Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about but haven’t yet read. Most of the time they’re books that have yet to be released, but not always. It’s based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme, which was originally hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week my Can’t-Wait-For is When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb!
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC, Jewish cast
Published on: 18th October 2022
Goodreads
In publishing-speak, here's what we at the LQ office sometimes describe as the Queer lovechild of Sholem Aleichem and Philip Roth:
Uriel the angel and Little Ash (short for Ashmedai) are the only two supernatural creatures in their shtetl (which is so tiny, it doesn't have a name other than Shtetl). The angel and the demon have been studying together for centuries, but pogroms and the search for a new life have drawn all the young people from their village to America. When one of those young emigrants goes missing, Uriel and Little Ash set off to find her.
Along the way the angel and demon encounter humans in need of their help, including Rose Cohen, whose best friend (and the love of her life) has abandoned her to marry a man, and Malke Shulman, whose father died mysteriously on his way to America.
But there are obstacles ahead of them as difficult as what they've left behind. Medical exams (and demons) at Ellis Island. Corrupt officials, cruel mob bosses, murderers, poverty. The streets are far from paved with gold.
With cinematic sweep and tender observation, Sacha Lamb presents a totally original drama about individual purpose, the fluid nature of identity, and the power of love to change and endure.
I adore stories about more classical angels and demons, and I love the idea of an angel and demon studying together! (What could they be studying? Philosophy? Religion? Humans???)
The journey to America is a pretty classic story all on its own, but I’m willing to bet it’s going to look pretty different to anything I’ve read before, given that these aren’t mortal characters. And I’m already dying to find out all about their adventures, and what their relationship is like! Are they friends? Do they bicker? Is Uriel THE Uriel??? I must know!
And, of course, mega bonus points for being queer, although I don’t know the exact details on that yet!
What do you think – will you read it when it comes out?
Yup I think I will have to check this out!
Exxxxxcellent!