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.

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros is haunting, exhilarating, and full of vengeance. It is a disturbing and mystical experience filled with rich details making it all the more moving.

This book is brutal and shows you the darkness within humanity. Absolutely heart wrenching yet not without some light at the end of the tunnel.

Wrath Becomes Her is a slow but gorgeously-crafted novel set in 1943, Lithuania, as one golem sets out to find her purpose in this world where her people's genocide looms over the horizon.

Vera is crafted as a tool for revenge: her creator's daughter, Chaya, was killed by Nazis, and thus her creator uses Chaya's remains in order to hunt down the perpetrators. The story follows Vera's journey to find her meaning for existence. Her deep discomfort with her own "inhumanity", conflicting emotions as Chaya's own memories overtake her, and grief at the plight of Jewish refugees create such a heartbreaking yet compelling conflict.

There's something deeply cathartic about a Jewish character who can rip apart Nazis with her bare hands even as they try to gun her down. And yet, all the while, there is a creeping fear that she may be the only thing left standing of an entire people once the war is over. For all that she can take down Nazis one by one, she cannot stop the destruction of Jewish sacred texts, culture, or the community itself at the hands of a vast system of oppression.

With how strong and cleverly constructed the themes were, my main drawback was that the relationships between the characters were weak. This isn't the book for a grand, sweeping romance, but a better balance of having soft, interpersonal moments outside of the pre-existing relationship foundation would have been lovely.

All that being said, I really enjoyed this book and it'll definitely haunt me in the days to come.

*Review written of an ARC received from Netgalley*

The cover for the book immediately pulled me in but the story held me close. It was dark, sad, full of vengeance, found family, renewed life, and resilience. Following Vera in her self discovery as a golem was such a unique experience. I normally don’t pick up historical fiction but this one sounded so good and it lived up to my expectations.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

First let me thank NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this e-book!
Second, I liked the book but I feel like it was most definitely not what it was advertised as, but first let’s talk about all the things I liked! First, I loved the way the author wove information into the story and made so natural to the plot and flow of the book. I also loved the main character and her struggles not only with the morals she was created with but the new morals she found herself discovering. That also brings me to the second part of what I liked about the book, the questions it made you ask about humanity, life, and personal morals were so cool and interesting to me, again, I loved the way the author also kinda wove history into the book with these questions as well.
Now let’s get into what I didn’t like about the book, first I expected a lot more of her traveling by herself and discovering things on her own which is not to say she didn’t but it was more her being shown things instead of finding them out for herself. I also didn’t like the way the book kinda hinged on the male character, being there to make her feel things when she was doing that just fine on her own. There were also certain parts in the book that just felt unnecessary and kinda took away from the story.
Another thing I want to mention about this book is that it’s great for Jewish representation and while it is a fictional story it doesn’t have real historical facts woven into it!
Overall I’d give this book a nice 6/10!

I had to read this one slowly—the story is vast and raw and heartbreakingly beautiful. Aden has, once again, crafted a book that will stay with me for a long time.

I love this story. The characters felt completely real, and I connected with Vera so viscerally. The relationship between her and Akiva was SO PERFECT and tragic and wonderful and redemptive…the characters were definitely the best part.

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

First and foremost that cover is just captivating. It’s giving me Frankenstein monster vibes and I’m digging that.
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.
‘Dedicated to every reader who’s ever wanted punch a Nazi.’
Probably the best dedication ever, I know I wanna punch a Nazi.
This book for sure is an interesting combination of a setting during the holocaust mixed with Frankenstein’s monster. It kind of follows the bare bones of what that story tells just with the holocaust in the background. The main character is kind of forgettable at times, a lot of the characters are really 2D to be honest. I was kind of expecting this story to have my feelings bursting at the seams but overall I was honestly bored and this was at the 50% mark. I honestly feel like this author had a solid idea, but just did a so so job of executing it.
Maybe I spoke too soon but I like to do reviews as I’m reading it.
The latter half for sure got me in my feelings. To be in that situation surrounded with death around every corner. Losing family, friends and significant others. It’s hard to even imagine. There is one part of the book where a girl decides to stay back with her family instead of running. Her reasoning is that she would rather be with her own community and family, if the time comes for her to potentially die. And to have one of the main characters break down, crying saying that, ‘at least she still has family to stay with..’ broke my heart.
For sure started off rocky but landed sort of gracefully. The latter half for sure saved the book for me. I would for sure be interested in seeing more from these characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for a ARC for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC!

I don't usually read Holocaust books these days, but the premise of "Nazi-punching golem and Jewish partisan love interest" was too good to resist. And this book definitely delivers on the Nazi-punching. Obviously I love that this book centers Jewish people, Jewish rage and Jewish grief (that is, after all, what made me want to read it), but I also love that it doesn't shy away from holding the bystanders accountable as well. There's so much Holocaust literature about kind goyim helping Jews, but this book actively reminds readers that more people didn't, many people helped the Nazis, and everyone knew what was happening.

