with love, kindness and humour at its core. I want to read it a thousand more times!
It’s a fundamentally queer, neurodivergent and Jewish story with love, kindness and humour at its core. I want to read it a thousand more times!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Transphobia, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Deportation
displacedcactus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
What an absolutely delightful read! This book is very Jewish and sweetly queer. While pogroms are mentioned and there are instances of antisemitism, it is overall a very hopeful and even joyful read, I think, with characters trying to do good (with maybe a little wickedness on the side if they're a demon). It definitely has similar vibes to Good Omens, but on a smaller scale and of course as I said, very Jewish as opposed to Christian. Note: There is a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terminology in the back. I was able to figure out most of the ones I didn't know by context, but this could be very helpful if you're not really familiar with Jewish culture.
I read this on a trip and I have to say it's just really fun to read a book where characters are traveling while I'm traveling -- especially when we were both going to NY. But I'm glad I took a plane instead of riding steerage in a boat.
I read this on a trip and I have to say it's just really fun to read a book where characters are traveling while I'm traveling -- especially when we were both going to NY. But I'm glad I took a plane instead of riding steerage in a boat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Violence, and Antisemitism
Minor: Gun violence and Fire/Fire injury
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
4.5
This is different than a lot of YA that's out there, which is both a good and bad thing. It has a bit of a slow start, which means it might take more for its audience to latch onto the story. But let me tell you. Once it gets going, it's such a great, interesting, emotional, engaging story.
The comp title for this is Good Omens, which is a pretty good comparison in overall feel. An angel and a demon partnering together to sort of solve a mystery. However, this book is heavily based in Jewish culture and mythology, which gives it another edge.
The queerness in this book is pretty subtle, which I actually don't mind. It feels authentic and I'm glad they didn't really make a big deal of it in the story. I loved Uriel and Ash's evolving relationship, it was probably my favorite thing about the book overall.
The comp title for this is Good Omens, which is a pretty good comparison in overall feel. An angel and a demon partnering together to sort of solve a mystery. However, this book is heavily based in Jewish culture and mythology, which gives it another edge.
The queerness in this book is pretty subtle, which I actually don't mind. It feels authentic and I'm glad they didn't really make a big deal of it in the story. I loved Uriel and Ash's evolving relationship, it was probably my favorite thing about the book overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, and Homophobia
mar's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
I can't think of a way to describe this book other than an Absolute Delight. Warm, charming and deeply human - despite neither of the protagonists being one - and wonderfully Jewish and queer. The characters sneak into your heart when you're not looking, the writing is fun and whimsical, and despite the light-hearted tone the book handles difficult topics (such as the struggles faced by Jewish immigrants in America) with tactfulness and grace. Also, Uriel's use of it/its pronouns and Little Ash's chronic pain in particular mean So much to me, and I don't think I'll ever get over the moment of a character realizing their queerness being compared to "standing at Sinai, receiving the word of Heaven" 😭😭😭 There's just so much gentleness and intimacy within this story, I know I'll be returning to it as a comfort read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, and Transphobia