The Gifts of the Fairy Melusine

by Barak A. Bassman

At the beginning of the First Crusade in the year 1096, bands of marauding Crusader knights attack and massacre Jewish communities across the Rhineland in Germany. Yet one of the victims, a wine merchant from Worms who had lost his wife and son, receives a second chance at a magical fairy named Melusine brings him back to life and offers him a way out of the travails of Jewish history. If Reuven will love and marry her, then she will make him a wealthy and powerful Christian lord with vast estates and heroic and bold warrior sons. In despair he agrees, but then learns over time that he cannot so easily abandon the tragedy that destroyed his community. In the end, he must choose between the pleasures of the fairy’s magical gifts and the pull of searing memory.

Genres: Short Stories

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2018

Reviews

[GG Stewart’s Bookhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book but mostly for the opportunity to read it. For I would never have considered reading it. I really enjoyed this book. It read like a mixture of a bible story, fairy tale, and a story you would have heard from an older relative. That’s what it reminded me of; my Great Grandfathers tales. A story that gives you pause, to consider your own inner self and at the same time teach you a lesson or two.
Having said that I would like to say that I am a Catholic and not shy to admit the atrocities that our church inflicted over the years, this book and another that I have read from the same author leads me to believe that he maybe Jewish. I have little knowledge of Jewish customs or way of life so it was interesting to learn a few things from this book. He does mention a lot how ugly the Jewish people were treated and in someways attacks Catholic views and sets them as the evil ones. So that may bother some people who may read this book. I believe evil comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes, regardless of political or religious views, which I think made the book interesting to me and not like I was being lectured. Though I can see some devote Catholic taking offense. The story was well written and I enjoyed it. I would be interested to read more from this author.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up
Interesting story and characters. Good, quick read.

[Shaynah Kowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and quick read. As a Jewish history buff however, there were some anachronisms that bothered me, like the use of Yiddish phrases when Yiddish did not exist yet, especially terms like "tate" and some names which became popular after the creation of Israel which would not have been used by 11th-century German Jews. It is still worth a read.

[Dj Acrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting!

I'm not very familiar with the practice of the Jewish religion but I still found this story to be entertaining and time well spent,
I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway and I believe many will enjoy this book.

[Julie Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a quick read. The story line of a Jew beings saved but now must live like a Christian is interesting. The pull of his heart is stronger than the pull of his brain to enjoy this new life.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique read

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting retelling of the story of Melusine, and overall enjoyable.

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads giveaways.

[Eliza Svihra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It was definitely an interesting read. I have read three of the authors books, this being the first, and so far it is my favorite of his that I’ve read. His tales are all old biblical, or folklore tales. I’m not sure if there’s more than one tale of Melusine, but I liked what he wrote. It’s not something I’d originally pick for myself. But I’m glad I read it all the same.

[valeri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think of its end as something quite beautiful. As after all, she could continue to take care of her family and her legacy and without death to apart her from them.