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Simantov
When detective Mazzy Simantov is called up to investigate the case of a missing girl, little does she know it is linked to a series of other mysterious disappearances of women. She is forced to partner with Yariv, her one-time lover and sometimes-colleague, but as the investigation continues, otherworldly clues begin to appear at the crime scenes, including a black feather unlike that of any bird...
As the clues mount, it becomes clear that an apocalypse is looming, as Heaven's secret orders threaten to collide in a head-on war that imperils everyone on Earth. Can Mazzy and Yariv come together to save the world from being torn apart?
This is the English translation from the original Hebrew text, translated by Marganit Weinberger-Rotman.
File Under: Fantasy [ Bad Omens | Angels & Humans | Apocalypse Now | Big Guns ]
As the clues mount, it becomes clear that an apocalypse is looming, as Heaven's secret orders threaten to collide in a head-on war that imperils everyone on Earth. Can Mazzy and Yariv come together to save the world from being torn apart?
This is the English translation from the original Hebrew text, translated by Marganit Weinberger-Rotman.
File Under: Fantasy [ Bad Omens | Angels & Humans | Apocalypse Now | Big Guns ]
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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432 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 17, 2020
I must admit to being extremely excited about this unique and highly original amalgamation of crime fiction/police procedural/thriller and the science fiction/fantasy genres but unfortunately this didn't quite work for me. However, it is indeed worth pointing out that books are superbly subjective meaning that my thoughts here may jar completely with yours; this is very much a book I feel has a lot to offer to the right reader(s). I usually adore these thoroughly idiosyncratic, surrealist trips into a niche corner of the crime market, few as they may be, and admittedly by their very nature they often teeter on the edge, towing the line between nutty and fascinating.
I think the most accurate way to describe what happened here, in my opinion, is cramming too many ideas into one book. It reminds me of those Masterchef contestants who make the beginners mistake of trying to show off every one of their solid cooking skills and making it into one dish. Naturally, the items don't complement one another as they were never thought of as creating one solid meal by the chef. I think when the author pares it back he will undoubtedly show just how talented he is. If you’re a fan of unusual, unconventional and unorthodox mysteries then you may love this.
It speaks right to the heart of the authors talent when I have no qualms in genuinely stating that I would be eager to pick up whatever he decides to pen in the future. Seriously, watch this space! I know I will be. 3.5 stars rounded up. Many thanks to Angry Robot for an ARC.
I think the most accurate way to describe what happened here, in my opinion, is cramming too many ideas into one book. It reminds me of those Masterchef contestants who make the beginners mistake of trying to show off every one of their solid cooking skills and making it into one dish. Naturally, the items don't complement one another as they were never thought of as creating one solid meal by the chef. I think when the author pares it back he will undoubtedly show just how talented he is. If you’re a fan of unusual, unconventional and unorthodox mysteries then you may love this.
It speaks right to the heart of the authors talent when I have no qualms in genuinely stating that I would be eager to pick up whatever he decides to pen in the future. Seriously, watch this space! I know I will be. 3.5 stars rounded up. Many thanks to Angry Robot for an ARC.
September 16, 2020
Interesting but not immersive. I may write a longer review in the future, for now, I'll just list things I liked and things I disliked.
+ Unique setting
+ Interesting take on Jewish mythology and Nephilim
+ Interesting story
- lack of relatable characters
- detached omniscient narration (sometimes third person limited)
- slow pacing
- I couldn't relate to anyone and had to force myself to finish it
All told, not a bad book, it just didn't wow me.
+ Unique setting
+ Interesting take on Jewish mythology and Nephilim
+ Interesting story
- lack of relatable characters
- detached omniscient narration (sometimes third person limited)
- slow pacing
- I couldn't relate to anyone and had to force myself to finish it
All told, not a bad book, it just didn't wow me.
March 5, 2020
This is a book with a lot of interesting ideas, but way too many of them crammed into one book.
This book was originally written and published in Israel, and has been translated from Hebrew and published by the folks at Angry Robot (thanks for the ARC). In general, their business model seems to be “publish the weird stuff.” Sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s a miss, but it seems to work for them, and I appreciate their willingness to reach beyond the normal stuff.
Bit of relevant personal background: I’m not born Jewish, but I married into a Jewish family. I’m perfectly comfortable in the Jewish world, and also know a fair bit about Israeli culture as well. Israeli culture is DISTINCTLY different from what most Westerners think of as “Jewish” culture - much more Middle Eastern, much less New York. This book is super, super Israeli, and if I’d read it before things got serious with Mrs. OfThePalace and I began learning more about Judaism than what I’d picked up from *Seinfeld* and Mel Brooks movies, I would have been totally lost. And then Israeli culture is another layer on top of that. I’ve got an edge here, having married into a Jewish family and been to Israel, but without that I would have been totally lost.
