"Do you think you have the right to decide that? What gives you the power to choose whether something deserves to live or die?"
A dark book that dealt with so much death.
This was the story of a young Jewish girl killed by a Nazi. Her father uses her remaining body parts to create a golem (Vera) that looks human and has the sole purpose of destroying the Nazis, of delivering justice, retribution.
Vera being made of human parts learns empathy, begins to see memories from the human life making being a golem a confusing thing. When her creator/father goes missing she sets out on a journey to find him.
This book is about that journey. All the trouble she encounters, Nazis she kills, feelings and emotion she begins to develop.
In this book we are struck by the question of who is the monster? Humans or golems? Who gets to decide who lives and who dies?
Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an advanced e-copy of Wrath Becomes Her. This was a long, sad journey. With so much death I would not recommend this book be part of a classroom. While this was an entertaining journey routing for Vera and her struggle to be resolved there was not much insight into the history of everything going on in the Jewish community at this time. Great Fall time read for enjoyment purposes.

Ok, first of all, THAT COVER GOES SO HARD. Second, HOOOOO ADEN POLYDOROS CAN *WRITE.*

Anyway. Yes. It's taken me such a long time to write this review, because honestly, I'm not sure what words I can use to do this justice. The atmosphere is unparalleled, cold and dark and somehow all the more beautiful despite the bleakness and violence. It's bone-deep sad, but also angry and comforting and the equivalent of a sigh after a shouting match. Fierce, unique, and unforgiving: so many words, but Polydoros deserves them all and more.

This is the WW2 dark fantasy/revenge horror/star-crossed romance that YA deserves. Actually, it's the kind of book I'll be throwing at everyone who claims YA is somehow "lesser" than adult fiction.

Fight me, cowards. Better yet, fight Vera.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for a copy of Wrath Becomes Her in exchange for an honest review. This cover is absolutely amazing.

Frankenstein with a vengeance vs. Nazis.
Vera, a golem made from dark magic by a father using his deceased daughters body parts, is out for vengeance on behalf of her creator. A mixture of historical fiction, fantasy, and Jewish/Hebrew folklore. I think the book would have been easier to get into in the beginning if there was a reference sheet to words such as golem, kishuf, etc. While the premise is so intriguing I had a few issues with the plot. The book is beautifully written and while I enjoyed the book I had hopes for this story because I wanted the ultimate female badass to have no remorse on going on killing sprees. However Vera is plagued with the memories of the woman whose body parts were used to create her, Chaya.
Personally I would have liked for Vera to be a lone wolf and not run into Akiva so early on in the book and immediately stick with him. I feel that lead to Vera not fully developing into the amazing character she could be.
The premise is amazing and as someone who never read Hebrew folklore it definitely opened my eyes to new mythical beings.

This was good! It was very interesting throughout and I really enjoyed it. The gollum aspect was so unique and well done, and the added Frankenstein elements made for a firecracker of a read. I liked the writing a lot and found it to be captivating. I definitely need to read more from this author ASAP!

Thank you Inkyard Press, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for this eARC. These opinions are my own. I have become a fan of Aden Polydoros and this book was a good addition! Ezra is heartbroken over the death of his daughter so using magic he creates Vera, a golem. His goal is to use her to get vengeance against those who killed his daughter. But Vera has her own feelings is this what she wants? I enjoyed the historical knowledge and look at Jewish folklore in this one. I also enjoyed that the events take place during WWII. I loved that though Vera was created to seek vengeance she struggles with her identity and her emotions with Chaya’s (Ezra’s daughter) included. I felt like the grief really showed through and the look at coping with loss. It hooks you from the first page and will have you reading until you finish! Can’t wait to read it again!

<b>A beautifully written WWII based fantasy</b>

I chose to pick up this book because I really enjoyed the author's previous book, Bone Weaver. Outside of the realization that it's harder for me to get into fantasy books now, this didn't disappoint.

I haven't read much historical fiction and definitely little based in WWII, so this was very interesting. It takes place in Lithuania, which is an area I honestly haven't heard much about, especially not in the context of the Holocaust.

I enjoyed the character of Vera, and empathized with her existential struggles. Even though she wasn't human, she still embodied so much humanity. I constantly wondered what her future was going to be, or even what it could be.

Specifically, there's a moment when Vera realizes the scope of the war, and how little they can do in the grand scheme of things. I really felt that, since we're fighting on new fronts now (and some of the current struggles are continued from that time as well) and sometimes it feels hopeless. Like Vera though, we can't give up.

I'm also a sucker for stories based in mythology from various cultures, and feel there needs to be more tales like this, especially. It was definitely different than other golem stories I've seen and read.

Once again, Aden Polydoros has crafted a wonderfully vibrant world, and brought to life an under represented mythos. I can't wait to see what he does next!

What an incredible book!

