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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
This is a really really great book- actual rating is 4.5!
As an SFF reader, with some exceptions- I usually can't find high quality and engaging adult books by Israeli authors. I'm very glad to say that the book is well worth the hype- Rotem not only created a true masterpiece of Urban fantasy, but also stuck the landing!
This book follows the life of Yonatan- who's heir to a quite serious role of Cities Guardian (שומר ערים) which there just isn't a great translation for in English. In this world, every city and small town has a spirit which showcases its citizens, culture, history, etc. Yonatan's role is to make sure at all time that all the spirits of Israel are well, no sudden catastrophe has occurred and life goes on. In return for his efforts, the spirits provide him with most of what he needs- parking, food, no traffic, etc. There is however one catch- Once he inherits the position from his father, he can never leave Israel again.
Everything seems as sane as it gets in Israel, when suddenly one of the spirits totally stops communicating and what seems at first as a minor romantic quarrel turns into much more. An ancient and ruthless force is bending spirits to its will- and it'll take more than guns, diplomacy or full scale war to even the odds.
What I really liked about this book is the character and worldbuilding work. Rotem did a great job of using local stories and culture to give each spirit her uniqueness and style. Moreover, the usage of folklore, legends and modern day tensions was wonderfully crafted. I especially enjoyed the bittersweet ending, and while I did take off half a star for some pacing issues and some of the time changing arcs- the prose was still lush and easy to read. I highly recommend this book for anybody who's looking for a fresh take on Urban fantasy and myth of the area!
As an SFF reader, with some exceptions- I usually can't find high quality and engaging adult books by Israeli authors. I'm very glad to say that the book is well worth the hype- Rotem not only created a true masterpiece of Urban fantasy, but also stuck the landing!
This book follows the life of Yonatan- who's heir to a quite serious role of Cities Guardian (שומר ערים) which there just isn't a great translation for in English. In this world, every city and small town has a spirit which showcases its citizens, culture, history, etc. Yonatan's role is to make sure at all time that all the spirits of Israel are well, no sudden catastrophe has occurred and life goes on. In return for his efforts, the spirits provide him with most of what he needs- parking, food, no traffic, etc. There is however one catch- Once he inherits the position from his father, he can never leave Israel again.
Everything seems as sane as it gets in Israel, when suddenly one of the spirits totally stops communicating and what seems at first as a minor romantic quarrel turns into much more. An ancient and ruthless force is bending spirits to its will- and it'll take more than guns, diplomacy or full scale war to even the odds.
What I really liked about this book is the character and worldbuilding work. Rotem did a great job of using local stories and culture to give each spirit her uniqueness and style. Moreover, the usage of folklore, legends and modern day tensions was wonderfully crafted. I especially enjoyed the bittersweet ending, and while I did take off half a star for some pacing issues and some of the time changing arcs- the prose was still lush and easy to read. I highly recommend this book for anybody who's looking for a fresh take on Urban fantasy and myth of the area!
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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:
N/A
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No