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.
This is a lovely immigrant tale. Sacha Lamb's When the Angels left the Old Country will seem very familiar to Good Omens fans, but Jewish culture permeates the narration and the story couldn't be more different, a tale of antisemitism, friendship, and justice. The relationship between the genderless angel and the small demon is the best part of the book, but all the small interations with all the people they met on the way are truly delightful, and Rose is a perfect co-protagonist.
✨ 4 stars
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