Wrath Becomes Her centers on Vera, a golem created by a grieving father to avenge his daughter's death at the hands of the Nazis. She must come to terms with her identity - created for one thing, but capable of so much more. She deals with not only the grief she inherited by design, but grief for those she meets and loses.

This book grapples with some heavy themes - love, loss, grief, identity, and self-determination among them. This is a very deeply Jewish book, full of characters dealing with the worst imaginable situations and refusing to give up or lie down quietly no matter the cost. Similar to some of the author's other books, grief - especially as it manifests as anger - features prominently and resonated strongly with me.

This was an extremely powerful story. I've read all of Polydoros' books, and I think this is my favorite so far; I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Ooh, another impactful spooky read from Polydoros! I was so sucked in at the beginning of this book, watching Vera become aware and start trying to figure out who she is and whether she has a purpose was really well done.

The characters overall were excellent, as was the setting and the writing - the only thing that lost me slightly was the plot, it seemed unclear what the actual goal was. I think if you go into this expecting a character-driven story you'll have the correct expectations, I was kind of expecting a Wolf by Wolf type story where we actually overthrow the Nazis and it's definitely a story on a smaller scale.

I also like that it was set in Lithuania - it's good to get a different perspective on the horrors of WW2.

I really enjoyed how this book explored themes about what makes someone human and the cruelty and resistance/will to live of humanity. I also really liked how Vera navigated discovering her own emotions vs those she was created with and carving out her own sense of identity.

It's also nice to see a WWII historical fiction book centering Jewish protagonists as heroes and exploring the complicity and collaboration of non-Jewish civilians and military with the Nazis during WWII- it's not a part of history often recognised in U.S. schools, unfortunately.

First, I want to say thank you to NetGalley for giving me free access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have adored every book I have read by Aden Polydoros and he does not disappoint with this newest book. Like with the other books I have read by him, there is history that gives backdrop to the story. There are magic/fantasy elements. And there are deep questions about what makes someone a monster. And like with all his books I've read thus far, the characters are deep and well developed. I love how Polydoros integrates in folklore and beliefs and crafts them into something that feels like it honors and respects those stories and beliefs.

However, with this book being set during WWII, it is significantly heavier than his other books.

Seeing the journey Vera takes to learn about why she exists and to decide how she will use this life she has is powerful. The people she comes to cherish, the reader comes to cherish. And even though her struggles to understand her reason for being come about for reasons that are very dissimilar to any of us, it yet feels like a relatable struggle all the same.

To be honest, it took me a long time to get through this book because I had to keep putting it down due to the heaviness of the story. But I am would and will read it again. And for those who are in a mental place to read a book with the heavy topics within (WWII, antisemitism, violence, death, murder), it is one well worth your time reading.

I really enjoyed this book and I knew I would because it was dedicated to "all those people who have ever wanted to punch a nazi". And I am one of those people. I liked the idea that this was an Inglorious Basterds + Frankenstein mashup and that had me set to go right away. Vera was a cool character who brought up many big questions about existence and G-d and all that noise, but in a way that allowed the reader to actually ponder those questions in a thoughtful manner. Akiva was okay. Typical love interest character with a penchant for killing nazis (which I'm all for). I guess I was a little bummed that Vers put so much aside for him, or seemed to, and that gets inflated toward the end even more when all I really wanted was this thoughtful golem out for effing vengeance. And that brings me to my minus-a-star review, as it seems that I loved this book:

I took away a star because, honestly, I wanted to see more nazis get what they deserved. I get the whole notion that things need to be built and developed for the story to proceed in a thoughtful manner, and I hold nothing against Polydoros for writing this novel that way, but... reading about a whole regiment of nazis getting torn limb from limb, maybe some "Game of Thrones" style head crushing action taking place, anything more than the few nondescript deaths that we got would have been nice. Clearly, this would of complicated things for Vera, her being a thinking being and all, but man, it would've been cool to read that. Anyway, I think this is a really great read and I endorse it and would recommend it to my students, wholeheartedly.

In Wrath Becomes Her, Polydoros cements himself as a master of the disquiet. A sense of wrongness permeates this story, which ends up being more of a meditation on humanity and monstrosity than it does vengeful Nazi killing romp. Don't get me wrong, Nazis do get killed, but don't come into this story expecting a lot of action. It moves slowly, quietly, hauntingly as Vera struggles to understand what it means to be human and what truly makes one monstrous. This is a story that will make you ache not just with the beauty of its prose but also the brutality of its truth, the sorrow of its world, and strength of its characters. A worthwhile read for anyone looking for a solid WWII story with a focus on Jewish resistance. ARC provided by NetGalley.

