I was captivated by the description Tor had of this novella—maybe it's the specifics of my background, but I don't usually see stories about the fantastic in Judaism that lack a didactic element or that aren't focused on the figure of the Rebbe. So the female protagonist and willingness to think about women's lived experiences sold this book for me.
This story was quite a read and I enjoyed it sometimes more for what it was trying to be than what it actually succeeded it being. I loved it for its aspirations and, though it was not perfect and the multiple narrative traditions that Schanoes weaves together don't always meld seamlessly (fairy tale, Jewish mythology, feminism and the immigrant's experience are quite a feat to juggle and, if Schanoes misses a few catches, I can hardly fault her), I appreciate the story that, in the end, it succeeded in telling.