This book was on my shelf for a while until I actually had the right mindset to read it and it was worth waiting for.

Alter Rosen is a Jewish immigrant in Chicago at the time of the world's fair. After his friend dies he is possessed by his friend's dybbuk and has to solve the murder before time runs out.

This is the type of book I have been craving. Jewish mythology? Not a holocaust story? Queer characters? Written by a Jewish voice that talks about the reality of being Jewish in the past but resonates with the present? Sign me the hell up! I loved that it throughs you in with Yiddish, Jewish culture, and lore without having to hold your hand. For me, it felt this could have been a story with my great grandparents, both familiar but historical. It also had commentary about how Jews have also been foreigners in every land and in some eyes always the leeches of society if they are poor or the evil money hungry is they are wealthy (whish I still a mindset people have today). As for the story itself, I felt it started a little too slow. it took me a while to get past the first quarter of the book. After about 40% through it picked up speed and I could not put it down. I loved all the characters in the book. Alter, Frankie, and Raizel all are well characterized and strong characters.

Overall a great book that I give total props for making the story and character unapologetically Jewish. The slow starts bring it down to a 4 stars for me, but this is a definite recommendation from me.

Real Rating: 4.5* of five, rounded down because I'm still testy about YA reads

I think there's nothing more delightful to me than queer representation in historical fiction. We were there, too, and deserve to be written into the zeitgeist.

This is Young Adult queer representation in the 19th century, and in my ongoing quest not to die above the neck before I do below it, I got the DRC. I'm really very glad that I did...this read was a great pleasure to me. The use of Jewish folk cultural touchstones...matchmakers, dybbuks being the most horrifying...the sprinkings of Yiddish, the focus...fierce focus...on family and loyalty, were all tastes of delight for this reader. The author doesn't spend inordinate time explaining things but he does provide context and some factual stuff for the more, um, ethnocentric stuff.

It is a sheer joy to see the story being set away from a) World War II, b) New York's Lower East Side, or c) the shtetl somewhere in Eastern Europe. The Jewish population of Chicago has never been teensy...the Great Lakes ports were as much a destination as New York, but they get less play. I'm also, since I read <I>The Devil in the White City</i> and read <I>The Man Who Made Parks: The Story of Parkbuilder Frederick Law Olmsted</i> by Frieda Wishinsky to my oldest grandson, a big aficionado of the 1893 World's Columbian Exhibition (aka "the White City") in Chicago. That venue plays quite a role in this murder mystery, though exactly how and why shall remain a secret lest I be set upon by spoilerphobes next time I go grocery shopping.

What I will say is that the squeamish should not pick the book up. There are graphic moments of bloodyness, there are awful physical violences, and of course the element of supernatural possession can't be left out. There are more 21st-century concerns like homophobia and anti-semitism (this last pervades the end of the book to a sometimes uncomfortable degree), but this is Spooktober! A few scares, some terrible spooky goins-on, that is what this month is for! Be prepared, also, for the politics of the book. It's solidly anti-capitalist, despite MC Alter's determination to earn earn earn so he can bring his mother and sisters to the Promised Land...Chicago! imagine...because that's really situational not aspirational capitalism. And Alter's failed match-cum-bestie, young Raizel from downstairs in his apartment building, is there to keep him from falling *too* deep into capitalism's cess pit. (She is, in fact, one of the book's most delightful characters, propensity to splash tea onto laps notwithstanding.)

Putting on my YA-unlover's hat, the usual prolixity...why say in ten words what can make an entire chapter?...is fully present, the stakes are <B>APOCALYPTIC ZOMG <I>THE UNIVERSE WILL END!!</i></b> and that gets really tiring to an old fart like me who knows that, after I and you and the author are all dead the planet will keep spinning on. Probably all the better for our absence.

