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Next Year in Avaria
"It is fated that someday, a hero will be born, and they will traverse the continent to assemble the twelve keys and gather our people once more."
For the Jesimi people, hope is everything. Centuries ago, their people were separated and forced out of their homeland, Avaria, by Xhartana and now live in exile. They can only worship their god, El, in secret and are forbidden from using their magic gifts. Their only hope is the arrival of the chosen one foretold to bring their people back together.
Adam is just a normal Jesimi kid, apprenticing as a preserver and trying not to get in the way of any angry Xhartana soldiers. At least, that's what he thinks-until his life changes forever when he finds a letter from his mother claiming that he is the chosen one meant to reunite his people and save them from Xhartanian rule, once and for all. To complete his quest, he must venture to the twelve Jesimi villages and collect an enchanted key from each. When combined, they will give him the strength to earn his people's freedom. There are just a few problems-he has no training, no idea how to find the keys, and no knowledge of how to use his newfound magic.
With the help of his uncle Ben, his soul-sealed wolf, Zev, and the friends he meets along the way-especially Serafine, heir to Kiritum-Adam must find a way to collect the keys and save his people. Based on the Jewish diaspora, Next Year in Avaria is a story of the courage it takes to stand up against your oppressors and how one person can make all the difference.
For the Jesimi people, hope is everything. Centuries ago, their people were separated and forced out of their homeland, Avaria, by Xhartana and now live in exile. They can only worship their god, El, in secret and are forbidden from using their magic gifts. Their only hope is the arrival of the chosen one foretold to bring their people back together.
Adam is just a normal Jesimi kid, apprenticing as a preserver and trying not to get in the way of any angry Xhartana soldiers. At least, that's what he thinks-until his life changes forever when he finds a letter from his mother claiming that he is the chosen one meant to reunite his people and save them from Xhartanian rule, once and for all. To complete his quest, he must venture to the twelve Jesimi villages and collect an enchanted key from each. When combined, they will give him the strength to earn his people's freedom. There are just a few problems-he has no training, no idea how to find the keys, and no knowledge of how to use his newfound magic.
With the help of his uncle Ben, his soul-sealed wolf, Zev, and the friends he meets along the way-especially Serafine, heir to Kiritum-Adam must find a way to collect the keys and save his people. Based on the Jewish diaspora, Next Year in Avaria is a story of the courage it takes to stand up against your oppressors and how one person can make all the difference.
300 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 21, 2026
When I entered the giveaway for the ARC of this book all I could see were the tags for fiction and fantasy. Only when I won it did I go all the way in to the description of the book. I didn’t realize it was religious based. I gave this copy to my brother as it seemed more up his alley than mine. This is his review:
While I’m grateful to have received this book through a giveaway, I unfortunately wasn’t able to finish it. I’m an avid fantasy reader and tend to read quickly, but this one ended up being a DNF for me, which never happens.
From a fantasy standpoint, the story felt very cliché, relying heavily on overused tropes without offering anything particularly new or engaging. I found myself growing bored as the narrative progressed. Honestly, if I didn’t know any better I would say it felt like it was A.I. written.
It felt as if the story was more focused on retelling a religious narrative than on building an exciting or immersive fantasy world. Because of that, it didn’t fully work for me as a fantasy novel. That said, readers who are Jewish and/or who are already familiar with the history and significance of “Next Year in Jerusalem” may appreciate the book more for its religious and cultural elements than for its fantasy storytelling.
While I’m grateful to have received this book through a giveaway, I unfortunately wasn’t able to finish it. I’m an avid fantasy reader and tend to read quickly, but this one ended up being a DNF for me, which never happens.
From a fantasy standpoint, the story felt very cliché, relying heavily on overused tropes without offering anything particularly new or engaging. I found myself growing bored as the narrative progressed. Honestly, if I didn’t know any better I would say it felt like it was A.I. written.
It felt as if the story was more focused on retelling a religious narrative than on building an exciting or immersive fantasy world. Because of that, it didn’t fully work for me as a fantasy novel. That said, readers who are Jewish and/or who are already familiar with the history and significance of “Next Year in Jerusalem” may appreciate the book more for its religious and cultural elements than for its fantasy storytelling.
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February 1, 2026Next Year in Avaria was a beautiful love letter to Am Yisrael via loose parable.
Jenn, the author, was a friend of mine. She passed away shortly after writing this book, and I believe she had no opportunity to go through developmental edits. Nevertheless, her writing was beautiful, flowy, and descriptive. The characters were lovable. The parable came through clearly. The plot style was a simple and straightforward quest format (though certainly not an easy quest for the characters).
I’ve chosen not to provide a numerical rating, as reading this book was more about the emotional journey for me to say goodbye to my friend, and I don’t feel I can provide a useful rating as a result. But I know I felt and saw Jenn in every page.
Jenn, the author, was a friend of mine. She passed away shortly after writing this book, and I believe she had no opportunity to go through developmental edits. Nevertheless, her writing was beautiful, flowy, and descriptive. The characters were lovable. The parable came through clearly. The plot style was a simple and straightforward quest format (though certainly not an easy quest for the characters).
I’ve chosen not to provide a numerical rating, as reading this book was more about the emotional journey for me to say goodbye to my friend, and I don’t feel I can provide a useful rating as a result. But I know I felt and saw Jenn in every page.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews