The Pomegranate Gate: Volume 1(The Mirror Realm Cycle)

Two worlds bound by a pomegranate gate Toba Peres can speak but she can’t shout; she can walk but she can’t run; and she can write in five languages… with both hands at the same time. Naftaly Cresques dreams every night of an orange-eyed stranger; when awake, he sees things that aren’t real; and he carries a book he can never lose and never read. When the Queen of Sefarad orders all the nation’s Jews to leave or convert, Toba and Naftaly are forced to flee, but an unlucky encounter leaves them both separated from their caravan. Lost in the wilderness, Toba follows an orange-eyed stranger through a mysterious gate in a pomegranate grove, leaving Naftaly behind. With a single step, Toba enters an ancient world that mirrors her own. There, she finds that her fate—and Naftaly’s—are bound to an ancient conflict threatening to destroy both realms.

About the Author :
Ariel Kaplan grew up outside Washington, D.C., and spent most of her childhood reading fairy tales and mythology before settling on a deep love for Jewish folklore. She began studying the history of medieval Spain and the Convivencia while working on a Monroe Scholar project at the College of William & Mary, where she graduated with a degree in History and Religious Studies. She is the author of several books for younger readers. The Pomegranate Gate is her first fantasy novel.

Review :
“The Pomegranate Gate is an unforgettable journey to a world lush with magic and imagination. Every page is unearthly and delightful in equal measure—I couldn’t put it down.”—Natasha Siegel, author of Solomon’s Crown “An amazing, exciting book, full of Jewish lore, history, and enchantment!”—Veronica Schanoes, author of Burning Girls and Other Stories “The Pomegranate Gate is the sweeping Jewish epic fantasy I’ve been waiting for all my life”—Rebecca Fraimow, author of The Iron Children “Wow, I loved it. It’s mythic and human, breathtaking and special. I want to read everything Ariel Kaplan does. You’ll break the rules and eat the fruit just so you can stay in this magical world for a little while longer.”—C. L. Polk, Nebula Award-winning author of Even Though I Knew the End “A spellbinding work of storytelling with profoundly real characters who will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I loved everything about this book.”—H.G. Parry, author of The Magician’s Daughter “Lush and exciting”—Publishers Weekly “Combines lyrical writing with meticulous world-building and brilliant characters and douses it all with a good dose of magic.”—Grimdark Magazine “Marvellous, numinous and strange.” --Tor.com "The Pomegranate Gate is a love letter to languages and a lush, many-layered tale about magic, family, folklore, compassion, and surviving when you’ve been driven from your home." —Emma Sterner-Radley, author of Snowblooded