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The Pale
441 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 28, 2026
Recently finished the ARC copy of The Pale by Alex Shifman, and it’s one of my new favorite fantasy books. I love theology and doctrine and religious stuff of any kind, so to see a fantasy magic system built on the depths of Jewish tradition, I knew I would enjoy the book. My fondness however went much further than I expected, because the book is perfectly paced, the characters are vivid and memorable, the story, sharp and strong.
Something I dislike is a poorly placed comedic moment. The Pale does a beautiful job of balancing it’s heart and humor. It never undercuts the moments of sincerity, which I appreciate, and it isn’t afraid to lean into it’s own weirdness. What other book will you find featuring a Jewish demon conversing with his Wizard cousin from within the body of a female golem? There are also numerous moments of dread filled intensity, an almost cosmic horror feeling of insignificance and smallness, which fits perfectly within Jewish theology.
I highly recommend picking this book up when it launches. I will be buying myself a physical copy. If you’re a fan of the bizarre fun in a Douglas Adam’s story, or the action and pacing of a James Gunn movie — you’ll enjoy this.
Something I dislike is a poorly placed comedic moment. The Pale does a beautiful job of balancing it’s heart and humor. It never undercuts the moments of sincerity, which I appreciate, and it isn’t afraid to lean into it’s own weirdness. What other book will you find featuring a Jewish demon conversing with his Wizard cousin from within the body of a female golem? There are also numerous moments of dread filled intensity, an almost cosmic horror feeling of insignificance and smallness, which fits perfectly within Jewish theology.
I highly recommend picking this book up when it launches. I will be buying myself a physical copy. If you’re a fan of the bizarre fun in a Douglas Adam’s story, or the action and pacing of a James Gunn movie — you’ll enjoy this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This historical tale of the Old Russian Empire - think Tolstoy, think Turgenev - starts conventionally enough. There's been a murder in the Jewish Pale of Settlement and the Imperial authorities must investigate. Okay, now it's a Russian Sherlock Holmes? Dostoyevsky or something? But soon we're into the tense relations between Christians and Jews, and a Jewish Cabbalist is evoking his demonic helper - so now it's not Tolstoy, not Conan Doyle, now it's like Isaac Bashevis Singer, tales of the Jewish old country, of the shtetl...
Without getting into spoilers, I can say that it soon ramps up into a horror-fantasy adventure, heavy on action, loaded with wit and humor, a monster-hunting expedition with huge helpings of bloodshed and elegance, of brawls and magical rituals.
If you like the wit and magic of Terry Pratchett, but your interest is also piqued by tales of the European Old Country, the Russian Empire and the Jewish Pale, if you're in any way entranced by S. Ansky's Dybbuk drama, by Bashevis Singer, by Bruno Schulz's wild fantasy, by Franz Kafka's oddball wit, or by the great Russian Jewish writer Isaac Babel (perhaps the greatest ever comic-dramatic voice of the shtetl and pre-WWII Jewish life), then this great fantasy adventure is the read for you.
I am a great fan of all these Jewish voices of the Old World, and this wonderful tale by Alex Shifman really scratches the itch I have for that kind of literature, but with that dashing adventurous action to boot!
Highly recommended!
Without getting into spoilers, I can say that it soon ramps up into a horror-fantasy adventure, heavy on action, loaded with wit and humor, a monster-hunting expedition with huge helpings of bloodshed and elegance, of brawls and magical rituals.
If you like the wit and magic of Terry Pratchett, but your interest is also piqued by tales of the European Old Country, the Russian Empire and the Jewish Pale, if you're in any way entranced by S. Ansky's Dybbuk drama, by Bashevis Singer, by Bruno Schulz's wild fantasy, by Franz Kafka's oddball wit, or by the great Russian Jewish writer Isaac Babel (perhaps the greatest ever comic-dramatic voice of the shtetl and pre-WWII Jewish life), then this great fantasy adventure is the read for you.
I am a great fan of all these Jewish voices of the Old World, and this wonderful tale by Alex Shifman really scratches the itch I have for that kind of literature, but with that dashing adventurous action to boot!
Highly recommended!
June 1, 2026
Shifman walks a difficult tightrope here attempting to combine elements of horror and fantasy with a Mel Brooks-ian, darkly funny look into a particularly difficult period of history for European Jewry—by way of a long-lost brothers buddy comedy full of dick jokes. He walks the tightrope expertly. Uncle Mel would be proud.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Pale is like if the witcher were played by Don Quixote and written by Mel Brooks. This is an excellent fantasy novel, full of voice and heart, and definitely unique.
Set in The Pale of the Settlement, Shifman cranks the knob on an alternative history where it's not just the people killing Jews, but demons, werewolves, vampires, and golems too. It's chock full of fun, and has a very unique magic system that involves a lot of Yiddish and thrown eggs (among other things).
The Pale is a story of two brothers finding each other, saving the world, and discovering what it takes to save their relationship at the same time.
Excellent work, Alex.
For me, the ending came a bit too abruptly. I wanted one more chapter in the world to know how the dust settled, and I realized in that what I really wanted was a sequel. This world has air to breathe, and I hope Shifman keeps on with it.
The Pale is like if the witcher were played by Don Quixote and written by Mel Brooks. This is an excellent fantasy novel, full of voice and heart, and definitely unique.
Set in The Pale of the Settlement, Shifman cranks the knob on an alternative history where it's not just the people killing Jews, but demons, werewolves, vampires, and golems too. It's chock full of fun, and has a very unique magic system that involves a lot of Yiddish and thrown eggs (among other things).
The Pale is a story of two brothers finding each other, saving the world, and discovering what it takes to save their relationship at the same time.
Excellent work, Alex.
For me, the ending came a bit too abruptly. I wanted one more chapter in the world to know how the dust settled, and I realized in that what I really wanted was a sequel. This world has air to breathe, and I hope Shifman keeps on with it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews