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A review by beforeviolets
The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
City of Brass meets Studio Ghibli in this opening to an immersive Sephardic Jewish fantasy trilogy.
I love this book’s blurb, so I won’t fix what isn’t broken: “Toba Peres can speak, but not shout; sleep, but not dream. She can write with both hands at once, in different languages, but she keeps her talents hidden at her grandparents’ behest.
Naftaly Cresques sees things that aren’t real, and dreams things that are. Always the family disappointment, Naftaly would still risk his life to honor his father’s last wishes. After the Queen demands every Jew convert or face banishment, Toba and Naftaly are among thousands of Jews who flee their homes. Defying royal orders to abandon all possessions, Toba keeps an amulet she must never take off; Naftaly smuggles a centuries-old book he’s forbidden to read. But the Inquisition is hunting these particular treasures–and they’re not hunting alone.”
Following Toba as she learns there may be more to herself than she’s known, Naftaly as he’s accompanied by unlikely companions on a quest to keep his book safe and find Toba, and a third character called the Courser—an assassin and the right hand man of the leader of the magical world’s military—this book takes us across worlds: mortal and magic alike.
I’ve been sort of dreading writing this review, as even though this was my most anticipated release of this year, The Pomegranate Gate is hard to assess as a story on its own. Whereas most individual books within a trilogy can stand as a complete narrative structure, Kaplan uses the trilogy format to stretch out a singular tale across a series. And so my impression is incomplete, as I am left to analyze only a fraction of a story, like taking in a painting that’s missing two-thirds of its canvas. I can certainly pick apart the brushstrokes or the technique, but without the completed frame, the whole image is still unclear. But despite this book feeling firmly like an Act 1, I absolutely adored the portion I was given and will try my hardest to discuss my experience and enjoyment of this introduction to the Mirror Realm Cycle.
Because of this stretched out format, I won’t deny that the pacing was slow. But I personally love a slow pace when it serves a story, and this slow pace didn’t drag, but rather was reminiscent of a long-form of oral storytelling long forgotten to that of childhood bedtime stories. I think some people might find this pacing difficult, especially while juggling the constant overwhelming political cloud of a new fantasy world. But I found it enticing and it reminded me of Shaharazad, and the way she famously trailed her stories along like feeding someone a pomegranate seed by seed, teasing the listener with just enough of the tale to keep them hooked, but leaving them undeniably wanting more. Even at the times I found myself feeling a little directionless navigating this story, I couldn’t get the world and its characters out of my head, and found myself hungry for more.
Its elements are well-structured and bewitching, and despite my incomplete impression, I can comfortably gush about the many factors that have pulled me into this world.
Toba is a fascinating character with an unbelievably full circle plotline considering the unfinished nature of this story, centering an allegory for neurodivergency (and most closely autism). I did find some of her screentime (for lack of a better word) to poorly used at times, as many of her scenes were spent pining over a character in a way that made me feel more frustrated than anything. And considering the nature of these two's relationship, I doubt romance is in their future, so I'm not sure why SO much of her time was spent centering him. But I will say, the parts of Toba apart from him were incredibly fascinating and dynamic. Naftaly is no less endearing as a character, foolish and bumbling and stubbornly well-intentioned, and his romantic subplot is one for the ages (and one for the TikTok videos using quotes to sell a book). Seriously, his romance is SO DELICIOUS and definitely my favorite part—I love some sad pining gays. The Courser, though, might be my favorite POV, as I can’t help but obsess over a character who enjoys beheading men and turning them into apples. Are you a fan of women with swords? Let me introduce you to a woman with a sword-arm.
The plot is dense and heavily political, and per the usual experience of being first introduced to a new high fantasy world, will make you think: “wow this book has too much going on” until suddenly it all clicks together. This narrative arc is definitely one that catches its readers off-guard, lulling you in with its slow pacing, and surprising you with twists that will leave you crying at the right moments, laughing at the wrong moments, and with your jaw on the floor for all of it.
Its Jewishness is found in the large, sweeping strokes of the world-building: the backdrop of a fantasy version of the Spanish Inquisition, a cast of Jewish characters, politics that center discussions around imperialism and greed and oppression of belief. But it’s also found in the small things, tucked into the crevices of this world: in the way the characters say “Hashem,” in the pluralization of certain words by using “im” and “ot” rather than “s”, in the characters’ dedication to each other despite the world trying to tear them apart.
It still feels wrong to rave about a story with unfinished thoughts, but I am without a doubt that once I read the sequel and especially the final book, this will be a 5-star read, and one of my favorite high fantasies. I love books that feel like they were written to last, the kind that leave a stronger impact as time goes by, and this will definitely be one of those for me.
Full of humor and intrigue and complex politics atop a cast of characters you can’t help but root for, The Pomegranate Gate is not quite what I expected, and may have left me more hungry than satisfied, but is undoubtedly a story I can’t wait to read more of. Both my waking and dreaming hours will be spent pining for the sequel and thinking about these characters.
(credits to my friends Robin and Viktoria for helping me put my thoughts together for this review by sharing theirs)
Content Warnings: antisemitism, genocide, death, character death, violence, blood & gore, torture, decapitation, imprisonment, death of father, ableism (via metaphor), child abuse, kidnapping, drugging, stroke, fire, burning alive, child death, suicidal thoughts, death by childbirth (mention, past), alcohol consumption, emesis
City of Brass meets Studio Ghibli in this opening to an immersive Sephardic Jewish fantasy trilogy.
I love this book’s blurb, so I won’t fix what isn’t broken: “Toba Peres can speak, but not shout; sleep, but not dream. She can write with both hands at once, in different languages, but she keeps her talents hidden at her grandparents’ behest.
Naftaly Cresques sees things that aren’t real, and dreams things that are. Always the family disappointment, Naftaly would still risk his life to honor his father’s last wishes. After the Queen demands every Jew convert or face banishment, Toba and Naftaly are among thousands of Jews who flee their homes. Defying royal orders to abandon all possessions, Toba keeps an amulet she must never take off; Naftaly smuggles a centuries-old book he’s forbidden to read. But the Inquisition is hunting these particular treasures–and they’re not hunting alone.”
Following Toba as she learns there may be more to herself than she’s known, Naftaly as he’s accompanied by unlikely companions on a quest to keep his book safe and find Toba, and a third character called the Courser—an assassin and the right hand man of the leader of the magical world’s military—this book takes us across worlds: mortal and magic alike.
I’ve been sort of dreading writing this review, as even though this was my most anticipated release of this year, The Pomegranate Gate is hard to assess as a story on its own. Whereas most individual books within a trilogy can stand as a complete narrative structure, Kaplan uses the trilogy format to stretch out a singular tale across a series. And so my impression is incomplete, as I am left to analyze only a fraction of a story, like taking in a painting that’s missing two-thirds of its canvas. I can certainly pick apart the brushstrokes or the technique, but without the completed frame, the whole image is still unclear. But despite this book feeling firmly like an Act 1, I absolutely adored the portion I was given and will try my hardest to discuss my experience and enjoyment of this introduction to the Mirror Realm Cycle.
Because of this stretched out format, I won’t deny that the pacing was slow. But I personally love a slow pace when it serves a story, and this slow pace didn’t drag, but rather was reminiscent of a long-form of oral storytelling long forgotten to that of childhood bedtime stories. I think some people might find this pacing difficult, especially while juggling the constant overwhelming political cloud of a new fantasy world. But I found it enticing and it reminded me of Shaharazad, and the way she famously trailed her stories along like feeding someone a pomegranate seed by seed, teasing the listener with just enough of the tale to keep them hooked, but leaving them undeniably wanting more. Even at the times I found myself feeling a little directionless navigating this story, I couldn’t get the world and its characters out of my head, and found myself hungry for more.
Its elements are well-structured and bewitching, and despite my incomplete impression, I can comfortably gush about the many factors that have pulled me into this world.
Toba is a fascinating character with an unbelievably full circle plotline considering the unfinished nature of this story, centering an allegory for neurodivergency (and most closely autism). I did find some of her screentime (for lack of a better word) to poorly used at times, as many of her scenes were spent pining over a character in a way that made me feel more frustrated than anything. And considering the nature of these two's relationship, I doubt romance is in their future, so I'm not sure why SO much of her time was spent centering him. But I will say, the parts of Toba apart from him were incredibly fascinating and dynamic. Naftaly is no less endearing as a character, foolish and bumbling and stubbornly well-intentioned, and his romantic subplot is one for the ages (and one for the TikTok videos using quotes to sell a book). Seriously, his romance is SO DELICIOUS and definitely my favorite part—I love some sad pining gays. The Courser, though, might be my favorite POV, as I can’t help but obsess over a character who enjoys beheading men and turning them into apples. Are you a fan of women with swords? Let me introduce you to a woman with a sword-arm.
The plot is dense and heavily political, and per the usual experience of being first introduced to a new high fantasy world, will make you think: “wow this book has too much going on” until suddenly it all clicks together. This narrative arc is definitely one that catches its readers off-guard, lulling you in with its slow pacing, and surprising you with twists that will leave you crying at the right moments, laughing at the wrong moments, and with your jaw on the floor for all of it.
Its Jewishness is found in the large, sweeping strokes of the world-building: the backdrop of a fantasy version of the Spanish Inquisition, a cast of Jewish characters, politics that center discussions around imperialism and greed and oppression of belief. But it’s also found in the small things, tucked into the crevices of this world: in the way the characters say “Hashem,” in the pluralization of certain words by using “im” and “ot” rather than “s”, in the characters’ dedication to each other despite the world trying to tear them apart.
It still feels wrong to rave about a story with unfinished thoughts, but I am without a doubt that once I read the sequel and especially the final book, this will be a 5-star read, and one of my favorite high fantasies. I love books that feel like they were written to last, the kind that leave a stronger impact as time goes by, and this will definitely be one of those for me.
Full of humor and intrigue and complex politics atop a cast of characters you can’t help but root for, The Pomegranate Gate is not quite what I expected, and may have left me more hungry than satisfied, but is undoubtedly a story I can’t wait to read more of. Both my waking and dreaming hours will be spent pining for the sequel and thinking about these characters.
(credits to my friends Robin and Viktoria for helping me put my thoughts together for this review by sharing theirs)
Content Warnings: antisemitism, genocide, death, character death, violence, blood & gore, torture, decapitation, imprisonment, death of father, ableism (via metaphor), child abuse, kidnapping, drugging, stroke, fire, burning alive, child death, suicidal thoughts, death by childbirth (mention, past), alcohol consumption, emesis
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Genocide, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Kidnapping, Drug use, Ableism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Vomit