On a similar note, I really liked Vera's wrestling with monstrousness vs. humanity, both as it relates to herself and her own creation, as well as to humans and their monstrous actions. I liked how much she and the other characters focused on how best to help each other and themselves. This book was heavy, but I thought it was very well done in these aspects.

The romance, on the other hand, felt Weird to me. A lot of the time, it was more of a sidenote than a central feature, which I thought worked well, but it also meant the book never really managed to convince me that any feelings Vera and Akiva had for each other were genuine, rather than simply side effects of Chaya's memories (on Vera's side) and the fact that she looks exactly like her (on Akiva's side). Like I said, it wasn't really a central part of the book, so it didn't take away much from my experience, but I wish it were either fleshed out more or removed entirely.

I also found some of the transitions between chapters abrupt and even a bit jarring, to the point where I sometimes flipped back a page to try to reorient myself, and certain facts seemed like they were introduced and immediately accepted without evidence either way (one that stood out was whether or not a character had died), but I would accept that as a facet of Vera's character, seeing as she is a golem and struggling to familiarize herself with the world.

Despite those few issues I had, I think this book is worth reading, even at times enjoyable despite the darkness, and the catharsis of it, if nothing else, certainly makes up for the more minor structural complaints.

Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t put it down. The premise of this book was so intriguing and the execution was even better. I did not expect Ezra, Vera’s creator, to be such a complex character but I really liked how his grief was explored and how Vera dealt with it.

I mostly enjoyed the main character Vera’s exploration of what it means to be human and her internal struggles of feeling like she’s a monster. I was super invested in Vera's story. Sometimes it got a bit repetitive but for a young adult protagonist, I think that is to be expected.

The ending is what takes this down from being excellent to being just good. I was honestly quite baffled at the last two chapters because they went in the complete opposite direction of what Vera has discovered about herself through the course of the book. Suddenly in the last part of the book, Vera presents this dichotomy between “killing Nazis/violence” and “helping people live.” It’s not clear how she can do one without the other in this situation and it’s never explained further. The ending almost feels incomplete in a sense because we are told that Vera’s emotional journey is finished but it doesn’t feel that way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 40%
The stunning cover and absolutely gripping pitch drew me in, but I just couldn't get into the actual book. I had a hard time caring about or rooting for the main character, Vera, who had interesting internal conflict as a golem struggling with her own existence, but she was just a bit too aimless and a bit mopey when I wanted more from her. I could also tell it was headed toward some romance with Akiva who I just didn't care for. I think this book is probably great and could be enjoyable for someone else but it was not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
VERY cool premise, just not a great execution.
The golem is a very interesting bit of Jewish lore, a creature made of clay or dirt, that is crafted and given life through mystical incantations and then is at the bidding of the creator. It can be made for any number of reasons.
After a man loses his daughter, Chaya, to the Nazis, he commits the very great sin of defiling his daughters corpse (regular golems are only dirt or clay, no human pieces), and using deeper, darker magic to create Vera, an almost exact Golem replica of Chaya. Vera is created with the sole purpose of vengeance and hunting and killing the Nazis that killed Chaya.
But all the the deep magic has some side effects. Vera is not your average mindless golem, she retains Chaya’s (the daughter) memories and has full sentience.
She teams up with Akiva, Chaya’s lover (yes, complicated) and the story goes from there.
Little do they know that the Nazis are also searching for Ezra (the father) in order to steal this bit of the dark arts for themselves.
It’s really an imaginative premise, and it would be a very cool movie.
But the book itself didn’t do it for me. It felt haphazardly written, short (even though it’s pretty jam packed with info and some action), and while not a truly bad thing, especially for those readers who speak Yiddish, Lithuanian, or a Polish, I kept having to leave the flow of the book to continuously go to the glossary at the back for word references and definitions.
2.5 stars rounded up for a really neat idea, but, for me, I’ll wait to see it on a screen.

The cover and premise really caught my eye. However, things fell flat after that. I expected stronger characters seeking vengeance. Instead, I found a girl moping after a guy. The dialogue seemed all over the place. There was too much telling vs. showing. Vera doesn't come across as all that likeable ... just flat. I'd expected a strong female lead, but the only thing about Vera that is strong is her physical strength. The romantic angle was awkward and didn't work. I read a lot of WWII-era books, and this sounded like a unique angle. Sadly, while the premise had potential, it didn't pan out in the execution. I liked the mix of magic and Jewish folklore, along with the Lithuanian setting. Also, I loved the cover.

Based on the comps Frankenstein & Inglorious Basterds, I was so stoked to read this book. However, I found myself really struggling to get through this book. More than 50% in there’s not much wrath, but a lot of moping from Vera. In addition, there are some inconsistencies when someone young immediately tells her she can’t kill people because of what will be done to other Jewish people in retribution—but her older creator didn’t think of that?

It’s definitely a slow burn that seems to spend on a lot of vibes and scenic descriptions as well as rehashing the same emotions from the golem. Ultimately, it’s wasn’t for me and I DNF just over halfway through.