But that is an elderly person speaking, the audience that's here for YA is going to *eat*this*up* because every one of the elements are handled with aplomb and without the edge of tweeness I've reacted to in other YA books like they're coated in cat dander. I don't at all recommend giving this to a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old. The realities of sexual abuse aren't in any way soft-pedaled. The realities of sexual desire, that it doesn't obey rules or orders, are best left to the older end of the YA spectrum, which I think of as sixteen and up. I know y'all know y'all's kids better than I do, so understand I'm speaking in generalities and not prescribing anything.

The mystery aspect of the story, the resolution to the murders and disappearances of Jewish boys, is very well-handled and was solidly made in serious mystery form. If you're up for it, match wits with the author; if you're not, read the spooky book or the coming-out (sort of!) book or the immigrant-makes-it book. They're all here.

I think my point should be clear: Read <I>The City Beautiful</i>. It will please at least 80% of the folks who read my reviews.

The City Beautiful is an appropriately if (deliberately) ironically named book in which the city itself seems to be the central character. Plenty happens in the book. Missing boys. Multiple murders. Brutal physical violence. Theft. Break ins. Fatal illnesses. Fistfights. Arson. Social upheaval. A neighbour unveiling her psychic powers. A spirit inhabiting a young man, demanding justice for his death. But for all of the unfolding plot, I was most struck by Polydoros' ability to paint a picture of Chicago's dark underbelly. The slaughterhouses. The antisemitism. The poverty. The intensely hard working conditions. The child exploitation. The immigrant experience with its tension between retaining heritage and taking steps toward assimilation. This isn't a light book, nor does it adhere to the expectations of a genre thriller. The dramatic tension often evaporates as quickly as as it rises, a choice that feels deliberate, like a means of alerting us that this is a different kind of story. I thought the characters were beautifully drawn and the haunting/possession was intriguing throughout, but for me, the book's greatest strength is the way it allows readers to witness a formative time in America through a unique and emotionally moving lens.

This book is better than I expected. I will write more by editing later, but so far I am enjoying it.

4 stars. Centering a Jewish gay protagonist in turn-of-the-century Chicago, The City Beautiful is a promising debut that is as compelling as it is haunting.

I'm all for more books like this! I'm not much of a historical fiction or fantasy reader but it turns out I like both those genres much better when the history in question is Jewish and the fantasy is based on Jewish fantasy instead of the usual Western European fairy tale bores.

The main thing about this book in particular though was that it wasn't super engaging. It was way too long and certain parts really dragged and even the murder mystery aspect of it, which is one genre that I actually do enjoy, seemed to be trite and anti-climactic.

As far as Jewish YA lit goes, I did enjoy that this one had a glossary in the back so the narrative didn't have to spend extra time explaining what I already know.

Well researched YA historical fiction that also explores a queer romance and a Jewish spirit who takes possession of Alter after he is murdered. At first the Hebrew language and religious practices took some getting used to but I was very glad they were included because you learned so much and it was vital to the story of young immigrants and their struggle in 1890's Chicago. There are murders of young Jewish men going unnoticed or explained away as accidents. One of them is Alter's friend Yakov and it is his dybbuk that possesses Alter's body until the killer is found. Alter has help from a rebellious young woman reporter with a anarchist lean and from love interest, Frankie. There are so many social issues discussed here from religion, ethnic hostility, the immigrant experience, sexuality, politics and the horrors of the slaughterhouse and industry. This story does for Chicago what THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI did for New York and will be enjoyed by YA and adult readers. My thanks to the
publisher for the advance copy.

The City Beautiful is a heartfelt Gothic historical fantasy that utilises its Own Voices representation perfectly to weave a mystery that’s packed with heart and a gorgeous exploration of identity and found family.

I absolutely adored the Own Voices elements and the way Jewish identity and anti Semitism is explored. You can just feel the love Polydoros has for his culture and identity radiate off the page. Despite the awfulness of their situation, there’s still a sense of pride and hope enmeshed in the character’s hearts. Personally, I wasn’t familiar with many of the elements of Jewish culture explored here, but I found it fascinating to learn more. On top of this, the twists and turns the mystery takes opens up some thought-provoking discussions about revenge, justice and love. Where can you draw the line between justice and vengeance?

