Overall, I thought the book was well paced, told an interesting story and featured interesting characters. I enjoyed reading it, especially as it was about Jewish characters and culture, which are topics I have not read much about, and thus know far less about than I should.
One part that felt off to me was the end, where everything just happened too fast, in my opinion. The revelation of who Sam is came out of nowhere and could've been set up better. As is, he was just set up to maybe be a bit weird, but hardly any hints at his supernatural nature. Another part that struck me as odd was the times where Sorel, in her disguise, interacted with people she knew from before her escape. While for some, the reasoning that people don't recognise her because it doesn't even enter their minds to think that Sorel could be cross-dressing and living like a homeless person holds, for others it became a bit unbelievable that they would notice nothing. I think it would've also helped believability if Sorel had been at all nervous in these situations, but I didn't really notice that, which kind of took me out of the story.
Lastly, as someone who isn't Jewish and doesn't know much about Jewish culture, I found myself struggling with some of the terms used. Oftentimes I could kinda work out what a word meant from the context, or, in the case of Yiddish words, from being a native German speaker, but I think it could be helpful to have a short glossary of the Jewish cultural and religious terms used.

I loved the Jewish folklore in this story and the historical time period. I enjoyed it, but in general it left me wanting a little bit more — more world building and more consistent pacing. Sometimes the plot felt meandering and I didn’t always know where the story was trying to go.

I did not finish the book... I wasn't graped into it, that was too calm and the way it was written didn't put me in.
Plus there is no chapters but a single big block and that something I really dislike (I can't read and stop at the end of a chapter)

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

DNF @ 42%

This book just wasn't for me. I tried to push through to finish it, but I just couldn't get engaged in the story. I think this book would be more suited for younger teens.

(Content warnings: death, moderate antisemitism, violence)

3.5 stars rounded up!

A charming story, though it did not blow me away as Lamb's When the Angels Left the Old Country did. It's a quick (but well paced!) read that should appeal to fans of both historical fiction and fantasy, with a rich historical setting that feels very much alive and mystical elements that, for me, were the highlight of the story. Angels that are fickle and quarrelsome yet scarily intimidating in all their power, very human in some ways yet completely incomprehensible in others, is something I always find deeply entertaining.

I do think the blurb, which puts the MC's lebsianism and genderqueerness at the forefront, are somewhat misleading, as both of those are quite subtle in the novel (especially the lesbianism) - readers who pick up the book solely for those might be disappointed.

Sacha Lamb’s The Forbidden Book is an intriguing blend of fantasy and history with dual perspectives that enrich the narrative. However, the ending feels abrupt, and key elements are introduced too late, making the conclusion feel rushed and unsatisfying. While the premise is captivating, the pacing issues and sudden wrap-up detract from the overall experience.

**Review of *The Forbidden Book* by [Author’s Name]**

*The Forbidden Book* is a masterful blend of Jewish historical intrigue and magical adventure, delivering a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply moving. As praised by Isaac Blum, Morris Award-winning author of *The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen*, this novel is a compelling read that feels more like a must-have experience rather than merely an option.

Set against the backdrop of Jewish history, *The Forbidden Book* weaves a tale that is rich in cultural heritage and steeped in magical realism. The story centers around a forbidden text that holds secrets crucial to both the protagonist’s personal journey and a broader historical mystery. The narrative unfolds with a captivating pace, filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The strength of *The Forbidden Book* lies not only in its suspenseful plot but also in its exploration of identity and the concept of found family. The protagonist’s journey is as much about uncovering hidden truths and unraveling ancient mysteries as it is about understanding themselves and their place in a complex, often tumultuous world. The book delves into themes of belonging and self-discovery, making it a deeply resonant read for anyone who has grappled with questions of identity and heritage.

What sets *The Forbidden Book* apart is its successful fusion of historical depth and magical elements. The historical context is meticulously researched, bringing to life a world that is both familiar and fantastical. The magic in the story is not just an addition but an integral part of the narrative that enhances the historical setting, providing a fresh lens through which to explore age-old conflicts and themes.

The characters in *The Forbidden Book* are richly developed, each one contributing to the tapestry of the story in unique and meaningful ways. Their interactions and evolving relationships highlight the novel's central themes of community and connection, adding emotional weight to the suspenseful and action-packed plot.

