Publishers Weekly
08/14/2023
A golem created by a grieving father sets out to combat Nazis in this alluring fantasy horror novel by Polydoros (The Bone Weaver). In 1943 Lithuania, Jewish WWI veteran Ezra uses forbidden magic and parts of his teenage Nazi-resister daughter Chaya’s corpse to build Vera, a golem meant to avenge her death. When Ezra disappears and the family hiding him and Vera is murdered, Vera flees into the woods and encounters Akiva, Chaya’s comrade and lover. After murdering the man who killed Chaya, Vera searches for Ezra. She suspects that the answers to his whereabouts lie within the so-called archive, a compilation of Jewish texts currently guarded by Nazi forces. With the help of other resisters and partisan fighters, Akiva and Vera smuggle themselves into the Vilna ghetto, where they learn that the Nazis are seeking Jewish writings relating to ancient magic. Though Vera doesn’t understand their motive, when she realizes that the Nazis are shipping a powerful weapon to the area, she hatches a dangerous plan to intercept it and turn the tide of the war. Without sacrificing emotional impact or contemporary resonance, Polydoros implements frequently explored Jewish lore surrounding golems with a fresh and inventive angle. Relentlessly disconcerting ambiance adds to the novel’s eerie feel, making for an engrossing alternate history adventure. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sam Farkas, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Oct.)
author of This Rebel Heart Katherine Locke
Wrath Becomes Her is intoxicating and visionary, a rare book that peels apart the idea of what personhood is, what our obligations are to those who made us who we are, and our obligations to the living and to the dead…This is a tour de force.”
New York Times bestselling author Andrew Joseph White
Haunting, exhilarating, and a howl of vengeance.”
From the Publisher
"In a world where those in power prefer civility to justice, Wrath Becomes Her is the perfect book for those who know the fight for truth will always be a brutal one. Haunting, exhilarating, and a howl of vengeance." —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us
"Aden Polydoros' Wrath Becomes Her is intoxicating and visionary, a rare book that peels apart the idea of what personhood is, what our obligations are to those who made us who we are, and our obligations to the living and to the dead. Vera's story is riveting and compelling, and I could not put it down. I was blown away. No one's writing Jewish historical fantasy like Aden is. This is a tour de force." —Katherine Locke, author of This Rebel Heart
"A tale of power and agency that is just as timely now as it was during its setting 80 years ago, Aden Polydoros has once again proven himself to be a master of storytelling and a talent to watch. If you're looking for one novel to sate your horror hungers, this is the book to read. I'll be thinking about this one for months to come." —Kosoko Jackson, author of Yesterday Is History
Praise for The City Beautiful:
Winner of the 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Young Adult
2022 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel finalist
2021 National Jewish Book Award finalist
A Lambda Literary Award finalist
2021 Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot for Young Adult Novels
A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens 2021
"An achingly rendered exploration of queer desire, grief, and the inexorable scars of the past." —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness
"Chillingly sinister, warmly familiar, and breathtakingly transportive, The City Beautiful is the haunting, queer Jewish historical thriller of my darkest dreams." —Dahlia Adler, creator of LGBTQreads and editor of That Way Madness Lies
"Like a darkly compelling dream; I dare readers to try to put down this queer triumph of a book where myth, mystery, and death lurk around every corner of the Windy City."—Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series
"With stark, poignant prose and an endearing main character, The City Beautiful is an entrancing and chilling tale that deftly analyzes complex themes of identity and assimilation. One-part historical fantasy, one-part gothic thriller, this genre-blending story has something for everyone."—Kalyn Josephson, author of the Storm Crow duology
"Sinister and alluring, The City Beautiful will utterly transport you. With a keen eye for historical details, Polydoros deftly weaves together a gruesome murder mystery, a beautiful romance, and a rich depiction of Jewish life in the 19th century. I absolutely adored Alter, a boy on a quest for closure, love, and belonging in a hostile world."—Allison Saft, author of Down Comes the Night
"Set during the 1893 Chicago World Fair, The City Beautiful is a gripping, fast-paced book that expertly marries thriller and murder mystery. Polydoros is not afraid to tear aside the façade of beauty and civility to confront the darkest aspects of human nature, no holds barred. The resulting book is something truly special."—Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Mostly Devastated
“Readers will become immersed in Alter’s world, rooting for his survival, hoping for his reunion with his family, and wishing for him to find the love that he deserves.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Polydoros seamlessly blends a murder mystery with Jewish folklore in this haunting historical fantasy…. Readers looking for finely wrought historical fiction with fully realized characters and a thrilling pursuit of justice are sure to be satisfied by Alter’s story.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A gorgeous, disturbing, visceral and mystical experience…. His unflinching and well-rounded depiction of Jewish American and immigrant history makes The City Beautiful a superb addition to the ranks of YA historical fiction.” —Bookpage, STARRED REVIEW
