Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There’s something to the idea, but execution needs a lot of work.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hello, my fellow sightseers, globetrotters, and pilgrims! I'm back with another review, and this time, I’m diving into a genre I haven’t explored much since childhood: urban fantasy. It’s a realm of fiction I’ve often struggled to connect with, though I can’t quite put my finger on why. But hey, it’s always good to try something new!
Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on *The Sanhedrin Chronicles*, a fresh urban fantasy novel that hit the shelves this past November. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) around its release, but between the whirlwind of the holidays, battling a nasty bout of illness, and juggling work, I haven’t had a chance to put pen to paper—until now. Better late than never, right? So, how does *The Sanhedrin Chronicles* measure up? Let’s dive into the blurb and find out! As always, my friends, rest assured there will be no major spoilers. And for those short on time, a TL;DR section awaits at the end..
>College student and certified nerd Arthur Rose has issues: he's estranged from his Jewish faith, needs a recommendation for grad school, and getting back with his ex, Lynn, is going to take more than an apology and chocolate. He's trying to balance it all when he starts seeing shapes in the dark. Soon after, a mysterious young woman approaches him, claiming she killed his father and is searching for a stone blessed by God Himself. What follows is a tale ripped from Arthur's wildest fantasies: to protect the world from evil, he must join a secret order of Jewish demon-hunters that has spanned millennia. He'll need to master Hebrew magic, uncover the secrets of his past, and embrace his heritage. In doing so, he won't just reclaim his faith but become...
SANHEDRIN.
**The Premise:** *No one has dared to believe our identity - our pride - could be anything but a punchline.*
When I received my copy of this book, author J.S. Gold shared what led him to writing this story. He recounted watching *Black Panther* and feeling inspired to create something unique: a Jewish superhero. Gold wanted to craft a tale that celebrated the mysticism and mythology of his own culture, much like *Black Panther* did for both the Black and African communities. However, *Black Panther* wasn’t the only influence behind this novel.
Gold drew from a wide range of inspirations, and it’s evident throughout the story. In fact, he occasionally weaves nods to them directly into the narrative. Take the prologue, for instance—it has a distinctly *Hobbit*\-esque opening that immediately caught my attention. While *Black Panther* sparked the initial concept, the influences I noticed most prominently were *Doctor Strange*, *Harry Potter*, and *Percy Jackson*.
There’s a playful nod to *Percy Jackson* with a joke about a pen transforming into a sword. The *Harry Potter* influence shines through in Arthur’s magical education, complete with his journey of learning to master the arcane arts. And then there’s the New York setting, where a hidden society of sorcerers operates under the leadership of a "Sorcerer Supreme" who happens to be bald. It’s hard not to draw a direct line to *Doctor Strange* there!
**Plot:** *In the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn, there is an apartment on the bottom-most floor. In this apartment, a young woman sits on a chair in her kitchen.*
The story follows Arthur Rose, who is thrust into a world of magic and intrigue after his father’s sudden murder and a near-fatal attack by a demon. At its core, the narrative revolves not only around this central conflict but also Arthur’s deep-seated hatred for his Jewish heritage. His disdain runs so deep that he abandoned his given name, Aaron, in favor of Arthur—a nod to the legendary King Arthur. And yes, he even carries a dragon-themed pen! (Arthur Pendragon—get it? I’m embarrassed it took me so long to catch that connection. Gold even outright calls attention to it.)
The main plot kicks off with Arthur learning of his dad's passing and is himself quickly on the run while needing to find the Tzohar Stone. A demon, Igrat, is seeking to claim this powerful artifact for her own nefarious purposes. To succeed, Arthur must awaken his latent magical abilities, confront his identity, and embrace his heritage. Only then can he fulfill his destiny as one of the Sanhedrin, a secretive order of magicians. The setup itself is fairly straightforward—a classic hero’s journey with familiar beats. And that’s not a bad thing! Tropes, when executed well, can be incredibly satisfying. While the plot doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it doesn’t need to—it leans into its strengths and delivers a solid, engaging story.
