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A review by annamickreads
This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
5.0
"Her father had told her that cities, to those who knew them best, each had a unique magic, a signature that was all theirs and very rarely matched by another (and even then, anyone who really knows a city can spot a forgery if they look closely)."
This book was absolutely breathtaking. The way the fantasy elements were interwoven with historical reality reminded me a lot of "Deathless" by Catherynne M. Valente, and if you liked that book be sure to check this one out!
Our main character, Csilla, is living in Budapest, Hungary, following WWII. Although the Nazis were gone, the Communist Party remained, and the Soviet Union effectively had control of the country until a student-led revolution in October 1956. However, as the events of the book and history illustrate, they would return with tanks in November, and remain an installation in Hungary for 35 long years after.
The biggest and one of the most beautiful motifs of the book is the Duna river, which actually separates Buda and Pest. Csilla's call to action and pursuit of the truth mimics the river in all its forms, and I love how her courage and passion is reflected in the magic of the city. Although the revolution ultimately failed, the power it held did historically lead to change.
It's also important not to discount the many intersecting identities beautifully present in this book. Csilla and her remaining family member Ilona are Jewish, Holocaust survivors traumatized by the antisemitism present in their lives and the deep losses to their family. Throughout the book they take solace in each other and their faith to help guide them forward, and yes, there is a golem in this book!! No spoilers, but there are also several LGBTQ+ characters in this book and the relationships between them are loving, tender, and complex.
If you're looking for a book where you can equally be swept away by the jaw-droppingly-gorgeous writing, the magical elements, and learn something new about history, I'd strongly encourage reading "This Rebel Heart"!
This book was absolutely breathtaking. The way the fantasy elements were interwoven with historical reality reminded me a lot of "Deathless" by Catherynne M. Valente, and if you liked that book be sure to check this one out!
Our main character, Csilla, is living in Budapest, Hungary, following WWII. Although the Nazis were gone, the Communist Party remained, and the Soviet Union effectively had control of the country until a student-led revolution in October 1956. However, as the events of the book and history illustrate, they would return with tanks in November, and remain an installation in Hungary for 35 long years after.
The biggest and one of the most beautiful motifs of the book is the Duna river, which actually separates Buda and Pest. Csilla's call to action and pursuit of the truth mimics the river in all its forms, and I love how her courage and passion is reflected in the magic of the city. Although the revolution ultimately failed, the power it held did historically lead to change.
It's also important not to discount the many intersecting identities beautifully present in this book. Csilla and her remaining family member Ilona are Jewish, Holocaust survivors traumatized by the antisemitism present in their lives and the deep losses to their family. Throughout the book they take solace in each other and their faith to help guide them forward, and yes, there is a golem in this book!! No spoilers, but there are also several LGBTQ+ characters in this book and the relationships between them are loving, tender, and complex.
If you're looking for a book where you can equally be swept away by the jaw-droppingly-gorgeous writing, the magical elements, and learn something new about history, I'd strongly encourage reading "This Rebel Heart"!