I really enjoyed how this book explored themes about what makes someone human and the cruelty and resistance/will to live of humanity. I also really liked how Vera navigated discovering her own emotions vs those she was created with and carving out her own sense of identity.

It's also nice to see a WWII historical fiction book centering Jewish protagonists as heroes and exploring the complicity and collaboration of non-Jewish civilians and military with the Nazis during WWII- it's not a part of history often recognised in U.S. schools, unfortunately.

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 really enjoyed this book and I knew I would because it was dedicated to "all those people who have ever wanted to punch a nazi". And I am one of those people. I liked the idea that this was an Inglorious Basterds + Frankenstein mashup and that had me set to go right away. Vera was a cool character who brought up many big questions about existence and G-d and all that noise, but in a way that allowed the reader to actually ponder those questions in a thoughtful manner. Akiva was okay. Typical love interest character with a penchant for killing nazis (which I'm all for). I guess I was a little bummed that Vers put so much aside for him, or seemed to, and that gets inflated toward the end even more when all I really wanted was this thoughtful golem out for effing vengeance. And that brings me to my minus-a-star review, as it seems that I loved this book:

I took away a star because, honestly, I wanted to see more nazis get what they deserved. I get the whole notion that things need to be built and developed for the story to proceed in a thoughtful manner, and I hold nothing against Polydoros for writing this novel that way, but... reading about a whole regiment of nazis getting torn limb from limb, maybe some "Game of Thrones" style head crushing action taking place, anything more than the few nondescript deaths that we got would have been nice. Clearly, this would of complicated things for Vera, her being a thinking being and all, but man, it would've been cool to read that. Anyway, I think this is a really great read and I endorse it and would recommend it to my students, wholeheartedly.

In Wrath Becomes Her, Polydoros cements himself as a master of the disquiet. A sense of wrongness permeates this story, which ends up being more of a meditation on humanity and monstrosity than it does vengeful Nazi killing romp. Don't get me wrong, Nazis do get killed, but don't come into this story expecting a lot of action. It moves slowly, quietly, hauntingly as Vera struggles to understand what it means to be human and what truly makes one monstrous. This is a story that will make you ache not just with the beauty of its prose but also the brutality of its truth, the sorrow of its world, and strength of its characters. A worthwhile read for anyone looking for a solid WWII story with a focus on Jewish resistance. ARC provided by NetGalley.

I loved the intricacies of this historical fantasy; the world-building was so dynamic and felt so real because of the level of detail and attention to historical accuracy. At the same time, it was very emotional.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

Vera knows she isn't human - she's a golem. As her creator Ezra, brings her to life from clay, she is taught that she was made for vengeance. Molded into the shape of Ezra's dead daughter Chaya and using her eyes, teeth, and bones, Vera is plunged into her purpose when the Nazis raid Ezra's home. She has Chaya's memories, and finds the rebel Akiva, who loved Chaya. As they begin to hunt the Nazis, they discover that Ezra's books about creating golems has landed in Nazi hands.

There are some similarities between Vera and the Frankenstein monster, but this also was very much inspired by Jewish culture and folklore. Vera's point of view makes the reader feel how inhuman she is, especially anytime she gets injured and her body glops and drips, which at times did make it hard to believe that she passed as human. The quest of the Nazis to obtain Jewish mystical knowledge tracks with what I know about Nazis, in particular the way they experimented on humans. While this is a World War II story, there's little reference to concentration camps or even the front lines, so this felt a bit distant from the immediacy of the war, but overall it was a fast-paced story that held my interest to the end.

The pitch, the cover, and the title all really. drew me in. Inglorious Bastards meets Frankenstein? Sign me up. However, the marketing here does not match what the book really is, and I think that may lead some readers astray.
The places the story really shines are in Vera's deliberations on her own sense of self and personhood. What pieces of her are truly hers, and what belong to Chaya, the dead girl she's made up from. This exploration is interesting and at times I truly felt for her. Aside from that, I found that the story makes it hard to like any of the characters. Because of the content and knowledge I have of anti-semitism, I cared, but you are given very little connection with any of the characters and when that is severed, it is not keenly felt. The title and the beginning of the book made me think this would be a vengeful, wrath filled novel, but it is a boy leading a slightly mopey girl about from place to place, which felt disappointing in the end. I think this story could have benefited from better comps and marketing to properly suit the story.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Wrath Becomes Her” is a fantastical WWII story that takes place in Lithuania. A young Jewish warrior named Chaya has died, and her father Ezra uses her body parts plus forbidden magic to create a golem that he names Vera. He builds her with one aim in mind: to slay the men who killed his daughter. But Vera has some of Chaya’s memories, and as she encounters people and places that Chaya knew, questions of personhood, agency, and identity rise to the surface. This book is packed with historical detail, is immensely researched, and full of twisted and compelling prose. It’s got one of the coolest covers I’ve ever seen. There were a few things that definitely detracted from my enjoyment: the plot was somewhat lacking in general and hard to follow, and certain relationships felt very underdeveloped, particularly that between Vera and Ezra. Certain parts left me wanting more and others felt overcooked; for example I really could have done without a romantic subplot entirely in a story like this. Like Vera, it seems like the book is having an identity crisis. Is it a wartime action-packed drama, a YA romance, or a coming of age story? I didn’t feel that the different elements were effectively blended into one cohesive novel. Although the premise and the details and the prose are wonderful, this one sadly missed the mark for me.

