Member Reviews

Synopsis:

Toba Peres is seen as a fragile young woman by the rest of her community. She cannot run or shout without collapsing, and is mostly kept indoors where she translates texts for her grandfather and is able to write in five languages.

Naftaly Cresques, the son of a tailor, dreams every night of a man with orange eyes and has visions when awake, something his father tells him never to speak of. A seemingly harmless book that has been in his family for 10 generations, but all he knows is that he must never lose it, or even read it.

When the Queen of Sefarad orders the country’s Jews to either convert or leave, both Toba and Naftaly must flee if they hope to survive. However, when Toba gets separated from the group and follows an orange-eyed stranger through a mysterious gate and Naftaly tries, and fails, to follow her, he feels a responsibility to rescue her. Unknown to them, their city lies on one side of a gate to a mirror world; the world of the Mazik’s, which can only be accessed when there is a full moon.

Although their paths may differ, and they will face hardships, magical bargains, pirates and plenty of betrayal, both Toba and Naftaly are ultimately bound together by ancient magic and fate, and together they may be the only hope for the future of both worlds.

My thoughts:

The Pomegranate gate is a rich, epic fantasy that I loved from start to finish. The world built here is inspired by Jewish mythology and is painstakingly and intricately realised by the author through gorgeous prose, some surprisingly humorous dialogue and moments of levity, and a whole cast of brilliant side characters. Even villains such as the Courser are compelling in their villainy, and while I loved the dual POV of Toba and Naftaly the flirtatious Barsilay really stole the show for me. I can’t wait to see how his story - and the rest of the plot - unfolds in book two, and the ending of this one definitely left me wanting more!

The Pomegranate Gate is out now. Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc.

Was this review helpful?

This was a spectacular Jewish fantasy that follows two POVs and alternate worlds to come together for a satisfying payoff. I can see how this would be a bit difficult to sink into though, as learning a new fantasy world is always difficult. But I do hope others will pick it up and give it a try!

Was this review helpful?

Reading a new fantasy book, especially with a new made-up words/worlds will always become a challenge in reading the book itself. Some of the fantasy book succeed in convincing people to keep reading and push through all the made-up words until all make sense, but sadly this book fail on doing that.

I really try to understand everything from the characters, plot, how the characters interact with each other, the odd shifting between POVs but i just can’t love this book. I will still recommend to give it a try if you’re used to read a high fantasy book with complex words or wording, this might be something you will enjoy. Me? not so much😌

Thank you Netgalley for this E-ARC✨

Was this review helpful?

This was wonderful. I was predisposed to like this, as it takes a lot of my favourite fantasy styles - a mix of historical and folklore - but even a few chapters in, I didn't think I was going to love it the way I did.

The synopsis of the book gives a better summary than I could and is very accurate, so I'm not going to rehash that. Instead, I get to get to the fun part of a review: talking about my own personal opinions!

To me, the mythology and the characters - specifically the relationships between the characters - were the highlights to me. The worlds, on both sides of the gate, were immersive and well-imagined, and there were politics at play in both worlds, which is a plus to me!

I found Toba's story be more intriguing than Naftaly's for the most part, but that may also have been due to the fact that Toba was in a new world and also had the benefit of more Barsilay <spoiler>at least for the first half of the book. 👀</spoiler> Both of their storylines tied together at the end - and what a fucking ending, there was a certain moment - you'll know the moment when you get there - that I had to reread about three times because I couldn't believe it went there.

But the moments where Naftaly's story truly shone were the moments with Elena and the old woman. If you had told me at the start of the story that Naftaly would be going on an adventure and traveling, yeah, sure, I could have easily accepted that. But that his fellow adventurers would be a ragtag crew of Toba's grandmother, Elena, and an unnamed yet opinionated old woman? Well, I didn't see that coming, but it was a fun group.

The Mazik realm was so well-imagined, and look, it benefitted in the storyline by having Barsilay, let's just put that right out there in the open. Barsilay was a GIFT.

I'm excited for future books in this series to be able to reunite with these characters and to continue to learn about this world. I'm sure my heart won't break at all . . .

