Helene Wecker

We waited almost a decade for the continuation of the Golem and Jinni’s story, but it was totally worth the wait, as Wecker throws us back into the lively early 20th century New York that set the pace and place of the first novel. Centred on New York’s Jewish and Syrian communities, she brings the setting to life with true to history details that immediately immerse us in these unique cultures that are brought together in a fascinating way by their respective mythical creatures, who play show more an excellent role as our protagonists. As the Jinni returns from his pilgrimage to the Syrian desert to dispose of the “sorcerer” who plagued the first novel, we once again get to walk the night time streets as he and Chava explore their relationship. The two might not be human, and their concerns are as unique as their supernatural powers, but their time alongside their respective communities has clearly shaped them into beings who have taken on some of humanity’s nature - for better or worse. It was almost inevitable that the challenges of living in New York would come to a head in this storyline, but Wecker does an excellent job of grounding their concerns in their unique reality and keeps a steady pace through the ups and downs of Chava’s and Ahmad’s lives. Alongside their stories also come voices from each community, with carefully crafted characters who grow and evolve alongside Chava and Ahmad, and who become the supports of an accidental yet organic community that grows to surround the two. Ahmad may have locked himself within the Amherst building constructing a physical ironworks palace for a lengthy period of time after the unexpected death of his friend and business partner Boutros Arbeely, but by the final pages it becomes clear that Chava and Ahmad may not be able to live completely as humans, it is equally impossible for them to expect to be able to live as separate supernatural entities from their communities. A strength of character and faith is required of everyone (and a little creativity), since there are no ready-made answers to the challenges of life, and it is the combined efforts of the group that provide the truest creations. show less

I initially picked up “The Hidden Palace” when it first came out in 2020, knowing that this was a book that I needed to have but wasn’t yet ready to read. Finally, two years later, the time came for me to turn to it, and as expected, it amply fulfilled all my expectations. This is a sequel to “The Golem and the Jinni,” which introduced us to Chava Levy, a female masterless Golem, and Ahmad, a Jinni confined to a pot for a thousand years and then freed by a Syrian metalworker in show more turn of the 20th Century New York City. “The Hidden Palace” continues their stories, separately and together, from 1901 until 1915; we are reunited with Sophia, a human whose interactions with Ahmad led to great difficulties in her life; with Anna, a sometime friend of Chava’s who is also an enemy; and with Maryam, a Lebanese Christian who knows more about both Ahmad and Chava than she would like. In addition there are many new characters, both human and not, whose lives become entwined with our main creatures in ways both good and bad. This is wonderful storytelling, with a depth of knowledge about both Jewish and Arabic mythology, a deep dive into a very dynamic and change-filled period of history, and a full sense of human (and other) strengths and frailties and how those play out on the rich canvas of multicultural New York City. Very highly recommended, but it is absolutely essential to read “The Golem and the Jinni” first or none of this book will make much sense to you! show less

Magic. History. Mythology. Legend. Folklore. Superstition. Fables. Fairy Tales. With all these elements caught within the pages of The Golem and the Jinni you'd think you'd be in for a magical carpet ride. Sadly, you'd be wrong. Dull. Dull. Dull as dirt. Dull as the clay from which the golem is fashioned. I cannot fathom having all these wonderful "ingredients" to work with and still manage to make it a plodding tale on a donkey's back -- with the poor donkey having broken his leg in the show more first chapter of the journey.

We are introduced to far too many characters who wander the pages, hither and yon, and to no purpose: much like the jinni who is trapped for a thousand years in the dusty bottom of the lamp, these characters are fruitless and frustrated, and completely frustrating to the reader. What is their purpose? Why do they exist at all? We are given too many narratives which run amok and then like whirling dervishes spend themselves into clouds of dust.

Entertain me. Sadden me. Shock me. Wake me up. Make me think. Make me angry. I read books that they may elicit something from me. Boredom I can do all by myself, while I watch the paint dry.

This book is a perfect sleep aid for those with insomnia. show less

Six-word review: Complex and satisfying modern fairy tale.

Extended review:

What can you be when being what you were born to be becomes impossible?

That question is the core issue for two finely wrought characters, a golem (a woman made of clay and animated by Kabbalistic magic) and a jinni (genie) trapped in a copper flask for a millennium. Both emerge in 1899 New York and find themselves unlikely comrades in the struggle to pass as ordinary human beings when their true nature has been show more denied: hers by losing the master whom she was created to serve and his by being held captive under a spell he can't break.

In their alienness they are kindred spirits of a sort. And in their alienness they speak to those of us who have at some time--or at all times?--felt that we did not belong among our fellow creatures. Kept from self-realization by powers they can't escape, they can only choose between self-redefinition and self-extinction. A common adversary forces them to confront their own ultimate questions.

Imaginative, atmospheric, and searching, Wecker's novel draws upon the folktales of two traditions and the elements of several immigrant subcultures to create an original urban fantasy that resonates with the eternal human mystery: what am I, who am I, and what shall I do? Her insightful treatment of both principal and secondary characters and their environments confers the richness and depth that turn a story into an experience. show less