By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

My plan had been to review two fantasy novels. Although some fantasy novels take place in totally make-believe worlds, others alternate between this world and alternate realms. I knew that was what I would find in “The Kingdom of Almonds” by Ariel Kaplan (Erewhon Books), the third and concluding book in “The Mirror Realm Cycle.* The novel offers a Sephardic fantasy slant: it begins with the expulsion of the Jews from Spain during the Inquisition and continues in both our realm and a mirror realm, with the characters seeking to stop the destruction of both worlds. The surprise came during my reading of what I thought would be the second fantasy novel: “Odessa” by Gabrille Sher (Little Brown and Company) takes place in Russia in 1905 and contains one of my favorite fantasy elements: a golem. However, it soon became clear that the work belongs to the horror genre because of the horrific and terrifying events that occur, only some of which are supernatural.
“The Kingdom of Almonds” opens with a six-page list of main characters and geographical locations, and concludes with a two-page glossary of Jewish terms. Since it’s been a year and a half since I read the second book in the trilogy, I had some difficulty remembering all the characters and the complex plot lines the author was juggling. That means this is definitely not a stand-alone novel: readers would do well to read the earlier books before attempting this one. 
While the majority of this work takes place in the Mirror World, what happens there affects both worlds. Two of the most important characters – Toba and Naftaly – originally came from our world and left Spain when the Jewish population was expelled. However, when they unexpectedly entered the Mirror World, they learned that they were part human/part Mazik, something which allows them to perform magic. However, Tarses, a full-blooded Mazik, who is also Toba’s father, schemes to control both worlds and is willing to kill anyone and everyone who tries to stop him. Toba and her friends see only one way of preventing his cruel reign: raise the city of Luz, which is under the sea in both worlds, so its rightful king can stop Tarses.
This summary, of course, does not do justice to the complex plot because it is impossible to list all the characters and their relationships and actions in this short review. Jewish fantasy elements include the Ziz (a gigantic bird) and the Leviathan (sea serpent). The Mirror World also offers other Jewish elements, such as a wedding that greatly resembles a Jewish one, the use of a get (divorce document) and referring to God as Hashem.
Readers of the first two novels will be glad to know that the action and suspense continue here, as does the development of the characters, although the emphasis in his book is on the former rather than the latter. As for the ending, the author found a way to tie all the elements together in a very satisfying way. Those who loved the first books won’t need much convincing to read the trilogy’s conclusion. I envy those who now have the opportunity to read all three books together since they don’t have to wait years to learn how the plot is resolved. 
While most of the action in “The Kingdom of Almonds” has no connection to Jewish history beyond the expulsion from Spain, the events in “Odessa” are informed by real life. In fact, readers may debate whether those actions are the true horror offered by the novel. The work offers three points of view: Frieda and Mordechai, who are married, and their daughter, Yetta. Both Frieda and Mordechai are afraid that their little shtetl will be attacked by Cossacks, since pogroms are occurring across Russia. However, they differ on what they should do. Frieda wants them to emigrate, but Mordechai believes they should not be forced from their homes and that nowhere is truly safe for Jews. He plans with the community’s rabbi and other men in the shtetl on ways to protect their families, one of which is to create a golem.
The writing about the attack that comes is gory and graphic, but extremely close to what occurred in real life Russia. (There is one line said by the Russians that did feel anachronistic.) The horror element emerges after Yetta is killed in the attack and her soul is brought back to life in the body of a golem, after her human body is buried. (This is not how a golem is formed in the traditional myth: no human soul is needed since the golem is solely created from earth.) Mordechai believes she will help them defeat those who tried to destroy their community.
However, Mordechai soon learns there is another creature in the forest outside their town, one that seeks to kill both Jews and Christians. But that is not his only fear: the community believes another attack by the Cossacks is being planned. Is it time to leave, or is it time to fight? As Mordechai seeks to defend their shtetl, Frieda worries even more will die. Yetta may prove to be the answer, but does she have the power and will to help them?
“Odessa” is an extremely well done novel and contains a great deal of suspense and action, in addition to leaving readers pondering just how they want the plot to develop. I was pleased with the novel’s resolution, which, while not completely what some readers might have hoped for, was realistic enough to satisfy. 
*The Reporter reviews of the first two books in “The Mirror Realm Cycle” can be found at www.thereportergroup.org/book-reviews/off-the-shelf-angels-alternative-worlds-and-jewish-themes and www.thereportergroup.org/features/cjl-jewish-fantasy-dybbuks-and-mirror-realms.