Because there’s a lot here that just isn’t explained. At all. When Mazzy’s (the main character) mother serves laffa at a Seder, the author doesn’t explain why Mazzy is so embarrassed and her husband is so offended. (You aren’t supposed to eat any leavened bread products on Passover.) Gematria plays an enormous part in this book, but it’s never actually explained. (It’s a branch of Jewish mysticism based on finding meaning in words based on each letter having an assigned numerical value.) I did ok with this kind of stuff, but for most that aren’t connected to the Jewish community I think this book will mostly be confusing.
I started out by saying this book had too many ideas. Mazzy is part of a unit of soothsayers, fortune tellers, and other mystics working for the police. They’re generally viewed more than a bit askance by the regular cops, but their record at solving cases is good enough to keep them on the force. There’s been a high-profile kidnapping that’s sent their way. That’s an interesting premise for a book.
They get caught up in a conflict brewing between the Daughters of Lilith (descendants of the mythological Lilith, first wife of Adam who was cast out of Eden for refusing to be submissive. An interesting character that I wish was used more often) and the Nephilim, those begat by Fallen angels and human women in the years before the Flood. That’s also an interesting premise for a book.
There’s also an impending apocalypse on the way. Always an interesting premise for a book, and this one has some super interesting twists to it (which I won’t get into, because spoilers).
And then there’s the love triangle between Mazzy, her husband, and her ex-boyfriend who happens to be another cop assigned to work with her on this case. (I hate love triangles, but that’s just a personal taste thing). There’s the complicated relationship between Mazzy and her soothsayer mother. There’s the tension between Mazzy and her husband over the best way to raise their daughter, who appears to be mute. All of it COULD be interesting, COULD be good, but none of it is developed enough to actually BE interesting or good. The result is a jumbled, rushed mess.
On the whole, I can’t really recommend this book. There were interesting ideas, but the execution never lives up to them.
This book was originally written and published in Israel, and has been translated from Hebrew and published by the folks at Angry Robot (thanks for the ARC). In general, their business model seems to be “publish the weird stuff.” Sometimes it’s a hit, sometimes it’s a miss, but it seems to work for them, and I appreciate their willingness to reach beyond the normal stuff.
Bit of relevant personal background: I’m not born Jewish, but I married into a Jewish family. I’m perfectly comfortable in the Jewish world, and also know a fair bit about Israeli culture as well. Israeli culture is DISTINCTLY different from what most Westerners think of as “Jewish” culture - much more Middle Eastern, much less New York. This book is super, super Israeli, and if I’d read it before things got serious with Mrs. OfThePalace and I began learning more about Judaism than what I’d picked up from *Seinfeld* and Mel Brooks movies, I would have been totally lost. And then Israeli culture is another layer on top of that. I’ve got an edge here, having married into a Jewish family and been to Israel, but without that I would have been totally lost.
Because there’s a lot here that just isn’t explained. At all. When Mazzy’s (the main character) mother serves laffa at a Seder, the author doesn’t explain why Mazzy is so embarrassed and her husband is so offended. (You aren’t supposed to eat any leavened bread products on Passover.) Gematria plays an enormous part in this book, but it’s never actually explained. (It’s a branch of Jewish mysticism based on finding meaning in words based on each letter having an assigned numerical value.) I did ok with this kind of stuff, but for most that aren’t connected to the Jewish community I think this book will mostly be confusing.
I started out by saying this book had too many ideas. Mazzy is part of a unit of soothsayers, fortune tellers, and other mystics working for the police. They’re generally viewed more than a bit askance by the regular cops, but their record at solving cases is good enough to keep them on the force. There’s been a high-profile kidnapping that’s sent their way. That’s an interesting premise for a book.
They get caught up in a conflict brewing between the Daughters of Lilith (descendants of the mythological Lilith, first wife of Adam who was cast out of Eden for refusing to be submissive. An interesting character that I wish was used more often) and the Nephilim, those begat by Fallen angels and human women in the years before the Flood. That’s also an interesting premise for a book.
There’s also an impending apocalypse on the way. Always an interesting premise for a book, and this one has some super interesting twists to it (which I won’t get into, because spoilers).
And then there’s the love triangle between Mazzy, her husband, and her ex-boyfriend who happens to be another cop assigned to work with her on this case. (I hate love triangles, but that’s just a personal taste thing). There’s the complicated relationship between Mazzy and her soothsayer mother. There’s the tension between Mazzy and her husband over the best way to raise their daughter, who appears to be mute. All of it COULD be interesting, COULD be good, but none of it is developed enough to actually BE interesting or good. The result is a jumbled, rushed mess.
