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Wrath Becomes Her
Vera was made for vengeance.
Lithuania, 1943. A father drowns in the all-consuming grief of a daughter killed by the Nazis. He can’t bring Chaya back from the dead, but he can use kishuf — an ancient and profane magic — to create a golem in her image. A Nazi killer, to avenge her death.
When Vera awakens, she can feel her violent purpose thrumming within her. But she can also feel glimpses of a human life lived, of stolen kisses amidst the tragedy, and of a grisly death. And when she meets Akiva, she recognizes the boy with soft lips that gave warm kisses. But these memories aren’t hers, and Vera doesn’t know if she gets—or deserves —to have a life beyond what she was made for.
Vera’s strength feels limitless—until she learns that there are others who would channel kishuf for means far less noble than avenging a daughter’s death. As she confronts the very basest of humanity, Vera will need more than what her creator gave her. Not just a reason to fight, but a reason to live.
Lithuania, 1943. A father drowns in the all-consuming grief of a daughter killed by the Nazis. He can’t bring Chaya back from the dead, but he can use kishuf — an ancient and profane magic — to create a golem in her image. A Nazi killer, to avenge her death.
When Vera awakens, she can feel her violent purpose thrumming within her. But she can also feel glimpses of a human life lived, of stolen kisses amidst the tragedy, and of a grisly death. And when she meets Akiva, she recognizes the boy with soft lips that gave warm kisses. But these memories aren’t hers, and Vera doesn’t know if she gets—or deserves —to have a life beyond what she was made for.
Vera’s strength feels limitless—until she learns that there are others who would channel kishuf for means far less noble than avenging a daughter’s death. As she confronts the very basest of humanity, Vera will need more than what her creator gave her. Not just a reason to fight, but a reason to live.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
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12028 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
April 23, 2023
Actual Rating 3.5
After a man’s daughter was killed by Nazis, he uses an ancient but profane magic to create a golem in her image. Vera awakens with some of Chaya’s memories and feelings but is quickly told she’s nothing like a real human and that she only has one purpose – revenge. As she sets out to fulfill her purpose, she discovers that others may be trying to harness the dark powers that created her, putting humanity at risk.
The premise of this work is excellent, and the author did a good job executing it. The incorporation of magical realism and Jewish folklore into the setting of Lithuania during the early 1940s was an interesting combination. I enjoyed that this work was adjacent to the war but focused more on civilian struggles than on the war itself. The author also excelled at including meaningful descriptions and well written secondary characters, leading to an immersive read.
However, there were some things that were just too “young-adulty” for me to truly enjoy. I disliked how often we were told how a character was feeling rather than shown – this led to the characters feeling flatter than they could have while also making the writing less engaging. Similarly, there were instances when the characters were discussing something quite serious but then the next paragraph was about Vera misunderstanding a joke or a witticism; this odd and quick switch in tones detracted from the atmosphere of the work. I also disliked the lack of Vera’s personality or emotions, as well as the fact that she spent the whole book following men around. Now these two things could be because she’s a golem, but the author explicitly states several times that she was created to have emotions. I was hoping to see more wrath and general female epic-ness, so this aspect left me wanting a bit more.
I did quite like this unique premise and would still recommend reading it. Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published in October 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
After a man’s daughter was killed by Nazis, he uses an ancient but profane magic to create a golem in her image. Vera awakens with some of Chaya’s memories and feelings but is quickly told she’s nothing like a real human and that she only has one purpose – revenge. As she sets out to fulfill her purpose, she discovers that others may be trying to harness the dark powers that created her, putting humanity at risk.
The premise of this work is excellent, and the author did a good job executing it. The incorporation of magical realism and Jewish folklore into the setting of Lithuania during the early 1940s was an interesting combination. I enjoyed that this work was adjacent to the war but focused more on civilian struggles than on the war itself. The author also excelled at including meaningful descriptions and well written secondary characters, leading to an immersive read.
However, there were some things that were just too “young-adulty” for me to truly enjoy. I disliked how often we were told how a character was feeling rather than shown – this led to the characters feeling flatter than they could have while also making the writing less engaging. Similarly, there were instances when the characters were discussing something quite serious but then the next paragraph was about Vera misunderstanding a joke or a witticism; this odd and quick switch in tones detracted from the atmosphere of the work. I also disliked the lack of Vera’s personality or emotions, as well as the fact that she spent the whole book following men around. Now these two things could be because she’s a golem, but the author explicitly states several times that she was created to have emotions. I was hoping to see more wrath and general female epic-ness, so this aspect left me wanting a bit more.
I did quite like this unique premise and would still recommend reading it. Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published in October 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 2, 2023
A gorgeous cover. Lyrical descriptive writing. A golem made for vengeance. Jewish MCs in WWII in Lithuania.
Somehow I’m a sucker for beautifully written historical stories these days. I’m there for the pain, the grief, the rage, to acknowledge we did so much wrong in the past and still do.
Wrath Becomes Her is different than the historical books I’ve read before. Vera is a golem made for vengeance, made from the mud from the river. She doesn’t only look like a human being, she feels like one too, with emotions running through her body from a human life once lived. I’m not only a sucker for historical stories, but I’m also a sucker for sadder ones, and this book is full of feelings. Akiva’s and Ezra’s grief was so palpable, and I felt their rage against the Nazis seep through my body. Add Vera’s struggles with finding her identity, worsened by the constant turmoil of Chaya’s emotions, and I flew through the pages.
This story is for anyone who loves to read a different WWII story, with a fantasy twist and Jewish main characters but without the holocaust as a central theme.
I hadn’t read one of Aden Polydoros’ books before, but I’m definitely picking up his first two books.
Thank you, Riffat, from Inkyard, HarperCollins for the ARC!
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Somehow I’m a sucker for beautifully written historical stories these days. I’m there for the pain, the grief, the rage, to acknowledge we did so much wrong in the past and still do.
Wrath Becomes Her is different than the historical books I’ve read before. Vera is a golem made for vengeance, made from the mud from the river. She doesn’t only look like a human being, she feels like one too, with emotions running through her body from a human life once lived. I’m not only a sucker for historical stories, but I’m also a sucker for sadder ones, and this book is full of feelings. Akiva’s and Ezra’s grief was so palpable, and I felt their rage against the Nazis seep through my body. Add Vera’s struggles with finding her identity, worsened by the constant turmoil of Chaya’s emotions, and I flew through the pages.
This story is for anyone who loves to read a different WWII story, with a fantasy twist and Jewish main characters but without the holocaust as a central theme.
I hadn’t read one of Aden Polydoros’ books before, but I’m definitely picking up his first two books.
Thank you, Riffat, from Inkyard, HarperCollins for the ARC!
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December 3, 2023
This was a strange and unique story, which I must say was a little refreshing as sometimes the stories if this time can start to blend together. I was interested at reading the description, but I think the idea would have made a better action movie, I wanted more wrath and vengeance and I feel like I got only a pinch of that and a lot of coming of age (or being) and romance. It was written well, it was just weird and the pacing felt a little off. When a Jewish man’s daughter is killed by Nazis he creates a golem and uses some parts of her daughter to help bind the golem for his only focus, vengeance. Vera is born in a sense but quickly has to figure out how to serve her purpose and what exactly that purpose will become on her own. I love the idea of Jewish mysticism coming to life like Vera did and taking revenge against the Nazis and help protect the Jewish people. It was an interesting book that definitely left me thinking.
August 3, 2025
Good golem story!
Wrath Becomes Her
By Aden Polydoros
This is a fascinating and unique alternative history story with Nazis, war, Russians, and Golems. Kept me interested from page 1!
Wrath Becomes Her
By Aden Polydoros
This is a fascinating and unique alternative history story with Nazis, war, Russians, and Golems. Kept me interested from page 1!
January 22, 2024
E-ARC generously provided by Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
4 stars. Combining Polydoros' signature evocative writing with a story about vengeance, Wrath Becomes Her is a Frankenstein-esque tale that is equally harrowing and haunting as it is compulsively readable.
4 stars. Combining Polydoros' signature evocative writing with a story about vengeance, Wrath Becomes Her is a Frankenstein-esque tale that is equally harrowing and haunting as it is compulsively readable.
September 24, 2023
A title like Wrath Becomes Her promises a vengeful and angry woman, but Vera moseyed her way through this book.
Vera was created for the sole purpose of vengeance. After losing his daughter, Chaya, a father takes part in dark magic to create a golem to track down his daughter’s killer. The golem, Vera, upon awakening, knows her sole purpose is to kill the Nazis. On her mission, she meets Akiva, Chaya’s former lover, and forms a bond with him. Akiva is out for blood, determined to avenge Chaya’s death on his way down. The two are faced with a creature much like Vera, except it has nefarious intentions. Vera must use her strength and rage to defeat the foul creature before it slaughters hundreds.
I have yet to be let down by Polydoros when it comes to historical fantasy. He brings to light Jewish folklore and history in a way I’m not seeing in the YA market. Wrath Becomes Her does not shy away from the brutal and horrific treatment of Jewish people, not just by Nazis, but by other communities. This book inspires feelings of rage and disgust for how often others were turning a blind eye to the Jewish community’s suffering. It did a great job of pointing out how one does not have to actively participate in mistreatment in order to condone it.
The book’s pitch grossly exaggerates Vera’s “rage.” She is supposed to be incensed on Chaya’s behalf but seems detached from the actual emotions. In fact, when Vera kills, she talks about how the rage and anger are not her own. Instead of going on a rampage, she just follows orders, first from the father, and then Akiva. The book keeps emphasizing she can feel emotions as a golem, yet none of those emotions are natural. The book tells us how she feels instead of showing her natural reactions to emotionally charged scenarios. I was bummed, because if there was ever a character to feel righteous wrath, it should be Vera.
All in all, not my favorite novel by Polydoros, but it brings to light important historical times in a way that will engage those who prefer fantasy over non-fiction.
Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Vera was created for the sole purpose of vengeance. After losing his daughter, Chaya, a father takes part in dark magic to create a golem to track down his daughter’s killer. The golem, Vera, upon awakening, knows her sole purpose is to kill the Nazis. On her mission, she meets Akiva, Chaya’s former lover, and forms a bond with him. Akiva is out for blood, determined to avenge Chaya’s death on his way down. The two are faced with a creature much like Vera, except it has nefarious intentions. Vera must use her strength and rage to defeat the foul creature before it slaughters hundreds.
I have yet to be let down by Polydoros when it comes to historical fantasy. He brings to light Jewish folklore and history in a way I’m not seeing in the YA market. Wrath Becomes Her does not shy away from the brutal and horrific treatment of Jewish people, not just by Nazis, but by other communities. This book inspires feelings of rage and disgust for how often others were turning a blind eye to the Jewish community’s suffering. It did a great job of pointing out how one does not have to actively participate in mistreatment in order to condone it.
The book’s pitch grossly exaggerates Vera’s “rage.” She is supposed to be incensed on Chaya’s behalf but seems detached from the actual emotions. In fact, when Vera kills, she talks about how the rage and anger are not her own. Instead of going on a rampage, she just follows orders, first from the father, and then Akiva. The book keeps emphasizing she can feel emotions as a golem, yet none of those emotions are natural. The book tells us how she feels instead of showing her natural reactions to emotionally charged scenarios. I was bummed, because if there was ever a character to feel righteous wrath, it should be Vera.
All in all, not my favorite novel by Polydoros, but it brings to light important historical times in a way that will engage those who prefer fantasy over non-fiction.
Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
April 10, 2023
Am I taking crazy pills here? The cover is gorgeous and the elevator pitch is spectacular, but that’s where it ends for me. I tried so hard to like this but I dnf’d at 70%. It was just such a slog and I couldn't push through.
This book just doesn’t deliver anything that I thought it would based on the title and the premise. With a title like “Wrath Becomes Her,” I thought this was going to be an empowering story about vengeance and strength… instead it was just a mopey girl being led from place to place by some guy. I’m so over it.
Why I couldn't finish:
•The tone is all over the place. A scene will go from characters talking about saving a baby so it doesn’t die in the ghetto to a sitcom-style bit where the main character doesn’t understand a basic joke. It’s very odd.
•The author consistently tells us how a character is feeling. Example: “It made me nervous to hold the candle...” (later that same page)“I loathed having to give up the candle's light...” Every emotion is expressed this way, and I think that's why the character doesn't read as the vengeful, angry golem she's supposed to be. It reads as a boring teen who we are told is a vengeful, angry golem. (The author also consistently reminds us of how the MC is a golem, as though they think we will forget in between paragraphs)
•The main character (Vera) is just unlikable. As I said, I thought she would be brutal and full of wrath, but she was just mopey and had no personality. I tried to imagine my preteen/teen self reading this and the main character serves absolutely nothing. Zero strong female lead energy. Other than her physical strength, there is nothing about her that is strong. The fact that she has no will is supposed to be a plot point, but it’s sloppily done and just makes her perspective annoying to read. This is ultimately what did it for me. I just could not be in her head for even a single page longer.
•The MC goes from following everything her creator says to following some other guy around and following everything he says. The second guy (Akiva) tells her she has to figure out what she wants…. but then she continues just following him around and doing what he says. (He was also just a more well-rounded, interesting character in general. Which... is really disappointing when the main character is literally a supernatural being.)
•The awkward romantic whatever-it-was between Akiva and Vera. I get why it was there. I get that it could be interesting. But here and now in this book with these characters, it is not.
Things I enjoyed:
•Again, the elevator pitch of a golem seeking vengeance for a girl's murder in during WWII is phenomenal. That's an extremely intriguing idea that is refreshing in the extremely saturated WWII historical fiction genre.
•The book was also very informative about different aspects of Jewish culture and the dynamic between different marginalized communities in WWII. I think this author did a great job of informing the reader (or at least me) about a few things they may not have learned in history class. This was done in a very natural way and didn't feel like lecturing.
•I liked how the author blended the concept of golems with the themes from Frankenstein. (The execution did not work for me in this story, but I love the idea.)
