This is such a beautifully written book, based on history and folklore that I can only entreaty people to read it.

It is a Jewish fantasy set in a mythical 15th-century Spain, where Christianity is pushing the Jews from their homes or forcing them to convert. The story focus' on Toba, a frail young lady with a gift for languages and a clever brain, and Naftaly, the son of a tailor who can not sew in a straight line, but he has a secret that happens when he sleeps. And while these people are being forced from their homes, they embark on an adventure that will change their lives forever.

This book is simply beautiful, from the language used to the story it tells. It is strange and compelling, heartbreaking and exciting, and at no point can you truly guess what will happen next.

Read it. I had no other words to make you do it. You will not regret it.

This is an unusual fantasy tale for me as it draws heavily on Jewish folklore, which - embarrassingly - I knew nothing about. I love lore stories as I feel the reader can get deeper into the nitty gritty and background of the particular people.

Having to look up unknown words normally annoys me, as I feel sometimes it is just an author showing off their knowledge of 'big' words. However, on this occasion, these strange words and concepts made me stop to think about the numerous times that the Jewish people have been ostracized and persecuted throughout history, and I learned new important things.

The two main characters, Toba and Naftaly - along with every other Jew in the land - have been given a choice by the Inquisition. Either they convert from their own religion and stay, or leave Rimon, relinquishing all their possessions. The majority flee to other places. Our MCs rebel (yeah!) by each taking an heirloom with them.

Toba blunders into the Masiks' realm via the title of the book, while Naftaly is left in their 'real' world. They are tied together in ways that become clearer as the reader eagerly flicks through the pages. The twists and turns are fabulous, and the atmosphere is full of feeling. The pacing seemed slow in places and I found myself a bit confused in parts (probably just me, though). It took a wee while to set everything up and make sense, but I kept going and was rewarded as a result. Great characterisations (especially Toba's granny!) and a solid storyline. This has all the makings of an excellent series.

I chose an ARC of this work which I voluntarily and honestly read and reviewed. All opinions are my own. My thanks to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author.

First off, though I gave this 3 stars, there's a lot to like about this book - there's some strong world-building, inspired by the experiences of Jewish people in 14th and 15th century Spain, for example.

Our protagonists are Toba and Naftaly, one a young woman who's grown up with all sorts of odd inabilities (she can speak but not shout, walk but not run) and the other the son of a tailor who is terrible at his father's trade. When the Queen of Sefarad starts to crack down on the Jewish population, ordering them to convert or leave, their respective families decide leaving is the best idea. Along the way, our protagonists get separated from the main group and Toba ends up leaving our world completely, as she follows a man with orange eyes and discovers the reason why she can (and can't do) things is because of her own heritage. Meanwhile, Naftaly becomes a little obsessed both with finding Toba and with the person he keeps dreaming about, not realising his dreams are allowing him to enter the same world where Toba currently lives.

Unfortunately, the complexities of this book weren't helped by some terrible formatting within the eARC and it's probably a testament to the quality of the story telling overall that I kept going at times. The story literally jumps in that version from one paragraph with Toba to another with Naftaly and it could take a sentence or two before it was clear which narrative we were in.

There are also two romance sub-plots, one of which convinced me more than the other, with the second feeling a little unnecessary to move the storyline forward. This is, apparently, the first of a series (trilogy?) but I'm not particularly left with a desperate desire to know what happens next. I'll mentally stick the sequel to this one on the 'if I get round to it' shelf in my brain, as there are so many other things that I'll want to get to before that.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley. This is my honest review of the book in question.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for allowing this.

The Pomegranate Gate blended historical fiction and fantasy so well, it felt seamless. Although this has many fantasy elements it did really feel like reading historical fiction and it just worked so well.

Some of the magical elements and construction in this book was so fascinating. The way it builds throughout was excellent, it starts so gradually that when the more powerful magic appears, it felt quite natural.

This is a fairly long book but it did feel like it moved along at pace. We follow two narratives, Toba and Naftaly. I was more engaged in Toba’s storyline although I still found the other storyline interesting and necessary. The viewpoints swap fairly rapidly so there’s never too much time before moving between the two narratives.

A really fascinating and well-written fantasy novel. It felt like something quite new and fresh. The world building was excellent and it was evoked so well. The ending genuinely surprised me too!