On the whole, I can’t really recommend this book. There were interesting ideas, but the execution never lives up to them.
May 9, 2020
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
There is an entire world of books that are being published in foreign languages. So little of them actually reach us, that it always makes me sad. I grew up speaking Dutch and I still feel a little bit surprised whenever I see a Dutch work in English translation, so I know what it is like.
Simantov was originally published in Israel and written in Hebrew. In my challenge to read more diverse, I was really looking forward to reading this. However, I do not know whether it was the translation so much or the cultural differences but this book lost me.
There is a lot in here. Angels, mythology, a detective story and a squad of paranormal detectives. But is was all crammed together and in the end, I ended up not caring about basically anyone or anything in the book. Maybe it was just not the book for me, or not the book for me at this time, but I was a little bit disappointed with it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
There is an entire world of books that are being published in foreign languages. So little of them actually reach us, that it always makes me sad. I grew up speaking Dutch and I still feel a little bit surprised whenever I see a Dutch work in English translation, so I know what it is like.
Simantov was originally published in Israel and written in Hebrew. In my challenge to read more diverse, I was really looking forward to reading this. However, I do not know whether it was the translation so much or the cultural differences but this book lost me.
There is a lot in here. Angels, mythology, a detective story and a squad of paranormal detectives. But is was all crammed together and in the end, I ended up not caring about basically anyone or anything in the book. Maybe it was just not the book for me, or not the book for me at this time, but I was a little bit disappointed with it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 16, 2021
It’s a banger, folks! I’m such a sucker for Big Bad v. Big Good conflicts (or even better Big Bad v. Big Just As Bad) conflicts. So, a book about a war between the Nephilim and the Daughters of Lilith was definitely going to reel me in. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I had to have it.
Check out this excerpt from the opening scene:
>>> He held the cloth by its edges and motioned to Jacob to stretch out his hands. Jacob obeyed, and the old man placed the clammy bundle in them like an offering.
Animatedly, his thick crow-like voice began to recite a verse.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction.”
Jacob opened the package, which, to his utter astonishment, contained a bleeding, beating human heart.
A second before Elijah’s hand had ripped open his ribcage to tear out his heart, Jacob recognized the melody that heralded his death. <<<
How the hell would I not just absolutely devour the book after reading that!?
The story is really fast-paced, keeps you engaged from start to finish and the characters keep you invested as well. I didn’t always like Mazzy or Yariv or Rachel but I was always rooting for them to f*ck sh*t all the way up! I loved learning about the Nephilim and all the lore presented about how the world came to be where it is. This is the kind of stuff I thrive on in my fiction to be honest.
When all the threads started to come together and both sides no longer felt the need to move in secret, then things got really hot! I’ll say it again, I am a sucker for big, magical/supernatural world-hanging-in-the-balance conflicts and it feels like this one, with its rogue and ruthless angels was written just for me.
The ending was brutal, but I didn’t expect that it would go any other way with the stakes as high as they were. It hurt me, but I loved it and I now need more of this kind of story in my life!
Check out this excerpt from the opening scene:
>>> He held the cloth by its edges and motioned to Jacob to stretch out his hands. Jacob obeyed, and the old man placed the clammy bundle in them like an offering.
Animatedly, his thick crow-like voice began to recite a verse.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction.”
Jacob opened the package, which, to his utter astonishment, contained a bleeding, beating human heart.
A second before Elijah’s hand had ripped open his ribcage to tear out his heart, Jacob recognized the melody that heralded his death. <<<
How the hell would I not just absolutely devour the book after reading that!?
The story is really fast-paced, keeps you engaged from start to finish and the characters keep you invested as well. I didn’t always like Mazzy or Yariv or Rachel but I was always rooting for them to f*ck sh*t all the way up! I loved learning about the Nephilim and all the lore presented about how the world came to be where it is. This is the kind of stuff I thrive on in my fiction to be honest.
When all the threads started to come together and both sides no longer felt the need to move in secret, then things got really hot! I’ll say it again, I am a sucker for big, magical/supernatural world-hanging-in-the-balance conflicts and it feels like this one, with its rogue and ruthless angels was written just for me.
The ending was brutal, but I didn’t expect that it would go any other way with the stakes as high as they were. It hurt me, but I loved it and I now need more of this kind of story in my life!
