Am I taking crazy pills here? The cover is gorgeous and the elevator pitch is spectacular, but that’s where it ends for me. I tried so hard to like this but I dnf’d at 70%. It was just such a slog and I couldn't push through.

This book just doesn’t deliver anything that I thought it would based on the title and the premise. With a title like “Wrath Becomes Her,” I thought this was going to be an empowering story about vengeance and strength… instead it was just a mopey girl being led from place to place by some guy. I’m so over it.

Why I couldn't finish:
-The tone is all over the place. A scene will go from characters talking about saving a baby so it doesn’t die in the ghetto to a sitcom-style bit where the main character doesn’t understand a basic joke. It’s very odd.
-The author consistently tells us how a character is feeling. Example: “It made me nervous to hold the candle...” (later that same page)“I loathed having to give up the candle's light...” Every emotion is expressed this way, and I think that's why the character doesn't read as the vengeful, angry golem she's supposed to be. It reads as a boring teen who we are told is a vengeful, angry golem. (The author also consistently reminds us of how the MC is a golem, as though they think we will forget in between paragraphs)
-The main character (Vera) is just unlikable. As I said, I thought she would be brutal and full of wrath, but she was just mopey and had no personality. I tried to imagine my preteen/teen self reading this and the main character serves absolutely nothing. Zero strong female lead energy. Other than her physical strength, there is nothing about her that is strong. The fact that she has no will is supposed to be a plot point, but it’s sloppily done and just makes her perspective annoying to read. This is ultimately what did it for me. I just could not be in her head for even a single page longer.
-The MC goes from following everything her creator says to following some other guy around and following everything he says. The second guy (Akiva) tells her she has to figure out what she wants…. but then she continues just following him around and doing what he says. (He was also just a more well-rounded, interesting character in general. Which... is really disappointing when the main character is literally a supernatural being.)
-The awkward romantic whatever-it-was between Akiva and Vera. I get why it was there. I get that it could be interesting. But here and now in this book with these characters, it is not.

Things I enjoyed:
-Again, the elevator pitch of a golem seeking vengeance for a girl's murder in during WWII is phenomenal. That's an extremely intriguing idea that is refreshing in the extremely saturated WWII historical fiction genre.
-The book was also very informative about different aspects of Jewish culture and the dynamic between different marginalized communities in WWII. I think this author did a great job of informing the reader (or at least me) about a few things they may not have learned in history class. This was done in a very natural way and didn't feel like lecturing.
-I liked how the author blended the concept of golems with the themes from Frankenstein. (The execution did not work for me in this story, but I love the idea.)

Overall I still think the idea is great, but I wish that it had been written by a better author.

This is a story about the Holocaust and the aftermath of such a tragic time. A girl wants revenge for her people and one special girl who she’s somewhat become. It’s pretty empowering but sad. I enjoyed the some of the characters through this. This isn’t SciFi at all to me but horror and fantasy indeed. Some others might not even think this as horror but I do a little bit with how Vera just pummels people with ease because of what badass she is and what she is. I listened to this not as audiobook but more less robotic with the voice function on my kindle and the kindle app. Not as great an option but still kept me engaged in the story and it was interesting. The fantasy elements of this was so adventurous to me and it was great! Pretty easy read even though it has lots of German phrases and words. Highly recommend.

*Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an Earc in exchange for an honest review.*
The grief, pain, and longing that Polydoros can evoke in his writing is truly incredible. Every word is knife sharp, perfectly chosen and matched to his novels. The plotlines of his books are intricate and faultless- he has become an instant read author and one I hope will continue to write books into the years to come.

'𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦.'

It’s Nazi-occupied Lithuania, 1943 and you’ve just woken up. You have no mouth, eyes, legs, those will all come later. What you do have is one word inscribed on your forehead, a word that will shape yours, and thousands of others’ lives in the years to come. אֶמֶת. Truth. You are a golem- a sacred being made to defend the Jewish people in times of trouble. Except, that would be too easy. Forbidden and profane magics have been used to raise you, to the extend you look and feel like a human. When you meet a lone human freedom fighter, something in you… recognises him. A glimpse from the girl whose body created yours. And what happens next will change the fate of Lithuania- but only if the desire for revenge doesn’t consume you, or him, first.

'𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘳.'

This is a book about the power of speaking up and speaking out. It ruthlessly examines how impartiality is not impartiality, it is aiding and abetting. It is just as harmful and damaging and it was the case for the majority of Europe in the 1940s, including the British and Americans and Russians. Everyone knew. Nobody cared. And millions of Jews died for it.
Polydoros, whilst seemingly having written a young adult fantasy novel, has challenged holocaust deniers and diminishers all over the world. His tale is powerful, it reclaims the narrative that Jews were passive and weak in the war- a completely false and disgusting narrative and one that contributes to holocaust deniers today.

'𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.'

Wrath Becomes Her is not a happy book. It does not have a happy ending. It is an angry one. It is powerful and moving and an utterly necessary read. But as well as having an important message, it was a brilliant book. The characters are flawed and, yes, some of them aren’t human- except somehow each one of them is. Revenge is at the heart of this- its fast paced, well written and darkly witty in places.
I loved it and I think you will too.

Its 1942 and Vera has been waiting for the day that her creator would finally give her a mouth. She's been slowly learning the ways of the world from within her hidden room in a hayloft. She's covered in script that gives her life but the most important is the Hebrew word for truth on her forehead. Ezra is her creator and once he completes her they get some unwelcome visitors. Ezra is taken and only taught Vera that she was built for vengeance. She has memories from the script writers, the earth, and Ezra's daughter. Vera was made using peices of Chaya and is now set to find her killer and rescue Ezra.

I really liked the unique aspect of this story. A creature formed with Jewish scriptures to exact vengeance on nazis! It's definitely different from everything I've read before! The characters have great development. I loved the flashback memories of Vera and her internal struggle with being. She's a wonderful character and brings up the great debate of what makes us human. I really enjoyed this book!

Finishing this book on the first night of Passover definite has me feeling some kind of way.

I don’t read a lot of Holocaust centered books because I was inundated with them as a kid and they tended to follow the formula that taught as that, as a persecuted people, we were obligated to follow our faith as it was laid out to us by our elders. And that was difficult because. As someone who thought differently and was different, I always felt as though I was betraying their memory if I chose to go right at a fork instead of left, remembering where I came from, honoring it which IS important, in fact essential to my identity, but expressing it in a way that fit me.

WRATH BECOMES HER is the book that will let Jewish kids of this generation do that and that is an accomplishment beyond measure.

Wrath Becomes Her is a fantastic new take on the classic YA World War 2/Holocaust novel. Fast paced and engaging, with really compelling characters, I would absolutely recommend it to any fan of historical fiction and/or fantasy stories.

A gorgeous cover. Lyrical descriptive writing. A golem made for vengeance. Jewish MCs in WWII in Lithuania.

Somehow I’m a sucker for beautifully written historical stories these days. I’m there for the pain, the grief, the rage, to acknowledge we did so much wrong in the past and still do.

Wrath Becomes Her is different than the historical books I’ve read before. Vera is a golem made for vengeance, made from the mud from the river. She doesn’t only look like a human being, she feels like one too, with emotions running through her body from a human life once lived. I’m not only a sucker for historical stories, but I’m also a sucker for sadder ones, and this book is full of feelings. Akiva’s and Ezra’s grief was so palpable, and I felt their rage against the Nazis seep through my body. Add Vera’s struggles with finding her identity, worsened by the constant turmoil of Chaya’s emotions, and I flew through the pages.

This story is for anyone who loves to read a different WWII story, with a fantasy twist and Jewish main characters but without the holocaust as a central theme.

I hadn’t read one of Aden Polydoros’ books before, but I’m definitely picking up his first two books.