Overall I still think the idea is great, but I wish that it had been written by a better author.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book just doesn’t deliver anything that I thought it would based on the title and the premise. With a title like “Wrath Becomes Her,” I thought this was going to be an empowering story about vengeance and strength… instead it was just a mopey girl being led from place to place by some guy. I’m so over it.
Why I couldn't finish:
•The tone is all over the place. A scene will go from characters talking about saving a baby so it doesn’t die in the ghetto to a sitcom-style bit where the main character doesn’t understand a basic joke. It’s very odd.
•The author consistently tells us how a character is feeling. Example: “It made me nervous to hold the candle...” (later that same page)“I loathed having to give up the candle's light...” Every emotion is expressed this way, and I think that's why the character doesn't read as the vengeful, angry golem she's supposed to be. It reads as a boring teen who we are told is a vengeful, angry golem. (The author also consistently reminds us of how the MC is a golem, as though they think we will forget in between paragraphs)
•The main character (Vera) is just unlikable. As I said, I thought she would be brutal and full of wrath, but she was just mopey and had no personality. I tried to imagine my preteen/teen self reading this and the main character serves absolutely nothing. Zero strong female lead energy. Other than her physical strength, there is nothing about her that is strong. The fact that she has no will is supposed to be a plot point, but it’s sloppily done and just makes her perspective annoying to read. This is ultimately what did it for me. I just could not be in her head for even a single page longer.
•The MC goes from following everything her creator says to following some other guy around and following everything he says. The second guy (Akiva) tells her she has to figure out what she wants…. but then she continues just following him around and doing what he says. (He was also just a more well-rounded, interesting character in general. Which... is really disappointing when the main character is literally a supernatural being.)
•The awkward romantic whatever-it-was between Akiva and Vera. I get why it was there. I get that it could be interesting. But here and now in this book with these characters, it is not.
Things I enjoyed:
•Again, the elevator pitch of a golem seeking vengeance for a girl's murder in during WWII is phenomenal. That's an extremely intriguing idea that is refreshing in the extremely saturated WWII historical fiction genre.
•The book was also very informative about different aspects of Jewish culture and the dynamic between different marginalized communities in WWII. I think this author did a great job of informing the reader (or at least me) about a few things they may not have learned in history class. This was done in a very natural way and didn't feel like lecturing.
•I liked how the author blended the concept of golems with the themes from Frankenstein. (The execution did not work for me in this story, but I love the idea.)
Overall I still think the idea is great, but I wish that it had been written by a better author.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2023
Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Harper360YA for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I enjoyed the premise, and I liked how this book felt so unique - I don’t think I’ve ever read or even heard of another book in this setting or with this concept. However, I struggled to connect to the characters, particularly to the main character Vera. Her emotions feel incredibly disconnected and distant, and she keeps bringing up that her feelings aren’t her own, that they are the girl’s whose image she was created in - and it kind of leaves you wondering, well what is Vera actually feeling then? When faced with the atrocities of the war and the suffering around her? The ending also felt very abrupt and incomplete - I had about 9 pages left to go and yet it felt like there needed to be another 50 pages in order to fully wrap the story up satisfyingly. That being said, I was invested in the overarching plot, and I liked how the author shone a light on the civilian perspective of the war.
I enjoyed the premise, and I liked how this book felt so unique - I don’t think I’ve ever read or even heard of another book in this setting or with this concept. However, I struggled to connect to the characters, particularly to the main character Vera. Her emotions feel incredibly disconnected and distant, and she keeps bringing up that her feelings aren’t her own, that they are the girl’s whose image she was created in - and it kind of leaves you wondering, well what is Vera actually feeling then? When faced with the atrocities of the war and the suffering around her? The ending also felt very abrupt and incomplete - I had about 9 pages left to go and yet it felt like there needed to be another 50 pages in order to fully wrap the story up satisfyingly. That being said, I was invested in the overarching plot, and I liked how the author shone a light on the civilian perspective of the war.
January 17, 2024
I firstly want to thank HQ for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was so unique and incredible. Aden has a beautiful way with words and his character development is fantastic. I loved the journey we took with Vera and Akiva (which, btw, are both lovely names). I loved everything about this book and I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a go. I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to read such a wonderful story.
April 6, 2023
*Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an Earc in exchange for an honest review.*
The grief, pain, and longing that Polydoros can evoke in his writing is truly incredible. Every word is knife sharp, perfectly chosen and matched to his novels. The plotlines of his books are intricate and faultless- he has become an instant read author and one I hope will continue to write books into the years to come.
'𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦.'
It’s Nazi-occupied Lithuania, 1943 and you’ve just woken up. You have no mouth, eyes, legs, those will all come later. What you do have is one word inscribed on your forehead, a word that will shape yours, and thousands of others’ lives in the years to come. אֶמֶת. Truth. You are a golem- a sacred being made to defend the Jewish people in times of trouble. Except, that would be too easy. Forbidden and profane magics have been used to raise you, to the extend you look and feel like a human. When you meet a lone human freedom fighter, something in you… recognizes him. A glimpse from the girl whose body created yours. And what happens next will change the fate of Lithuania- but only if the desire for revenge doesn’t consume you, or him, first.
'𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘳.'
This is a book about the power of speaking up and speaking out. It ruthlessly examines how impartiality is not impartiality, it is aiding and abetting. It is just as harmful and damaging and it was the case for the majority of Europe in the 1940s, including the British and Americans and Russians. Everyone knew. Nobody cared. And millions of Jews died for it.
Polydoros, whilst seemingly having written a young adult fantasy novel, has challenged holocaust deniers and diminishers all over the world. His tale is powerful, it reclaims the narrative that Jews were passive and weak in the war- a completely false and disgusting narrative and one that contributes to holocaust deniers today.
'𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.'
Wrath Becomes Her is not a happy book. It does not have a happy ending. It is an angry one. It is powerful and moving and an utterly necessary read. But as well as having an important message, it was a brilliant book. The characters are flawed and, yes, some of them aren’t human- except somehow each one of them is. Revenge is at the heart of this- its fast paced, well written and darkly witty in places.
I loved it and I think you will too.
The grief, pain, and longing that Polydoros can evoke in his writing is truly incredible. Every word is knife sharp, perfectly chosen and matched to his novels. The plotlines of his books are intricate and faultless- he has become an instant read author and one I hope will continue to write books into the years to come.
'𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦.'
It’s Nazi-occupied Lithuania, 1943 and you’ve just woken up. You have no mouth, eyes, legs, those will all come later. What you do have is one word inscribed on your forehead, a word that will shape yours, and thousands of others’ lives in the years to come. אֶמֶת. Truth. You are a golem- a sacred being made to defend the Jewish people in times of trouble. Except, that would be too easy. Forbidden and profane magics have been used to raise you, to the extend you look and feel like a human. When you meet a lone human freedom fighter, something in you… recognizes him. A glimpse from the girl whose body created yours. And what happens next will change the fate of Lithuania- but only if the desire for revenge doesn’t consume you, or him, first.
'𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘳.'