February 25, 2020
This story started out strong, but unraveled fairly quickly. I couldn't tell how much was a translation issue or part of the original, but I struggled to stay connected with the characters and action. I loved the use of scripture as intermittent dialogue, and all the work of the Soothsayer unit was a lot of fun to read. There were plot points I never quite understood, and the end lost dramatic punch because I never fully grasped the stakes or understood the significance of what was happening. At times, the translation obviously missed the mark, and that made me suspect some of the problems I found in following the story were related more to this than the story itself. Overall, this is a brilliant and fascinating idea, I just didn't feel like it the writing lived up to it.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
March 3, 2020
No, no, no, NO.
I am so crushed. I love angelic mythology and the story of Lilith, and thought I had finally found the two combined in a novel that promised no paranormal romance. And it's true that this isn't a paranormal romance (or at least didn't get there before I DNF-ed it). But what it is is a disaster.
The action-film esque prologue - complete with pyrotechnics - made me a little hesitant, but frankly I want a medal for continuing to read after Shamhazai - one of the most interesting and powerful angels in the mythos - described Lilith thus
'She was dark and comely, her eyelashes fluttered like turtledoves, her perky breasts like two erect towers.'
Hi, can I just say... NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. This is a novel in translation, so maybe I have Rotman rather than Ashery to blame for this disaster line? But regardless, THAT IS NOT HOW BREASTS WORK. That is a line worthy of r/menwritingwomen. For crying out loud. And it distresses me on a whole different level that this is apparently the dynamic between Shamhazai and Lilith, two incredible figures from the mythos. It's undignified and demeaning, but in all fairness, readers who aren't as into the mythology as I am probably won't be bothered by that aspect of it.
I did keep reading past that horrific bit of description, and it was interesting to see Ashery completely recreate the Nephilim, giving the term a very different meaning and rewriting that bit of the mythology. But it very quickly started to fall apart. The moment the story shifted to focus on human characters - so, from chapter two onwards - the writing was just a train-wreck. Info-dumps everywhere, stilted, clunky dialogue, eye-rollingly sex-obsessed male characters (gods forbid a male police officer have a female protege he doesn't want to get in bed)... It's hard to say how much of the rough writing is just the translation, but the fundamental characterisation and set-up is just...
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. But it's clear it's going to go down as one of my worst reads of 2020.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I am so crushed. I love angelic mythology and the story of Lilith, and thought I had finally found the two combined in a novel that promised no paranormal romance. And it's true that this isn't a paranormal romance (or at least didn't get there before I DNF-ed it). But what it is is a disaster.
The action-film esque prologue - complete with pyrotechnics - made me a little hesitant, but frankly I want a medal for continuing to read after Shamhazai - one of the most interesting and powerful angels in the mythos - described Lilith thus
'She was dark and comely, her eyelashes fluttered like turtledoves, her perky breasts like two erect towers.'
Hi, can I just say... NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. This is a novel in translation, so maybe I have Rotman rather than Ashery to blame for this disaster line? But regardless, THAT IS NOT HOW BREASTS WORK. That is a line worthy of r/menwritingwomen. For crying out loud. And it distresses me on a whole different level that this is apparently the dynamic between Shamhazai and Lilith, two incredible figures from the mythos. It's undignified and demeaning, but in all fairness, readers who aren't as into the mythology as I am probably won't be bothered by that aspect of it.
I did keep reading past that horrific bit of description, and it was interesting to see Ashery completely recreate the Nephilim, giving the term a very different meaning and rewriting that bit of the mythology. But it very quickly started to fall apart. The moment the story shifted to focus on human characters - so, from chapter two onwards - the writing was just a train-wreck. Info-dumps everywhere, stilted, clunky dialogue, eye-rollingly sex-obsessed male characters (gods forbid a male police officer have a female protege he doesn't want to get in bed)... It's hard to say how much of the rough writing is just the translation, but the fundamental characterisation and set-up is just...
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. But it's clear it's going to go down as one of my worst reads of 2020.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 28, 2020
Angry Robot releases a wide variety of Science Fiction/Fantasy/Weird stuff novels, so it is no surprise that they have opted to publish Simantov by Asaf Ashery. Originally published in Hebrew, the story is part police procedure/part apocalypse. Mazzy Simantov leads a group of mystical detectives filled with coffee ground and tarot card readers, soothsayers, and clairvoyants, to help with cases the routine police cannot solve. When women start to get kidnapped by angels, they are called in to help solve the case.