Author Aden Polydoros has wrote another addictive fantasy in “Wrath Becomes Her”! This is the novel of vengeance I was meant to read this week! Frankenstien’s classic story is now changed to envelope a new generation of fans! YA readers will LOVE having this in any public or school library, but multiple copies will be needed to keep up with high demand once it is published. Passion, horror, intrigue - this book is brain candy for those who want to energize themselves and have a fast, engaging read. Five out of five stars for Jewish symbolism, and a high octane story. Polydoros at her best!

Thank you to Inkyard press via NetGalley for this amazing arc! I read and reviewed in exchange for my honest opinions.

"Our history... Our faith. It's written all over you. As long as you survive, so will we."

In the middle of the night, I jolted awake thinking about this book. It stuck to my bones like clay.

Lithuania. 1943. Vera is a golem. She is designed for one thing and one thing only: vengeance. Her creator, Ezra, crafted her in his daughter Chaya's image after she was murdered by Nazis, bringing Vera to life with ancient Jewish magic called kishuf to avenge Chaya's death and protect her people. But when Ezra goes missing, Vera is forced into the world and straight into enemy territory, and when she encounters the boy from Chaya's memories, Vera starts to understand what it is she is fighting for and what it means to be alive.

Told in first person POV, encountering the world through Vera's senses provides a deep and moving reading experience. Chaya's memories from when she was alive provide context clues at first, since Vera is so new to life, but Vera quickly comes into her own. You can't help but root for her. I highlighted so many passages, the writing is truly gorgeous.

Admittedly, the middle chapters seem a little episodic in that Vera visits a new location, meets new characters, and moves on, but it serves a greater narrative purpose by giving Vera the opportunity to learn what it means to be human, from the individual to the community, and how even the smallest defiance is a candle in the dark. Vera's journey is all forward momentum, and there's never a dull moment.

Vera and Akiva's relationship had me in a choke hold (affectionate). I'll leave it at that.

WRATH BECOMES HER is a story about war, and evil, and despair - yes; but it's also a story about community, and love, and humanity, and how survival itself can be one of the greatest acts of rebellion. Five stars.

This historical fantasy is easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and I was so lucky to have the chance to read it before it comes out in October. I will sing praises about this book forever. Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A list of content warnings provided by the author include:
• Antisemitism
• Genocide
• On page murder and violence
• Death of a parent
• Body horror

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC version of this novel! Opinions are my own.

Vera is a golem, born of clay to exact revenge on the Nazis who killed her creator's daughter. Polydoros sculpted this unforgettable story, with the first chapter alone leaving me in awe. #WrathBecomesHer makes you feel Vera's rage, and the historical setting rips your heart straight out of your chest.

Thank you again to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review and to Aden Polydoros for revealing the armature of humanity.

The dedication says it all: for everyone who has ever wanted to punch Nazis. Once again, Aden Polydoros takes elements of Jewish culture and the supernatural to create a (sorry) spellbinding (not sorry) YA novel about Jewish partisans in Lithuania during WWII. When Chaya is killed, her father uses her eyes and teeth and tongue and river mud to create a golem designed to avenge her death. This kind of magic--using the flesh of the dead--is strictly forbidden, but he doesn't care--all he wants is for Chaya's killers to suffer. The golem, who becomes animated with a body covered in ink from Torahs and papers from a genizah, is Vera, whose inquisitive nature and nigh-indestructible body make her journey to avenge Chaya a complex one. Vera is a person in her own right, who must make tough decisions and take sometimes reckless actions in order to protect her new comrades--and yes, she punches a lot of Nazis. I love Polyroros's thoughtful take on kosher and non-kosher kinds of magic, the forces that bring Vera to life, and telling the story of what happened in Lithuania during the War. We need more books on Jewish resistance during WWII for YA and all audiences, and am recommending this to every librarian and parent I know.

I don't usually read YA but I love Jewish mythology and anything to do with golems. This ended up being a very clever story. I enjoyed it immensely and hope that it goes on as a series. Mythology, strong characters and wonderful writing.

