i'm sorry i can't articulate my emotions, this was SUCH A GOOD READ, IM SO OCCUPIED i can't stop obsessing.. i will come back and write a detailed review when im totally over it and can actually write about how good this fantasy book is. it might take a while to actually understand whats going on but its a fantasy book what more dow we all expect for real. this is also my first book by this author and i am very invested in her and would love to read her future works for sure.

just like y'all to take a moment to appreciate the cover like OMFG IM GOING INSANE ITS SO FREAKING BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

Me he visto gratamente sorprendida por The Pomegranate Gate, la primera entrega de The Mirror Realm Cycle de Ariel Kaplan. Me llamaba mucho la atención el momento histórico simulado en la historia, con la expulsión de los judíos sefardíes de España, un poco como cuando supe que The Bird King de G. Willow Wilson transcurría en la Alhambra. Pero me he encontrado mucho más de lo que esperaba.


Kaplan ha logrado crear un mundo fantástico repleto de lirismo y magia, con raíces en el judaísmo pero con toques de trascendencia política. La acción se desarrolla simultáneamente en dos mundos, el humano y el mágico de los Maziks, unido solamente durante las noches de luna llena gracias al portal del título. La narración recae principalmente sobre dos personajes (aunque hay más puntos de vista), Toba Peres y Naftaly Cresques, dos seres aparentemente humanos pero tocados por algún don que les hace diferentes a los demás y que en muchas ocasiones les ha condenado al ostracismo. Me gusta la voz que la autora le da a cada uno, dos personas buenas que se ven arrolladas por las circunstancias pero que siguen intentando tomar siempre la decisión adecuada aunque quizá no sea la que más se avenga a sus intereses. La decisión de expulsar a los judíos que no se conviertan al cristianismo de su hogar, impulsará a miles de personas a un viaje sin un destino claro y nuestros dos protagonistas se verán arrastrados por la marea, pero con un fin mucho más inquietante.

Me encanta la representación del mundo mágico de los Maziks, en una imagen especular pero deformada de la geografía y política del mundo humano. Mientras que en uno de los mundos tenemos la Inquisición, en el otro sufren la presencia de La Cacería. Pero en todas partes cuecen habas y las intrigas políticas están a la orden del día y arrastrarán a los dos a una huida en la que irán descubriendo sus especiales capacidades y se aclararán sus orígenes, supuestamente mundanos.


Me gustaría sobre todo hacer hincapié en un personaje secundario que primero parece no tener apenas relevancia, Elena, la abuela de Toba, pero que luego adquiere un rol fundamental. ¡Por fin un personaje femenino de más o menos avanzada edad con importancia en un mundo fantástico! Me apasiona como se referencia la sabiduría popular que muchas veces se desprecia pero que contiene perlas de conocimiento. Mención aparte merece también la señora mayor que ni siquiera recibe nombre en todo el libro pero sin cuya presencia Naftaly estaría totalmente perdido.

La novela va creciendo conforme va avanzando, con unas ramificaciones inesperadas que hacen que sea prácticamente imprescindible leer la segunda entrega no solo para comprender toda la historia si no para continuar disfrutando de las apasionantes aventuras de los personajes. Y es que el último cuarto del libro los componen bofetadas constantes de revelaciones inesperadas que te hacen mirar a los capítulos anteriores con otros ojos. La intriga está muy pero que muy bien utilizada a lo largo de toda la novela, pero como digo esa última parte es de las que te pega a las páginas y te deja sin dormir hasta que acabas de leer. Os recomiendo mucho esta lectura, no os arrepentiréis.

A rich fantasy that, once it settles down, is a wonderful take on gate fantasy that taught me a lot about Jewish mythology and fairy tales, as well as a period of history I didn't know much about. I really enjoyed how complicated both he human and Mazik characters were- Elena especially- and the romance felt well done and not rushed.

It does suffer a bit at the beginning from being quite confusing- I think it's because Toba and Naftaly are in the same city and experiencing things on a slight delay?- and towards the end as we're gearing up for the next book. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and recommend it!

I think this was pretty good. Wouldn't say it's my favourite book but I did enjoy aspects and I'm curious to see what this author does next.