While I ultimately struggled with certain aspects of the book (which I’ll delve into later), the plot itself wasn’t the issue. I genuinely appreciated the exploration of identity and heritage, particularly how these elements shape who we are rather than working against us. The story’s central theme—Arthur’s journey to understand and define what being Jewish means to him—was a highlight for me. That said, my biggest struggle was with Arthur himself. I’ll elaborate more in the character section, but there were moments where his personality and actions made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
Despite this, *The Sanhedrin Chronicles* is a fun, action-packed novel. The pacing starts off a bit slow as you adjust to the writing style, but once the story gains momentum, it’s an engaging ride.
**Characters:** *Arthur grins. “So, training. Five teachers, five schools: should I get some montage music going? I wonder what each of them is like.”*
While the book primarily focuses on Arthur, it also introduces key characters like Levi, Lynn (Arthur’s love interest and ex-girlfriend), and Rifka (the host for the demon Igrat). Other side characters, such as the Nasi, the Gimel, and Mordechai, play supporting roles. However, my main focus here will be on Arthur himself. Arthur is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the positive side, I appreciated the themes surrounding his journey to embrace his heritage and define it on his own terms. As a minority myself, I know how personal and profound that journey can be, and when handled well, it’s something that resonates universally, even across different cultural backgrounds.
That said, Arthur’s character presented several challenges. For one, he’s overly quippy—almost to the point of distraction. The rise of quippy dialogue, popularized by Marvel movies, has undeniably brought plenty of humor and charm to storytelling, and I’ll admit, I’ve had my share of chuckles and belly laughs. However, poorly timed or excessive quips can undercut the emotional weight of key moments, and that’s an issue here. Another struggle for me was the repetitive emphasis on Arthur’s hatred of his Jewishness. While I understand that this is a debut fantasy novel and the author may have been striving for depth, I felt like the narrative kept hammering home this point long after it was established. It’s a stylistic choice, but it didn’t work for me.
As a whole, Arthur is intentionally flawed—often brash, self-centered, and kind of a jerk. I think the aim was to make him an endearing, "love-to-hate" character, similar to Tony Stark. However, I found him more frustrating than endearing, which made it harder to fully invest in his journey.
The other characters are decent but don’t receive as much focus as Arthur, leaving them to fit into familiar archetypes for now. Levi is the super badass soldier; there’s the greasy, spiteful character harboring a grudge against Arthur for something he didn’t even do (Who does that sound like?); and Lynn, the ex-lover still in love with the protagonist, waiting for him to get his act together. None of this is bad, though my tone may come across as snarky—it’s not meant to be. These archetypes work as starting points, and I imagine these characters will continue to grow and evolve as the series progresses.
Rifka, on the other hand, stands out as a more compelling character. Her motivations add a layer of complexity that makes her somewhat sympathetic, though her actions remain deeply flawed. It’s one of those cases where you understand where she’s coming from, but the ends do not justify the means. While her story doesn’t break new ground—she’s driven by feelings of betrayal and loss stemming from the death of her husband—there’s still a rawness to her pain that makes her intriguing. Some of her scenes, especially later in the book, carry a chilling, unsettling weight that lingers long after reading.
**World Building:** *“Your affinities are a thing gifted by God, not chosen, Arthur,” she explains. “Speaker or Bondsman? Binder or Mender or Namer: it’s in your soul that we will find out who you are. And to see it, we must go to the realms of the Sefiros, you and I. The Tree of Life.”*
What truly stood out to me was the mythology and worldbuilding. Gold managed to do for Jewish mysticism what *Percy Jackson* did for Greek mythology—ignite a sense of childlike wonder and curiosity. I found myself eager to explore the occultism and lore that inspired this story. It’s not simply retellings of Abrahamic stories from the Bible; instead, it delves into lesser-known aspects of Jewish mythology, such as the Kabbalah, demons, the Sanhedrin, and other occult mysteries. This was fascinating and refreshing.
While the setting is rooted in modern-day New York, the magical elements woven into it make the world feel vibrant and alive. Gold borrows an idea similar to Percy Jackson’s “Mist,” where only those attuned to the mystical can perceive the magical creatures and phenomena around them. Though the backdrop is a gritty, familiar cityscape, the imaginative incorporation of religious and occult practices gives it a distinct flavor.
