Fantasy fiction is a very diverse genre, yet something that rarely gets explored is Jewish folklore and legend. Jewish folklore, legend and tradition are rich sources of stories, yet many Jewish authors are often convinced there is no market for these stories. This is why The Sanhedrin Chronicles is such a fascinating book, it delves deep into Jewish mysticism and puts its own spin on things to create a rich narrative and a world that invites you in.
J.S. Gold weaves a fascinating tale with protagonist Arthur Rose, who is drawn into a secret world of ancient Hebrew mystics, with the story going from hidden Jewish mystical enclaves to the streets of New York. Each section is given such intense detail and each character is fleshed out and realized in a satisfying way. What helps make The Sanhedrin Chronicles more than just another urban fantasy novel, is its careful blending of the super hero genre into the mix, and its thoughtful use of Jewish culture, faith, identity and tradition.
To be sure, this may not be for everyone, but those willing to give it a chance will find themselves engrossed in a New York City with hidden other-worldy beings, a dash of heavy metal, coming of age and good classic storytelling. Arthur is someone who wants to reject his past and history, and embrace the wider world, only to be drawn into a conflict between fiendish creatures and a secret order of Jewish demon hunters called Sanhedrin. He is soon made aware of his ancestral connection to Sanhedrin and to the wider battle.
Hasidic Judaism is used as the jumping off point to explore Jewish tradition in this first book, and J.S. Gold does a wonderful job exploring the culture and conflicting desires of characters within it. He also does fantastic work making the demons extremely imaginative and suitably creepy and distinct. Gold has clearly done his homework studying the traditions and folklore, and even the use of Sanhedrin as the name of the order is a neat touch, as the Sanhedrin is the name of the judicial assembly of ancient Israel, and had its own distinct rules and traditions.
Many times when reading through The Sanhedrin Chronicles, it felt like I was watching a well written action movie, because everything flowed so perfectly and the writing had a cinematic quality to it. There are plenty of twists and turns to it, but the story is so well handled it will keep you hooked until the very end. The blending of humour and horror is handled extremely well, and the more human moments shine bright when they are given the spotlight.
I have wanted to see more Jewish authors explore their heritage, culture, traditions and folklore in fiction for a long time, and The Sanhedrin Chronicles is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when this is done. You do not need to be Jewish to appreciate this book, as it is so inviting that it will bring you in and get you excited about a whole other world without overwhelming you at all. In fact, many parts of the story will appeal to anyone who struggles with where they come from and wanting something different in life, questioning yourself while discovering who you really are.
J.S. Gold has done some amazing work with The Sanhedrin Chronicles, and as this is labelled as Book 1, it is clear more is planned for the story. There are many more Jewish traditions that can be explored, and many stories that can be spun from them. The unique blending in of the super hero elements also gives this a comic book vibe, which fits given the Jewish connection to comic books, and their ongoing stories.
If you are looking for something different in terms of fantasy fiction, then you should definitely check out The Sanhedrin Chronicles. It is such a compelling and well done story, that you will not regret it
Disclaimer: We were provided with an ebook copy.
You can buy a copy of the book here.
