Bøker av Aden Polydoros

Lithuania, 1943. Grieving for his daughter, one father uses kishuf—an ancient and profane magic—to create a golem in her image, not a real girl of flesh and blood but a nearly invincible avenging spirit of mud and steel.But when Vera awakens, it’s not only with a violent purpose, but with memories of the real girl killed by the Nazis. Then she meets Akiva, a boy she already remembers—the feel of his hand in her hair, his lips on her skin—and instantly joins him on a quest for revenge. But there are those who would channel kishuf for less noble means, and to triumph, Vera will need more than what her creator gave her: not just a reason to fight, but a reason to live.

"Haunting, exhilarating, and a howl of vengeance." -Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With UsFrankenstein meets Inglourious Basterds in this stunning Jewish historical horror novel from the award-winning author of The City BeautifulVera was made for vengeance.Lithuania, 1943. A father drowns in the all-consuming grief of a daughter killed by the Nazis. He can't bring Chaya back from the dead, but he can use kishuf - an ancient and profane magic - to create a golem in her image. A Nazi killer, to avenge her death.When Vera awakens, she can feel her violent purpose thrumming within her. But she can also feel glimpses of a human life lived, of stolen kisses amidst the tragedy, and of a grisly death. And when she meets Akiva, she recognizes the boy with soft lips that gave warm kisses. But these memories aren't hers, and Vera doesn't know if she gets-or deserves-to have a life beyond what she was made for.Vera's strength feels limitless-until she learns that there are others who would channel kishuf for means far less noble than avenging a daughter's death. As she confronts the very basest of humanity, Vera will need more than what her creator gave her: Not just a reason to fight, but a reason to live.

"A dark and thrilling tale." -Kirkus Reviews "Superb… Polydoros is a master of world building and conjuring suspense in a page-turning plot. His characters are highly empathetic and memorable, as is this emotionally charged story." -Booklist, starred review Magic, monsters, and much political upheaval abound in this dark fantasy about a girl whose unique power has the potential to help save her friends-and an empire. The Kosa empire roils in tension, on the verge of being torn apart by a proletarian revolution between magic-endowed elites and the superstitious lower class, but seventeen-year-old Toma lives blissfully disconnected from the conflict in the empire with her adoptive family of benevolent undead. When she meets Vanya-a charming commoner branded as a witch by his own neighbors-and the dethroned Tsar Mikhail himself, the unlikely trio bonds over trying to restore Mikhail's magic and protect the empire from the revolutionary leader, Koschei, whose forces have stolen the castle. Vanya has his magic and Mikhail has his title, but if Toma can't dig deep and find her power in time, all of their lives will be at Koschei's mercy.

Winner of the 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Young Adult2022 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel finalist2021 National Jewish Book Award finalistA Lambda Literary Award finalist2021 Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot for Young Adult NovelsA New York Public Library Best Book for Teens 2021"An achingly rendered exploration of queer desire, grief, and the inexorable scars of the past." -Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A DarknessDeath lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together. Chicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he'll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania. But when Alter's best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World's Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov's dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows. Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter's body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer-before the killer claims them next."Chillingly sinister, warmly familiar, and breathtakingly transportive, The City Beautiful is the haunting, queer Jewish historical thriller of my darkest dreams."-Dahlia Adler, creator of LGBTQreads and editor of That Way Madness Lies