Reviews

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros

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lyakimov's review

3.0

The concept of the story was good, but I felt like this book didn't do a whole lot and there could have been much more. A lot of the book seemed like filler, with slightly important things going on but it almost seemed like there wasn't really a focus on the central plot (the magic scrolls getting into the hands of the Nazis so they could make killer golems), and the focus was more on Vera and Akiva surviving in the war-torn world as Jewish people. This is still interesting, but the main plot was sort of a side quest on the whole journey of surviving. I think the ending fell a little flat/anticlimactic too.

The beginning of the book was kind of difficult to get through because of all the body horror, but I am glad that it started picking up around the 25% mark. I liked the integration of Jewish culture and I think it was important to discuss all the rampant antisemitism and the horrific conditions the Jewish people were put in during WWII. I just wish the book had a little bit more substance, because there was so much focus on Vera being a golem and wanting to be human that it felt like it took a really long time to keep the story moving.

mweir710's review against another edition

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3.0

Oh boy - I had such high hopes for this book. It’s an exploration of faith and cruelty, humanity, living, loss. The premise of this book is amazing! Taking a horrible spot in history and adding a folktale to the mix. The story overall felt a bit disjointed to me and the FMC was a bit too “complainy” for me. However, I do recognize she’s dealing with some large life questions. I wish there had been more to this - I feel like making this a series rather than a standalone book would have spread out some of the larger parts to make it a bit more smooth. Overall, not a bad book and a really interesting concept!

liviz223's review

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dark emotional slow-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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zydecovivo's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

The review for this book shows why it’s better to wait and digest a book before reviewing it. I discovered this book through a collection of Jewish YA made by my library on Libby. The title itself deserves an A+ because I want it on my tombstone. However, we all know books are more than their titles.

The story follows a golem named Vera who was created during WWII by a Jewish man (named Ezra) grieving his daughter’s death. However, Vera is not a normal golem. She was made with pieces of Ezra’s daughter, Chaya. Vera still contains some of Chaya’s memories and struggles to separate who she is now from the person who came before her. However, Ezra also imbued her with a need for vengeance against the people who murdered Chaya and the Nazis in general.

The concept of the novel is intriguing to me as an enjoyer of paranormal stories. I was already aware of golems and a few folk tales they feature in, but this is a new perspective. It is also very plausible, at least to me as an outsider, that Jewish people enduring the Holocaust alongside the war would’ve searched for ways to create a golem to fight on their behalf. Vera’s inner turmoil is the conflict I empathized with the most and found the most interesting. Discovering who you are is difficult enough, but imagine trying to do it with someone else’s memories in your head and everyone around you calling you a monster.

Some reviews mentioned the plot essentially being characters running from one place to the next, which is a valid criticism. I found the overall plot somewhat predictable, and I don’t think Vera learned all the necessary lessons she needed to by the end of the novel. The ending does not feel resolved to me. This may be the beginning of a series, but it could have been a stand-alone with 20 fewer pages or 50-100 more.

When I initially finished the book, I rated it 4.5 stars. However, after digesting and reflecting, I think it deserves more of a 3.75. I still think the story itself is unique, but its resolution is missing and, consequently, I will not be coming back to it without a sequel. I also feel like there were layers to the story I may be missing as someone who is not Jewish or with Jewish ancestry. If any Jewish readers are willing to share, I would appreciate some cultural thoughts on the ethics & creation of golems and how vengeance is viewed, even in extreme circumstances.

Content Warnings