The Hidden Palace
A Novel of the Golem and the Jinni
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Published:21st Jul '22
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date
In The Hidden Palace, Chava and Ahmad navigate love, identity, and belonging in a world on the brink of change, facing challenges that test their bond.
In The Hidden Palace, Helene Wecker masterfully weaves a rich tapestry of magic, love, and the quest for belonging against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. Set in New York City and the Middle East during the lead-up to World War I, the novel revisits beloved characters Chava, a golem, and Ahmad, a jinni, as they navigate the complexities of their identities and the challenges that arise from their supernatural natures. Their story is one of resilience and hope, exploring the depths of loneliness and the power of connection in an ever-evolving society.
Chava is a compassionate being, created from clay, who possesses the ability to hear the thoughts and desires of those around her. Ahmad, on the other hand, is a fiery spirit trapped in human form, longing for freedom. Both characters must grapple with their true selves while trying to fit into the bustling immigrant community of early 1900s Manhattan. As their lives intertwine, they must confront the realities of their existence and the consequences of their actions on the people they encounter.
Through a captivating narrative, The Hidden Palace introduces a cast of complex characters, including the Park Avenue heiress Sophia and the spirited jinni Dima, each searching for their own path in a world filled with uncertainty. Wecker's storytelling invites readers to ponder the nature of love, identity, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of belonging. Can Chava and Ahmad reconcile their differences, or will their opposing natures ultimately drive them apart?
“A layered novel of many complex characters, including even richer developments of the golem Chava and the jinni Ahmad…To keep their worlds safe, Chava and Ahmad must access both their greatest supernatural powers and their deepest human impulses.” — Historical Novels Review “A blend of romance, Mary Shelley-esque horror, and folklore. . . . Wecker skillfully combines the storylines of Chava the Golem and Ahmad the Jinni and numerous other players, good and evil, in an enchanting tale that pleases on every page.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Impressive…storytelling à la Dickens…A satisfying, mature sequel to The Golem and the Jinni, continuing the magical story of two immigrant mythological characters from the turn of the 20th century to the outbreak of WWI.” — Publishers Weekly "Richly nuanced and beautiful. . . . Wecker skillfully draws together these disparate lives and characters in an immersive and magical tale of loneliness, love, and finding hope.” — Buzzfeed “In Wecker’s novel, real-life events—the sinking of the Titanic, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire or the Great War—have an inexorable impact on mortal and supernatural characters alike. From one crisis to the next, a strange and unbreakable alliance develops among many persons and elemental creatures, burgeoning into something even more marvelous. . . . Fans of The Golem and the Jinni have waited eight years for this sequel. It has been worth the wait.” — BookPage (starred review) "A measured, gorgeous, character-driven fantasy." — Tor.com “The Hidden Palace recaptures the assured voice, the delicate magic, the solid historical verisimilitude, and engaging interplay of personalities of The Golem and the Jinni…But Wecker deepens, extends, and culminates all the story arcs, leaving the reader very satisfied.” — Locus “A rich literary novel that digs into what it means to be human, by setting up a series of meaningful contrasts from characters who aren’t." — Polygon Best Fantasy & Science Fiction Novel of the Year “One of the delights of The Hidden Palace is that it traverses many genres as it continues the tale of the unlikely friendship between Chava Levy, a golem, and Ahmad al-Hadid, a jinni…A work of fantasy, historical fiction, modern-day mythology or even romance…A gem deserving a wide readership.” — Hadassah Magazine
ISBN: 9780062468727
Dimensions: 203mm x 135mm x 27mm
Weight: 349g
480 pages