I read the bulk of this novel during my commute to and from university and let me tell you. It's hard to maintain a straight face when inside, all you feel is rage and the desire to keep reading this wonderful, wonderful novel.

I haven't read a lot of historical novels about the Jewish diaspora and the ones I have were mostly set during the second World War. This was a nice change in timeline, set in the 15th century and in the Spain-Portugal region. The main thing that drew me to this book and kept my attention was the way Amalia described things. Detailed enough to bring a vivid image in my head, but not so much so that she winded on. My rage towards the Christendom still courses through my veins at the thought of what they have done to the Jews. I am hesitant to compare my own struggles regarding religion to the struggle Amalia and her family had to live through, as my own issues are not a matter of life nor death. Still, the empathy was there, and flared bright in my chest with each mention of Judaism being a heretical religion. There was this once scene where

Spoiler

the Spanish Inquisition was 'making an example out of the Jews'

as if it was the Jews' fault that this was happening to them. Because it's not. THE GOD SHIELD ARGUMENT STILL INFURIATES ME AND IT WILL FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS.

Plus I'm pretty sure Jesus Christ will be pissed as fuck because the Christians were using His name to harm the people he was once part of. And this notion of the the one true religion can go fuck itself in the damn fucking face.

Maybe the historical inaccuracies flew past my head, but there was virtually nothing I did not like about this novel, except for the ending. I did not expect it to end there as abruptly as it did, though I think it's because I yearn for more.