This is a book about the power of speaking up and speaking out. It ruthlessly examines how impartiality is not impartiality, it is aiding and abetting. It is just as harmful and damaging and it was the case for the majority of Europe in the 1940s, including the British and Americans and Russians. Everyone knew. Nobody cared. And millions of Jews died for it.
Polydoros, whilst seemingly having written a young adult fantasy novel, has challenged holocaust deniers and diminishers all over the world. His tale is powerful, it reclaims the narrative that Jews were passive and weak in the war- a completely false and disgusting narrative and one that contributes to holocaust deniers today.
'𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.'
Wrath Becomes Her is not a happy book. It does not have a happy ending. It is an angry one. It is powerful and moving and an utterly necessary read. But as well as having an important message, it was a brilliant book. The characters are flawed and, yes, some of them aren’t human- except somehow each one of them is. Revenge is at the heart of this- its fast paced, well written and darkly witty in places.
I loved it and I think you will too.
March 13, 2023
I have complicated feelings about this book.
I love the premise, I love that we get a golem killing Nazis. I love that we wasted no time getting to the Nazi killing. I love the questions about what it means to be human. And personally, as a Jewish person whose family was massacred in the Holocaust, I am HERE for some vengeance stories.
That said, for a book called Wrath Becomes Her....there wasn't a lot of wrath in this. The sadness was poignant and well written and explored, but the wrath.... Wasn't. I wanted to feel the rage in every fiber of me, to want to rip heads off and make a bloody path of vengeance.
I didn't get that. Vera talks often about how she feels other people's wrath, and doesn't like it. And while she says she feels it, we the reader don't really, because she's just telling us. And also, because she doesn't like the wrath, it ends up feeling really unemotional, more of an awkward discomfort than a real feeling.
I expected this to be more like Iron Widow, full of RAGE. But it wasn't. And I feel let down, even though this was a good book??? I just really wanted so much more visceral rage.
My other nitpick is that I felt there was a good chunk of the middle that got a bit repetitive. Vera shows up somewhere, introduces herself, they find out she's a golem, she explains, she leaves, rinse and repeat.
The ending she did finally feel some wrath, but then her final resolution for how to spend the rest of the war--while valid--felt a bit of a let down for me.
This book is cool and different and I did enjoy it don't get me wrong ---but I think it's a very different book than what it's being pitched as. It's being marketed as a vengeance and rage story. It should be marketed as an introspective story about monsters, what it means to be human, cultural erasure, and what pieces of us live on when we're gone.
I think if this book had a different title, and the marketing had been more accurate, I would have gone in with the right mindset and this would have been a five star read for me.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
I love the premise, I love that we get a golem killing Nazis. I love that we wasted no time getting to the Nazi killing. I love the questions about what it means to be human. And personally, as a Jewish person whose family was massacred in the Holocaust, I am HERE for some vengeance stories.
That said, for a book called Wrath Becomes Her....there wasn't a lot of wrath in this. The sadness was poignant and well written and explored, but the wrath.... Wasn't. I wanted to feel the rage in every fiber of me, to want to rip heads off and make a bloody path of vengeance.
I didn't get that. Vera talks often about how she feels other people's wrath, and doesn't like it. And while she says she feels it, we the reader don't really, because she's just telling us. And also, because she doesn't like the wrath, it ends up feeling really unemotional, more of an awkward discomfort than a real feeling.
I expected this to be more like Iron Widow, full of RAGE. But it wasn't. And I feel let down, even though this was a good book??? I just really wanted so much more visceral rage.
My other nitpick is that I felt there was a good chunk of the middle that got a bit repetitive. Vera shows up somewhere, introduces herself, they find out she's a golem, she explains, she leaves, rinse and repeat.
The ending she did finally feel some wrath, but then her final resolution for how to spend the rest of the war--while valid--felt a bit of a let down for me.
This book is cool and different and I did enjoy it don't get me wrong ---but I think it's a very different book than what it's being pitched as. It's being marketed as a vengeance and rage story. It should be marketed as an introspective story about monsters, what it means to be human, cultural erasure, and what pieces of us live on when we're gone.
I think if this book had a different title, and the marketing had been more accurate, I would have gone in with the right mindset and this would have been a five star read for me.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
May 7, 2023
My only complaint is I read this in less than two hours I NEED MORE
Read
April 17, 2023Well it is a lonely and brutal piece of work, with just a trickle of humor here and there, but if you read one Frankenstein-inspired book about a Nazi-murdering Lithuanian girl golem this year, make it this one!
This is an action-packed Holocaust novel in which, yes, everyone dies, but violently, while fighting back! And death is not necessarily the end, because of a laborious black magic (kishif) golem-ization process - a process the Nazis are trying to replicate! So there's a lil Raiders of the Lost Ark thing going on, although I do think we could have gotten more of the monstrous Nazi scientist, those are always fun. Hail Hydra!
All kidding aside, here's a take-back-the-power Holocaust novel that is firmly rooted in magic, which is good because without the magic, take-back-the-power Holocaust novels can look a lot like 'why didn't you just fight harder?' narratives.
Nuances that I appreciate: calling out the complicity of Lithuanian villagers as not just passive observers but active persecutors; the inclusion of Jewish characters who are not at all observant; a not-incidental mention that any document that includes the name of god was kept in the synagogue library to be burned later - so this includes poetry and vital records along with Torahs and sacred texts. And there ain't a 'good Nazi' to be found.
Exciting and sad at the same time - this is a vibe for a lot of readers. Thumbs up!
This is an action-packed Holocaust novel in which, yes, everyone dies, but violently, while fighting back! And death is not necessarily the end, because of a laborious black magic (kishif) golem-ization process - a process the Nazis are trying to replicate! So there's a lil Raiders of the Lost Ark thing going on, although I do think we could have gotten more of the monstrous Nazi scientist, those are always fun. Hail Hydra!
All kidding aside, here's a take-back-the-power Holocaust novel that is firmly rooted in magic, which is good because without the magic, take-back-the-power Holocaust novels can look a lot like 'why didn't you just fight harder?' narratives.
Nuances that I appreciate: calling out the complicity of Lithuanian villagers as not just passive observers but active persecutors; the inclusion of Jewish characters who are not at all observant; a not-incidental mention that any document that includes the name of god was kept in the synagogue library to be burned later - so this includes poetry and vital records along with Torahs and sacred texts. And there ain't a 'good Nazi' to be found.
Exciting and sad at the same time - this is a vibe for a lot of readers. Thumbs up!
April 1, 2025
Okay. So, I have thoughts.
I liked the Jewish folklore and mysticism! I think that it is a perspective we hardly see! So I think that was really cool.
However, I feel like this book didn't live up to the blurb on the back cover. I was promised a story of vengeance and wrath. And I just don't think that Vera ever really felt that. I think that she was more introspective and sad most of the time. Sad is not angry. I think that we saw more rage from Akiva. So. Make of that what you will.
I also think that at a point, the book gets redundant and repetitive: Vera meets a new person. They are suspicious of her. Don't worry, she's a golem!
Overall, this book was fine. The ending was fine. The is no need for a sequel.