Thank you to the publishers, Kensington Books and Erewhon Books, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I went into this book not knowing a thing about it, and I throughly enjoyed this adventure. Kaplan spins a world of magic and political tension that is both fantastical, and with enough parallels to history to feel real. This book is strongest in plot and world-building. I didnt quite care for Toba as much as I might have expected for an MC, but I do love the other Mazik chatacters. Naftaly and Barsilay are my favourites, and I'm looking forward to more of their stories in the next book. Thanks for the arc!

Was this review helpful?

The historical period of the Reconquista is one I find fascinating, so the synopsis of this book made it an auto-pick. I’’m reading Kirsten Downey's biography of Isabella La Catolica as well,concurrently.I have to say,this book did a far better job of depicting the trauma and the impact,and the sheer terror of the Reconquista and the Inquisition, than the deeply researched non fiction book did!
I loved the conceit of this book-using the tropes of fantasy to explore very real world horrors. During The Inquisition, people's properties were confiscated, as was their wealth, and since wealthy families were known to the ruling family and their enforcers, families were hounded for specific valuables. Excellent idea for Kaplan to use this to set her story-the protagonists Toba and Naftaly possess objects of significance to The Inquisition, which serve as the Macguffins to kickstart this plot. Toba Peres, and her family, and Naftaly, are facing the choice that all non-Christians faced at the time-convert to Catholicism or leave. And leaving meant drop-everything-and-get-out, they couldn’t take anything of value that they owned. In reality, many fled, more than a few to the Ottoman Empire. In Kaplan’s fantasy world, Toba and Naftaly are fleeing as well, but Toba ends up getting separated from her family. The rest of the book is about how she figures out the parallel world she falls into, and how Naftaly, Toba’s grandmother Elena, and a mysterious old lady ( who’s just referred to as that, in a comment on ageism, but since the author herself chooses not to give her a name, this attempt at irony fails completely) try to find her, while also navigating the perils of the very active Inquisition. I found Toba’s adventures ( or lack of them) tedious in the extreme, and in dire need of editing. There’s a sort-of romance subplot that doesn’t work at all, and given the reveals at the end, it’s confusing why that was included at all. I’ve still given the book 4 stars though, because Kaplan’s writing in the sections that focus on Naftaly, Elena and öld lady”are an absolutely excellent evocation of the chaos of the Inquisition, and the measures ordinary people took to survive. There are several little details she mentions, that bring it to life-and all of them actual history that these people lived through. For instance, the characters land up in a town just when the Inquisitors are inviting people to confess voluntarily, before the investigations start, giving the three of them a breather-something that actually happened. Townspeople were encourage”d to voluntarily confess the supposedly heretic practices they were indulging in, in return for leniency. Some people did do that, needless to say they were among the first victims of the Inquisition, since they had, in effect, admitted their guilt! I also really liked that Elena and the old lady are shown as very competent and resourceful, as they would be , given their age and experience. The old lady, for instance, shows them how to figure out secret symbols and codes used by converted Jews to indicate their willingness to help fleeing Jewish people. I also liked that Toba works as a translator-very true to life, given that Granada was a center of learning and knowledge, and many ancient Greek and Roman texts owe their preservation to the translations by Jewish and Muslim translators working during the Nasrid period in Granada. These parts kept me hooked to the book, with their urgency and edge-of-the-seat action. By contrast, Toba’s parts of the book feel under-written, even though there are some fascinating parts of Jewish/Middle-Eastern folklore and myth that Kaplan uses in her story that I hugely enjoyed. By the end of the book, everything ties up beautifully, and you see how everything fits, and it’s reasonably complete. THIs is the first part of a trilogy, I don’t see how the plot can be stretched out any more though! I will definitely read the other books, though, and see where Naftaly and Elena’s stories take them.

Was this review helpful?

“The Pomegranate Gate” is a stunning historical fantasy set during the Inquisition, featuring a cast of outsiders living on the edge of the human and magical words. On the night of the full moon, Toba, who can write in different languages in each hand at the same time, wanders through a gate to the realm of the Mazik, where she starts to learn about her past. Naftaly, the son of a tailor expected to take over the family business, embarks on a journey to help Toba’s grandmother find her again, and also dreams of a stranger trapped in a magical prison.
This book did so many things so well. It’s history and fantasy, whimsy and morality, character depth and worldbuilding. I never felt like anything was sacrificed, and I was deeply emotionally invested (with the possible caveat of being far, far more interested in Toba’s storyline than Naftaly’s, until the very end). Though it started a little slow, I was on the edge of my seat by the end. All of the arcs came together in a really beautiful way.
This is the first installment in a new series, so a lot was left up in the air (somewhat literally) and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book! Don’t miss this one when it comes out in September!