This book really whetted and renewed my appetite for stories about golems. What rich possibility and history and lore they present!! And Polydoros digs into some of that, in ways I found satisfying for this particular narrative and in ways that made me want more on the topic generally.

We've got Vera, waking up and learning what it's like, and what it means, to be human and to be not-human; we've got her "father," who created her in the image of his dead daughter Chaya; we've got Akiva, who Vera remembers fondly through Chaya's memories. And we've got so many Nazis to fight, because it's Lithuania in 1943, plus an exciting surprise enemy toward the end of the book that I won't spoil. There's a lot going on, and a lot of it is frightening and awful--rightfully so, in a book happening during the Holocaust.

But my favorite parts were the quieter moments: Vera trying to sort out her own personhood from Chaya's memories, Vera and Akiva's strange and intense relationship, the people and situations they encounter along their journey that bring into question what humanity is, and what makes a monster, and what difference individual choices and efforts can make. All of this was handled with gravity, but lightly--never too bogged down, just prompting some questions and suggesting some answers in a way that felt particularly resonant coming from a trans author.

And that ending!!!!!!! Just as heartwrenching and complicated as the whole book was, but condensed into a juicy nugget of pain and hope.

"Wrath Becomes Her" by Aden Polydoros is a gripping amalgamation of Horror, Sci Fi & Fantasy, tailored for the Teens & YA audience. The book masterfully delves into the realm of dark emotions and supernatural intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Aden Polydoros' intricate storytelling skillfully blends elements of horror and fantasy, creating a chilling and suspenseful narrative. With its captivating plot and well-crafted tension, "Wrath Becomes Her" is a compelling read that offers a thrilling escape into a world where fear and fantasy collide.

I want to say that the story to this was amazing but the characters were flat and just not likable. I really kind of hated everyone in this book. I spent most of the time wanting to jump into the story to slap someone.

I am an Aden Stan. I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to see the golem myth retold with magic and taking place through the Holocaust. I just always know everything from Aden is going to deliver and this book did just that.

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros is haunting, exhilarating, and full of vengeance. It is a disturbing and mystical experience filled with rich details making it all the more moving.

This book is brutal and shows you the darkness within humanity. Absolutely heart wrenching yet not without some light at the end of the tunnel.

Wrath Becomes Her is a slow but gorgeously-crafted novel set in 1943, Lithuania, as one golem sets out to find her purpose in this world where her people's genocide looms over the horizon.

Vera is crafted as a tool for revenge: her creator's daughter, Chaya, was killed by Nazis, and thus her creator uses Chaya's remains in order to hunt down the perpetrators. The story follows Vera's journey to find her meaning for existence. Her deep discomfort with her own "inhumanity", conflicting emotions as Chaya's own memories overtake her, and grief at the plight of Jewish refugees create such a heartbreaking yet compelling conflict.

There's something deeply cathartic about a Jewish character who can rip apart Nazis with her bare hands even as they try to gun her down. And yet, all the while, there is a creeping fear that she may be the only thing left standing of an entire people once the war is over. For all that she can take down Nazis one by one, she cannot stop the destruction of Jewish sacred texts, culture, or the community itself at the hands of a vast system of oppression.

With how strong and cleverly constructed the themes were, my main drawback was that the relationships between the characters were weak. This isn't the book for a grand, sweeping romance, but a better balance of having soft, interpersonal moments outside of the pre-existing relationship foundation would have been lovely.

All that being said, I really enjoyed this book and it'll definitely haunt me in the days to come.

