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mdpenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a mixed bag that mostly came out positive. The biggest chunk of the book is decent hero's journey stuff, but it's set in an interesting world that has enough roots in reality that there's a lot to enjoy learning about. The writing isn't great, but it's also not bad. There's a whole lot of clunky info-dumping towards the beginning and I'm not sure that someone who doesn't have a lot of exposure to Hebrew and traditional Jewish blessings would find the way that the language hops around difficult: it's pretty good about explaining the bits of the Turkic languages that slide in but it leaves a lot of the Hebrew prayers and the little bit of Yiddish here and there untranslated. It didn't phase me but it makes me a little hesitant to recommend it to any of my gentile friends unless they're the sort who are happy to look up stuff they don't understand while reading. Esther's participation in the war was a little uneven and, while her perspective was very interesting, I don't think that it served the story as well as if she'd turned out to be a bit more of a commander. Overall, though, I really liked all of the ideas and found the adventure to be an enjoyable read. I'd love to read a sequel set in the same universe about Martov's Russia; I'm assuming that Martov's Mensheviks beat out Lenin's Bolsheviks since Barton kept referring to the Russians as the Menshevikim.
sherwoodreads's review
When I finished this book and tried to find a way to characterize it, the title I kept bumping up against was 100 Years of Solitude. Only that book read to me like an allegorical, magical realism history of South America, and this one read like an allegorical, magical realism story of . . . what? If there is a classic as substrate, I missed it. It did not feel like the Biblical Book of Esther underlies it. I could be wrong. I’ll get to why.
First, there is so much going on in this book, which is set in an alternate Earth wherein the Jews have had a powerful kingdom existing between Russia and Europe for a very long time. But now, an influx of Jewish refugees driven before the German bombers causes Esther to leave her home, where women’s roles are constrained by ancient Biblical law, to take a boy slave much loved by the family, on a quest to be turned into a man so she can lead a war against the invaders.
Why has this kingdom existed so long without modern tech? They communicate with carrier pigeons (the birds are a wonderful part of the book) and travel on mechanical horses that act like real horses and have personality (Seleme, Esther’s horse, is another wonderful character. How do these work? There are Golems, and mystical gender transformations, and there is a whole lot of folklore, Kabbalistic lore, and cultural references here that go unexplained, along with smatterings of various languages, mostly Hebrew and Yiddish.
It took me a long time to read this book. It felt rather like watching an art film mostly shot in sepia tones, from a distance, except when there are close-ups that leave me struggling to understand the undertones and complexities. The writing is vivid, subtle, complex, and can be quite painfully graphic, and yet it was difficult for me to become emotionally engaged even as the tension built.
I think it was because of the magic realism feel—that nothing works the way I expect it to, so I don’t trust my own conclusions, and though the amazing variety of cultures, people, customs, and actions evoked a variety of emotions, my chief one was too often confusion. The end feels like allegory or magic realism—I wondered if this was to be the first in a series. Or, maybe the last couple lines tell you all you need to know.
Altogether? I am glad I read the book, though it did take me so long, and it left me struggling for understanding. But that is no bad thing.
Copy received from NetGalley
First, there is so much going on in this book, which is set in an alternate Earth wherein the Jews have had a powerful kingdom existing between Russia and Europe for a very long time. But now, an influx of Jewish refugees driven before the German bombers causes Esther to leave her home, where women’s roles are constrained by ancient Biblical law, to take a boy slave much loved by the family, on a quest to be turned into a man so she can lead a war against the invaders.
Why has this kingdom existed so long without modern tech? They communicate with carrier pigeons (the birds are a wonderful part of the book) and travel on mechanical horses that act like real horses and have personality (Seleme, Esther’s horse, is another wonderful character. How do these work? There are Golems, and mystical gender transformations, and there is a whole lot of folklore, Kabbalistic lore, and cultural references here that go unexplained, along with smatterings of various languages, mostly Hebrew and Yiddish.
It took me a long time to read this book. It felt rather like watching an art film mostly shot in sepia tones, from a distance, except when there are close-ups that leave me struggling to understand the undertones and complexities. The writing is vivid, subtle, complex, and can be quite painfully graphic, and yet it was difficult for me to become emotionally engaged even as the tension built.
