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The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
Toba Peres can speak but she can’t shout; she can walk but she can’t run; and she can write in five languages… with both hands at the same time.
Naftaly Cresques dreams every night of an orange-eyed stranger; when awake, he sees things that aren’t real; and he carries a book he can never lose and never read.
When the Queen of Sefarad orders all the nation’s Jews to leave or convert, Toba and Naftaly are forced to flee, but an unlucky encounter leaves them both separated from their caravan. Lost in the wilderness, Toba follows an orange-eyed stranger through a mysterious gate in a pomegranate grove, leaving Naftaly behind.
With a single step, Toba enters an ancient world that mirrors her own. There, she finds that her fate—and Naftaly’s—are bound to an ancient conflict threatening to destroy both realms.
Why you should read it: I'm not even sure where to start, I loved this book so much. I can't remember the last time I read a book with this many POV characters handled this brilliantly. They weren't all likable, but I adored them all, and the interweaving of so man intersecting threads was just... I have no idea how to explain how good this was without giving mountains of spoilers. The world-building and magic had me riveted every bit as much as the characters and relationships, and the whole thing felt so grounded and real. An incredible book. I sincerely cannot wait for the sequel, and I'm so glad book two is coming out in less than a month.
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Entreat Me by Grace Draven
Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation. …until they confront her elder sister. Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him. A tale of vengeance and devotion.
Why you should read it: Oh this was lovely! A terrific historical fantasy that feels so sincere while playing around with folk tale tropes in fun ways. This might be my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling to date. The characters are so lovely, with a perfect balance between instant attraction/chemistry and a slow burn that really earns it when they finally tumble together. Their relationship is so candid and sassy and earnest all at once, and even the side characters are fleshed out and charming to a degree that it felt like the book would fall apart without them. A beautiful reading experience all around.
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Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
“No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.” Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.
But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.
Why you should read it: This book is haunting and hopeful, and absolutely gorgeous. Nghi Vo has such a talent for world-building, creating intricate magic in a surprisingly short span. I read "The Chosen and the Beautiful" a while back and it blew me away, so I went in with high hopes for Siren Queen. I was not disappointed, this book is phenomenal. The magic is very different—more old-gods-and-eldritch-horror tinged—but it still hums eerily alongside the vividly crafted historical setting in a way that felt somehow both understated and terrifying. The characters in this book are complicated and earnest and WONDERFUL even if they're not always GOOD, and I absolutely adored it. Please read this book.
The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan
Toba Peres can speak but she can’t shout; she can walk but she can’t run; and she can write in five languages… with both hands at the same time.
Naftaly Cresques dreams every night of an orange-eyed stranger; when awake, he sees things that aren’t real; and he carries a book he can never lose and never read.
When the Queen of Sefarad orders all the nation’s Jews to leave or convert, Toba and Naftaly are forced to flee, but an unlucky encounter leaves them both separated from their caravan. Lost in the wilderness, Toba follows an orange-eyed stranger through a mysterious gate in a pomegranate grove, leaving Naftaly behind.
With a single step, Toba enters an ancient world that mirrors her own. There, she finds that her fate—and Naftaly’s—are bound to an ancient conflict threatening to destroy both realms.
Why you should read it: I'm not even sure where to start, I loved this book so much. I can't remember the last time I read a book with this many POV characters handled this brilliantly. They weren't all likable, but I adored them all, and the interweaving of so man intersecting threads was just... I have no idea how to explain how good this was without giving mountains of spoilers. The world-building and magic had me riveted every bit as much as the characters and relationships, and the whole thing felt so grounded and real. An incredible book. I sincerely cannot wait for the sequel, and I'm so glad book two is coming out in less than a month.
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Entreat Me by Grace Draven
Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard’s salvation. …until they confront her elder sister. Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won’t deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him. A tale of vengeance and devotion.
Why you should read it: Oh this was lovely! A terrific historical fantasy that feels so sincere while playing around with folk tale tropes in fun ways. This might be my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling to date. The characters are so lovely, with a perfect balance between instant attraction/chemistry and a slow burn that really earns it when they finally tumble together. Their relationship is so candid and sassy and earnest all at once, and even the side characters are fleshed out and charming to a degree that it felt like the book would fall apart without them. A beautiful reading experience all around.
- — - — - — - — -
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
“No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers.” Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn’t care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid.
But in Luli’s world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself.
Why you should read it: This book is haunting and hopeful, and absolutely gorgeous. Nghi Vo has such a talent for world-building, creating intricate magic in a surprisingly short span. I read "The Chosen and the Beautiful" a while back and it blew me away, so I went in with high hopes for Siren Queen. I was not disappointed, this book is phenomenal. The magic is very different—more old-gods-and-eldritch-horror tinged—but it still hums eerily alongside the vividly crafted historical setting in a way that felt somehow both understated and terrifying. The characters in this book are complicated and earnest and WONDERFUL even if they're not always GOOD, and I absolutely adored it. Please read this book.
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