“Polydoros doesn’t hold back with this heavy, dark, and gritty story that explores the immigrant experience in a unique way. While firmly a historical fiction title, this genre-bending novel is also equal parts thriller and fantasy. Featuring a queer protagonist, it is deeply layered with Jewish myth, immigration, racism, and anti-Semitism…. A wild ride of a queer gothic fantasy that’s a must-have for YA fantasy collections.” –SLJ, STARRED REVIEW
“The City Beautiful is a triumph, showcasing queer love, illuminating historical events, and guiding readers to an enthralling ending that will leave them satiated yet desirous to return to the world in which they have become immersed.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Details rich with specificity and research, and its joys tinged with sorrow…makes it all the more moving.” —NPR.org
“It is exciting to see a story that draws from the deep well of Jewish folklore for a dark, supernatural twist on the historical mystery plot.” —Jewish Book Council
Praise for Bone Weaver:
"A heart-pounding adventure. Magic and monsters lurk in every corner as a headstrong trio search for their place in Aden Polydoros's haunting world." ––Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"A dark and thrilling tale." —Kirkus Reviews
"Superb... Polydoros is a master of world building and conjuring suspense in a page-turning plot. His characters are highly empathetic and memorable, as is this emotionally charged story." —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Polydoros crafts a magical world that readers will revel in exploring… Fans of Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation and the Shadow & Bone series will love this dark fantasy with a touch of horror.” —The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
"Bone Weaver is a bloody and unflinching fantasy that balances its darkness with an unwavering cascade of love." —BookPage
"In his lauded YA debut, The City Beautiful, Polydoros showed how adept he is at taking history and myth and spinning it into something believable and true. Though Bone Weaver is imaginary world fantasy, the real history behind it is treated with the same deep respect and consideration." —NPR.org
School Library Journal
★ 01/26/2024
Gr 9 Up—Vera is not a human being; she's a "kishuf" golem, made immortal by the word "truth" inked on her forehead. Crafted by her creator Ezra from clay and pieces of his murdered daughter Chaya through an ancient, forbidden practice, she has one purpose—exact revenge on the Nazis who killed Chaya. This mission comes sooner than expected when Ezra disappears, and as Vera journeys closer to danger in search of him, she comes face-to-face with more of Chaya's memories and humanity. The questions she begins to ask about who and what she really is intensify when she encounters Akiva, the boy Chaya loved, though surviving the Nazis long enough to find Ezra may be impossible, even for a golem. As with previous books, Polydoros has a knack for creating works that are both grounding and transportive, creating a sense of shared humanity across gender, culture, space, and time while transporting readers somewhere (and some-when) else entirely. Specifics of Jewish lore, coupled with the impeccably researched history, informs and educates even as readers are swept along by all of the righteous violence of Inglourious Basterds with the important and illuminating inclusion of the actual culture being erased. Philosophical questions of humanity, monstrousness, and what counts as either (or both); horrific violence both psychological and physical; layer upon layer of fury and vengeance—and yet, the sum of the parts is as hopeful as it is desolate, and as lovingly crafted as it is furious and brokenhearted. VERDICT A gut-wrenching, eminently important Holocaust narrative that centers Jewish humanity, and a punch in the face to fascism.—Allie Stevens
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-11
A golem created during World War II to kill Nazis ponders the meaning of humanity.
Vera was crafted not just from clay but also magic and body parts taken from Chaya, a 17-year-old Jewish girl from Lithuania who was murdered by Nazis. Seeking vengeance, Chaya’s father makes Vera in his beloved daughter’s image. He also gives her access to some of Chaya’s memories so Vera can destroy the men responsible. Told through Vera’s first-person narration, the story follows the nearly indestructible golem as she attempts to follow this command while questioning her own existence and purpose. Chaya was in love with Akiva, a Jewish Lithuanian boy, so when Vera meets him, she’s unsure if her feelings are her own or just the remnants of Chaya’s. Still, they work together, especially when they learn of Nazi plans to use knowledge stolen from Vera’s creator. The historical setting is richly portrayed and doesn’t shy away from atrocities as it focuses on the war’s impact on civilian life. The fantasy elements are beautifully blended in, deepening the darkness and horror of the story, particularly as they relate to Vera’s internal turmoil. She was built for wrath, and sometimes the tale leans into this anger and violence, but more often it’s slower paced, occasionally meandering and lyrical, as it raises philosophical questions about human nature.
A haunting and thoughtful World War II tale with a dark, magical bent. (content warning, map, glossary) (Historical fantasy. 14-18)