I think it was because of the magic realism feel—that nothing works the way I expect it to, so I don’t trust my own conclusions, and though the amazing variety of cultures, people, customs, and actions evoked a variety of emotions, my chief one was too often confusion. The end feels like allegory or magic realism—I wondered if this was to be the first in a series. Or, maybe the last couple lines tell you all you need to know.
Altogether? I am glad I read the book, though it did take me so long, and it left me struggling for understanding. But that is no bad thing.
Copy received from NetGalley
bookish_emily's review
3.0
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but ended up with mixed feelings. Many readers might be discouraged early on by the amount of Hebrew used with no translations provided. I enjoyed the alternate reality world that Barton constructed, and appreciated the overall message of religious tolerance. However, the book at times got bogged down by continuous theological arguments, and the ending was much too abrupt. Additionally, the unnecessary love triangle was frustrating as it detracted from the main story. Overall, a great fictional world but not a great story.
nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an incredibly creative fantastical novel that explored religion, faith, the nature of being human, gender, slavery, military technology, love, authority, and so much more through teen characters in the Jewish military empire of Khazar. The blend of historical, biblical, and fantastical elements was well-woven and clearly well-researched, and I was entranced by the references to the Khazars, the Karaites, and the various other tribes we encountered throughout the story. Though I am Jewish (really Jewish, some might say), I had no idea that this empire existed historically.
The characters in the novel were strange but enticing, and Esther’s struggle to understand her romantic feelings, her identity, and her religion felt so honest to the experience of being a teenager. I would certainly recommend this to a mature teenage reader. Amit, Itakh, and Shimon added greater depth, but I think the golems were my favorite characters. They authentically questioned what it means to be humans and forced the human characters to reckon with their existence just by virtue of existing.
There was a bit too much going on in this book, and I think the Nazi setting was poorly built. In fact, had it not been for the blurb on the back and the author interview, I would have assumed that this was just alternative history sent in a fantasy version of the actual Khazar empire. I appreciated the coded references to the Germanii, the Rus, Haman the Agagite, and the refugees, but with so much emphasis on the characters in Esther’s army and (too much) on the battles themselves, I didn’t think that the enemy was substantially described, and it was never quite clear to me what precisely all these people (and machines and golems) were fighting for.
The characters in the novel were strange but enticing, and Esther’s struggle to understand her romantic feelings, her identity, and her religion felt so honest to the experience of being a teenager. I would certainly recommend this to a mature teenage reader. Amit, Itakh, and Shimon added greater depth, but I think the golems were my favorite characters. They authentically questioned what it means to be humans and forced the human characters to reckon with their existence just by virtue of existing.
There was a bit too much going on in this book, and I think the Nazi setting was poorly built. In fact, had it not been for the blurb on the back and the author interview, I would have assumed that this was just alternative history sent in a fantasy version of the actual Khazar empire. I appreciated the coded references to the Germanii, the Rus, Haman the Agagite, and the refugees, but with so much emphasis on the characters in Esther’s army and (too much) on the battles themselves, I didn’t think that the enemy was substantially described, and it was never quite clear to me what precisely all these people (and machines and golems) were fighting for.
the_horror_maven's review
4.0
The Book of Esther is one of those rare novels that takes a biblical story, and heroine, and transforms it into a book for the masses. Even those who are not familiar with Esther from the bible will love this novel, and they will enjoy the fantasy appeal that it presents.
Emily Barton writes with a strong historical knowledge of the time period and story of which she is writing, but she also has a firm grip on steampunk and fantasy elements. She intertwined fantasy with history in a way that was believable, and I fell easily into her world.
Jewish culture is often something that it intertwined hand in hand with the Holocaust, but this novel explored more than that connection. It clearly represented the Jewish culture in terms of the language, settings and habits used, and I found it to be the "grown up" version of Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin. It holds a strong sense of love and hope for the Jewish culture, while also applying biblical stories to more contemporary times. Barton beautifully explored the concept that men have more power than women, and she did so by exploring how Esther went looking for magic that would turn her into a man. She wanted to become a man so that she could convince people to fight for what is right, and it was sad to see how she felt the need to go through with this; however, she had the passion and the drive and knew that she would be taken more seriously if she appeared as a man.