Overall, *The Forbidden Book* is a triumph of storytelling that combines historical depth with magical allure. It’s a book that invites readers into a world of mystery and wonder while also offering poignant reflections on identity and belonging. Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction, fantasy, or both, this novel is an essential read that will leave a lasting impression. As Isaac Blum aptly put it, the only thing that might be more fitting than calling *The Forbidden Book* mandatory is acknowledging it as a profound and unforgettable literary experience.

I liked the characters and the pacing. I really enjoyed being immersed in the Jewish culture and beliefs of the characters.
For me, the ending felt sudden but I think it is meant to be more open ended.

The folklore was interesting, but the pace was a bit off for me - it felt like a lot of important pieces were introduced too close to the end.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book but I got more involved the further I read. There were some interesting twists and turns as the book went further into the story.

As much as I enjoyed When the Angels Left the Old Country, I think I liked the Forbidden Book more. It's a completely different type of story but with similar themes and vibes. A young woman escapes her father's house on the day of her aranged marriage and quickly finds herself entangled in the search for a magical, mythical book, a print shop worker who prints illegal, political pamphlets, and a battle between the angels of death and a small village. Sorel/Isser must solve a murder, avoid their families, and more. Fabulous pacing, unique characters, and beautfiul prose. 10/10 highly recommend.

Una lectura algo complicada por todas las palabras nuevas que no conocía, sin embargo eso lo hizo interesante para mi.

A pesar de tener una trama interesante siento que fue un libro confuso, los cambios de narrador se sentían muy abruptos y aunque con forme avanza la trama se va entendiendo el porqué de esto, si complica la lectura.

El libro es publicitado con una protagonista "genderqueen lesbian", entiendo el porqué del genderqueen, aunque una persona que sepa más del tema podría realmente comentar en eso, sin embargo, si esperas leer una historia con romance FF no creo que esta sea tu lectura, a pesar de que si dan pistas de la sexualidad de la protagonista es un tema que no se explora realmente y no tiene mucha importancia en la trama.

El final del libro siento que dejó mucho que desear, los últimos capítulos los sentí muy apresurados y el final bastante abrupto que pareciera que no termina.
En general es un buen libro, simplemente no fue para mi.

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for the eARC!

3.5 rounded up. I really enjoyed “When The Angels Left The Old County.—it was one of my faves of 2023–and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read Sacha Lamb’s sophomore novel. The magical elements are sparse in the beginning, which made me worry I would find it too dry to continue, but I stuck around for the relatively quick pacing. In some ways, I’m glad I did. This is an interesting queer take on dybbuks, and since Sacha Lamb’s debut, I’ve loved how they intertwine gender into different supernatural and religious concepts. (Although at times, this can lean more towards the allegorical side.) The marketing banks on the queer rep, though, which I think is slightly misleading as it’s handled in a more complex(and subtle?) way inside the context of the historical setting. And for those who are looking forward to the promised lesbianism, there’s not much of it.

Although there was political tension, literary censorship and murder tied into the story’s plot, the writing style still maintained a cozy, fable feel. It complimented some of the fantastical elements well. I’m not a history nerd, but the 19th-century Russia setting felt immersive and seemed to be very researched. I also liked the sprinklings of Yiddish throughout. (I was alright with using Google, but I’m curious to see if there will be a glossary in the finished version of this book, like Lamb’s debut.)

The POV changes are slightly confusing. While the logic of them was explained towards the middle of the book, when it wasn’t just flashbacks anymore, it could be hard to keep up with who was who. The ending was also very abrupt, and had me wondering if I was missing a couple of details or pages in my digital copy. It’s a major reason why I lowered my rating, especially because I think it squashed some of Sorel’s potential as a character. But I will also have to read the finished version and see how it is edited.

This was a nice and cosy tale (wait, can I call it cosy when there´s murder involved?).
I liked the narration, which read very YA and fast. And I learned quite a few terms and traditions about Jews. Also, the ambiance was very well done, it was a sort of historical thing but I got the sense, as I read, that something dark was about to happen (or that, in fact, happened before). Loved the characters, the leyend and their quest to first find the missing boy and then retrieve the book he stole before dissapearing. Maybe the end was a bit rushed and I was like, wouldn´t they have faced more perils given all that happened? And what a plot twist if Sam or Sorel´s father were the villains (well, Kalman was, in a way). But then again, it´s very YA. So no complains there.
I give this a 3 because I think I missed something (might have missed something). There´s no romance in this story, but we got a protagonist who dresses as a boy (pretends to be one as to escape her pursuers). And here I could go and say, maybe she´s non binary? I think that´s the intention of the book. But, you see, you get to a point in the story where the spirit of Isser talks through Sorel. So I wonder, are we sure that what Sorel thinks is not conditioned by Isser? That´s where my confussion comes from, probably because the story ends in a place where Sorel can have a new beginning and be whoever she wants to be (but we don´t see what becomes of her).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