3/5.
I liked the Jewish folklore and mysticism! I think that it is a perspective we hardly see! So I think that was really cool.
However, I feel like this book didn't live up to the blurb on the back cover. I was promised a story of vengeance and wrath. And I just don't think that Vera ever really felt that. I think that she was more introspective and sad most of the time. Sad is not angry. I think that we saw more rage from Akiva. So. Make of that what you will.
I also think that at a point, the book gets redundant and repetitive: Vera meets a new person. They are suspicious of her. Don't worry, she's a golem!
Overall, this book was fine. The ending was fine. The is no need for a sequel.
3/5.
November 26, 2023
WRATH BECOMES HER was beautiful and poetic and gripping and so many emotions--but it wasn't the Nazi-killing revenge story I was told it would be (more perhaps a fault of the publishers/publicist than the author). The author wrote an incredibly deep story about what makes us a human, with a slow debate over the purpose we are made for versus the life we want for ourselves (and how complicated does that get during a genocidal world war?)... however. The publishers promised a vengeful tale full of Nazi killing and this book had a surprisingly small number of Nazis getting killed. The 'wrath' our golem becomes honestly doesn't happen until 15pages to the end of the book, as if this entire book is a prequel to the book we were promised. I think at one point someone even compted it to Inglorious Bastards, which this book is very far from. I grew very uncomfortable with the way in which Vera's creature, Ezra, kept saying how disgusting she was (though perhaps there is an analogy the author can draw from his own life?) but it was really hard for me to read (saying that if parental emotional abuse is difficult for you, be forewarned before reading because it's a lot!).
I would read this entire book again simply to get to the final chapter, though.
I would read this entire book again simply to get to the final chapter, though.
October 13, 2023
i really really really wanted to love this 🤕but this would've really benefitted more from a longer plot and more world building. the writing was beautiful, introspective and simple, but the problem was the plot (or lack thereof?) it wasn't that it was too much, rather that it was too little. something was missing. the premise was so promising, but it didn't bring me any excitement or tension or chemistry. i never really felt the high stakes or really any tension at all.
3 stars- quick, easy to read, but felt a tad bit aimless
3 stars- quick, easy to read, but felt a tad bit aimless
January 20, 2024
4.5 stars.
November 25, 2023
A grieving Jewish father creates a Golem in this new historical WWII YA thriller that was great on audio narrated by Emily Lawrence and perfect for fans of books like the Golem and the jinni. My first book by Aden Polydoros but definitely not my last. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
April 17, 2024
This book took a loooonnng time for me to read, and I’m not 100% sure why. I enjoyed the storytelling, and the writing style. I think I just didn’t connect to the main character, who “told” the story from her first person POV.
August 9, 2023
4⭐️
This was a beautifully written tragic story about vengeance and grief during the nazi regime.
Vera is a golem made of parts of a woman killed during the war. Her purpose is to get revenge. However Vera is so much more complicated than I would have ever thought, Struggling the feelings she doesn't understand. She's a morally great character that some see as a savior while others consider her a monster.
I did enjoy this book. However it's not an easy read and can be overall depressing. I didn't know of the Golem in Jewish Culture/ religion and I am looking forward to reading up on this more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard press for this advance reader copy. This review is voluntarily my own.
This was a beautifully written tragic story about vengeance and grief during the nazi regime.
Vera is a golem made of parts of a woman killed during the war. Her purpose is to get revenge. However Vera is so much more complicated than I would have ever thought, Struggling the feelings she doesn't understand. She's a morally great character that some see as a savior while others consider her a monster.
I did enjoy this book. However it's not an easy read and can be overall depressing. I didn't know of the Golem in Jewish Culture/ religion and I am looking forward to reading up on this more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard press for this advance reader copy. This review is voluntarily my own.
October 6, 2023
Got an arc from the author!
When a book opens with a dedication “to anyone who wants to punch a Nazi” you know there’s gonna be good shit inside. Initially this starts off with a similar plot progression to the author’s last YA book, Bone Weaver, and while I enjoyed that one more I appreciated how this veered hard into the dedication-promised violence in the last 100 or so pages. It’s a fast read, so if that sounds like your jam: go forth
When a book opens with a dedication “to anyone who wants to punch a Nazi” you know there’s gonna be good shit inside. Initially this starts off with a similar plot progression to the author’s last YA book, Bone Weaver, and while I enjoyed that one more I appreciated how this veered hard into the dedication-promised violence in the last 100 or so pages. It’s a fast read, so if that sounds like your jam: go forth
February 10, 2024
Vera awakens in the dark winter forests of 1940s Lithuania when the Nazis are rounding up and murdering Jews as well as anyone who gets in their way. She’s a golem, fashioned of steel rods and river clay, and the eyes and teeth of a dead girl her creation is meant to avenge. She’s strong, driven, and almost impossible to kill, but she’s also deeply emotional, the feelings and connections of the dead girl mixed into the river mud that made her.
This is a dark and deeply emotional story. The setting drew me into the old world of Eastern Europe, where the Nazi’s terrible disregard for life, any life, was grueling to read. And it wasn’t only the Nazis. It’s a dangerous time when other partisans, Russians and Lithuanians, rebels and collaborators, shoot at anything that moves.
Vera navigates this world with Akiva, the lover of the dead girl, and as their vengeance continues and their despair grows, so does their respect for each other, and the feelings that will never have a future. Some parts of this book are emotionally breathless, and I was riveted.
The POV is Vera’s and though the scenes are often full of action, they are threaded with feeling throughout the story. The writing is exquisite, with beautiful metaphors and imagery. It’s worthy of a highlighter, for sure. I had a difficult time putting the book down for a second. In some ways, this is a story that explores the qualities that define a human being and a monster. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy dark stories, a touch of paranormal, and something to stir the blood.
This is a dark and deeply emotional story. The setting drew me into the old world of Eastern Europe, where the Nazi’s terrible disregard for life, any life, was grueling to read. And it wasn’t only the Nazis. It’s a dangerous time when other partisans, Russians and Lithuanians, rebels and collaborators, shoot at anything that moves.
Vera navigates this world with Akiva, the lover of the dead girl, and as their vengeance continues and their despair grows, so does their respect for each other, and the feelings that will never have a future. Some parts of this book are emotionally breathless, and I was riveted.
The POV is Vera’s and though the scenes are often full of action, they are threaded with feeling throughout the story. The writing is exquisite, with beautiful metaphors and imagery. It’s worthy of a highlighter, for sure. I had a difficult time putting the book down for a second. In some ways, this is a story that explores the qualities that define a human being and a monster. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy dark stories, a touch of paranormal, and something to stir the blood.
February 20, 2024
More like 4 stars. 5 stars for inexplicable vibes even though I wouldn’t actually say I loved this book. The last quarter was so action-packed it made up for the slower beginning. (Not slow as in nothing happened, but more like…it felt like a lot of the same: Vera and Akiva are hiding. Vera and Akiva are running away. Vera is fighting and/or killing someone. Etc.) For that reason I’d say the end wasn’t necessarily more action-y than the rest of the book but rather that the plot became more interesting.
The ending just. The eNDING
Also this is nitpicking and was probably done for the intended audience but the Hebrew in this book was written left to right and I kept wondering what the heck תמ meant when Vera talked about erasing alephs on golems.
If this “review” (read: disorganized stream of consciousness) makes no sense, it’s because it’s 4 am and I’m emotional. And I really need to brush my teeth.
The ending just. The eNDING
Also this is nitpicking and was probably done for the intended audience but the Hebrew in this book was written left to right and I kept wondering what the heck תמ meant when Vera talked about erasing alephs on golems.
If this “review” (read: disorganized stream of consciousness) makes no sense, it’s because it’s 4 am and I’m emotional. And I really need to brush my teeth.
November 7, 2023
This book was such a unique and interesting young adult read. I absolutely love the cover of this book and it definitely made me want to pick this one up. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book as it is a young adult historical Jewish horror novel which isn’t something I would typically pick up. Wrath Becomes her was a beautifully written story about a golem who was created for vengeance and took place during World War II in Lithuania. I really appreciated the author’s storytelling in this book and I loved how this book had a map as well as a glossary.
Read this if you like:
📖 Historical Fiction
📖 YA Fantasy/Horror
📖 Reading About Jewish Culture
📖 Frankenstein & Inglourious Basterds
📖 Unique & Interesting Reads
Overall I found Wrath Becomes Her to be a pretty good young adult historical fiction book that I think many people will reading.
Read this if you like:
📖 Historical Fiction
📖 YA Fantasy/Horror
📖 Reading About Jewish Culture
📖 Frankenstein & Inglourious Basterds
📖 Unique & Interesting Reads
Overall I found Wrath Becomes Her to be a pretty good young adult historical fiction book that I think many people will reading.
July 12, 2023
3.5 rounded up. Fascinating premise, that meanders a bit. The language was very poetic, and there were passages that really stopped me in my tracks and that I had to re-read because they were so powerful. I was drawn again and again to see the parallels between this book and Frankenstein, and I'll be honest, I really wasn't expecting the ending. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Ultimately a very thoughtful, sorrowful novel that asks the question: what is it to be human? What is it to be a monster?
August 7, 2023
3.5 stars
Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. The premise of this book was so intriguing and the execution was even better. I did not expect Ezra, Vera’s creator, to be such a complex character but I really liked how his grief was explored and how Vera dealt with it.
I mostly enjoyed the main character Vera’s exploration of what it means to be human and her internal struggles of feeling like she’s a monster. I was super invested in Vera's story. Sometimes it got a bit repetitive but for a young adult protagonist, I think that is to be expected.
The ending is what takes this down from being excellent to being just good. I was honestly quite baffled at the last two chapters because they went in the complete opposite direction of what Vera has discovered about herself through the course of the book. Suddenly in the last part of the book, Vera presents this dichotomy between “killing Nazis/violence” and “helping people live.” It’s not clear how she can do one without the other in this situation and it’s never explained further. The ending almost feels incomplete in a sense because we are told that Vera’s emotional journey is finished but it doesn’t feel that way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. The premise of this book was so intriguing and the execution was even better. I did not expect Ezra, Vera’s creator, to be such a complex character but I really liked how his grief was explored and how Vera dealt with it.
I mostly enjoyed the main character Vera’s exploration of what it means to be human and her internal struggles of feeling like she’s a monster. I was super invested in Vera's story. Sometimes it got a bit repetitive but for a young adult protagonist, I think that is to be expected.
The ending is what takes this down from being excellent to being just good. I was honestly quite baffled at the last two chapters because they went in the complete opposite direction of what Vera has discovered about herself through the course of the book. Suddenly in the last part of the book, Vera presents this dichotomy between “killing Nazis/violence” and “helping people live.” It’s not clear how she can do one without the other in this situation and it’s never explained further. The ending almost feels incomplete in a sense because we are told that Vera’s emotional journey is finished but it doesn’t feel that way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 17, 2024
Doesn’t really live up to the title tbh.
August 8, 2023
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. all text is subject to change in the final copy)
(3.5)
I'm sorry to say that I pretty much agree with most other reviewers-- this is a gorgeous premise not taken to its greatest potential. While it certainly includes a female golem struggling with what it means to exist during the Holocaust, it didn't do very much with those concepts, and as a result it felt pretty bare-bones. I'd never say this was a bad book, and I don't even think it's middling; the use of Jewish magic alone makes it a standout... it's just not great, and it kills me, because by all rights a book by this premise should've been.
The easiest way to summarize these issues is to discuss the prose. Polydoros chooses to describe all emotions fairly distantly-- he writes Vera as not knowing anything until Chaya's memories give the details to her, and as a result she keeps feeling things she identifies as rage, etc. etc., rather than simply expressing emotions organically, and it is simultaneously over-told and unclear where these feelings come from. She alternately identifies them as coming from herself, Chaya, and what has been imbued by her creator, and there's no satisfying resolution to this, even one that explores how emotions and motivations in real life never come from one distinct source but a complex mixture of our"selves" (itself an ambiguous concept), our families, and our societies.
Otherwise, the prose is functional if not exhilarating; I've never required prose to make me cry or gasp to find it good. It's serviceable, without much ornament or uniqueness, and I'm fine with that (though I get why others rated the book lower as a result). I was a little miffed at the frequency with which, for example, Polydoros refers to Akiva's touch not just being warm but specifically "shockingly" warm; classic "not that much but it's weird that it happened twice." That sort of perhaps unimaginative prose. I think it's more of an issue because the rest of the book is so underwhelming; this is a place where good prose would really lift a rating and unfortunately it just wasn't there.
Similarly, the plot is functional: I found it easy to follow and nicely mapped, if a little random at some times and a bit too "we have to go get the thing so that this person will do us that favor which will get us to Point B" at others. Again, if it were tightly plotted, or if the stakes felt serious or the conflict emotionally riotous, that would be a place to give more points, but it's just solid. (I will give the book credit for pulling me through even as I'm not a historical fiction/"war story" person; I think someone who is looking for a Holocaust narrative really will enjoy this!)
The themes are where I think this book would really have shone: what makes us human? what does it mean to be a victim/bystander/collaborator (the book is set in Lithuania and heavily features the antisemitic violence of those under Nazi rule)? what makes someone a monster? when is it justified to kill, and when is it too far? what does anger do to us?
Unfortunately, I worry that Polydoros didn't know the answers to any of these-- and he didn't find them in the writing of the book. Vera's main conflict with her purpose is that she has the hots for Akiva, an idea that would be fun in a Divergent-style relatively silly book about how Teenage Love >>>>>> Death, but that's not the tone of this book and the romance is never thoroughly enough dived into to make it really FEEL death-defying. There are no flames of passion! I bought that Vera liked Akiva and that he was conflicted about her, but it was hard to get super emotional about it. For a book about female wrath, there's really very little feeling here.