In this universe, mages possess unique affinities that allow them to harness their magic. They can astral project into the realm between realms, where they observe the Tree of Life. By studying its emanations, they determine their specific schools of magic—a simplified but engaging concept. Arthur, however, is special. He has the rare ability to see all the emanations of the Tree, essentially marking him as a chosen one.
**Prose:** *Rifka looks at her own nails, chipped and jagged from her gnashing. They’re sharp enough to break skin. She lowers her index finger to the circle carved into her, breath quickening now. Thin as her stomach is, she can see the silhouette of her diaphragm as it heaves in and out.*
The writing style was another unique aspect of the book. It took me some time to adjust, as it’s not a style I encounter often. I believe it’s written in third-person present tense, which feels distinct from traditional third-person omniscient or objective narration. Here’s an example from the opening passage:
>**While she does this, she finishes reading from a scroll that smells of mothballs. Its parchment is faded and sick. A pigeon is on the floor, insides out. The woman pores over the last of the scroll with red-rimmed eyes, mumbling to herself the inkwork around the circles and diagrams and warped shapes. After she speaks the words, something speaks back from the flickering dark. If you were there—if you sat where she sat and closed your eyes tight, giving yourself over to the night—you would hear nothing. But to the woman, the chorus of whispers only heightens. It grows louder until the world is a vengeful clamor. The room practically screams.**
It’s a different style—unconventional but works. Initially, it felt a little jarring, but as I kept reading, it began to flow naturally. The prose itself isn’t overly complex, making it accessible, though it might take a moment to adjust if you’re used to more traditional narrative styles.
**Conclusion (TLDR):** *What does a Jewish superhero look like?*
*The Sanhedrin Chronicles* is a genuinely fun and exciting read, packed with fast-paced action and an incredible final few chapters that will keep you glued to the page. Arthur, as the protagonist, may not be everyone’s favorite—whether he clicks with you will depend on your personal taste. While he occasionally had me rolling my eyes, his journey is deeply personal and, at times, resonated with me.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy, but it’s also a great pick if you’re looking for a fast-paced, accessible read or something refreshingly unique. When was the last time you read a book with Jewish occultism at its heart? I’ll wait! (Though I’m sure someone will drop a suggestion below, haha.)All jokes aside, this is a debut novel that’s absolutely worth checking out even if there are some flaws. I’m excited to see where Arthur’s journey goes next and what Gold has in store for us in future installments. If you read the whole thing thanks and well done!
Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on *The Sanhedrin Chronicles*, a fresh urban fantasy novel that hit the shelves this past November. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) around its release, but between the whirlwind of the holidays, battling a nasty bout of illness, and juggling work, I haven’t had a chance to put pen to paper—until now. Better late than never, right? So, how does *The Sanhedrin Chronicles* measure up? Let’s dive into the blurb and find out! As always, my friends, rest assured there will be no major spoilers. And for those short on time, a TL;DR section awaits at the end..
>College student and certified nerd Arthur Rose has issues: he's estranged from his Jewish faith, needs a recommendation for grad school, and getting back with his ex, Lynn, is going to take more than an apology and chocolate. He's trying to balance it all when he starts seeing shapes in the dark. Soon after, a mysterious young woman approaches him, claiming she killed his father and is searching for a stone blessed by God Himself. What follows is a tale ripped from Arthur's wildest fantasies: to protect the world from evil, he must join a secret order of Jewish demon-hunters that has spanned millennia. He'll need to master Hebrew magic, uncover the secrets of his past, and embrace his heritage. In doing so, he won't just reclaim his faith but become...
SANHEDRIN.
**The Premise:** *No one has dared to believe our identity - our pride - could be anything but a punchline.*
When I received my copy of this book, author J.S. Gold shared what led him to writing this story. He recounted watching *Black Panther* and feeling inspired to create something unique: a Jewish superhero. Gold wanted to craft a tale that celebrated the mysticism and mythology of his own culture, much like *Black Panther* did for both the Black and African communities. However, *Black Panther* wasn’t the only influence behind this novel.
