Love and War in the Jewish Quarter by Dora Levy Mossanen (Review by Danielle Urban)

Rating: 5 stars

Love and War in the Jewish Quarter by Dora Levy Mossanen is the perfect read for historical fans. I got to dive deep into Iran with its culture and politics. Dora Mossanen brings these items to life in her exciting novel. There in the center of the topics, is the unexpected. Forbidden love and the mess it brings forth is what kept me flipping through the pages as fast as I could. The twists and turns were plenty. The time period plus, the focused group in the novel make for an exciting adventure. The characters come from opposing religious beliefs and yet they somehow find themselves caught between their rules and rules of the heart. I fell such a connection to both characters. Sympathy for their broken lives and their unexpected love for each other. Life is never easy. Risks and complications happen at every turn in this read. A Jewish man and a Muslim woman both try fighting both love and war for as long as they can. But eventually, they will lose at one and win at the other.

The themes of sacrifice, forbidden love, and jealousy are what make this a beautiful tale. Each of the characters go through loss, love, and risks. They have to weigh in what matters most to them. Dora Mossanen writes in a way that engages readers, like myself, to her characters. I was rooting for them to be happy throughout the journey. I wanted them to win at both love and war. Family life, religious sects, and the peace of the people they care about have to come first all the time. Even to the breaking point where the last decision is to leave behind what they loved. Despite the heartbreaking and political issues, there is also humor. I love how this talented writer brought out so many y emotions in just one stunning literary piece. Overall, I recommend this to all readers of historical and contemporary tales.