Reviews with content warning for Violence - When the Angels Left the Old Country

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

26 reviews

radiating_jackalope's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is about hope, friendships developing into more than that, navigating foreign land, dealing with, discrimination, being bold and solving several crimes. All in all, I loved the blending of Ashkenazi folklore, fantasy and historical fiction. In addition, the story features a demon and an angel, and both have a far more complex personality than “bad demon” and the “good angel”.

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ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

When Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb is an utterly charming story about a demon and an angel teaming up to find a Jewish girl who emigrated from a small shtetl in Russia to NYC. Set in the pre-WWI era, their journey is filled with mystery, friendship, and unexpected twists.

The demon, who has a physical disability and is quite short, cleverly uses these traits to their advantage. The book beautifully portrays the immigrant experience, Judaism, and the bonds of friendship while also touching on themes of anti-Semitism.

A heartwarming and thought-provoking read that’s as endearing as it is meaningful.

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starlitpage's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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netflixismyroommate's review

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book assumes, in a beautiful and affirming way, the same level of knowledge about and familiarity with Judaism that is often assumed of Christianity (in the US at least). The entire time I was reading the book I felt seen and like I was in community with people who share my history and experience. And months later I still feel this when thinking about When the Angels Left the Old Country.

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talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

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inkwellimps's review

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adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is SO GOOD. It really exceeded all my expectations. The dynamic between Little Ash and the Angel has wormed its way so far into my brain it's unreal. I'm also fond of Rose as a character too--she grounds the two in their adventure, but she is also unhinged. She has a drive and boldness that compliments the other two very well. It's the little things with the characters--the way the Angel is agender and stays that way, the way names are played with, the way each of them have animal features and how Little Ash's feet hurt him. I am fascinated by the place the Angel begins in and how it develops its own identity to become more present in the world and

grows closer to Little Ash as a result

. I love how the two always rely upon each other as the stakes are raised. I'm also very fond of this sort of take on an angel and a demon that are both not very powerful and relatively sheltered. The sense that these two are a part of a close community rings true throughout the entirety of the book, from the shtetl, to the ship, to New York City-- it never feels as though they've left their community behind even though they are on a journey-- staying grounded by the search for Essie and by the majority of the human cast being literal family. As the angel and the demon of the shtetl migrate and progress in their journey it never feels isolating, which is nice.

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