THE REPUBLIC OF SALT

Two worlds—a mortal one experiencing the equivalent of the Inquisition and another inhabited by magical, long-lived Maziks—are threatened by conquest and a tear in reality itself in this sequel to The Pomegranate Gate (2023).

Tarses b'Shemhazai, a Mazik, is using marriage, demonic possession, and a vast army to consolidate his hold on both worlds. Meanwhile, the years-ago destruction of Luz, the seat of the original Mazik Empire, has created a cosmic imbalance that will eventually destroy both worlds if not set right. But a motley group is fleeing Tarses and hoping to redress this imbalance: Barsilay b'Droer, the secret heir to Luz; his mostly human, partially Mazik lover, Naftaly Cresques, whose true visions are useful to their cause but are shortening his lifespan; Toba Bet Peres, the magical twin of Tarses’ dead half-human daughter; Asmel b'Asmoda, Barsilay’s uncle, whose current lack of magic is destroying his memory; Toba’s clever grandmother, Elena Peres; and a nameless old woman who complains a lot but has a sharp instinct for human behavior. Together and apart, these individuals travel on both sides of the gate, eventually converging on Mazik Zayit, a city under siege. Along the way, they forge dangerous alliances with demons and Tarses’ own lieutenants—including the Courser, the original Toba’s half sister and her murderer. The plotting of this Jewish-inflected trilogy’s middle volume is complex and almost defies summary, given the intricate backstory. And, as is the curse of most middle volumes, this is clearly the setup for the series conclusion, and so very little gets resolved. But the chase is thrilling, the worldbuilding is unique, and characters are an intriguingly gray-shaded bunch who must constantly weigh principle against expedience.

The midpoint of a journey worth pursuing to the end.