Similarly, not only are no sharp lines drawn about the moral weight of those in Nazi-occupied Lithuania, no nuanced resolution emerges, either. There's simply no final anything on whether Vera should or should not be killing people; none of her kills have real consequences (beyond one father whose daughter comes looking for him-- but, I dunno, this didn't seem like a moral issue to me; if that had been a Nazi I wouldn't have cared how much his daughter sobbed so why would I care just because he's a collaborator?) The "who is a monster" angle gets boiled down to the deeply overdone "humans are monsters because they kill each other." (babygirl: you are literally in the fucking holocaust. why are you shouting this at OTHER JEWS.)
The point of greatest frustration for me was the climax.
And, ultimately, I find it a bit tasteless to write a book about the Holocaust, even stating that your goal was to write a Holocaust book with firey, fight-back protagonists, only to then make a point about how humans (at large) are the real monsters because they let their anger (at large) get the best of them. Polydoros writes in his introduction to the ARC that he intended this in part to make sense of the rise in far-right ideology today, and I simply don't think it does that. I don't really see how it could.
But if you know my reviews, you're probably wondering when this one gets weird. Well, get ready.
Does Vera have genitals? And I know, I know, this is a YA book and I'm not remotely owed answers, but let me lay out my case. Vera's digestive system (or lack thereof) is explicitly described-- she tries to eat some pickled herring (<3) and the bones come out of the clay on her stomach, her body having absorbed the natural matter. Later on Akiva queries if, since she doesn't eat, that means she doesn't have...? Cue getting elbowed and "I MEANT A STOMACH." The gorey details of how Chaya's real eyes, tongue, and teeth were used to create Vera's face (from her dead body!), and how this is desecration and horrifying, are repeatedly returned to. The sickening dissonance of Ezra as father vs. master is constantly prowling the edges of this book. And, of course, there is a major central romance, including flashbacks and imaginings of pretty sensual kissing.
So I'll ask again: does Vera, someone who is deeply invested in her emotional and romantic prospects, have genitals? Does Vera, who repeatedly dwells on the debasement of having to crawl across the floor on her stomach before legs or fail to form herself a mouth with which to speak, have genitals? Does Vera, who veers between loving and hating her creator for his total physical control over her body even before she ever existed, have genitals?
(Worth noting the trans vibes of this one! Woman who is superstrong to the point that people don't see her as worth loving, only using her body as a weapon? Struggling to find love and not be perceived with disgust? Very trans in my brain. I'm just saying. There's potential for a narrative about the abuse inherent in the father/daughter paradigm, but there's also potential for trans vibes!)
This also comes up a lot more for me because of an ending plot point I REALLY LIKED!, namely, So you see what I mean when I say I feel like there are a LOT of things the book could have done romantically/sexually/as horror that were simply not taken into account. Again, I get that this is YA, but these themes are entirely possible to do in YA, and they felt... ignored. Obviously I can't dock points for my personal peeves, but hey.
One point of (non-spoilery) confusion I'm just spoilering here for length, and because it's confusion and not really a nitpick:
Also nobody asked but not giving either of your Jewish leads brown eyes is such a massive L
...but really, I think this book is mostly harmless. It's a Jewish author writing Jewish magic and a Jewish plotline in a way I disagree with, and while my disagreements are pretty serious, I don't bear ill will towards Polydoros or the book. I enjoyed the time I spent here, and I'd still recommend it to people looking for Jewish/wartime/Holocaust YA; it is so much fucking better than 99% of what is currently on offer.
And, I mean, it IS a book using Jewish fantasy mechanics in a genuine and unique way. It IS a good wartime specfic story. I'm not giving it four stars out of pity-- if someone asked me for a YA Holocaust book this would be my first thought after The Book Thief. I honestly just wish Polydoros had spent more time with this one, coming to his own thematic conclusions to infuse the book with. I feel like this was an incredible draft journey towards some resolution, and that resolution just hasn't been reached yet; with another pass he might have unlocked his answers.
There were so many little things I really liked! Vera's name, for example, instantly making me think veracity, linking back again to truth; Chaya's name coming from chai/"life;" the details of the golem creation ritual; the choice to set this in Lithuania and raise questions about who is victim/bystander/collaborator/architect (even if I wasn't always satisfied with the results)... sometimes a book is more ambitious than its author, and while I'm not thrilled with the result, I'm not upset, either. It happens. I'll still gladly read more of Polydoros's work.
(3.5)
I wondered what [Akiva] saw me as-- if the reason his gaze was drawn to my features was because of my resemblance to Chaya, or if it was because he vewed me as a way of fulfilling his desire for revenge. Wrath incarnate.
It was what I was made for, so it shouldn't have bothered me. Except I wondered if that was all I would ever be. Who was I beyond the purpose for my creation?
I'm sorry to say that I pretty much agree with most other reviewers-- this is a gorgeous premise not taken to its greatest potential. While it certainly includes a female golem struggling with what it means to exist during the Holocaust, it didn't do very much with those concepts, and as a result it felt pretty bare-bones. I'd never say this was a bad book, and I don't even think it's middling; the use of Jewish magic alone makes it a standout... it's just not great, and it kills me, because by all rights a book by this premise should've been.
The easiest way to summarize these issues is to discuss the prose. Polydoros chooses to describe all emotions fairly distantly-- he writes Vera as not knowing anything until Chaya's memories give the details to her, and as a result she keeps feeling things she identifies as rage, etc. etc., rather than simply expressing emotions organically, and it is simultaneously over-told and unclear where these feelings come from. She alternately identifies them as coming from herself, Chaya, and what has been imbued by her creator, and there's no satisfying resolution to this, even one that explores how emotions and motivations in real life never come from one distinct source but a complex mixture of our"selves" (itself an ambiguous concept), our families, and our societies.
As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes. Clear, not inky like mine. She clenched her hands in her lap, biting down on her lower lip so hard, it blanched white. I stared at her in rapt fascination. It was grief she was struggling to contain, or anger. This was how those emotions looked on a human face. This was how people reacted to such things.
Otherwise, the prose is functional if not exhilarating; I've never required prose to make me cry or gasp to find it good. It's serviceable, without much ornament or uniqueness, and I'm fine with that (though I get why others rated the book lower as a result). I was a little miffed at the frequency with which, for example, Polydoros refers to Akiva's touch not just being warm but specifically "shockingly" warm; classic "not that much but it's weird that it happened twice." That sort of perhaps unimaginative prose. I think it's more of an issue because the rest of the book is so underwhelming; this is a place where good prose would really lift a rating and unfortunately it just wasn't there.
Similarly, the plot is functional: I found it easy to follow and nicely mapped, if a little random at some times and a bit too "we have to go get the thing so that this person will do us that favor which will get us to Point B" at others. Again, if it were tightly plotted, or if the stakes felt serious or the conflict emotionally riotous, that would be a place to give more points, but it's just solid. (I will give the book credit for pulling me through even as I'm not a historical fiction/"war story" person; I think someone who is looking for a Holocaust narrative really will enjoy this!)
The themes are where I think this book would really have shone: what makes us human? what does it mean to be a victim/bystander/collaborator (the book is set in Lithuania and heavily features the antisemitic violence of those under Nazi rule)? what makes someone a monster? when is it justified to kill, and when is it too far? what does anger do to us?