Interesting and original fantasy novel mirroring the pogroms in Spain - definitely worth a look.

The premise behind this fantasy novel is that, at the same time as the pogroms in Spain in the fifteenth century, a parallel magical dream world existed in which the main characters find themselves, soon to be embroiled in the power politics of this world. The main characters, Toba and Naftaly, are fully developed as are all the secondary characters. It's quite a long novel with many references to Jewish religious lore and activity. Luckily for the reader, these are revealed in a glossary at the end. There are so many original elements which make the book interesting and worth a look. It's the beginning of a trilogy and it'll be fun to see how this develops. "I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The world building and lore in this story are incredibly rich and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the characters and the world(s) they lived in.

Toba and Naftaly were both interesting main characters. Typically I have much more of a preference for one of the POVs in a multi-pov book, but I liked them pretty equally. Seeing their stories unfold and intertwine across two different worlds was extremely enjoyable.

The romance in this was very subtle, but beautiful and I am excited to see where it goes in book 2.

My main critiques are:
- I found it took me a while to feel invested in the stories, but over time this changed
- time passed strangely in this and it threw me a bit
- I did find myself confused at times about the side characters, I kept getting some of them confused, or forgot who they were

Overall I recommend this book, particularly to anyone with an interest in fantasy stories built on mythology (in this case Jewish, which was refreshing)

Wonderful writing and a really gripping story and cast. It was a little confusing at times and I feel the last 10% of the book could've been saved for the sequel but it was still wonderful. I can't wait to get a beautiful copy of this for my bookshelves and reread it when it comes out. It had such an interesting world with absolutely fabulous world building that I feel sad to leave now I've finished the book. Bring on the sequel!

A solid 3.5.
Drawn, of course, by the lush cover, and the desire to see where Kaplan went with Jewish mythology, I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book. The characters and their story arcs were sympathetic and engaging, and the writing was very good. However, I found that the story became over-complicated in the latter half of the book, and as a consequence the pace flagged - as did my interest. And, without giving anything away, the plot device used towards the end to give us two heroines was just a step too far for my credulity. Maybe my tastes have been molded by prevailing expectations of narrative, but I found the storyline just a bit too complicated, and it was definitely over-long. Perhaps the last 75-100 pages should have been kept for book 2?
At any rate, my thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A big thank you to the author, the publishers and of course Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This isn’t my usual kind of read but I was intrigued, I do tend to stay away from tales around religion and I have no understanding of the Jewish religion whatsoever but when I read about this book I was very intrigued.
Despite having no knowledge of the Jewish faith I found that most things were explained well or written in a way that was understandable and so I didn’t have to resort to google much to help me along the way. It was really quite refreshing to read something with new (to me) aspects and from what I can see or have read, there are not many fantasy books I can think of that have also taught me along the journey.

The book is very well paced, it’s not rushed through. The story is complex, well written and very detailed but not enough so that it drags or lulls in places in favour of description. For me the pace was perfect and the world the author has created is wonderfully deep and I ended up feeling very much connected to the characters.

I definitely enjoyed this book and the ending was really well thought out and executed! I’m already eagerly waiting for my next voyage in the mirror realm cycle series!

"The Pomegranate Gate" by Ariel Kaplan is a mesmerizing tale of two worlds bound together by a mystical gateway. Toba Peres and Naftaly Cresques are forced to flee their home after the Queen of Sefarad orders all Jews to leave or convert. However, an unfortunate encounter separates them, and Toba finds herself following an orange-eyed stranger through a pomegranate grove into a mysterious ancient world.

Kaplan's intricate and poetic writing style creates a vivid image of both the real and the ancient world, making it easy for readers to be fully immersed in the story. The characters of Toba and Naftaly are complex and relatable, making their journey and their plight all the more emotional.

The use of the pomegranate gate as a linking device between the two worlds is both creative and unique, making the story all the more intriguing. The underlying theme of an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy both realms adds a layer of tension and urgency to the plot.

Overall, "The Pomegranate Gate" is a beautifully crafted and imaginative novel that seamlessly blends elements of fantasy and history. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a captivating and thought-provoking story.