There are some things that I did not like about the novel, but I wonder if some of it is due more to the translation than the actual original text. Since I am reading a translation, there are some things that could have been treated differently in the original text. I did not like how dismissive the main character is to her husband, Gabby. We are not really told how their relationship had been before the novel, but he is to the place where he is doing things to try to win her affection, and when he gets what little he receives from her, he is grateful and she is dismissive. I don’t know if this is one of the character traits that Ashery wants, but by making her this sort of person in her personal life, it makes me feel like the rest of her roles as a daughter, officer of the law, and hero, seem tainted. There are some ways that this tenseness between husband and wife carries too much weight at the end of the novel. I also do not like that there seems to be a workaround for every situation. Like if someone gets hurt, there’s a spell for that. If some problem is unsolved, there’s a tarot reading for that. For a book that is part police procedural, all of the clues they find are not used much. Instead Ashery uses a “Well it’s because they have mysticism on their side” way of solving the crimes. The actual detective work is very slim because it is easier to solve the puzzles with mysticism.
I did not hate this novel though. It was pretty entertaining despite its flaws. Some of the writing (or translating) is a little clunky at times, but I didn’t hate it. I wish I could do half stars because it deserves more than three but less than four. I think I have to round down in this instance, but if I could, I’d give it three and a half stars. Its slightly better than average, but not by too much.
I love that Angry Robot published this, and there needs to be more sci-fi/fantasy in translation. They are a press that always takes risks, and even though this one did not turn out perfect, the door needs to stay open for other books in translation.
I received this ARC through Angry Robot and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are some things that I did not like about the novel, but I wonder if some of it is due more to the translation than the actual original text. Since I am reading a translation, there are some things that could have been treated differently in the original text. I did not like how dismissive the main character is to her husband, Gabby. We are not really told how their relationship had been before the novel, but he is to the place where he is doing things to try to win her affection, and when he gets what little he receives from her, he is grateful and she is dismissive. I don’t know if this is one of the character traits that Ashery wants, but by making her this sort of person in her personal life, it makes me feel like the rest of her roles as a daughter, officer of the law, and hero, seem tainted. There are some ways that this tenseness between husband and wife carries too much weight at the end of the novel. I also do not like that there seems to be a workaround for every situation. Like if someone gets hurt, there’s a spell for that. If some problem is unsolved, there’s a tarot reading for that. For a book that is part police procedural, all of the clues they find are not used much. Instead Ashery uses a “Well it’s because they have mysticism on their side” way of solving the crimes. The actual detective work is very slim because it is easier to solve the puzzles with mysticism.
I did not hate this novel though. It was pretty entertaining despite its flaws. Some of the writing (or translating) is a little clunky at times, but I didn’t hate it. I wish I could do half stars because it deserves more than three but less than four. I think I have to round down in this instance, but if I could, I’d give it three and a half stars. Its slightly better than average, but not by too much.
I love that Angry Robot published this, and there needs to be more sci-fi/fantasy in translation. They are a press that always takes risks, and even though this one did not turn out perfect, the door needs to stay open for other books in translation.
I received this ARC through Angry Robot and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Simantov is a difficult to classify hybrid of magical realism, police procedural, and fable by debut author Asaf Ashery. Released 14th April 2020 by Angry Robot, it's 392 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.
Originally published in Hebrew, there is a significant cultural aesthetic with which I struggled in translation. I often felt like I was missing *most* of what was going on under the surface. I could see there was a commonly understood undercurrent of which I was aware but completely nescient. I think that fact contributed to my difficulty settling down and investing in the plot and characters. (Side note: I was trying to read this book and take notes in the middle of a great deal of uncertainty during the early months of 2020 and the pandemic - and I'm a healthcare worker - so that also contributed a great deal to my general stress level and is one reason this review is tardy).
There are a truly impressive number of partially interwoven themes here. The descendants of Lilith (Adam's first wife according to Judaic mysticism who was created at the same time and of the same materials as Adam and pretty much buggered off because she didn't want to be subservient to him) and the Nephilim (yes, the giants who came from fallen angels and human women in the years prior to the great flood) make an appearance. There are soothsayers, and kidnapped women, and trying to stave off the apocalypse along with more mundane police procedural type plot elements and a love triangle thrown in there for good measure. The book has guts and the author juggles the disparate elements relatively well, but I admit that I spent a fair bit of my time reading thinking it was jumbled chaos.
I *love* speculative fantasy. I *love* police procedurals. There aren't a whole lot of overlaps, but when I find some, I gobble them up. I really believe that for readers who are more familiar with the culture (Israeli) and backstory, the book could be a great read (especially for a debut). The author has a strong and very sure voice and a deft hand with setting. It was just a difficult fit for me.
Three and a half stars for me.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Simantov is a difficult to classify hybrid of magical realism, police procedural, and fable by debut author Asaf Ashery. Released 14th April 2020 by Angry Robot, it's 392 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.