Gold drew from a wide range of inspirations, and it’s evident throughout the story. In fact, he occasionally weaves nods to them directly into the narrative. Take the prologue, for instance—it has a distinctly *Hobbit*\-esque opening that immediately caught my attention. While *Black Panther* sparked the initial concept, the influences I noticed most prominently were *Doctor Strange*, *Harry Potter*, and *Percy Jackson*.
There’s a playful nod to *Percy Jackson* with a joke about a pen transforming into a sword. The *Harry Potter* influence shines through in Arthur’s magical education, complete with his journey of learning to master the arcane arts. And then there’s the New York setting, where a hidden society of sorcerers operates under the leadership of a "Sorcerer Supreme" who happens to be bald. It’s hard not to draw a direct line to *Doctor Strange* there!
**Plot:** *In the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn, there is an apartment on the bottom-most floor. In this apartment, a young woman sits on a chair in her kitchen.*
The story follows Arthur Rose, who is thrust into a world of magic and intrigue after his father’s sudden murder and a near-fatal attack by a demon. At its core, the narrative revolves not only around this central conflict but also Arthur’s deep-seated hatred for his Jewish heritage. His disdain runs so deep that he abandoned his given name, Aaron, in favor of Arthur—a nod to the legendary King Arthur. And yes, he even carries a dragon-themed pen! (Arthur Pendragon—get it? I’m embarrassed it took me so long to catch that connection. Gold even outright calls attention to it.)
The main plot kicks off with Arthur learning of his dad's passing and is himself quickly on the run while needing to find the Tzohar Stone. A demon, Igrat, is seeking to claim this powerful artifact for her own nefarious purposes. To succeed, Arthur must awaken his latent magical abilities, confront his identity, and embrace his heritage. Only then can he fulfill his destiny as one of the Sanhedrin, a secretive order of magicians. The setup itself is fairly straightforward—a classic hero’s journey with familiar beats. And that’s not a bad thing! Tropes, when executed well, can be incredibly satisfying. While the plot doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it doesn’t need to—it leans into its strengths and delivers a solid, engaging story.
While I ultimately struggled with certain aspects of the book (which I’ll delve into later), the plot itself wasn’t the issue. I genuinely appreciated the exploration of identity and heritage, particularly how these elements shape who we are rather than working against us. The story’s central theme—Arthur’s journey to understand and define what being Jewish means to him—was a highlight for me. That said, my biggest struggle was with Arthur himself. I’ll elaborate more in the character section, but there were moments where his personality and actions made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
Despite this, *The Sanhedrin Chronicles* is a fun, action-packed novel. The pacing starts off a bit slow as you adjust to the writing style, but once the story gains momentum, it’s an engaging ride.
**Characters:** *Arthur grins. “So, training. Five teachers, five schools: should I get some montage music going? I wonder what each of them is like.”*
While the book primarily focuses on Arthur, it also introduces key characters like Levi, Lynn (Arthur’s love interest and ex-girlfriend), and Rifka (the host for the demon Igrat). Other side characters, such as the Nasi, the Gimel, and Mordechai, play supporting roles. However, my main focus here will be on Arthur himself. Arthur is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the positive side, I appreciated the themes surrounding his journey to embrace his heritage and define it on his own terms. As a minority myself, I know how personal and profound that journey can be, and when handled well, it’s something that resonates universally, even across different cultural backgrounds.
That said, Arthur’s character presented several challenges. For one, he’s overly quippy—almost to the point of distraction. The rise of quippy dialogue, popularized by Marvel movies, has undeniably brought plenty of humor and charm to storytelling, and I’ll admit, I’ve had my share of chuckles and belly laughs. However, poorly timed or excessive quips can undercut the emotional weight of key moments, and that’s an issue here. Another struggle for me was the repetitive emphasis on Arthur’s hatred of his Jewishness. While I understand that this is a debut fantasy novel and the author may have been striving for depth, I felt like the narrative kept hammering home this point long after it was established. It’s a stylistic choice, but it didn’t work for me.