The way Polydoros intertwines Jewish culture and mythology into a gripping murder mystery is mind-blowing to witness. Polydoros has created such a compelling mystery that your whole heart is invested in. The pacing is just exquisite, making me race through the pages. The cruelty of the situation and the way society as a whole ignores the mistreatment, injustice and ultimately horrendous acts of violence and death is sickening. However, you can easily see the modern day parallels in anti-Semetic behaviour and ideology.

This book is just wonderfully written. I found myself savouring every page, eyes hanging onto every delectable word. The descriptions are so immersive and vividly imagined that you can practically feel your surroundings disappear and those that Polydoros has conjured surround you instead. Of course, it helps that our characters are so relatable and lovable. You can’t help but root for them to succeed and feel every inch of their pain alongside them.

The City Beautiful pulls on your heartstrings in a wonderfully emotional and gorgeously crafted mystery that combines elements of horror, Jewish culture and a swoon worthy romance.

This is a new release from an American author who is known for his YA fantasy novels such as his "Assassin Fall" series. This new book is also a YA novel. It is set in 1893 Chicago during the World Fair. Alter is a young Jewish immigrant from Romania who is trying to save enough money to bring his mom and sisters to America. When a friend is found murdered, Alter tries to determine who is murdering Jewish teens. Along the way he must come to terms with the fact that he is gay. This book captures historical Chicago and blends that with mystery and a touch of fantasy in the form of a 'dybbuk', which is a Jewish myth of a possessing spirit that will leave a body once its goal is achieved. It is a wonderful recommendation for older teens and adults. I really enjoyed it.

Honestly I just didn't click with this book. The writing was well done and the mystery seemed intriguing but I gave up trying to force a connection about halfway through.

Review posted on Goodreads and Storgraph - Oct 2nd.

A heart-wrenching, additive mind-fuck!

The City Beautiful is set in 1893 Chicago, this is unlike any story I've ever encountered. It's gripping, intense, dark, and almost horrifying at times but still warm and loving. Aden Polydoros crafts a story that is not only scary but beautiful. I fell deeply in love with this book by the first couple of pages. The world is atmospheric and deep with culture, the fantasy aspects feel rich.

I was completely invested in the mystery and murders. Where I feel some mystery's drag, The City Beautiful never feels tiring. It's gripping and fast, you're never without action or character development. Every page is needed, every scene is important in either information, culture, or growth- sometimes a mixture of all three. I really like how much you're able to learn about Jewish culture and traditions, as well as the hardships they've had to face. There's a lot of anti-Semitism. A lot. It's tough to read but necessary.

The first layer of this story is a mystery. The second layer is love. There's a good balance between the two. You never feel the novel switch genres to incorporate either one but they're woven together to create a great story and great characters.

Alter is an incredible lead, perfect shoes for the reader to slide into. You easily sympathize with his story and truly root for him. You understand his struggles. And Frankie, truly a lovely and complex character. The chemistry between them is undeniable and believable. Both characters have faults, but none of them are out of place. Their actions and decisions are grounded by their past experiences. When you can completely understand a character's actions without being in their head- that makes for good writing.

I loved this book completely. Aden Polydoros wrote a story that will stand the test of time. Everyone should ready The City Beautiful. I want to read it again for crying out loud. It's beautiful and heartbreaking with bits that make you want to cry and bits that make you want to scream. The writing is rich with imaginary and alive. Go, go, go read this!

Thank you to Netgally, Inkyard Press for allowing me this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing the earc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In Chicago, 1883, the World's Fair is starting and it's a big hit. People are coming from all over to see the sights, but no one is noticing all the Jewish immigrant boys that are conveniently going missing. Alter Rosen notices. When his friend and roommate disappears, Alter finds himself smack dab in the middle of a terrifying look at a racially motivated serial killer. With the help of an old friend (and some new ones), Alter sets out to prove that the Jewish boys gone missing and found dead are being slaughtered. With a darkness growing inside him set to take over, can Alter and his friends find the killer and stop him once and for all?

Okay, this was GOOD. It was a lot darker than I thought it would be going in, but it worked so well. There are a lot of trigger warnings for this one, however, so please look them up and take them into consideration before reading.

This book is unapologetically Jewish and I am here for it. It doesn't coddle the reader, nor stop to painfully explain everything that a person unfamiliar with Judaism may not understand. These characters know what these things mean, and if you don't, you better learn. There is a glossary in the rear of the book to help explain things, but I am a huge fan of books being unapologetic and this book does an excellent job of that.

I love the characters so much. Alter is just a teen, struggling to live his life in the way he thinks is "good". Having lost his father, it's up to Alter to work and make enough money to bring his sisters and mother to America from Romania. He works hard, and a lot of the book is him worrying if he's good enough to make this happen. He struggles a lot with some internalized homophobia, and it broke my heart. Frankie, an old friend of Alter's, is basically the opposite of Alter in a lot of ways. However, he is precious and just wants to protect the ones he loves. The two of them together find a sort of family of their own and I loved watching them figure things out.

This book had me on the edge of my seat multiple times, terrified that Alter and Frankie wouldn't be quick enough to find and stop the person murdering these young Jewish boys. It's an intense, dark story that is so incredibly well done. I know I'll be thinking of this one for a while to come.

This historical fantasy piece exudes Jewish energy and I loved it. It’s Jewish historical in the era of Chicago’s World’s Fair with fantastical elements in Jewish folklore, which you definitively don’t read about every Day. While the focus on Jewish culture and lore was a stand out of the book, the climax of the murder mystery suffered a bit IMO.

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The City Beautiful is a compelling YA historical thriller with paranormal elements. Set during the 1893 World’s Fair made infamous due to the activity of HH Holmes and the possible Jack the Ripper connection, I loved how Aden Polydoros took such a notorious event and chose to capture a different side of it through the eyes of a Jewish protagonist, Alter, exploring the rampant anti-Semitism during the time period, while also providing a story with Jewish visibility that isn’t set during the Holocaust, which has been a rarity until recently.

I really liked Alter and had a lot of empathy for his situation, working to bring his family to America. I also felt for him as he lost his friend who he had feelings for, although the spiritual connection also made for some interesting situations, especially as he develops a relationship with another love interest. It’s a nice sweet, slow burning romance, and it’s incredibly well done.

The mystery is also incredibly engaging, with the unraveling of what occurred in his friend’s final days and exploring social issues in the process.

Structurally/plot wise, the book does suffer from some pacing issues that did take me out of the story just a little. However, it is more or less an enjoyable read in spite of this.

This is an immersive and gritty read, releasing just in time for spooky season.

It’s Chicago, 1883, just as the World’s Fair is getting ready to open and Jewish boys are disappearing. When Alter Rosen’s best friend turns up murdered, Alter sets out to solve the murder and get revenge. While Alter is driven to solve the mystery of his friend what he doesn’t realize is that a dybbuk, the spirit of his dead friend, is slowly consuming him driving him with even more force to avenge his death.
This book is creepy and riveting. It is a real page turner with many twists and turns and depicts the life of immigrant Jewish people during this time period. With its vivid descriptions, excellent character development and gothic mysticism, it’s one not to be missed.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the shadow of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, a killer is stalking the streets, targeting young Jewish immigrants. Alter Rosen, who recently immigrated from Romania, struggles to make a living while also trying to save up enough money to bring his family to America. But when his best friend and roommate Yakov is the latest victim of the killer, he gets caught up in a dark plot as Yakov’s dybbuk possesses him and begins to take over him entirely. The only way Alter will get out of this alive is to complete the task for which the dybbuk is lingering and turning to a friend from a past he left behind might be the only way to accomplish it. With each day, the dybbuk threatens to take over, and it’s a race against time for the two boys as they must track down the killer before there are any more murders.

