WOMS: The Pomegranate Gate

It’s been too long since I shared my latest read, and I cannot wait to tell you more about it. Allow me to introduce you to the novel, and also the beginning of a new series, which has stolen my heart in every way imaginable: The Pomegranate Gate by A. E. Kaplan.

Rich, imaginative, lush, exquisite—I could gush about this book, but let me get to the substance of how it is all those things and more.

The Pomegranate Gate is a Jewish historical epic fantasy set in an alternative version of Spain during the Inquisition. What you may or may not know about this dark period of time is how severely it persecuted the Jewish people, especially as Spain had formerly been Moorish, or Muslim, and now with the victory of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, they sought to reestablish and enforce a Catholic monarchy.

Their main target? Jews.

Kaplan handles such a tragic era spanning more than 300 years during which the Jewish people were evicted, tortured, murdered, and more in the name of forced conversion. Written from the perspective of the Jewish people who fill her world, she evokes the same fears and trauma many Jews have suffered for millennia at the hand of government officials, from Roman Emperors to H*tler himself. During a time when Israel is under attack again, similar emotions were close to the surface and raw for me as I read through this. Though there is tragedy, there is loss, Kaplan executed her poignancy with meticulous grace, careful to not minimise the horrors nor exacerbate their descriptions.

What makes her story unique, i.e. fantasy, instead of another alternate historical retelling is the parallel, magical world which mirrors our own. It’s almost like an adult Jewish Narnia as there are portals at strategic places throughout the mortal realm which can be accessed a specific times of the month, i.e. the New Moon or Rosh Chodesh, to enter the immortal realm.

The creatures of this immortal realm, though, are extremely fascinating. Named Maziks, I’m still puzzling over what could be their equivalent to in our own Jewish mythology since they’re not a direct, carbon-copy, version of any creature I know. The only thing which comes to mind is malak, but I digress (as usual).

I lost myself to this dual-world of hers, but there’s even a third realm which I haven’t even touched on: the dream world. There’s a fascinating bit of magic with the Maziks in that they share a dream world where they all interact within their dreams, a world which mirrors their own realm. Even more fascinating is that between these three realms, there is—and spoiler alert—a fourth realm hinted at throughout and might even be the key to the heroes’ success. These realms, to me, read and feel so similarly to the idea of the Seven Heavens, which if memory serves, she explicitly used that phrase within her mythos.

I could keep going on and on and on and on about her use of Jewish mythology, but that would take a whole blog post in and of itself when I’m suppose to be merely reviewing the novel.

There was a moment when I first began reading I wondered if I would relate to or feel any sort of connection to the two main characters, Toba and Naftaly. They seemed, at a first glance, pretty stereotypical of most fantasy tropes: one weak, frail girl with little to no prospects other than her own clever mind, and one seemingly untalented boy full of nonsense and dreams. Of course, I knew if I stuck it out, I’d probably find them more compelling, and sure enough I did.

Toba’s cleverness is sharp like her tongue and fiery wit, but soon she discovers there more beneath the surface of who she is and her trusty amulet. Her transformation, which I secretly hoped would happen, was not predictable but satisfying. That’s all I’ll say about her for now because anything more would be too spoilery.

Naftaly, at first, I thought would be that annoying second point-of-view character I wouldn’t enjoy reading as, but his interactions with Toba’s grandmother and the old beggar woman are hilarious, and definitely delivered the comic relief I needed at times. However, it is through their travels, their portion of the story, we witness firsthand what it took for Jews to survive during the Inquisition, and so many other eras of persecution like it, that I did not ever find myself dreading reading from his point-of-view. Also, there is a warmth and tenderness which grows within Naftaly throughout his journey, I found myself wanting more of his perspective towards the end.

The END!

As I described to a group of fellow writer friends, “It was a very Holly Black ending, and I’m a sucker for it. It’s the type of ending where there are multiple layers and threads and you have ten, maybe even five, pages left when at the eleventh hour they’re all tied up and connected so you can finally see the complete tapestry instead of the individual threads. Usually, too, the conclusion leaves you wanting more because there is some sort of cliffhanger element.”

I L-O-V-E-D her execution. Every minute detail finely woven into perfect order. Even if I didn’t have all the answers, Kaplan left me satiated enough I didn’t need them all then. Of course, I am desperate for book two, but I have to wait another year for that.

Let me conclude with one final note: the publishing team at Erewhon Books did a phenomenal job with crafting a breathtaking book of such finesse, I honestly couldn’t read it at first. I was too mesmerised by the artwork. There is a full-colour world map on the inside cover; a list of dramatis personae and geographical locations, both by realm or mortality, and each chapter page is bordered by an elaborate Moorish horseshoe arch. Of course, an extremely thorough glossary at the end. It all made me want to cry.

This book is definitely my favourite of 2023, if not at the top of my list for an all-time favourite, too! I cannot recommend it enough, so go out and grab your copy today!

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