Was this review helpful?

This story drags you in with its perfect mix of action and fantasy! The storytelling was beautiful. Definitely worth the time to read! I just wish I could read it for the first time over and over again.

Was this review helpful?

This was okay. Like, I see what the author was going for and I think it’s a good concept. Found the world building to be somehow both heavy handed and lacking at times, and the pacing could have been better but overall I think this was charming and imaginative. Cover is meh

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

I think I was not entirely in the mood for this book. The premise is exceedingly interesting, and it does carry out some very emotional and heartwarming plot lines that weave together. My problem was really that I haven’t read a fantasy book in a while, and I was not used to the complicated nature of whole new worlds and places and magic systems. It was a bit much to take in, which is my fault and not the book’s. I would say this is good for someone who wants a fantasy that gives what it promises.

Was this review helpful?

It took me a while to get into this story, and there was a bit of a pacing issue in the middle, but apart from that, I really enjoyed it. Inquisition-era Spain from a Jewish perspective is a refreshing setting for a Fantasy novel, and the blending of history and fantasy is well-done. I enjoyed the writing and the character work, and the plot is interesting. I will be recommending this one to my students because of the Jewish characters and inspiration, which are uncommon in Fantasy.

Was this review helpful?

I love this storyline. The idea is cool and I like the two main characters, but I DNFed at 64%. I didn't love the jumping between POVs. I just felt like I was constantly battling the switch and overall it has been a super slow read for me. I may come back to it in the future. I think it is a good story and I am curious about what happens. It just isn't for me right now.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, Ariel Kaplan and the publishers for letting me read an arc of this book before its release.

I absolutely loved this book!
I will not go into detail about the story itself, as others have already done that way better than I could.
It hit all the sweet spots for me - worldbuilding, character development, good pacing and a very well thought-out story. I hope the story will continue and cannot wait to see where it goes next!

I will admit that I knew very little of Jewish folklore and mythology.
This is why the beginning was a bit slow and confusing to me, having to go back and forth between the glossary, the story and even a bit of the internet to clarify some things. It was just slightly tedious to do it so often, but once I hit the 25% mark or so, everything started to make sense and I felt I understood and remembered everything I needed to.

The parallels to Jewish history, the Inquisition and the Spanish influences that the book are somehow based on made for a very compelling read. It also piqued my interest and curiosity and made me go into documenting myself more on the subject.

Was this review helpful?

The Pomegranate Gate is a fantasy novel interwoven with Jewish folklore and elements of the Spanish Inquisition. The book is told predominantly from the perspectives of a young woman, Toba Peres, and a young man, Naftaly Cresques.

Toba has always been sickly, unable to shout or run without becoming fatigued, but she loves helping her grandfather translate books–she knows several languages and is even capable of writing with both hands, in two different languages. Though this ability is something she keeps hidden because her grandparents do not want her to attract any unwanted attention, especially in these times in which the book is set.

Naftaly is the son of a tailor, expected to carry on the family business. Unfortunately for him, he is extremely bad at tailoring. Naftaly also has vivid, bizarre, and often clairvoyant dreams–a trait Naftaly’s father also shares, but refuses to discuss with Naftaly, no matter how troubling the dreams are.

The book opens with Toba’s and Naftaly’s community in turmoil after the Queen (who I don’t recall ever being named) decrees that every Jew in the country must either convert, or be banished and forfeit all of their possessions. They are among the thousands of Jews who flee their home, joining a caravan out of the country.

Toba and Naftaly each covertly take one possession with them, however, in defiance of the decree. Toba has an amulet that her grandparents have warned her to never take off for her own protection, and Naftaly has a book that has been in his family for generations and which his father has forbidden him to ever open or read. Toba becomes separated from the caravan and Naftaly, being the honorable and heroic type, attempts to go after her, finding that Toba has disappeared into the woods.

Toba, meanwhile, has stumbled into a pomegranate grove that leads to the mirror realm (series name!), where she meets the mythical Mazik, immortal and magically powerful beings who are embroiled in an Inquisition in their own world.