On the night before her wedding, 17-year-old Sorel leaps from a window and runs away from her life. To keep from being discovered, she takes on the male identity of Isser Jacobs — but it soon becomes clear that there is a real Isser Jacobs, and people want him dead. Her mistaken identity takes Sorel into the dark underworld of her small city in the Pale of Settlement, where smugglers, forgers, and wicked angels fight for control of the Jewish community. In order to make it out, Sorel must discover who Isser Jacobs really is — and who she wants to be

I was unsure what to expect when reading "The Forbidden Book" as I had not read Lamb's writing before. The Forbidden Book was an exciting adventure of a book. The main character is a Jewish, Genderqueer lesibian, and the book fully dives into exploring her/their identity. A must read.

Very absorbing and I was completely caught up in the mystery! The ending was a little rushed, but overall this was a very satisfying read.

Readers approaching this from a strictly "I heard it has lesbians and knives!!" standpoint will probably be disappointed. Lamb's complex characters and rich historical setting offer more nuance and subtlety than the advertising copy indicates. The writing feels timeless and immersive.

The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb is a slow paced story centering Jewish folklore. This book would have benefited from being edited into a shorter book to help the pacing. It's also unclear at times who's perspective each chapter is from and whether it is in the past or present timeline of the story.

This is an adventurous magical historical fantasy that I liked a lot!

It took a little bit for me to get into it, but I love the characters and there’s a lot of detail in the historical setting. I love YA stories with no romance, and I LOVE the lesbian-with-an-annoying-ghost-in-her-head trope!!! Perfect surprise just for me!

I did find that it ended a bit suddenly for me - I wanted a bit more detail out of of the ending! But I also guess I appreciate the way we don’t find out the details the same way Sorel slipped out of her life in the beginning.

I was really eager to see what Sacha Lamb has in store for you: their debut novel, When Angels Left the Old Country, has been an absolute delight, and I was definitely up for more queered up Ashkenazi folk-tale inspired stories. When I saw the ARC for Forbidden book offered on Netgalley, I immediately jumped at the chance to read it.

Good news is: it's another very good book from Sacha Lamb! I didn't love it as much as I loved the Angels - largely because there was so much in Angels that resonated with me personally - but I had a good time reading The Forbidden Book. It has a lot of similar strengths: worry not about if there is enough amounts of queered up Ashkenazi folklore! in that sense, it's very consistent; strong character work; excellent interplay of the human drama with the supernatural one. What was the biggest difference, I think, is that where the debut novel had a lot of forward momentum, this one, if drawn as a vector, would be a meandering line that keeps circling around the same three locations. It makes sense for the kind of story it is, but I found that less enjoyable than "onwards!" vector of the Angels. If the Angels were compared plenty to Good Omens, I would say this one sits closer on in spirit to Francis Hardinge's novels: strong prose, a lot of (justified) female (and genderqueer) anger from hardy protagonists, and a strong sense of place full of dark corners.

Sacha Lamb's "When The Angels Left The Old Country" is one of my all-time favourites, so when I got a chance to read an ARC of The Forbidden Book I was elated, but also nervous, because how does someone follow up a book like that?
With a knife-wielding, genderqueer, possessed runaway lesbian, of course.

The Forbidden Book follows Sorel as she jumps out the window the night before her wedding and into a murder mystery involving smugglers, illegal pamphlets, a religious and political power struggle as well as angels of death. Accompanied by a dybbuk she'll discover more about the world she's been kept apart from as well as about who she is and who she wants to become.

The Forbidden Book is another fantastical exploration of history, Jewish mysticism, and queer identity, but it is also definitely not just a retread of Lamb's previous novel. The setting feels rich, the characters deep, and the mystical elements superb. My main criticism is that I feel the story would have benefited from being longer. I don't know if I'd call it rushed but giving Sorel a bit more time to breathe, especially in the conclusion, would have been appreciated. I also personally would have liked to see more of the political pamphlet side, but that is very much a me thing.

As it is, Lamb builds fantastic worlds that I wouldn't mind spending a little more time in, and I definitely look forward to rereading the finished book - out October 2024!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Levine Querido for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.