As a whole, Arthur is intentionally flawed—often brash, self-centered, and kind of a jerk. I think the aim was to make him an endearing, "love-to-hate" character, similar to Tony Stark. However, I found him more frustrating than endearing, which made it harder to fully invest in his journey.
The other characters are decent but don’t receive as much focus as Arthur, leaving them to fit into familiar archetypes for now. Levi is the super badass soldier; there’s the greasy, spiteful character harboring a grudge against Arthur for something he didn’t even do (Who does that sound like?); and Lynn, the ex-lover still in love with the protagonist, waiting for him to get his act together. None of this is bad, though my tone may come across as snarky—it’s not meant to be. These archetypes work as starting points, and I imagine these characters will continue to grow and evolve as the series progresses.
Rifka, on the other hand, stands out as a more compelling character. Her motivations add a layer of complexity that makes her somewhat sympathetic, though her actions remain deeply flawed. It’s one of those cases where you understand where she’s coming from, but the ends do not justify the means. While her story doesn’t break new ground—she’s driven by feelings of betrayal and loss stemming from the death of her husband—there’s still a rawness to her pain that makes her intriguing. Some of her scenes, especially later in the book, carry a chilling, unsettling weight that lingers long after reading.
**World Building:** *“Your affinities are a thing gifted by God, not chosen, Arthur,” she explains. “Speaker or Bondsman? Binder or Mender or Namer: it’s in your soul that we will find out who you are. And to see it, we must go to the realms of the Sefiros, you and I. The Tree of Life.”*
What truly stood out to me was the mythology and worldbuilding. Gold managed to do for Jewish mysticism what *Percy Jackson* did for Greek mythology—ignite a sense of childlike wonder and curiosity. I found myself eager to explore the occultism and lore that inspired this story. It’s not simply retellings of Abrahamic stories from the Bible; instead, it delves into lesser-known aspects of Jewish mythology, such as the Kabbalah, demons, the Sanhedrin, and other occult mysteries. This was fascinating and refreshing.
While the setting is rooted in modern-day New York, the magical elements woven into it make the world feel vibrant and alive. Gold borrows an idea similar to Percy Jackson’s “Mist,” where only those attuned to the mystical can perceive the magical creatures and phenomena around them. Though the backdrop is a gritty, familiar cityscape, the imaginative incorporation of religious and occult practices gives it a distinct flavor.
In this universe, mages possess unique affinities that allow them to harness their magic. They can astral project into the realm between realms, where they observe the Tree of Life. By studying its emanations, they determine their specific schools of magic—a simplified but engaging concept. Arthur, however, is special. He has the rare ability to see all the emanations of the Tree, essentially marking him as a chosen one.
**Prose:** *Rifka looks at her own nails, chipped and jagged from her gnashing. They’re sharp enough to break skin. She lowers her index finger to the circle carved into her, breath quickening now. Thin as her stomach is, she can see the silhouette of her diaphragm as it heaves in and out.*
The writing style was another unique aspect of the book. It took me some time to adjust, as it’s not a style I encounter often. I believe it’s written in third-person present tense, which feels distinct from traditional third-person omniscient or objective narration. Here’s an example from the opening passage:
>**While she does this, she finishes reading from a scroll that smells of mothballs. Its parchment is faded and sick. A pigeon is on the floor, insides out. The woman pores over the last of the scroll with red-rimmed eyes, mumbling to herself the inkwork around the circles and diagrams and warped shapes. After she speaks the words, something speaks back from the flickering dark. If you were there—if you sat where she sat and closed your eyes tight, giving yourself over to the night—you would hear nothing. But to the woman, the chorus of whispers only heightens. It grows louder until the world is a vengeful clamor. The room practically screams.**
It’s a different style—unconventional but works. Initially, it felt a little jarring, but as I kept reading, it began to flow naturally. The prose itself isn’t overly complex, making it accessible, though it might take a moment to adjust if you’re used to more traditional narrative styles.