Crafted to exact vengeance and with a driving purpose to avenge the death of a daughter, a golem carries more than rage and will need to find a way to cope with an unexpected range of emotional considerations in Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros.

As a golem, Vera has been created through clay, kishuf, and parts of the dead daughter, Chaya, that Vera’s creator mourns, infusing her with a pointed rage to avenge the death of Chaya by killing Nazis. Alongside the rage that drives her violent purpose for being are emotions and memories from Chaya’s abruptly ended life, as well as recollections, words, and languages of scholars whose works adorn her limbs like tattoos. After her creator goes missing, Vera seeks him out and along the way comes across Akiva, a boy she recognizes through Chaya’s memories and is drawn toward but doesn’t know if he could see her as anything other than an imitation of Chaya or if she would even deserve to be seen that way. Vera and Akiva pair up in a pursuit of vengeance, tracking down Dr. Brandt, the architect behind a trail of brutal destruction, to bring about the demise of him and his despicable plans before any more unthinkably monstrous acts can become a reality within their bleak world.

With a captivating premise and portrayal of Jewish characters, culture, and lore, the story draws readers in easily to witness the strength of fight within those resisting against merely following orders and to learn how Vera, with a frequently though understandable naïve perspective, repeatedly confronts who, and what, she is in comparison with the rest of humanity, often focusing on the vilest portion. What it means to be human is explored well through Vera’s contemplations and actions; there were a few distinct depictions of Vera experiencing an overt confrontation of self when she encounters other golems, or golem attempts, where she decides to remove their opportunity for life, whatever that might mean for her and them, raising an important question of why she’s the one who got to decide. Though conveying impactful, poignant sentiments at regular intervals throughout, the latter portion of this narrative is far heavier with frenetic action while the beginning is unevenly slower as some journeys and evils to be faced are laid out, resulting in pacing that felt slightly off-balance. A belief of having a purpose and mastery over one’s own life comes through the story well, with a particularly striking phrase summing up each person’s ability to create their own purpose despite outside pressures: “a future without a master, without the need to fulfill another person’s order.”

Overall, I'd give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was unlike most others that are set during World War 2. When authors tackle this period and the Holocaust, it is often about the victims, and very rarely to we get depictions of Jewish characters that actively fight back. This is exactly what we get in this book, where the main character is a golem created from the remains of her creator's daughter, who was killed by Nazis, as a means of taking revenge. The golem, Vera, soon finds herself in the middle of the fight, allying with anti-nazi groups and refugees that are fighting to survive. The book shows all sorts of characters, ranging from those who can't fight back or have no desire to, to those who actively attack and undermine the Nazis. The book is also set in Lithuania, an area that's not often featured in WW2 fiction, and that historically saw a catastrophically high death count among the Jewish population due to a large number of collaborators in the country. The plot was fast paced and straight forward, and while the end was a bit of a surprise, it was still satisfying. The characters were varied and interesting, and brought a lot of variety to the type of story being told about this time period.

I stopped at 6%. This is solidly in the Middle Grades / High School age range. Good pace and really cool subject matter. Great cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC.

