Other Books: The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker - 5 stars

[annapi]

After eight long years of waiting, this much-anticipated sequel is finally here. And thrillingly, it does not disappoint! This continues the story of the golem Chava and the jinni Ahmad at the turn of the 20th century. It's the very early 1900s, and we see the pair experience the fringes of several historical events, including the sinking of the Titanic, a devastating tenement fire, and the first world war. New characters are introduced, including another jinni and golem, and the stories of other minor characters are expanded on.

The ending did not go as I expected - though I really wasn't expecting anything as such, just going along for the ride, enthralled by Wecker's prose and characters as in the previous book, just wanting to stay in that world and find out how our protagonists' lives turn out. The reason for the title of the book doesn't come in until past the halfway mark, and I was a bit disappointed in how that part turned out, but it provided for the nice bit of action at the end. Admittedly, the climax wasn't as exciting as the one in the first book, but it's plenty powerful enough. It goes without saying that I highly recommend this.

[Joanne]

AH!! I am on the waiting list for this one, Excellent to see the 5 stars!

[Jgrace]

I have this one, but a few pages into it I realized that I need to reread the first one. It's been too long. I don't remember the details. But, I'm glad this one lived up to expectations!

[annapi]

There's a little bit of a recap in the beginning, enough to bring back to memory important plot points in the first book.

[Nicole R]

8 years?!? That seems impossible.

I remember nothing about the first book, but hopefully that little recap you mention will give me enough to go on!