Unfortunately, I worry that Polydoros didn't know the answers to any of these-- and he didn't find them in the writing of the book. Vera's main conflict with her purpose is that she has the hots for Akiva, an idea that would be fun in a Divergent-style relatively silly book about how Teenage Love >>>>>> Death, but that's not the tone of this book and the romance is never thoroughly enough dived into to make it really FEEL death-defying. There are no flames of passion! I bought that Vera liked Akiva and that he was conflicted about her, but it was hard to get super emotional about it. For a book about female wrath, there's really very little feeling here.
Similarly, not only are no sharp lines drawn about the moral weight of those in Nazi-occupied Lithuania, no nuanced resolution emerges, either. There's simply no final anything on whether Vera should or should not be killing people; none of her kills have real consequences (beyond one father whose daughter comes looking for him-- but, I dunno, this didn't seem like a moral issue to me; if that had been a Nazi I wouldn't have cared how much his daughter sobbed so why would I care just because he's a collaborator?) The "who is a monster" angle gets boiled down to the deeply overdone "humans are monsters because they kill each other." (babygirl: you are literally in the fucking holocaust. why are you shouting this at OTHER JEWS.)
The point of greatest frustration for me was the climax.
And, ultimately, I find it a bit tasteless to write a book about the Holocaust, even stating that your goal was to write a Holocaust book with firey, fight-back protagonists, only to then make a point about how humans (at large) are the real monsters because they let their anger (at large) get the best of them. Polydoros writes in his introduction to the ARC that he intended this in part to make sense of the rise in far-right ideology today, and I simply don't think it does that. I don't really see how it could.
But if you know my reviews, you're probably wondering when this one gets weird. Well, get ready.
Does Vera have genitals? And I know, I know, this is a YA book and I'm not remotely owed answers, but let me lay out my case. Vera's digestive system (or lack thereof) is explicitly described-- she tries to eat some pickled herring (<3) and the bones come out of the clay on her stomach, her body having absorbed the natural matter. Later on Akiva queries if, since she doesn't eat, that means she doesn't have...? Cue getting elbowed and "I MEANT A STOMACH." The gorey details of how Chaya's real eyes, tongue, and teeth were used to create Vera's face (from her dead body!), and how this is desecration and horrifying, are repeatedly returned to. The sickening dissonance of Ezra as father vs. master is constantly prowling the edges of this book. And, of course, there is a major central romance, including flashbacks and imaginings of pretty sensual kissing.
So I'll ask again: does Vera, someone who is deeply invested in her emotional and romantic prospects, have genitals? Does Vera, who repeatedly dwells on the debasement of having to crawl across the floor on her stomach before legs or fail to form herself a mouth with which to speak, have genitals? Does Vera, who veers between loving and hating her creator for his total physical control over her body even before she ever existed, have genitals?
(Worth noting the trans vibes of this one! Woman who is superstrong to the point that people don't see her as worth loving, only using her body as a weapon? Struggling to find love and not be perceived with disgust? Very trans in my brain. I'm just saying. There's potential for a narrative about the abuse inherent in the father/daughter paradigm, but there's also potential for trans vibes!)
This also comes up a lot more for me because of an ending plot point I REALLY LIKED!, namely, So you see what I mean when I say I feel like there are a LOT of things the book could have done romantically/sexually/as horror that were simply not taken into account. Again, I get that this is YA, but these themes are entirely possible to do in YA, and they felt... ignored. Obviously I can't dock points for my personal peeves, but hey.
One point of (non-spoilery) confusion I'm just spoilering here for length, and because it's confusion and not really a nitpick:
...but really, I think this book is mostly harmless. It's a Jewish author writing Jewish magic and a Jewish plotline in a way I disagree with, and while my disagreements are pretty serious, I don't bear ill will towards Polydoros or the book. I enjoyed the time I spent here, and I'd still recommend it to people looking for Jewish/wartime/Holocaust YA; it is so much fucking better than 99% of what is currently on offer.
And, I mean, it IS a book using Jewish fantasy mechanics in a genuine and unique way. It IS a good wartime specfic story. I'm not giving it four stars out of pity-- if someone asked me for a YA Holocaust book this would be my first thought after The Book Thief. I honestly just wish Polydoros had spent more time with this one, coming to his own thematic conclusions to infuse the book with. I feel like this was an incredible draft journey towards some resolution, and that resolution just hasn't been reached yet; with another pass he might have unlocked his answers.
There were so many little things I really liked! Vera's name, for example, instantly making me think veracity, linking back again to truth; Chaya's name coming from chai/"life;" the details of the golem creation ritual; the choice to set this in Lithuania and raise questions about who is victim/bystander/collaborator/architect (even if I wasn't always satisfied with the results)... sometimes a book is more ambitious than its author, and while I'm not thrilled with the result, I'm not upset, either. It happens. I'll still gladly read more of Polydoros's work.
December 6, 2024
the first 150 of the book could have been condensed into 50 and it would have still had the same effect
September 4, 2023
First, I want to say thank you to NetGalley for giving me free access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have adored every book I have read by Aden Polydoros and he does not disappoint with this newest book. Like with the other books I have read by him, there is history that gives backdrop to the story. There are magic/fantasy elements. And there are deep questions about what makes someone a monster. And like with all his books I've read thus far, the characters are deep and well developed. I love how Polydoros integrates in folklore and beliefs and crafts them into something that feels like it honors and respects those stories and beliefs.
However, with this book being set during WWII, it is significantly heavier than his other books.
Seeing the journey Vera takes to learn about why she exists and to decide how she will use this life she has is powerful. The people she comes to cherish, the reader comes to cherish. And even though her struggles to understand her reason for being come about for reasons that are very dissimilar to any of us, it yet feels like a relatable struggle all the same.
To be honest, it took me a long time to get through this book because I had to keep putting it down due to the heaviness of the story. But I am would and will read it again. And for those who are in a mental place to read a book with the heavy topics within (WWII, antisemitism, violence, death, murder), it is one well worth your time reading.
I have adored every book I have read by Aden Polydoros and he does not disappoint with this newest book. Like with the other books I have read by him, there is history that gives backdrop to the story. There are magic/fantasy elements. And there are deep questions about what makes someone a monster. And like with all his books I've read thus far, the characters are deep and well developed. I love how Polydoros integrates in folklore and beliefs and crafts them into something that feels like it honors and respects those stories and beliefs.
However, with this book being set during WWII, it is significantly heavier than his other books.
Seeing the journey Vera takes to learn about why she exists and to decide how she will use this life she has is powerful. The people she comes to cherish, the reader comes to cherish. And even though her struggles to understand her reason for being come about for reasons that are very dissimilar to any of us, it yet feels like a relatable struggle all the same.
To be honest, it took me a long time to get through this book because I had to keep putting it down due to the heaviness of the story. But I am would and will read it again. And for those who are in a mental place to read a book with the heavy topics within (WWII, antisemitism, violence, death, murder), it is one well worth your time reading.
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