The historical setting of the World’s Fair in Chicago made for a perfect backdrop for this mystery. It was quite interesting to read a book that had a Jewish main character that wasn’t related to WWII, and the author has shed light on the fact that persecution of Jews was not limited to the Holocaust. This is a time period I’m not as familiar with but the way it was all portrayed felt very real, from the exploitation of immigrant workers to some pretty extreme and horrifying anti-Semitism. On the other hand, there was so much about Jewish traditions, customs and faith woven into the story and it was so wonderful to read and learn more about this culture. The glossary at the end of the book with translations of the Yiddish words was so helpful too. This book starts out rather slowly, but by around the 30-40% mark, I was completely hooked and the murder mystery became more intriguing by the page, though it was much darker than I expected. I love how the author depicted the glamorous illusion of the World’s Fair with the reality beneath the surface being quite different and the more fantastical concept of a dybbuk possessing Alter fit right in alongside it all.

The cast of characters was interesting and likeable and I loved following Alter, Frankie and Raizel’s arcs. The story was narrated from Alter’s POV and the character development for both him and Frankie was excellently done, though I would have liked to see more of Raizel’s story as well. Despite the mystery being the core of the book, there is so much else going on that multiple perspectives could have added a lot.

I do feel though, that this book could have been a bit shorter. Some parts of the story definitely felt like it was dragging its heels until the next reveal came along, and there were a lot of unnecessary threads that diverted the attention from the main story to the extent that it takes nearly half the book for the information that we, as readers, know from the synopsis to show up on page and be confirmed.

The ending was a fitting and satisfying conclusion, and while I didn’t spot the clues ahead of time, I think that’s a good sign in this case, because I was so caught up in the story that I barely looked for them. If you decide to read this book, do take a moment to look over the content warnings, because this was much darker than I initially expected given the synopsis. Overall, this was an engrossing read, if a heavier one, and I would definitely recommend it!

I had to ruminate over this book. It wasn't an easy read, but it was gorgeous. The prose is incredible, and the plot intricately detailed. I felt immersed in the world and with Alter. There have been many different takes on the Chicago World's Fair, but I've never seen one from this angle before. The book was truly enhanced by Polydoros' knowledge and experience in Jewish and Eastern European culture and history. I can't imagine this story being told by anyone else. It was a delicious blend of history, fantasy, ghosts, romance, and detective work. Highly recommended!

Enjoyed the story very much. I had not been aware of the degree of anti-semitism in Chicago during the World's Fair specifically and generally in the period when so much has otherwise been written about the meat packing industry and workers' rights.. The fantasy aspect of the story added to the sense of confusion and literal dislocation the characters felt about the choice they made to immigrate as well as how they tried to balance their traditional ways and native language with the demands of their new environment.

I thought the characters were well drawn, each providing a different perspective on their choices of how they would assimilate into their new world.

I appreciated the glossary since so many of the Yiddish words were not defined in any way in the text. Because I read this on my Kindle it was a bit frustrating not to be able to use the internal dictionary for definitions as I read along so this was a bit disruptive to the story.

A killer stalks the streets of Chicago. A killer who preys upon young Jewish immigrants. It is a dangerous time to be alive as Alter Rosen recent Jewish immigrant from Romania well knows. Living in the slums and tenements along Maxwell street, Alter struggles to make enough money to keep himself alive as well as bring over his mother and sisters from Romania. But life isn't all struggle, he's got friends. Particularly the gentle and kind Yakov who Alter loves dearly. But when Yakov is brutally murdered, Alter's life changes. Now possessed by a Dybbuk of his slain friend, Alter joins forces with a boy from his past to hunt down a vicious killer before it's too late and Alter is fully consumed.

--

Set against the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, The City Beautiful is an oftentimes deep and disturbing glimpse into the world of that time. The city is dirty and corrupt, crawling with con-men and tricksters who are eager and willing to take advantage of the arriving immigrants. This is the city that so many people came to seeking a better life only to find more poverty and strife. This is the city that played home to H.H. Holmes as well as inspired Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle." And because of that this book needs a heap-ton of trigger warnings.

