A family saga full of dysfunction, religion, and mysticism that was complex and intriguing but a little slow.

I went into this book knowing very little about it other than that it had a very pretty cover, and it was about a Jewish family with a daughter suspected of being a witch, and a son who no longer has faith in religion. Add a grandfather who survived the Holocaust and a mother who just wants to put all those stories in a sensationalist novel, and you get one very complicated family.

To start with, this isn’t really the horror/mystery it says it is. Elsie is not a huge part of the story and the book was written often from an “outsider’s” perspective — that of Kate, who is a family friend. This is where I do see the first of the The Secret History comparisons, with the second one being the general mysticism of the writing style.

While I did like the writing, however, I wish there was less distance between us and the characters as I found it difficult to become really emotionally invested. I wonder what the story might’ve been if we’d gotten a more inside look at each of the family members, rather than being ping-ponged between the parents’ perspective and Kate. It was like watching zoo animals through a sheet of glass — which has its own merits, but I definitely found Elsie to be the most intriguing character, followed by Hannah. Plot-wise, it actually doesn’t seem like there’s a very strong through line, as opposed to just following these characters, so I noticed my interest waxing and waning with their screentime.

There were some interesting conversations about the Jewish faith but once again, it doesn’t seem very cohesive throughout, as opposed to a few anecdotes or stories here and there, sometimes very on-the-nose and sometimes very opaque.

Overall, I think the best part of this book for me was the writing style — I really did enjoy the lyricism and poeticism of it, but didn’t really connect to the actual content.

There was a lot I liked about this very slim novel. Kate's perspective as an outsider who feels drawn into a situation almost by circumstance felt like the right choice for primary POV. (The Virgin Suicides poster was a great touch, being another story about outsiders looking back on how family bonds and religion and trauma all converged to destroy a family.) I think unfortunately, as many reviewers have iterated, the given summary does not really give an accurate depiction of the story we get. This isn't a horror story, or a witchy story, or even really a story that focuses on Elsie. I'm not personally a huge fan of narratives that leave room for so much interpretation, and I would have appreciated a narrower understanding of what ultimately led to Elsie's choices.
That said, the writing was lovely, Lloyd is excellent at crafting imagery and scenarios, and I think the depictions of life inside a family struggling to move past generational trauma were very well-executed. My final rating is 3.5*.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

••• FERVOR / FERVOUR (depending on where it’s published, it seems) by Toby Lloyd provides us with a story of a dysfunctional devout Jewish family in London as a means of examining the intricacies and complexities of the Jewish faith and the history people carry with them.

Eric and Hannah have three children (Gideon, Elsie and Tovyah) and live with Eric’s father, Yosef, a survivor of the Holocaust. Intellectually gifted, they believe in the literal truth of the Old Testament and in the presence of God (and evil) in daily life. When Hannah insists on writing a sensationalist book about Yosef’s life, something strange starts to Elsie. She mysteriously disappears and returns, changed. Has Elsie been meddling in Jewish mysticism? Or is she simply the product of a relentlessly ambitious, religion-obsessed family? Can the family’s commitment to religion cure her or is it the cause?

The competing push and pull of spirituality and cynicism between the generations amidst a shared intergenerational trauma was crafted incredibly well. The family dynamics written here reminded me so much of Franzen’s creations (and I mean that as a huge compliment!).

The story itself gripped me with its unease and disturbing strangeness, though I felt its propulsion was interrupted a little too often by the structure and jumping back and forth through time. Hannah and Tovyah were superbly drawn. I so wish there had been more of Elsie though - it was one of those rare times I would have liked the book to have been longer and taken its time to reach the epic conclusion!

This was an incredibly ambitious debut offering a fascinating insight into Jewish history and religion through a compelling, dark campus novel combined with a family saga. There was so much to like but did I love it? Not quite, though this is definitely a writer to watch and I will certainly pick up whatever Lloyd writes next.

My thanks to @avidreaderpress via @netgalley for sharing a review copy with me.

Based on the description, this book wasn't quite what I was expecting. It's more The World Cannot Give and less, I don't know, Jonathan Franzen, and I can't compare it to The Secret History except for the academia bit. I expected Elsie and the witchcraft angle to be much more prominent, so it was interesting to have the story be more centered on Tovyah, who isn't exactly a sympathetic character (but are any of them really).

I found Kate, the window, to be very similar to the protagonist in World in that she was a bit of a blank slate through which the reader could discover the Rosenthals and their brand of Judaism, and be immersed in the mysticism right alongside Kate. For all that Kate had a personality, the book might as well have been written in third person; as a character she was entirely superfluous and served as more of a plot device to get close to Tovyah, Elsie, and Hannah and observe them in their natural (and sometimes unnatural) habitats.

It's an interesting time to publish a book about a devout Jewish family, especially one containing a stringently Zionist character, considering *gestures vaguely at everything* and it's particularly interesting that Hannah was portrayed as more of a villain and entirely unsympathetic through Kate's eyes; but even Tovyah, stridently atheist, is prickly and unlikeable.

