The Golem and the Jinni
Written by Helene Wecker in 2013
Summary: Blending Jewish and Islamic mythology, the titular supernatural characters find themselves lost and alone in New York City—just like countless other immigrants at the end of the 19th century. As the golem tries to fight her nature and the jinni tries to return to his, they affect the lives of the humans around them and draw the attention of an old common enemy.
Review: I’m predisposed to loving this type of biblical fantasy story, but Wecker’s execution is just as smart as her ideas. We follow multiple characters fluidly, in a way that keeps up suspense. The setting also ties in well; New York and the time period feel critical to the story, as opposed to a splashy background chosen after the plot was written.
More than the mythical heroes, I love how the villain was written. The reader is led multiple times to have sympathy for him, only to have that interpretation reversed each time more context is given. Furthermore, the villain commits several good deeds as means to evil ends; watching him forced to save people is fun and believable.
An original, easy-to-pick-up fantasy that will widen your knowledge of the real world.
Strengths:
- Characters’ poor decisions are the believable kind that make you want to scream at them and not the author.
- One ending twist is fascinating and ensures that the Abrahamic religions here aren't made out to be the Truth.
Weaknesses:
- A few chapter beginnings had me momentarily confused about which character I was following. Adding the protagonist’s name in the first sentence would be one simple way to resolve this.
Rating: 19/20 possessed doctors
Ideal Setting: Read this when you catch yourself thinking today’s religions are more logical and less barbaric than pagan ones.
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