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This book started out strong and with a neat concept (a blend of fantasy and alternate historical fiction set near the turn of the century in New York). However, there was such a multitude of concepts and plotlines introduced that it seemed to spin in greater and greater circles until it got stuck. The ending lacked the pizazz of the introduction... although quite clearly this was set up for a sequel. Sigh. What happened to stand-alone books?
Most people seem to love this. Me, I thought it was a lot like The Yiddish Policeman's Union for kids in a lot of ways. The problem here is that the book is very, very slow and is so steeped in Jewish culture and mythology that it almost completely misses the mark. This may have a very direct audience, one that I am not a part of, but this book didn't do it for me at all - the pacing in particular made it very, very difficult to stick with.
This didn't work for me at all- from the cute, slightly changed names (VanderBilk, JP Morgaunt & etc.) to the almost claustrophobic Jewish arcana that filled every page- it simply didn't grab me, and I'm wondering how it is faring with the middle grade audience it's aimed at. I never quite got a sense of how Sascha's magic worked, or how, exactly, the Inquisitors work. Lily was also predictable, I thought- plucky rich girl who has an unhappy home life and has unsuspected depths. The story arc wa...
Love the characters, the plot, the world-building, the magic system, and the prose style. If you have any love at all for fantastical mysteries at the turn of the century, get this book. It is INCREDIBLE.
Enjoyable for a middle aged Jewish woman who was raised in the Bronx, who has read a good deal of history, and recognizes all the references.For kids?Maybe if they live in NY and have a fair grasp of Jewish history and culture.Otherwise, they are going to get hopelessly ferschimmelled amidst all the mishegosse in this book. Nu?
So the plot of this book is that the authorities in an olde timey alternate-universe New York are policing magic users. It seemed initially like it was about a reverse Ministry of Magic, so I was interested...I DNF'd this sucker at page 98.What I got instead of an interesting story was one about tenement housing and Jewish guilt. Sure, the magic was outlawed but when it was used (in the pages I read) it was just boring. There are plenty of references to Thomas Edison (in here he's the Wizard of
So much potential led to so much confusion. It's a book about a Jewish kid in the tenements in the early 1900s mixed with magic. You can recognize all the inspiration from our world--if you're an adult. There are too many layers of stuff going on here, and it takes a really long time to explain. Plus, the ending is totally just a set up for another book. I recommend this one to alternate history geeks (who are mostly adults, in my experience). Lots of politics, too. Just too much going on for me...
I was given an Advance Copy. As an educator who is always looking for new YA lit, I read it. I give Moriarty two stars for character development and accurate historical references to 1900 New York and tenement living. The story moved at a fine pace and was somewhat engaging. The remaining 3 stars?1. The story ended abruptly - too abruptly for my liking. While I do believe that the genre of YA lit always needs to grow, this book does NOT have a universal quality that I could give to any reader. 2...
More complete review/pondering on the blog: http://laurelsnyder.com/?p=1111This book is admirably well plotted, really tight and compelling. The pace is brisk, but well detailed too--and characters are nicely developed. Just generally well written.I am in LOVE with the setting and the premise. The idea of magic-as-replaced-by-machines, of capitalists as the villains behind the end of "old world" magic. It's brilliant. The way all of these historical characters and institutions (Edison, Houdini,
Less than stellar. Too confusing for the intended audience and although the characters were well depicted, the world-building was awkward.
Gah. I wanted to like this book. It was so promising! New York! Magic! Jewish Mysticism! Historical Fiction! Thomas Edison! It could have been so cool. Instead....it was just kind of boring.The plot was slower than slow. The premise has potential. A young Jewish boy named Sacha live in New York at the turn of the century. He learns that he can see when people work magic. This is a very important gift in a time when police are patrolling looking for illegal magic. Due to his ability, Sacha is qui...
I received my copy thru Firstread and I appreciate getting the opportunity to review it.This was such a fun read! Sacha is a Jewish boy living in a New York where magic is the norm and he has discovered that he can see magic. Recruited by the police department that works against magical crime he finds himself embroiled in a mystery that could result in his demise or worse. This book is full of interesting characters, fun history and unusual sci-fiction. It definitely draws you in from the begini...
This books was excellent and a really fun read. Echoes of Holly Black's "White Cat" and Michael Chabon's "Yiddish Policeman's Union" this book reimagines a turn-of-the-century New York City where magic is as common and diverse as the growing immigrant population. The main character is Sascha, a Russian Jewish immigrant who discovers that he has the ability to see magic, and is recruited by the magic-crimes police division, the Inquisitors. This book was funny, tongue-in-cheek, inventive, and at