**Conclusion (TLDR):** *What does a Jewish superhero look like?*
*The Sanhedrin Chronicles* is a genuinely fun and exciting read, packed with fast-paced action and an incredible final few chapters that will keep you glued to the page. Arthur, as the protagonist, may not be everyone’s favorite—whether he clicks with you will depend on your personal taste. While he occasionally had me rolling my eyes, his journey is deeply personal and, at times, resonated with me.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy, but it’s also a great pick if you’re looking for a fast-paced, accessible read or something refreshingly unique. When was the last time you read a book with Jewish occultism at its heart? I’ll wait! (Though I’m sure someone will drop a suggestion below, haha.)All jokes aside, this is a debut novel that’s absolutely worth checking out even if there are some flaws. I’m excited to see where Arthur’s journey goes next and what Gold has in store for us in future installments. If you read the whole thing thanks and well done!
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an eARC review: I received an advance digital copy of the book in exchange for posting a review.
TLDR: Action-packed and engrossing, this novel is a solid, if typical, fantasy adventure with a powerful emotional core and strong exploration of the theme of reclaiming one’s identity and heritage. As a debut novel, it is definitely not perfect—it can feel cheesy and on-the-nose at times—but is genuinely an exciting, fun reading experience. If you are looking for a contemporary “hero’s journey” or “Chosen One” story that also grapples with deeper emotional and cultural themes, you may like this one.
Recommended for: Readers looking for a fast-paced and familiar action-adventure urban fantasy story; readers who appreciate highly cultural settings and themes; immigrants and third-culture kids, especially from marginalized identities and/or former colonized nations
And now onto a more detailed review…
The Sanhedrin Chronicles is in many ways your typical urban fantasy “Chosen One” story: a newly-orphaned young adult steps into a hitherto-unknown magical world, must keep their new powers secret, discovers they have a unique grand destiny, and fights battles against forces of darkness and evil, growing in their abilities and gaining powerful allies (and special artifacts) along the way.
What The Sanhedrin Chronicles brings to the loaded table of “Chosen One” adventures is a plot that marries this admittedly common outline with a truly compelling emotional core: the reclamation of one’s heritage and identity, on one’s own terms—not just blindly following or thoughtlessly rebelling against tradition, but deciding how one reckons with and lives out one’s culture, even when it has been a source of pain and betrayal.
Arthur Rose (born Aaron Rose) hates his Jewishness, in no small part because of his Hasidic Jewish father who neglected and abandoned him. This father also just happens to be a member of “the Sanhedrin,” a secret order of Jewish magicians and sages who protect the world from demons and uphold balance and justice with ancient Hebrew magic (you know this drill). We meet Arthur as a 21-year-old college student who tries as much as possible to pretend his Jewish heritage doesn’t exist. He clothes himself in symbols of WASP heroism—renaming himself after King Arthur, often seen wearing Captain America T-shirts—openly glorifies pretty much every mythology aside from his own (Greek, Norse, Welsh, even Japanese), and pointedly expresses himself in secular pop-culture references.
When his father Schlomo is killed in action protecting the Tzohar Stone (here’s our MacGuffin, a blessed crystal with healing abilities, rumored to even be able to resurrect the dead) from the demon Igrat (this book’s Big Bad), Arthur’s latent powers reawaken. He must be inducted into the Sanhedrin and claim his destiny. This is at odds with Arthur’s staunch belief that Jewish people are inherently… the losers of history. Never heroes, always victims. His inferiority complex is a major focus of his character arc, and is brought into stark relief when his present is juxtaposed with truly emotionally hard-hitting flashbacks to his childhood, especially of his absent father, more devoted to the Sanhedrin than his family, and the murder of his mother in an anti-Semitic hate crime. Throughout the novel, he struggles with understanding what it means to be Jewish—not just as Sanhedrin, but for him specifically—and to overcome his impulses to latch onto other mythologies out of internalized shame, or lash out in violent revenge against those who meet him and his people with unjust hatred.
The novel shines in the exploration of this theme of identity and heritage. Arthur has a foil in the character Rifka—one of our antagonists, she summons the demon Igrat and kills Arthur’s father on a mission to take the Tzohar Stone and use it to resurrect her dead husband, who died in an exorcism conducted by the Sanhedrin. Rifka has been burned by her extremely traditional Jewish community due to her and her husband’s infertility, and bears a deep grudge against the Sanhedrin in particular for his death. Like Arthur, she rejects her heritage and faith out of pain and betrayal, but finds this a self-destructive path and must grapple with whether she will truly see it through. Another foil is Tzvi, a Hasidic teenager and Sanhedrin-in-training, who is beginning to take interest in the secular world—he and Arthur serve as each other’s tutors in this regard, each learning from the other and helping blend their two cultures.