Triggers for the following: Child Sexual Assault/Rape, Character Death, Antisemitism, racism, classism, xenophobia, graphic descriptions of blood and gore, graphic descriptions of funerary practices, homophobia, sexism, misogyny, general cruelty, and more I'm definitely missing. Please make sure you're in a good place before reading this book.

Because this is a good book. While the subject matter is definitely outside my usual fare, it's well-researched story about Jewish Immigrant Life in America in the late 19th century with very mystical/horror elements. And it's definitely horror. At times this book reminded me of Stephen King's "It" mixed with Lovecraft Country. I liked the fact that this featured an LGBT chararacter who is still coming to terms with that that means for him. It's realistic for a time and culture where homosexuality is very much looked down upon and even punished.

And this story is a romance. While Alter's first love does die as a catalyst to the overarching plot, there is a very nice slow burn second chance romance between Alter and a sort of Artful Dodger-like character named Frankie. And I did like Frankie. He's tempter, while Alter is the atoner. It's and interesting mix.

However, my favorite character was Raizel, one of Alter's friends from the tenement where he lives. She's a reformer who wants to be a reporter and it's nice to see a solid Male/Female friendship in YA. Especially a LGBT one -- where members of the opposite sex are often denigrated. She's got her own goals and she's not a shrinking violet. I kind of love her. LOL

That said, the book isn't perfect. It's a very slow start with some uneven pacing between the 10 and 40% marks. After the 50% mark the story picks up and it's a nice ride to the end. Looking back on it, I can see why the author took the time to set the scene and lay out the clues, but it wasn't apparent on the first read through. That said, this book definitely has re-read value... so that's something.

In all, I enjoyed this book despite it taking me several months to read. So I'm going to give this...

Four stars

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Five Reasons to Read This Book

One. This book is simply unapologetically Jewish. It doesn’t coddle you, doesn’t stop to think if you’re comfortable with all the elements of Jewish culture it throws at you. Because you’re not the main character here – the Jewish boys and girls are. And they all know what they’re talking about, so no one stops to explain things and context, and hidden meanings. It feels very natural, in the sense that we’re just observers visiting their world where they understand everything and act like it. There’s a glossary at the end for all the readers who need some explanations.

Two. This is related to the first point somewhat, but the Jewish culture in this book shines through more than words the characters use. It’s in the fact that Alter volunteers at Chevra Kadisha where he helps prepare bodies for burial; in the very main plot being about Alter getting possessed by a dybbuk, a malevolent spirit from Jewish folklore; it’s, sadly, in the overpowering antisemitism of some characters; in the stories of all those boys we’re introduced to who came to the United States from Eastern Europe.

Three. The writing works in favour of this being a gothic murder mystery. It’s very atmospheric, making the reader feel as if we’re actually walking around the streets of old Chicago, scared of getting robbed, afraid of not being able to put together a meal of something other than potatoes. Terrified of not surviving the night. The beautiful words bring us closer to the past, create a very specific atmosphere of fear and wonder, of shame and pride.

Four. The book talks a lot about family, it’s pretty much one of the main themes. But not just the biological kind, those people who share your blood. It treats as family the people you meet along the way, who you choose to bring closer and protect, and love. The conversations about family are not all in one shade, either. Some characters, like Alter, had difficult relationships with their parents, where love mixed with resentment almost; some lost their families, some set out to avenge them, some want to forget them.

Five. Again, something tied to how Jewish the book is, but Alter struggles a lot with internalised homophobia. It’s always on his mind both because the society as a whole treats gay people the way it does, but also specifically because there are verses in the Talmud which condemn gay love and which we was made to study. But the book actually uses that to its advantage, finds a way to explain how it’s the homophobes who twisted certain words in those holy lines to fit their narrative. It uses religion to reason away religion-based internalised homophobia.