*Review written of an ARC received from Netgalley*

The cover for the book immediately pulled me in but the story held me close. It was dark, sad, full of vengeance, found family, renewed life, and resilience. Following Vera in her self discovery as a golem was such a unique experience. I normally don’t pick up historical fiction but this one sounded so good and it lived up to my expectations.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

First let me thank NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this e-book!
Second, I liked the book but I feel like it was most definitely not what it was advertised as, but first let’s talk about all the things I liked! First, I loved the way the author wove information into the story and made so natural to the plot and flow of the book. I also loved the main character and her struggles not only with the morals she was created with but the new morals she found herself discovering. That also brings me to the second part of what I liked about the book, the questions it made you ask about humanity, life, and personal morals were so cool and interesting to me, again, I loved the way the author also kinda wove history into the book with these questions as well.
Now let’s get into what I didn’t like about the book, first I expected a lot more of her traveling by herself and discovering things on her own which is not to say she didn’t but it was more her being shown things instead of finding them out for herself. I also didn’t like the way the book kinda hinged on the male character, being there to make her feel things when she was doing that just fine on her own. There were also certain parts in the book that just felt unnecessary and kinda took away from the story.
Another thing I want to mention about this book is that it’s great for Jewish representation and while it is a fictional story it doesn’t have real historical facts woven into it!
Overall I’d give this book a nice 6/10!

I had to read this one slowly—the story is vast and raw and heartbreakingly beautiful. Aden has, once again, crafted a book that will stay with me for a long time.

I love this story. The characters felt completely real, and I connected with Vera so viscerally. The relationship between her and Akiva was SO PERFECT and tragic and wonderful and redemptive…the characters were definitely the best part.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this compelling novel. Opinions are my own.

First and foremost that cover is just captivating. It’s giving me Frankenstein monster vibes and I’m digging that.
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.
‘Dedicated to every reader who’s ever wanted punch a Nazi.’
Probably the best dedication ever, I know I wanna punch a Nazi.
This book for sure is an interesting combination of a setting during the holocaust mixed with Frankenstein’s monster. It kind of follows the bare bones of what that story tells just with the holocaust in the background. The main character is kind of forgettable at times, a lot of the characters are really 2D to be honest. I was kind of expecting this story to have my feelings bursting at the seams but overall I was honestly bored and this was at the 50% mark. I honestly feel like this author had a solid idea, but just did a so so job of executing it.
Maybe I spoke too soon but I like to do reviews as I’m reading it.
The latter half for sure got me in my feelings. To be in that situation surrounded with death around every corner. Losing family, friends and significant others. It’s hard to even imagine. There is one part of the book where a girl decides to stay back with her family instead of running. Her reasoning is that she would rather be with her own community and family, if the time comes for her to potentially die. And to have one of the main characters break down, crying saying that, ‘at least she still has family to stay with..’ broke my heart.
For sure started off rocky but landed sort of gracefully. The latter half for sure saved the book for me. I would for sure be interested in seeing more from these characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for a ARC for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC!

I don't usually read Holocaust books these days, but the premise of "Nazi-punching golem and Jewish partisan love interest" was too good to resist. And this book definitely delivers on the Nazi-punching. Obviously I love that this book centers Jewish people, Jewish rage and Jewish grief (that is, after all, what made me want to read it), but I also love that it doesn't shy away from holding the bystanders accountable as well. There's so much Holocaust literature about kind goyim helping Jews, but this book actively reminds readers that more people didn't, many people helped the Nazis, and everyone knew what was happening.

On a similar note, I really liked Vera's wrestling with monstrousness vs. humanity, both as it relates to herself and her own creation, as well as to humans and their monstrous actions. I liked how much she and the other characters focused on how best to help each other and themselves. This book was heavy, but I thought it was very well done in these aspects.

The romance, on the other hand, felt Weird to me. A lot of the time, it was more of a sidenote than a central feature, which I thought worked well, but it also meant the book never really managed to convince me that any feelings Vera and Akiva had for each other were genuine, rather than simply side effects of Chaya's memories (on Vera's side) and the fact that she looks exactly like her (on Akiva's side). Like I said, it wasn't really a central part of the book, so it didn't take away much from my experience, but I wish it were either fleshed out more or removed entirely.

I also found some of the transitions between chapters abrupt and even a bit jarring, to the point where I sometimes flipped back a page to try to reorient myself, and certain facts seemed like they were introduced and immediately accepted without evidence either way (one that stood out was whether or not a character had died), but I would accept that as a facet of Vera's character, seeing as she is a golem and struggling to familiarize herself with the world.

Despite those few issues I had, I think this book is worth reading, even at times enjoyable despite the darkness, and the catharsis of it, if nothing else, certainly makes up for the more minor structural complaints.