I was impressed by the novel’s dedication to a diversity and complexity of Jewish experiences. Its message seems to be that the “right” way to be Jewish is mostly about looking at Jewish history and culture with clear eyes, and deciding how to authentically live out your birthright—whether ultra-traditional or secular, dyed in the wool or a prodigal child, black, white, Latino, Asian, and everything in between.
From a craft perspective, the book does have strengths and weaknesses. Like many debut novels, it is quite derivative and a little tacky in terms of the use of a fantasy setting and conventions. There seems to be a clear Severus Snape expy, down to having greasy black hair and hating our protagonist due to a grudge against his father. There is a plot twist at the end that takes Arthur from Chosen One to Extremely Special Chosen One, which didn’t really add anything to the story and felt just a bit eyeroll-inducing. The writing betrays some hallmarks of the male gaze—women’s bodies are commented on a bit more than men’s, and their plotlines tend to revolve around boyfriends and husbands. And while I praise the novel’s commitment to its theme, it is VERY heavy-handed and repetitive about Arthur’s fraught relationship with his heritage, hammering the message constantly and having Arthur quip about it long after the point has been made. On that note, I also spent the entire novel really, really hoping we wouldn’t end Arthur’s character arc on the extremely cheesy note of Arthur deciding to go back to using his birth (and much more Hebrew) name, Aaron… of course,that’s exactly what we did.
On the other hand, the novel is genuinely thrilling and action-packed, while at the same time not losing sight of its strong thematic core. The climax of the book definitely swept me up and took my breath away; I found myself cheering and exclaiming out loud while reading. The prose as a whole is also highly readable, with a distinct tone—vivid and poignant, but with a bit of bite, slightly reminiscent of Stephen King. Arthur’s personality and emotions clearly come through in his point of view; this is one of the few novels where I felt the pop culture references didn’t cheapen the prose and instead made thematic sense with Arthur’s story. On the whole, I found this a very promising debut novel, and a solid entry into the urban fantasy genre, with more depth than one might initially expect.
TLDR: Action-packed and engrossing, this novel is a solid, if typical, fantasy adventure with a powerful emotional core and strong exploration of the theme of reclaiming one’s identity and heritage. As a debut novel, it is definitely not perfect—it can feel cheesy and on-the-nose at times—but is genuinely an exciting, fun reading experience. If you are looking for a contemporary “hero’s journey” or “Chosen One” story that also grapples with deeper emotional and cultural themes, you may like this one.
Recommended for: Readers looking for a fast-paced and familiar action-adventure urban fantasy story; readers who appreciate highly cultural settings and themes; immigrants and third-culture kids, especially from marginalized identities and/or former colonized nations
And now onto a more detailed review…
The Sanhedrin Chronicles is in many ways your typical urban fantasy “Chosen One” story: a newly-orphaned young adult steps into a hitherto-unknown magical world, must keep their new powers secret, discovers they have a unique grand destiny, and fights battles against forces of darkness and evil, growing in their abilities and gaining powerful allies (and special artifacts) along the way.
What The Sanhedrin Chronicles brings to the loaded table of “Chosen One” adventures is a plot that marries this admittedly common outline with a truly compelling emotional core: the reclamation of one’s heritage and identity, on one’s own terms—not just blindly following or thoughtlessly rebelling against tradition, but deciding how one reckons with and lives out one’s culture, even when it has been a source of pain and betrayal.