I loved the intricacies of this historical fantasy; the world-building was so dynamic and felt so real because of the level of detail and attention to historical accuracy. At the same time, it was very emotional.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

Vera knows she isn't human - she's a golem. As her creator Ezra, brings her to life from clay, she is taught that she was made for vengeance. Molded into the shape of Ezra's dead daughter Chaya and using her eyes, teeth, and bones, Vera is plunged into her purpose when the Nazis raid Ezra's home. She has Chaya's memories, and finds the rebel Akiva, who loved Chaya. As they begin to hunt the Nazis, they discover that Ezra's books about creating golems has landed in Nazi hands.

There are some similarities between Vera and the Frankenstein monster, but this also was very much inspired by Jewish culture and folklore. Vera's point of view makes the reader feel how inhuman she is, especially anytime she gets injured and her body glops and drips, which at times did make it hard to believe that she passed as human. The quest of the Nazis to obtain Jewish mystical knowledge tracks with what I know about Nazis, in particular the way they experimented on humans. While this is a World War II story, there's little reference to concentration camps or even the front lines, so this felt a bit distant from the immediacy of the war, but overall it was a fast-paced story that held my interest to the end.

The pitch, the cover, and the title all really. drew me in. Inglorious Bastards meets Frankenstein? Sign me up. However, the marketing here does not match what the book really is, and I think that may lead some readers astray.
The places the story really shines are in Vera's deliberations on her own sense of self and personhood. What pieces of her are truly hers, and what belong to Chaya, the dead girl she's made up from. This exploration is interesting and at times I truly felt for her. Aside from that, I found that the story makes it hard to like any of the characters. Because of the content and knowledge I have of anti-semitism, I cared, but you are given very little connection with any of the characters and when that is severed, it is not keenly felt. The title and the beginning of the book made me think this would be a vengeful, wrath filled novel, but it is a boy leading a slightly mopey girl about from place to place, which felt disappointing in the end. I think this story could have benefited from better comps and marketing to properly suit the story.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Wrath Becomes Her” is a fantastical WWII story that takes place in Lithuania. A young Jewish warrior named Chaya has died, and her father Ezra uses her body parts plus forbidden magic to create a golem that he names Vera. He builds her with one aim in mind: to slay the men who killed his daughter. But Vera has some of Chaya’s memories, and as she encounters people and places that Chaya knew, questions of personhood, agency, and identity rise to the surface. This book is packed with historical detail, is immensely researched, and full of twisted and compelling prose. It’s got one of the coolest covers I’ve ever seen. There were a few things that definitely detracted from my enjoyment: the plot was somewhat lacking in general and hard to follow, and certain relationships felt very underdeveloped, particularly that between Vera and Ezra. Certain parts left me wanting more and others felt overcooked; for example I really could have done without a romantic subplot entirely in a story like this. Like Vera, it seems like the book is having an identity crisis. Is it a wartime action-packed drama, a YA romance, or a coming of age story? I didn’t feel that the different elements were effectively blended into one cohesive novel. Although the premise and the details and the prose are wonderful, this one sadly missed the mark for me.

This book really whetted and renewed my appetite for stories about golems. What rich possibility and history and lore they present!! And Polydoros digs into some of that, in ways I found satisfying for this particular narrative and in ways that made me want more on the topic generally.

We've got Vera, waking up and learning what it's like, and what it means, to be human and to be not-human; we've got her "father," who created her in the image of his dead daughter Chaya; we've got Akiva, who Vera remembers fondly through Chaya's memories. And we've got so many Nazis to fight, because it's Lithuania in 1943, plus an exciting surprise enemy toward the end of the book that I won't spoil. There's a lot going on, and a lot of it is frightening and awful--rightfully so, in a book happening during the Holocaust.

But my favorite parts were the quieter moments: Vera trying to sort out her own personhood from Chaya's memories, Vera and Akiva's strange and intense relationship, the people and situations they encounter along their journey that bring into question what humanity is, and what makes a monster, and what difference individual choices and efforts can make. All of this was handled with gravity, but lightly--never too bogged down, just prompting some questions and suggesting some answers in a way that felt particularly resonant coming from a trans author.

And that ending!!!!!!! Just as heartwrenching and complicated as the whole book was, but condensed into a juicy nugget of pain and hope.

"Wrath Becomes Her" by Aden Polydoros is a gripping amalgamation of Horror, Sci Fi & Fantasy, tailored for the Teens & YA audience. The book masterfully delves into the realm of dark emotions and supernatural intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Aden Polydoros' intricate storytelling skillfully blends elements of horror and fantasy, creating a chilling and suspenseful narrative. With its captivating plot and well-crafted tension, "Wrath Becomes Her" is a compelling read that offers a thrilling escape into a world where fear and fantasy collide.

I want to say that the story to this was amazing but the characters were flat and just not likable. I really kind of hated everyone in this book. I spent most of the time wanting to jump into the story to slap someone.

I am an Aden Stan. I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to see the golem myth retold with magic and taking place through the Holocaust. I just always know everything from Aden is going to deliver and this book did just that.