Saturday, September 24, 2022

2022 book 163

 Sacha Lamb's When the Angels Left the Old Country

I am just so excited about this recent glut of Jewish fantasy novels, especially because so much of it is queer! And this might be my favorite one yet. It’s centered on an angel and a (minor) demon, who have been hanging out in a synagogue in a tiny shtetl for hundreds of years, studying/debating the Talmud, but people have started trying to leave for America due to recent pogroms, and one girl hasn’t sent any letters. So they decide to head to America themselves to find her. On the way they befriend the other main character, a young woman who planned for herself and her best friend to go to America together to make their fortunes, but her best friend has betrayed her by getting married and staying behind. Of course, things aren’t as easy as they expect and dangers are lurking! Things bog down a tiny bit in the middle but pick back up, and I really liked the ending. My only complaint is that I want more! A.


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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in October.

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