: Imaginative and meticulously researched, this enchanting debut novel from Helene Wecker is, in reality, an historical fiction. Set primarily in turn-of-the-century Manhattan, it deliberately details the immigrant experience--the wonders and hardships of being in a new country and the discoveries, triumphs, and failures that follow--while bringing the city itself to life with such passion that New York of yore seems like a magical land. Beyond reality, however, The Golem and the Jinni, as the title implies, is also a fantastic work of fantasy. The Golem is an insatiably curious clay "woman" that was created to seem human while serving only her husband; the Jinni is a magical "man" whose fascination with mortals has left him nearly stripped of his own nature and forced to live as one. These mythical characters from otherwise clashing cultures not only coexist, but come to rely upon one another in order to exist at all. In turn, their story finds us not only rooting for them to find peace and happiness, but gaining a better understanding of our own human nature in the process. -- Robin A. Rothman

With the intimate feel of a story handed down from generation to generation...the novel explores what it means to be human as Chava and Ahmad struggle to live and find love while overcoming the powerful adversary who threatens to destroy them.

-- "Deborah Harkness, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Life"

From its eerie opening pages to its shattering conclusion, The Golem and the Jinni is an astonishing debut novel that sweeps us into a gaslit alternate reality rich enough to get lost in.

-- "Tom Reiss, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Count"

Magical thinking comes alive in an enchanting allegory of the immigrant experience as two mythical beings try to make sense of themselves and the world around them.

-- "Family Circle"

Dive in and happily immerse yourself, forgetting the troubles of daily life for a while. The Golem and the Jinni offers just such an absorbing experience.

-- "USA Today"

An intoxicating fusion of fantasy and historical fiction...The book's magic, filtered through the old-time hustle and bustle of the Lower East Side, lingers long after the final page. Grade: A.

-- "Entertainment Weekly"

The author makes you care enough about the humanity of these magical spirits to not only see them through to the end but also to regret that you've reached the last page.

-- "New York Times"

Masterful...utterly unique and enchanting.

-- "Barnes & Noble, editorial review"

An inventive and utterly lovely story.

-- "Washington Post"

History, magic, and religion braid together in old New York's tenements...The interplay of loyalties and the struggle to assert reason over emotion keep the pages flipping.

-- "New York Times Book Review"

Wecker maintains her novel's originality as she orchestrates a satisfying and unpredictable ending. The Golem and the Jinni is a continuous delight-provocative, atmospheric, and superbly paced.

-- "Boston Globe" --This text refers to the audioCD edition.