I've recently read The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan. In short, it was great!

In the story we follow Toba, a girl who can walk but cannot run, can speak but cannot shout, and can write with both hands. Sounds intriguing, right?
There's also Naftaly who is a tailor, albeit not a good one, and has haunting dreams and visions.

The setting of the story is a fantasy version of 15th century Spain when the Jews had to either convert to Christianity or leave everything behind and move.

Toba stumbles into a magical realm and Naftaly, with elderly companions, tries to find her.

First of all, I really love books that feature our world with a magical twist. For me, it's a way to learn in a fun way about events I wouldn't know much about otherwise, but without the strain of sitting down and studying.

The characters were witty and I feel like we got to know them pretty well and their growth was interesting to watch. The atmosphere is truly magical, the world the author has created is really well fleshed out and I could see it really well in my mind. I feel like I really was immersed into the dilemmas our MCs faced and it was truly investing to uncover more about the situation they were in. There were a few things that really surprised me and kept the intrigue.

My only qualm about this book is that I feel the pacing could have been a bit quicker. I think it could have been contained in a bit lesser page count, in a few moments it started to lose me despite me being really into the plot.

If you want to dive into a story about rediscovering oneself, politics and humor, I really recommend it! It also had a lovely queer rep.
I'll definitely read the continuation of the series and hopefully get a physical copy one day!

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

📖 Comp titles:
✨ Daevabad Trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty
✨ Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for granting me access to the audio ARC. And by the way, I really recommend this story as an audiobook! The narrator was amazing.

"The Pomegranate Gate" is a captivating fantasy narrative deeply entrenched in Jewish folklore. It unfolds through the perspectives of Naftaly and Toba, who are compelled to flee their homeland due to the oppressive edicts of the Inquisition, which mandate either conversion or death for Jews.

Kaplan's narrative prowess shines through, seamlessly blending Jewish customs with the historical backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition to construct a rich and mystical world. The journey of Toba and Naftaly is both enthralling and thought-provoking, with their character arcs exhibiting commendable depth. The introduction of fae-like beings adds an extra layer of intrigue and enchantment to the narrative.

I found the inclusion of a glossary of religious terms at the end of the book to be particularly beneficial for readers unfamiliar with Jewish practices and beliefs, providing an educational dimension to the reading experience.

While the story may have a somewhat leisurely pace at times, it ultimately contributes to a profound investment in the characters and their journey. This deliberate pacing allowed for a deeper connection with the protagonists, making their triumphs and struggles all the more impactful. Furthermore, the meticulously crafted ending sets the stage for future developments, leaving readers eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for the characters.

what a great title, love the book and the idea of the author is something i truly love.
the character identity has nothing to do with the story, by that sentence i mean, the characers in this story are jewish but that does not effect anything in the entire story, the story is totally different and the people living in the story are just jewish.

such a idea is so refreshing to read because it heals my inner child, i am not jewish, but i am of a religion that is a way of life and everything in my life should be affected by that, right? no it does not have to and i love that a book that is not even written on such thinking but something completely different makes me appreciate the world of litrature.

what a great book. definitely a must read

This was phenomenal! I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful fantasy with dual POV and plenty of magic and folklore. Both Naftaly and Toba's characters are wonderfully written, and having both of their POVs intertwined is a really efficient, well-thought-out choice to bring readers into this new world. The writing itself is lyrical and beautiful, and the author has an immense gift with imagery, in particular. The world-building shows the author's considerable effort to bring this book together, and it really is meticulous. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Solaris for the ARC!

The Pomegranate Gate reads like a classic beloved fantasy novel. The rich world-building and character driven journey was slow paced and utterly charming.
I love a portal fiction, this was mixed with historical elements and Jewish folklore making it unique.
There’s politics, a plucky FMC, magic, different cultures clashing, books and family ties.
The dual POV works well fleshing out the world-building and different plot points. I did prefer some characters to others but I think with further development I will have new favourites.
Can’t wait to see where the journey goes from here, I’m intrigued and invested.
Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Overall this was a good read, I liked the storyline and adventures while I found the characters interesting and likeable. I did find the book a bit too long so I was a bit bored in places which made the pacing slow at times

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc