review 1: Fascinating premise, and the historical details of old New York (Little Syria in particular, about which I knew nothing before I read this book) kept me reading even as the story lagged. But the sheer number of gratuitous deaths, combined with an excessively intricate backstory that was thrown at the reader in the last quarter of the book, left me with the feeling that Wecker was not up to the challenge she set herself here. review 2: I am in love with this book. It is a beautiful marriage of middle-eastern folklore and early 20th century New York. It expresses a variety of beliefs and shows the best and worst of humanity. The entire time I was reading it, I was torn between trying to finish it in one sitting and savoring it over a longer period of time. I will... more be purchasing a paper copy of this book for the sole purpose of loaning it out to people. less