Barton is clearly a strong storyteller, and one that incorporates an unapologetic love for the bible and the lessons it teaches. She also challenges certain concepts present in the bible, and isn't afraid to mix them with mysticism and lore. Her novel preserves the Jewish culture with a modern take on Esther, and invites people of all races, religions and cultures to enter her world. The Book of Esther was a roller coaster of events that didn't tip toe around the reader's comfort zone, and Barton forced you to not only confront our past, but our present as well. She made it clear that our present is not as progressive as we may think, and by comparing it to biblical themes, we are forced to stare that truth directly in the face.
"I am Esther, and like my namesake before me, I will save the Jewish people."
And indeed, she did.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.*
Emily Barton writes with a strong historical knowledge of the time period and story of which she is writing, but she also has a firm grip on steampunk and fantasy elements. She intertwined fantasy with history in a way that was believable, and I fell easily into her world.
Jewish culture is often something that it intertwined hand in hand with the Holocaust, but this novel explored more than that connection. It clearly represented the Jewish culture in terms of the language, settings and habits used, and I found it to be the "grown up" version of Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin. It holds a strong sense of love and hope for the Jewish culture, while also applying biblical stories to more contemporary times. Barton beautifully explored the concept that men have more power than women, and she did so by exploring how Esther went looking for magic that would turn her into a man. She wanted to become a man so that she could convince people to fight for what is right, and it was sad to see how she felt the need to go through with this; however, she had the passion and the drive and knew that she would be taken more seriously if she appeared as a man.
Barton is clearly a strong storyteller, and one that incorporates an unapologetic love for the bible and the lessons it teaches. She also challenges certain concepts present in the bible, and isn't afraid to mix them with mysticism and lore. Her novel preserves the Jewish culture with a modern take on Esther, and invites people of all races, religions and cultures to enter her world. The Book of Esther was a roller coaster of events that didn't tip toe around the reader's comfort zone, and Barton forced you to not only confront our past, but our present as well. She made it clear that our present is not as progressive as we may think, and by comparing it to biblical themes, we are forced to stare that truth directly in the face.
"I am Esther, and like my namesake before me, I will save the Jewish people."
And indeed, she did.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.*
khorringa720's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
emilybryk's review
2.0
This is really a book that suffers from not knowing what it wants to be. Is it a wildly inventive steampunk novel? Is it a meditation on consciousness and free will? Are there really werewolves going on here? Can I only write this in questions?
And if I can indeed only write in questions here, did anyone except me notice that, the entire rest of the world seems to not be as constricted by the aforementioned wildly-inventive-steampunk, and therefore that there was a pretty massive military imbalance going on? No?
And if I can indeed only write in questions here, did anyone except me notice that, the entire rest of the world seems to not be as constricted by the aforementioned wildly-inventive-steampunk, and therefore that there was a pretty massive military imbalance going on? No?
jebrom05's review
3.0
I wanted to like this book so, so badly. But the book did not do a good job in twisting the fanatical biblical story of Edith with the real, historical, horrors of World War II. For example, there are magical creatures such as Volkelake (Werewolves), Golems, and mechanical horses that even modern technology would never be able to design, let alone technology from seventy years ago. The most compelling part of this story was the Jewish culture sewn throughout the entire novel, which pushed me to finish the rest of it. In addition, the main character of Esther, who fought to save her land, was compelling if one knows of the biblical inspiration.
sapphisms's review
5.0
** I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
Warnings about this book: It takes place during WWII and the Holocaust, main character though it's handled very well, small amounts (though explicit) sexual content, slavery discussion (in reference to , misogyny (in relation to how Esther is treated on a textual level), classism (Esther is of the upper class, and realizes this)
Overall Feelings: When I went into this book, I definitely realized that I was not its intended audience. In a sea of overtly blonde and Christian heroines, the book was written for a Jewish audience, and was a Jewish book, through and through. While it was slow initially, it picked up (and didn't stop) once I got past around fifty pages, and I figured out that all of that was exposition so that the story would make sense. It's very heavy on history, but with the mixture of fantasy elements, it's blended seamlessly. If you wanted supplementary material, you could just look up the regions and cultures in the book. Beautiful writing and an engaging Jeanne d'Arc story, The Book of Esther: A Novel didn't let me go in a story that left me constantly wondering how it would advance.