Wrath Becomes Her
Written by Aden Polydoros
384 pages
Release Date: October 10, 2023 by Inkyard Press
4/5 Stars
*An ARC of this title was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Receiving a copy in no way influenced my review*
Did you like From Dust, a Flame? Then you will fall in love with Wrath Becomes Her. Polydoros latest novel explores what it means to be human, what makes us human and if humanity itself is good. Ezra, a father and inventor, discovers that his daughter has been killed by Nazis. Now, his mind is bent on only one thing, revenge. From the dark depths of this brilliant scientist comes the idea of one of the legends of jewish tales, the golem. Thus is born Vera, a veritable Frankensteinian monster carved out of clay, the works of the brilliant minds over years, and parts of Chaya, Ezra's dead daughter.
Vera can feel her purpose, to kill, to revenge, to destroy. At the same time, she can remember things like kisses, tender moments, feelings of...love. Especially when she comes across Akiva, the boy who Chaya had fallen in love with and kissed. Is Vera really Chaya? Are these feelings just memories of Chaya's, or do they belong to Vera? Where does the vengeful golem stop and the humanity of Vera begin, or is Vera human at all? What does it even mean to be "human"?
I said in my review for From Dust that there are not enough books that deal with Jewish beliefs in the Young Adult catagory, so I was excited to learn of this one. Polydoros has done a great job of helping to fill this missing area with literature, and again, he hits the mark. This is not a fast-paced, mile-a-minute read, but instead burns with the wonder of Vera as she takes in the world and finds all of the new, yet familiar things while exploring this concept of humanity. Specifically, trying to figure out what is humanity in the face of all of the darkness surrounding her, from the malevolent Nazis to her creator Ezra and "love" Akiva who just want vengeance and watching the suffering of the people under the yoke of both the Nazis and their own.
I say all of this with some caution to you, dear reader. The book is not necessarily for the faint-hearted. As Polydoros own website already has some content warnings listed which include murder (yes, the author has some very gruesome descriptions that make the violence leap out), death of a parent, body horror and genocide (of course). The body horror is contained throughout the text, as this is a central issue of Vera's and the exploration of what it means to be human. How much of what we are on the outside defines us versus who we are on the inside. Making the setting during the middle of Nazi occupation of Jewish areas is perfect for exploring this idea and brings the issue from just a personal one to a societal question and issue.
While not a perfect book, as there are points in the book that where Vera's getting lost in her head did seem to slow the plot down to just a simmer, Wrath Becomes Her is a great read.

@netgalley 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
𝕎𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕙 𝔹𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕤 ℍ𝕖𝕣 by @adenpolydoros

This book was really different compared to other books I have read about the holocaust. The author even wrote a letter in the beginning explaining this. The author letter really made me want to read this book. The author is very relatable and after reading Wrath Become Her I will be checking out other works as well!

A father wanting to avenge his daughters death by Nazi hands, builds Vera using an ancient magic. When Vera awakens she can feel her violent purpose but she is also experiencing memories that are not her own. There moments where my heart absolutely broke for both Vera and Chaya and the lives that were cut too short. As the story progresses Vera realizes she will need much more than Ezra built her with. She will need not just a reason to fight but a reason to live.

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭.”

Wrath Becomes Her focuses more heavily on the fighters, the survivors, and those battling to survive. I was truly in awe as I read this book, and watched Vera go up against the vilest of humans, and fight for what was right. Vera reminded me of Frankenstein having one main purpose engrained but also learning through experience and Chayas memories. I will definitely be adding this book to my shelf when it releases 𝙾𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟶𝚝𝚑, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹 and will be recommending this title!

𝙷𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢 ✔️
𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝙿𝚕𝚘𝚝 ✔️

#jayjaypjkwreads #thebookishcrew #historicalfantasy #bookreview #netgalley #arcreader #bookstagram #bookrecommendation #octoberbookrelease #comingsoon

Beautiful, suspenseful, and eye-opening.

This book was mind blowing from start to finish and that ending was not what I expected.

The book is historical fantasy and told through a Jewish lens. I will say I am not Jewish nor do I have that much personal knowledge , however some research is somewhat needed to understand some terms, even with the glossary. I will say I learned a lot and appreciate the opportunity to do so and see the small beautiful moments of culture and religion that Vera experiences with Jewish counterparts. Even with the somber setting. It should be noted that stories like this are important so that we never forget the atrocities of the past and do not repeat them.

Our story centers on and is told by a golem named Vera who was created by a man named Ezra for a very specific reason. Vengeance. However throughout the story she realizes that perhaps there is more to life than what we are told we must be. Also, we are not just the stereotypes people have formed. She has memories that are not hers but her feelings and opinions , she realizes , are all her own. Including how she feels about certain people like her companion, Akiva who is with her throughout the book.