Originally published in Hebrew, there is a significant cultural aesthetic with which I struggled in translation. I often felt like I was missing *most* of what was going on under the surface. I could see there was a commonly understood undercurrent of which I was aware but completely nescient. I think that fact contributed to my difficulty settling down and investing in the plot and characters. (Side note: I was trying to read this book and take notes in the middle of a great deal of uncertainty during the early months of 2020 and the pandemic - and I'm a healthcare worker - so that also contributed a great deal to my general stress level and is one reason this review is tardy).
There are a truly impressive number of partially interwoven themes here. The descendants of Lilith (Adam's first wife according to Judaic mysticism who was created at the same time and of the same materials as Adam and pretty much buggered off because she didn't want to be subservient to him) and the Nephilim (yes, the giants who came from fallen angels and human women in the years prior to the great flood) make an appearance. There are soothsayers, and kidnapped women, and trying to stave off the apocalypse along with more mundane police procedural type plot elements and a love triangle thrown in there for good measure. The book has guts and the author juggles the disparate elements relatively well, but I admit that I spent a fair bit of my time reading thinking it was jumbled chaos.
I *love* speculative fantasy. I *love* police procedurals. There aren't a whole lot of overlaps, but when I find some, I gobble them up. I really believe that for readers who are more familiar with the culture (Israeli) and backstory, the book could be a great read (especially for a debut). The author has a strong and very sure voice and a deft hand with setting. It was just a difficult fit for me.
Three and a half stars for me.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 21, 2021
This review originally published in Looking For a Good book. Rated 2.0 of 5
Simantov and Bitton are detectives with the Soothsayer task Force who are looking to make sense of a series of strange crimes and disappearances. What the team of mystics agents come to learn is that there's a battle brewing in the heavens between the Daughters of Lilith and the Nephilim and humans are getting caught in the crossfire. But more dangerous is that this may be signaling the beginning of the apocalypse.
I really appreciate the opportunity to read works from other countries. While humans are pretty much the same wherever we go, the way in which we look at things and how we allow outside forces to affect us does differ. Sometimes that can be reflected in art and literature.
There is, here, what I presume to be a mythology that is Israeli (I know nothing about this culture, history, or its mythology). On the surface, I was quite interested in reading this and getting something new. But as I admit I know nothing about this, I don't know where common mythology of the culture ends and the author's imagination begins.
But more importantly ... I didn't care.
Our main characters (police investigators who use tarot readers and mystics in their work) are dull, lifeless, and uninteresting. The angels (daughters of Lilith and the Nephilim) are only slightly more interesting.
It was easy to get lost and not know what was happening because it was easy to lose focus with this book. But with a book like this, it could be a cultural difference, but it could also be a translation issue. But no matter what is at the root, this book is not something I can recommend.
Looking for a good book? Simantov by Asaf Ashery is a paranormal fantasy translated from Hebrew that does not hold the average American reader's interest.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Simantov and Bitton are detectives with the Soothsayer task Force who are looking to make sense of a series of strange crimes and disappearances. What the team of mystics agents come to learn is that there's a battle brewing in the heavens between the Daughters of Lilith and the Nephilim and humans are getting caught in the crossfire. But more dangerous is that this may be signaling the beginning of the apocalypse.
I really appreciate the opportunity to read works from other countries. While humans are pretty much the same wherever we go, the way in which we look at things and how we allow outside forces to affect us does differ. Sometimes that can be reflected in art and literature.
There is, here, what I presume to be a mythology that is Israeli (I know nothing about this culture, history, or its mythology). On the surface, I was quite interested in reading this and getting something new. But as I admit I know nothing about this, I don't know where common mythology of the culture ends and the author's imagination begins.
But more importantly ... I didn't care.
Our main characters (police investigators who use tarot readers and mystics in their work) are dull, lifeless, and uninteresting. The angels (daughters of Lilith and the Nephilim) are only slightly more interesting.
It was easy to get lost and not know what was happening because it was easy to lose focus with this book. But with a book like this, it could be a cultural difference, but it could also be a translation issue. But no matter what is at the root, this book is not something I can recommend.
Looking for a good book? Simantov by Asaf Ashery is a paranormal fantasy translated from Hebrew that does not hold the average American reader's interest.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2024
This was a good paranormal police mystery. The world and the characters were interesting and believable, the plot was well paced, and the writing drew me in. There were things about it that were weak, though. A big problem was the lack of indication when shifting perspectives. It was particularly bad when going from Mazzy to Rachel and back and I'm pretty sure that I misunderstood who was feeling what when more than once. The other thing was Mazzy's relationship to Yariv. The romantic/sexual elements of it didn't add anything to the story that a decent friendship wouldn't have done better and it didn't really work well, anyway. It made the epilogue feel a little more awkward without much reason. And that epilogue threw too much into the air. This is an odd thing for me to say, but I think that there was a tad too much characterization of Mazzy since so little of it came into play in any meaningful way. Her relationship with her husband and toddler don't meaningfully resolve into anything and I'm not sure that going into it did much for either the story or building an image of Mazzy. I guess it emphasized that she was a workaholic, but we didn't need that depth for it. And the tiny bit with the toddler at the very end did hint towards a future for the Simantov line, but could have been handled a lot more simply. Even with those complaints, though, I really enjoyed the story and its telling.