As the story progresses, Toba and Naftaly learn more about the Mazik, the connection to their respective family heirlooms, and the threat that the Inquisitions in each world pose. There are also chapters from the perspectives of Toba’s grandmother, Elena, and a mysterious figure known as The Courser.

The Pomegranate Gate does switch perspectives with each chapter, which was overwhelming to me at first, but ultimately necessary given that we are following events in two different worlds. The Courser’s chapters were especially cryptic at first, and so few and far between that I completely forgot about this character a couple of times. However, things do come together at the end and the payoff is worth it.

I loved the overlay of Jewish folklore onto a fantasy world, which is not something I have seen very often. The Mazik that Toba encounters were some of my favorite characters because they had such distinctive personalities. I also loved the character of The Old Woman (honestly, this is how the book refers to her exclusively) because she was such a great source of sarcastic, crotchety comic relief.

The Pomegranate Gate is definitely the first installment in a larger series, because there are still a number of unresolved questions and plot points (about which I have concocted some of my own, probably wrong, theories). I am eagerly awaiting the next installment!

I would definitely recommend The Pomegranate Gate to anyone who likes intricate fantasy novels, has an interest in Jewish folklore, or enjoys complicated characters who sometimes make questionable ethical choices.

I also want to thank Kensington Books, Erewhon Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ebook copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

Four and a half
Well this was a fabulous surprise as yes it's fantasy but mixes Jewish persecution with the Inquisition and then for good measure a magical world that just happens to coexist besides the mortal one. It features Toba who somehow finds herself definitely not in Kansas and at the same time Naftaly, a young Jewish man trying to escape.
I will admit it took me a while to really sink into the story but once Toba ahem has an unexpected fall it certainly came into its own ! Plus the supporting characters with Naftaly are simply hilarious which was very unexpected. I loved the twists and the surprises and the sweetness that was just enough to stop everything from being too dark. This ends with tragedy and yet I have hope for the next book which I will certainly be anxiously waiting for.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Was this review helpful?

Not my style, I DNF'd it at 25%. The world building was very slow and I wasn't a fan enough of the author's style to continue.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. The plot was very innovative, and many of the characters will stay with me for a long time. I will agree with other reviews stating that the plot dipped in the middle, but the ending more than made up for it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Net Galley and kensington books for providing me with a copy of this book for a honest review.

“The Pomegranate Gate” follows Toba, a sickly girl alongside with her grandparents and Naftaly, a boy that suffers of dreams and illusions while they are all running away from the Inquisition because of being Jews. Through magical gates between pomegranate trees and magical worlds, they all have to run away from the royal power and survive.

I found the world building super original and unique. I’ve never quite read a book like it which is quite surprising to find in fantasy for me these days.

Majority of the characters were morally gray. I liked Toba as one of the main characters and I enjoyed seeing her growth. Naftaly is one of my favorite characters, I loved being in his head, his growth and his bravery throughout the story. I enjoyed the rest of the cast as well especially Barsilay. There were also two characters that I personally hated with all my heart, but to avoid spoilers I won’t name them.

The ending was crazy. The plot twist kept coming and there so many twist and turns all throughout the story.

The parts that lowered my rating are the middle of the book because the plot slowed down too much in my opinion and the world building got kind of confusing in some parts.

I recommend this if you’re into complex world buildings, magical worlds and multiple POVs

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are my own.

This was one of my highly anticipated books of the year! And I can say that it did succeed my expectations. It was such a gorgeously plotted story. I love that it's weaves a story through several characters lives but in a very intriguing way. This is a very unique read and I can't wait to read the next one!

Was this review helpful?

What a great read! I really, really liked this book. It started off a little slow, but at around 25% it really picks up and from then on I was fully invested.

We're given multiple POVs in this book, but the majority of it is Toba and Naftaly-- both were great characters and I enjoyed following them through this world. I will admit I found Toba's story more interesting for the majority of the book, but Naftaly definitely shines towards the end.

I loved the worldbuilding in this book, it was so dense and felt complete. The Jewish folklore and tradition woven into this fantasy were so compelling. I was constantly surprised by where the plot went, and I ended up loving the whole journey.

I do think that it was confusing at times and some plot lines were more complicated than necessary. There were multiple times where I would have to reread things to grasp what was going on. Partially, I think that was my not knowing a lot of the terms-- but thankfully there was a glossary at the end that explained every term that confused me.

I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for the second book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for this ARC!

Was this review helpful?