The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan is a thrilling fantasy novel that takes readers on a journey through two different worlds bound by a mysterious gate. The story follows Toba Peres and Naftaly Cresques, two characters with unique abilities and experiences. When the Queen of Sefarad orders all Jews to leave or convert, Toba and Naftaly are forced to flee, but they soon become separated. Toba finds herself in an ancient world, where she discovers that her fate, as well as Naftaly's, is bound to a dangerous conflict that threatens to destroy both worlds.

Kaplan's writing style is engaging, and the characters are well-developed, making it easy for readers to connect with them. The fantasy elements of the novel are intriguing, especially the mysterious pomegranate gate that connects the two worlds. The story's themes of identity, belonging, and the consequences of power are relevant and thought-provoking.

Overall, The Pomegranate Gate is an exciting and well-written fantasy novel that will captivate readers with its unique world-building and relatable characters. Kaplan's storytelling skills shine through, making this a must-read for fans of the genre.

First impression is that the cover is absolutely gorgeous! Parts of this book were delightful, there's humour, myth, love and magic but there's also a hugely complex cast of characters and numerous places to keep track of. There's a 'Dramatis Personae' at the start and a glossary at the end, both of which are not so easy to use if you're reading on an ereader, this is a book which would definitely benefit from paper format. Unfortunately I found this book a struggle to finish and the enjoyable parts were not enough to balance the effort.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

The plot was well paced and the characters were well written and I found that they drew me into the book.

Thank you for letting me review it.

I absolutely LOVED this. The world building was beautifully polished, I could see the logic behind all the magic, and the use of Jewish myths was artful. The characters were delightful, I was rooting for all the right people right through, and can only be happy the ending suggests more to come. Recommended.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

An interestingly detailed read full of Jewish mythological lore and incredible world building. Going into this book I didn't know much about Jewish culture or their myths so I struggled a bit in the learning of certain things however the glossary's did help a lot but once I learned about everything I was absorbed by the book and the two narrations. This is definitely going to be a re-read especially before the sequel comes out but I highly recommend for fantasy lovers as this is highly unique and a wonderful read.

Toba - half mazik - brought to the other realm by Barsilay and Asmel. Staying in asmel’s castle.
Naftaly - son of a tailor, a bad tailor himself.
the inquisition tells all jews to convert or leave penniless. He leaves with a convoy, sees Toba disappear and stays with Tobas grandma, Elena and the old woman in a small town untill the next moon.
The book has two narrators Toba and Naftaly, both young I think around 20.
In the Toba part we follow her learning more about the Maziks and their magic and learning more about herself and what she can do.
Naftaly is accompanied by Elena and “The Old Woman” trying to find Toba and getting into trouble.
The book is truly incredible and the first Jewish fantasy book I’ve read. The worldbuilding is SO good and detailed. The book starts with a glossary of people, places and names which is very helpful following everything. The book has taken very real parts of history in the inquisition and the repeated forcing of Jews to convert. While the book is heavy and very sad at times, “The Old Woman” is the true star of jokes and one liners. Every character is so well fleshed out. I cannot wait for the next part of this series. The way this book sucked me in, was just stellar. A true 5 star read for me. The book has two delightful queer characters and hope to read more about them in the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the earc.

P.S. I read the British version from NetGalley, but going to assume besides spelling the book is the same.

I was given the e-ARC to read by NetGalley, many thanks publishers.

This book was a harder read for me than most I have read as it is based around Jewish characters where my knowledge is lacking, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. The author has built a fantastic world and helps you to understand everything in a great way. The two main characters and their intertwined story is beautifully written. I would recommend this book as an interesting read and really hope the story continues.

Anyone looking for some epic high fantasy would be well-served looking out for this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC.

I received an early proof from Solaris - thank you.

Beautifully plotted, this gorgeous tale weaves its way through the lives of several people: connected in strange ways. Jewish history and mythology are as subtly meshed together as the lives of the protagonists, which become more and more entangled as their choices, fates and heritage catch up with them...

Although this book is medium rather than fast-paced, I was unable to stop reading, as the story of a girl discovering who she truly is steps into the story of a young man fleeing violent persecution, underlaying a story of court politics and a long-hidden secret, and a savage inquisition raging in two worlds. It’s a wonderfully crafted jewel-box of a book, opening up with every page to give you new details and secrets as the truth begins to bloom. There’s high drama and subtle romance and dark tragedy, but also a good deal of humour and a deft tone, told in prose that is smooth without being flowery. I was completely enchanted and am hoping for a sequel!