This is very much a character- and relationship-driven work, especially as the circumstances of those characters remain often murky and unresolved (looking at you, Elsie). At the end, I couldn't quite figure out what the book was trying to say, what its purpose was, and that, even more so than the is-it-isn't-it vagueness of the supernatural, left me a little unsatisfied.

Fascinating and well written tale that incorporates Jewish folklore into a tale about a family concerned for their daughter. Those more familiar with Jewish mysticism might offer more insightful criticism of that aspect of the novel but I learned a bit- always a plus. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This novel offers a great entryway into understanding the current predicament of Jews who live as minorities in western countries in contrast to Jews who live in Israel. In a story that stretches from the 1990s through the first decade of the 21st century and up to today, the novel addresses such tensions as the choice between full assimilation and unquestioned participation in Jewish religious practices and customs; and the experience of feeling like--and being--an outsider, not only because of actively rejecting the Jewish identity of one's parents but also failing to--or not feeling you can be--accepted in other settings (in this case an elite university--Oxford) just because of being Jewish.
The book centers on a Jewish family in London--a grandfather, his son and the son's wife, and the three grandchildren. The grandfather is a holocaust survivor, and when the book opens he is nearing the end of his difficult life, and we are shown the different effects that life and his own understanding of that life has had on his son and daughter-in-law, and on each of the three grandchildren: a teen-age boy, a girl a few years younger, and the youngest child, a boy who is seen by the family--and himself--as the special one, who will achieve great things in the world.
The book then goes on to focus on the actions and experiences of the mother, the daughter and the special one. In doing so we are shown various ways of dealing with being Jewish in a narrative that may be familiar to readers of Chaim Potok, I.B. Singer, Bernard Malamud, Howard Jacobson, even Philip Roth and probably other Jewish writers who are not in my own frame of reference. Along the way we are given re-tellings of key (to the novel) stories from the Old Testament, insights from the Kabbalah, nuggets of rabbinic and Talmudic wisdom, various attitudes toward Israel and Palestinians, plus perspectives on many great *non-Jewish* writers of western literature. The book thus touches on the intellectual, spiritual, political, ethical, and even sexual quandaries of contemporary Jews.
For me the book had two especially interesting things to say relevant to the disaster happening in Israel right now. At one point in the book the "special son" offers an explanation I had not heard before for the founding of Israel: "The early Zionists had two big fears. . . pogroms were going to get worse not better. . . .One day the Cossacks, the Inquisitors, the sons of Amalek would be coming for us all. That was problem number one. Problem number two was assimilation. They looked West and they asked themselves, how can a tiny, secular minority survive without being swallowed up? The Jews of France would become Frenchmen, the Jews of England would become Englishmen, and the Jews of Italy would become Italians."
Later in the book the older brother (who had lived in Israel, served in the IDF, and as more evidence of the varying perspectives on Jewish life the book offers, is gay) says "The thing about Israel is everyone knows they're on the brink of a terrible war that kills everyone they've ever met, so no one gives a fuck. You see? They don't give a fuck about embarrassing themselves, or saying the wrong thing, or what strangers think, or any of that English [substitute any other nationality than Israeli] bullshit."
When I started reading this book I really hoped and wanted it to be great. It has all the elements of a great book. But it let me down. First, it wasn't clear to me until a number of pages into the book who the narrator is. It turned out that the narrator is the only college buddy and on-and-off girlfriend of the special one when he is at Oxford. It's a variation of Nick Carraway's narration of The Great Gatsby. But there the choice of narrator is perfect. Here I think we get to know the narrator too well. I found her narration to be a distraction rather than a voice that complicates our own view of the other characters and thus enriches our experience of the book. Second, the books tells us much more than it shows us. Too much explanation distances us from the action. Possibly because of this I found myself getting impatient with the characters rather than more involved. Finally I think the book wants us to feel growing concern about the fate of the girl in the family. She is the problem child. The author does a good job of making us wonder what the cause of her problems is--or whether it has many causes: emotional, spiritual, possibly even supernatural. Even so, if the book's disastrous ending is meant to come as a shock, it did not work for me. I just was not as involved in her story--or maybe more involved in the other characters' stories--than the author wanted me to be.
But that's just me.
Thank you Avid Reader for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.

I was extremely impressed with this debut novel. Unlike anything I’ve ever ready before, I was captured from the very beginning I don’t agree that this is necessarily a horror story- to me it’s more of a social commentary in the mirror of religion/religious extremism. Every character served a purpose and I felt satisfied with the way the story was completed. While it was technically left open ended, it felt true to the story to draw your own conclusions. I think this books provides incredible fodder for a book club discussion. Highly recommend!

Thank you Avid Reader Press for the NetGalley arc! I have been excited about this book for quite some time and was thrilled to receive it. And the cover!! Is just stunning!!

Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars

“We have arrived at a paradox. To live as a jew is impossible, and not to live as a Jew is equally impossible. Both paths are obscene, both insult the dead. Our subject today is whether it is possible to speak intelligently about the Holocaust. There are men who have claimed, some with great authority, that it is not possible.”

Right off the bat, let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room that admittedly changed the lens through which I went into the story. This book is being done a disservice by its marketing team by being marketed as a horror/ghost-story. It is not… It’s a literary fiction novel about the relationships and connections within a Jewish family and the multigenerational ripple-effect that the trauma of the Holocaust sent through it.
Don’t get me wrong: there are plenty of “horrors” interlinked within this story; horrors of the aftermath of war, of the inhuman crimes taking place in WWII, of substance abuse and mental health, of neglect and abuse, and many more. But this is not a horror-novel, but a family tragedy at its core.

What I loved:
Viewed as a generational-saga instead of primarily a work of horror, Fervor succeeds in many aspects. We follow three generations of the Rosenthal family, largely centering around Hannah, a devout mother and believer in the literal interpretation of the Old Testament (specifically the existence of literal Good and Evil). Hannah is a journalist, living with her husband in North London and currently working on a partially fictionalized biography of her father Yosef’s life and the horrors he lived through as a Holocaust survivor. Her taking of these events stirs up a lot of friction within the family. Caught in the crossfire are Hannah’s two adolescent children Tovyah and Elsie. Things take a turn for the worse when Elsie becomes drawn to the darker sides of Jewish mythology and her mental health starts to suffer in turn.
Fervor would make for a fantastic book-club pick as there are so many important discussions to be had here. Discussions on religion, cultural identity, generational trauma (in particular the “ownership” and right to speak of said trauma), and many more. I loved how Toby Lloyd chose to touch on these subjects, without spelling things out or moralizing the reader. A lot of the dynamics involved are implied through character-interactions, which enhances that feeling that there’s so much more under the surface with this family than first meets the eye.
All of the characters are flawed in their own ways, some irredeemably so. Yet all of them are written to be understandable, considering their circumstances, which is an incredibly difficult thing to do. The level to which Toby Lloyd manages that (considering it’s a debut too!) is impressive!

What I didn’t love:
My biggest critique is the continuous distance I felt to the characters, which I think was mostly due to the choice of POV. A large chunk of the story is told from a perspective outside the core-family; as an outsider looking in. Personally, I would’ve preferred a more claustrophobic inside perspective, as I feel it would’ve fit the story and tone better.
Finally, I have to circle back to the mismarketing. It may seem unfair to critique a book heavily for something outside the authors control, but as a message to the publishers its importance to a books success can’t be understated. This book got lucky with me, as I happen to like both horror- ánd literary fiction. Readers who expected an exorcist-like novel about a teenage girl divulging and unhinging into Jewish Mysticism (which is not an unfair expectation coming off the marketing!) will come away disappointed. I truly hope the publisher will address this, as to make sure the book reaches its correct audience.

Many thanks to Avid Reader Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book could've been something spectacular, unfortunately the story left me wanting more. "Fervor" is part family drama and part academia. The academia part was the dullest and least impressive to read. I wanted the more family drama side, that is when the story really took off. I really enjoyed reading about the family dynamics. This family is so toxic and damaged beyond repair. The middle child was fascinating to read about. She was the only child that had depth and intrigue. Sometimes the story would move too fast, and sometimes the story would drag, which made for a very uneven read. This book is well written and smart but lacked passion and excitement.

A disturbing and interesting story about well-to-do educated Jewish family in London.
This book tells the story of how the lingering effects of the Holocaust can effect multi generations
of a family and the people around them. I think this story will stay with me for quite awhile.

I love a great family dynamic story. However, I feel like as I was reading, I was waiting for something that didn’t happen. The Jewish history and culture that was shown throughout was an interesting aspect to the book

Fervor by Toby Lloyd is an interesting foray into Jewish folklore detailing the lives of the Rosenthal family in London.

Tovyah is a gifted student at Oxford University who views his family's interpretation of the Old Testament as problematic. His mother Hannah has published a book about Tovyah's grandfather's experiences during the Holocaust which divides readers. Tovyah's sister Elsie begins to unravel and goes missing for a brief time after her grandfather's death, returning as someone or something else. This prompts Hannah to write yet another book, this time detailing her daughter's unraveling. The book is once again controversial for its religious implications, suggesting that biblical stories are more truth than fiction.

Fervor is both a dark academia novel and a folk horror novel with both genres playing out in creeping labyrinthine ways. The Rosenthal's family's passion for their religious beliefs and culture provided an intriguing backdrop for Elsie's transformation. Whether or not her transformation was the result of illness or religious fervor is the question asked but never fully answered, leaving the reader to decide. Jewish mysticism is juxtaposed with a somewhat dysfunctional family allowing family secrets and ancient traditions to clash and conjure something dark, something that will make the Rosenthal's question their faith.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book as it offered a different take on the witch fiction genre. It was as though I was peering through a keyhole into the lives of this interesting family, witnessing their undoing.