October 26, 2021
The story of a detective case that turns into a potentially apocalyptic event is quite interesting. It’s the first Israeli novel (translated to English) that I have read. I’ve read some about the nephilim, though never in so much detail. I was familiar with the letter-to-number translations but only in a vague way. I really didn’t know that the translation ran the other direction as well, but it makes a lot of sense.
Overall, the characters were a little bit cardboard or maybe cold, but the plot and the attempt to stop it were complicated and compelling. I would have liked characters I cared about more, but some of the relationships were messy and felt realistic.
I bought this book after seeing some really good reviews, but I’m thinking that might have been some good marketing, as the reviews I looked at after reading a few chapters were not as enthusiastic. Still, I enjoyed the book and will look at other novels from Israel.
Overall, the characters were a little bit cardboard or maybe cold, but the plot and the attempt to stop it were complicated and compelling. I would have liked characters I cared about more, but some of the relationships were messy and felt realistic.
I bought this book after seeing some really good reviews, but I’m thinking that might have been some good marketing, as the reviews I looked at after reading a few chapters were not as enthusiastic. Still, I enjoyed the book and will look at other novels from Israel.
March 11, 2020
Pros:
-Good police procedural
-Great modern/urban fantasy feel.
-Takes a country I’m very familiar with and a culture I belong to and adds a layer of mystique I wasn’t expecting.
-Family dynamics and relationship tension, definitely unexpected, but enjoyable.
Cons:
-pacing is on the slow side. Takes a while to get invested in the characters.
-At one point, a character refers to “calling 911.” 911 isn’t the emergency services number in Israel. Saying “call emergency services” instead would have gotten the point across without being jarring for readers who know the difference.
3.5/5 stars (rounded up for the star counter),
worth a read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #AngryRobot for the eARC
-Good police procedural
-Great modern/urban fantasy feel.
-Takes a country I’m very familiar with and a culture I belong to and adds a layer of mystique I wasn’t expecting.
-Family dynamics and relationship tension, definitely unexpected, but enjoyable.
Cons:
-pacing is on the slow side. Takes a while to get invested in the characters.
-At one point, a character refers to “calling 911.” 911 isn’t the emergency services number in Israel. Saying “call emergency services” instead would have gotten the point across without being jarring for readers who know the difference.
3.5/5 stars (rounded up for the star counter),
worth a read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #AngryRobot for the eARC
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February 25, 2024This book has been patiently waiting for me to read it via Netgalley for about four years now, and I've been excited about the summary for just as long. I enjoy translated fiction and I enjoyed the Biblical/mythical/procedural premise of the summary.
Unfortunately, reading the book left me feeling like I was missing out on context. I feel like not knowing Jewish history, culture, and mythology put me at a disadvantage when reading this book. The premise is SO good and I want to see more SFF procedural mysteries, this one just didn't work for me. Maybe an explanation of some of the cultural subtext going on could have helped, but that probably would have taken readers out of the story.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book!
Unfortunately, reading the book left me feeling like I was missing out on context. I feel like not knowing Jewish history, culture, and mythology put me at a disadvantage when reading this book. The premise is SO good and I want to see more SFF procedural mysteries, this one just didn't work for me. Maybe an explanation of some of the cultural subtext going on could have helped, but that probably would have taken readers out of the story.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book!
March 2, 2020
I have no idea what's going on with this book. There are killer angels, police investigators who use tarot readers and clairvoyants and numerologists to try to solve crimes, mysterious figures with murky pasts, people who need to be in couples therapy, uncomfortable parent-child relationships, seemingly random entrances and exits and musings. I found it chaotic and not in an entertaining or well-written way. The gender struggles referred to in blurbs came across as annoying and petty rather than universal and important, and neither the characters nor the plot were compelling enough for me to give the disorganization a pass. Maybe it's better in Hebrew?