Full Review: I have issues sorting out the entirety of my feelings for this book. To begin with, it was incredibly refreshing to read a book thoroughly about Jewish life, without any hand-holding or comparison to Christianity. The book was a celebration of what it meant to be Jewish and, even as a Muslim, I found myself tearing up on multiple occasions at the strong sense of identity and community Esther shared with the Khazar people and fellow Jews. Another thing that was so good was that, even though Esther is Jewish and the book is about them being Jewish and trying to continue their Jewish livelihood, she struggles with her religion (particularly because she's so young and confused as to how she wants to live and how she wants to lead her army). Something I've noticed in novels that are written about non-Christian characters is that they're never allowed to struggle with their faith- otherwise they'll be called a "fake" Jew or Muslim or Hindu.
But Barton breathed life into Esther, and made her real. A little Jewish girl will not live her whole life without doubting if she's doing right by her religion at least once. Seeing her struggle with temptation () gave the story one extra kick that I loved immediately.
Just from the summary, I had assumed that Esther would transition. Yet, when she doesn't (which is not a spoiler, considering the summary again), she makes it very explicit that the only thing she wants to break is the gender role, not her actual gender. I'm glad that that wasn't seen as the whole solution- that her becoming a man would've solved all of her problems, even though she didn't truly want to become a man.
Another thing that was well-handled was the transgender character in this. I won't name names solely so that I can keep this paragraph spoiler free and everyone can read this.One of the best parts of the book is the fact that he transitioned by the faith in Hashem- trans characters are so rarely allowed to be religious that, when this was shown, I got emotional. He is, in fact, one of the most religious characters in this book, and one that goes strictly by the laws of the Torah and the state. Esther and him share a romance, and I've never seen chemistry written that well- they're allowed to have spats and, when she accidentally outs him, he is rightfully angry and has to work to forgive her. On top of that, Esther comes to her own terms that he is a man (and the narrative never once misgenders him), and the fact that she is attracted to him is never impeded by the fact that he was once a woman. I want a book about him alone- that's how well-written his character was.
Another one of my favorite parts is when Esther. To be honest, at the beginning, their relationship made me uncomfortable because it seemed more like Esther was using her for charity instead of actual friendship (with Rukhl being a refugee). The best part is that . In what is honestly some of the best character development, Esther drops this internal monologue:
"As Esther sat her horse, [...] the realization dawned that she had never known Rukhl. She'd admired her strength in the face of hardship, felt proud to be one of the few people of her class to have a connection to someone in the camp. Giving her food had let her feel useful and virtuous. But it was a misnomer to call this a friendship."
Coming into this book, I hadn't expected deep commentary on classism and the social divide, as well as how the rich use the poor and disadvantaged to make themselves feel better. But this book was the gift that kept giving. Honestly? I'm on the lookout for any more books by Barton. Great job!
Some of my favorite quotes:
* "They intend to mount a strong defense. But Germania [...] is so powerful."
"More powerful than Hashem?"
"'Above the thunder of the mighty waters, more majestic than the breakers of the sea is the Lord.'" What Itakh had said was awful. "Of course not."
"The Maccabees defeated Antiochus, though they were outnumbered. Dovid slew the giant Goliath."
* "There will be fighting, bloodshed. You'll have to train to use weapons."
"I have brought two children into the world. I can endure hardship and pain."
"No. I am made of this clay. I assume I'll return to the riverbank. [...] Did not King Dovid sing, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me'?"
"He did."
"'You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the Lord's house forever.'"
Esther's eyes stung. "But when he sings, 'He restores my soul-'"
"He restores my soul as well." A moment later, he repeated, "He also restores my soul."