Set in Lithuania in 1943 during the Second World War, we see the atrocities and destruction brought upon innocent people for their culture and beliefs. A world where you cannot even trust your own neighbor and the consequences of that situation.

Her relationship with Akiva is about what I would expect in reality. It is a very awkward situation but well written , there is a lot unspoken between them but I like the support they give one another and the lessons of trust and acceptance he gives to Vera as she navigates this new life. These lessons she will carry and use to shape who she wants to be and with whom she wishes to be.

Overall , I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. It was beautifully written and full of life lessons that anyone can relate to.

**This full review will be appearing in the book/magazine, Rise Above, publishing in April 2023 by Wintry Monsters Press. A quoted blurb has been placed on the book's Goodreads listing for the time being.**

The Review: This book kind of blew me away. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Before this year, I’d only read prominently Jewish stories having to do with the Holocaust. The author notes this experience at the start of the book, saying he grew up reading stories in which the Jewish characters were depicted as helpless victims. Wrath Becomes Her doesn’t feature a Jewish cast of that nature, Aden made sure of it; instead, WBH is composed of fearless fighters battling to survive. They are absolute warriors slipping between the shadows and taking down transports, collecting airdrops, and preparing infiltrations of camps and bases. The lead character, Vera, is “kishuf” golem, which a Frankenstein-esque spin of the traditional Jewish golem made purely of clay. With kishuf magic, Vera is infused with real organic matter from the dead daughter of the man that built her. This includes her teeth, eyes, and hair. She looks so much like Chaya, in fact, that people mistake her as the daughter returned to them from the dead. And though Vera has some of Chaya’s memories, she is her own person. As she struggles to accept her unique form (that frightens many), she also struggles to separate Chaya’s feelings from her own. She quickly joins Chaya’s lover, Akiva, and feels a strong pull toward him. Together, they begin to rage war against the Nazis, culminating in a dark and horrific discovery. All of Wrath Becomes Her deals in humanity; whether or not Vera is worthy of love and life outside of violence, whether or not to intervene in the various tragedies taking place every way they look, whether or not there’s a future in which man will stop its senseless monstrosities against one another. The premise is intriguing and unique, the characters detailed and bleeding, and the environments cold and bleak. I was hooked on this book from page one; I found it incredibly difficult to let go and return to my job during the week I devoured it. WBH called to me whenever I had a chance (and the energy) to read. It took precedent over the other titles I was enjoying with ease. Even great books can get respites from me due to my mood reading, but this was a title I couldn’t let a day pass without swallowing a few dozen pages first.

The Bottom Line: For a book that is decidedly grim and full of death, this extraordinary tale is as compassionate as it is horrifying. It will cling to you from the start and draw you into a heartbreaking battle fueled by loss and the hope for a brighter tomorrow.

5/5

*If you liked Hungers as Old as This Land by Zachary Rosenberg, you’ll like Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros (and vice versa).

4.5

This is the first book by Polydoros I've read and I am very intrigued to pick up anything else he writes. Thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy. It came at the perfect time - right before I began teaching a unit to sophomores about the novel "Night" and discussed different view points of the war and who it impacted. I am very excited to add this to the classroom library next year.

I love Vera as a protagonist because she reacts to the world much like the Creature in Frankenstein does albeit with the anchor of a command ingrained in her to avenge the death of her creator's daughter Chaya. She learns the world through interactions with others but with the ghost of Chaya and her experiences in her time as a resistance member. This is why Vera is drawn to Akiva, Chaya's lover.

This is a fairly quickly paced novel and my only negative note would be more exploration into the experiments to lend them greater weight. It felt very glossed over and swift. I also really enjoyed sort of the secondary antagonist and he felt fairly well anchored into the reality created for him.

This is not going to be a novel that makes you experience the horrors of WW2 through the lens of a concentration camp or prisoner of war camp but you will see horror and tragedy and the body horror in this book is very real. I would absolutely recommend this book to others as it is very approachable and based on a religious folklore that isn't often read about.