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October 23, 2020I don't know how to rate this book. I loved the idea of the Nephilim and the Daughters of Lilith fighting, but the story was told in such an uneven manner. Mazzy, Gaby, and Yariv's love triangle didn't seem to contribute anything to the story. The relationship between Yariv and Mazzy went from unrequited love and nostalgia to suddenly lovers again. Threads were left dangling, like Rachel and Israel's agreement. Noga's lack of speech was harped upon so much, and yet when she finally says one word, it's at the end of Mazzy thinking that she's hearing voices. All in all, a good story,but maybe it was trying to say too much at once.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2024
Wow, what a wild ride.
I've tried to read books that feature Biblical themes and angels in particular, bet never with much success. This novel, however, kept my attention from first to last, even if I did need to look things up throughout.
One line in the book seemed to sum up my feelings about the author " It was obvious he was trying to be as delicate as he could with the pagan who was ignorant about sacred Jewish lore."
This book would have me believing that we live in close proximity to the supernatural, without ever being aware of it.
Great read.
I've tried to read books that feature Biblical themes and angels in particular, bet never with much success. This novel, however, kept my attention from first to last, even if I did need to look things up throughout.
One line in the book seemed to sum up my feelings about the author " It was obvious he was trying to be as delicate as he could with the pagan who was ignorant about sacred Jewish lore."
This book would have me believing that we live in close proximity to the supernatural, without ever being aware of it.
Great read.
February 29, 2020
Intriguing story based on Jewish mythology
I enjoyed this book. The story was mostly well-paced, with good character development and action. The story was compelling, and different from a lot of similar books in that it looks at Jewish lore. On the other hand the story did lag at times and I was sometimes confused by the many characters. Overall though, it was still a good read.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
I enjoyed this book. The story was mostly well-paced, with good character development and action. The story was compelling, and different from a lot of similar books in that it looks at Jewish lore. On the other hand the story did lag at times and I was sometimes confused by the many characters. Overall though, it was still a good read.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
March 16, 2020
Simantov is a fascinating book that I'm sure has lost some of its magic in translation. It blends science fiction with religion and mythology in fascinating ways, with a sprinkling of police procedural mixed in for flavor. However, the prose feels stilted and flat, with characters feeling similar and verb choice seeming strange. If I could read Hebrew, I bet this is a great novel full of intrigue and wonder, but as a translation, it's just okay.
April 22, 2020
I'm in two minds about this book: on one side it's full of great ideas and I think I was going to love it, on the other side it's quite confusing at times and I felt lost.
I'm in the middle of the road and I think it's one of those books that lost something in translation and I'm not able to say if I recommend it or not.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I'm in the middle of the road and I think it's one of those books that lost something in translation and I'm not able to say if I recommend it or not.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 7, 2020
What a read! Part detective story, part family drama, part supernatural adventure. This novel is a real real treat. You're never quite sure what's going on. Details are revealed only when they're needed, keeping the reader guessing. I appreciate the Jewish angle as well. I've read so many other books that deal with "forces of heaven" and the like that this take is new and refreshing. The characters are vibrant and the ending is a surprise. This author takes no prisoners for sure.
June 19, 2024
Didn't actually finish this so I might change this later but I sorta got bored, I was digging the concept but it just never sunk its teeth into me the way I was hoping. I felt like there was a lot to the world that I didn't know anything about, I realized I was almost halfway through and I still felt like it hadn't really gotten started yet so i decided to put it down.
March 15, 2020
I tried. Not sure if the story or nuance got lost in translation, but I was spending too much time trying to understand the characters and not focused on the story. Maybe in he original language it would be a great tale. I just couldn’t finish the book.
December 25, 2020
I feel like this book could have been great. Really interesting concept, but there were sooooooo many things I just didn't get. Also, the characters all sounded the same, I had so much trouble discerning who was talking.
January 25, 2021
Intriguing beginning and a fiery ending, with a lot of character development that felt disjointed in between. I was drawn to the Daughters of Lilith against the Nephilim premise, but the domestic dilemmas and romantic entanglements took me out of the story I wanted to be embedded in.
January 14, 2022
This was really outside of my normal reading, veering heavily into Israeli culture and thinking, but I enjoyed it. The explanations for Kabbalah and numerology was quite cool, and I was able to deal with the writing style is distinctly not American mainstream (although I loved the AOC name check).
September 29, 2020
Heaven and Hell
Not very much Heaven is seen or experienced here, rather it is a non entity when compared to the shadowy world of Jewish apocalypse. Would make a good film.
Not very much Heaven is seen or experienced here, rather it is a non entity when compared to the shadowy world of Jewish apocalypse. Would make a good film.
January 28, 2021
A little tough to follow at points but fantastic.
January 5, 2022
Overall I enjoyed the book, though at times it felt like the author was trying to tell too many stories at once.
February 16, 2023
This seemed like an example of an author with a concept but not a story or characters of interest.
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