Warnings about this book: It takes place during WWII and the Holocaust, main character
Spoiler
accidentally outs her trans friendSpoiler
golemOverall Feelings: When I went into this book, I definitely realized that I was not its intended audience. In a sea of overtly blonde and Christian heroines, the book was written for a Jewish audience, and was a Jewish book, through and through. While it was slow initially, it picked up (and didn't stop) once I got past around fifty pages, and I figured out that all of that was exposition so that the story would make sense. It's very heavy on history, but with the mixture of fantasy elements, it's blended seamlessly. If you wanted supplementary material, you could just look up the regions and cultures in the book. Beautiful writing and an engaging Jeanne d'Arc story, The Book of Esther: A Novel didn't let me go in a story that left me constantly wondering how it would advance.
Full Review: I have issues sorting out the entirety of my feelings for this book. To begin with, it was incredibly refreshing to read a book thoroughly about Jewish life, without any hand-holding or comparison to Christianity. The book was a celebration of what it meant to be Jewish and, even as a Muslim, I found myself tearing up on multiple occasions at the strong sense of identity and community Esther shared with the Khazar people and fellow Jews. Another thing that was so good was that, even though Esther is Jewish and the book is about them being Jewish and trying to continue their Jewish livelihood, she struggles with her religion (particularly because she's so young and confused as to how she wants to live and how she wants to lead her army). Something I've noticed in novels that are written about non-Christian characters is that they're never allowed to struggle with their faith- otherwise they'll be called a "fake" Jew or Muslim or Hindu.
But Barton breathed life into Esther, and made her real. A little Jewish girl will not live her whole life without doubting if she's doing right by her religion at least once. Seeing her struggle with temptation (
Spoiler
be it with Shimon or with AmitJust from the summary, I had assumed that Esther would transition. Yet, when she doesn't (which is not a spoiler, considering the summary again), she makes it very explicit that the only thing she wants to break is the gender role, not her actual gender. I'm glad that that wasn't seen as the whole solution- that her becoming a man would've solved all of her problems, even though she didn't truly want to become a man.
Another thing that was well-handled was the transgender character in this. I won't name names solely so that I can keep this paragraph spoiler free and everyone can read this.One of the best parts of the book is the fact that he transitioned by the faith in Hashem- trans characters are so rarely allowed to be religious that, when this was shown, I got emotional. He is, in fact, one of the most religious characters in this book, and one that goes strictly by the laws of the Torah and the state. Esther and him share a romance, and I've never seen chemistry written that well- they're allowed to have spats and, when she accidentally outs him, he is rightfully angry and has to work to forgive her. On top of that, Esther comes to her own terms that he is a man (and the narrative never once misgenders him), and the fact that she is attracted to him is never impeded by the fact that he was once a woman. I want a book about him alone- that's how well-written his character was.
Another one of my favorite parts is when Esther
Spoiler
reunites with RukhlSpoiler
Esther realizes this"As Esther sat her horse, [...] the realization dawned that she had never known Rukhl. She'd admired her strength in the face of hardship, felt proud to be one of the few people of her class to have a connection to someone in the camp. Giving her food had let her feel useful and virtuous. But it was a misnomer to call this a friendship."
Coming into this book, I hadn't expected deep commentary on classism and the social divide, as well as how the rich use the poor and disadvantaged to make themselves feel better. But this book was the gift that kept giving. Honestly? I'm on the lookout for any more books by Barton. Great job!
Some of my favorite quotes:
* "They intend to mount a strong defense. But Germania [...] is so powerful."
"More powerful than Hashem?"
"'Above the thunder of the mighty waters, more majestic than the breakers of the sea is the Lord.'" What Itakh had said was awful. "Of course not."
"The Maccabees defeated Antiochus, though they were outnumbered. Dovid slew the giant Goliath."
* "There will be fighting, bloodshed. You'll have to train to use weapons."
"I have brought two children into the world. I can endure hardship and pain."
Spoiler
* "Are you afraid?""No. I am made of this clay. I assume I'll return to the riverbank. [...] Did not King Dovid sing, 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me'?"
"He did."
"'You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the Lord's house forever.'"
Esther's eyes stung. "But when he sings, 'He restores my soul-'"
"He restores my soul as well." A moment later, he repeated, "He also restores my soul."
thejigglerreads's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5