Arthur Rose (born Aaron Rose) hates his Jewishness, in no small part because of his Hasidic Jewish father who neglected and abandoned him. This father also just happens to be a member of “the Sanhedrin,” a secret order of Jewish magicians and sages who protect the world from demons and uphold balance and justice with ancient Hebrew magic (you know this drill). We meet Arthur as a 21-year-old college student who tries as much as possible to pretend his Jewish heritage doesn’t exist. He clothes himself in symbols of WASP heroism—renaming himself after King Arthur, often seen wearing Captain America T-shirts—openly glorifies pretty much every mythology aside from his own (Greek, Norse, Welsh, even Japanese), and pointedly expresses himself in secular pop-culture references.
When his father Schlomo is killed in action protecting the Tzohar Stone (here’s our MacGuffin, a blessed crystal with healing abilities, rumored to even be able to resurrect the dead) from the demon Igrat (this book’s Big Bad), Arthur’s latent powers reawaken. He must be inducted into the Sanhedrin and claim his destiny. This is at odds with Arthur’s staunch belief that Jewish people are inherently… the losers of history. Never heroes, always victims. His inferiority complex is a major focus of his character arc, and is brought into stark relief when his present is juxtaposed with truly emotionally hard-hitting flashbacks to his childhood, especially of his absent father, more devoted to the Sanhedrin than his family, and the murder of his mother in an anti-Semitic hate crime. Throughout the novel, he struggles with understanding what it means to be Jewish—not just as Sanhedrin, but for him specifically—and to overcome his impulses to latch onto other mythologies out of internalized shame, or lash out in violent revenge against those who meet him and his people with unjust hatred.
The novel shines in the exploration of this theme of identity and heritage. Arthur has a foil in the character Rifka—one of our antagonists, she summons the demon Igrat and kills Arthur’s father on a mission to take the Tzohar Stone and use it to resurrect her dead husband, who died in an exorcism conducted by the Sanhedrin. Rifka has been burned by her extremely traditional Jewish community due to her and her husband’s infertility, and bears a deep grudge against the Sanhedrin in particular for his death. Like Arthur, she rejects her heritage and faith out of pain and betrayal, but finds this a self-destructive path and must grapple with whether she will truly see it through. Another foil is Tzvi, a Hasidic teenager and Sanhedrin-in-training, who is beginning to take interest in the secular world—he and Arthur serve as each other’s tutors in this regard, each learning from the other and helping blend their two cultures.
I was impressed by the novel’s dedication to a diversity and complexity of Jewish experiences. Its message seems to be that the “right” way to be Jewish is mostly about looking at Jewish history and culture with clear eyes, and deciding how to authentically live out your birthright—whether ultra-traditional or secular, dyed in the wool or a prodigal child, black, white, Latino, Asian, and everything in between.
From a craft perspective, the book does have strengths and weaknesses. Like many debut novels, it is quite derivative and a little tacky in terms of the use of a fantasy setting and conventions. There seems to be a clear Severus Snape expy, down to having greasy black hair and hating our protagonist due to a grudge against his father. There is a plot twist at the end that takes Arthur from Chosen One to Extremely Special Chosen One, which didn’t really add anything to the story and felt just a bit eyeroll-inducing. The writing betrays some hallmarks of the male gaze—women’s bodies are commented on a bit more than men’s, and their plotlines tend to revolve around boyfriends and husbands. And while I praise the novel’s commitment to its theme, it is VERY heavy-handed and repetitive about Arthur’s fraught relationship with his heritage, hammering the message constantly and having Arthur quip about it long after the point has been made. On that note, I also spent the entire novel really, really hoping we wouldn’t end Arthur’s character arc on the extremely cheesy note of Arthur deciding to go back to using his birth (and much more Hebrew) name, Aaron… of course,
On the other hand, the novel is genuinely thrilling and action-packed, while at the same time not losing sight of its strong thematic core. The climax of the book definitely swept me up and took my breath away; I found myself cheering and exclaiming out loud while reading. The prose as a whole is also highly readable, with a distinct tone—vivid and poignant, but with a bit of bite, slightly reminiscent of Stephen King. Arthur’s personality and emotions clearly come through in his point of view; this is one of the few novels where I felt the pop culture references didn’t cheapen the prose and instead made thematic sense with Arthur’s story. On the whole, I found this a very promising debut novel, and a solid entry into the urban fantasy genre, with more depth than one might initially expect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Hate crime, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny