Historical fantasy novels and Slavic folklore make a great pair. Both often feature survival in a strange landscape, as well as magical creatures mingling with humans in clever and mysterious ways.
Some modern, Slavic-inspired fantasy works will also include a csar-like figure, or a royal monarchy based on any number of long-reigning historical figures in the Romanov dynasty. However, these hybrid fantasy-and-historical works sometimes overlook the rich culture of Slavic Jews throughout Eastern Europe, and can be alienating to Jewish audiences who are aware of the long history of antisemitism and pogroms perpetuated under these states.
Amit Tishler’s Edenfrost is a graphic novel that takes its own stance on the genre of historical fantasy. The book follows siblings Alex and Yuli as they travel through the Ukrainian countryside and outrun militaristic forces during the Russian Civil War. They rely on the magic of the golem to protect them and their heritage and attempt to find shelter in the forest.
The children often find themselves in compromising situations, lying about their Jewish faith and unsure whom to trust. The graphic imagery is more dominant than the dialogue and eventually leads to full-color spreads of landscapes and action shots. In the most eloquently written sections, monologue fragments from the mind of Alex are illustrated like diary entries. The use of narrative bloodshed and racialized slurs against Jews in Russia can be difficult to confront, but these details are historically accurate, and they showcase the work’s attempt to engage readers in a Slavic fantasy that relies not on whimsy and magic, but instead on a long history of cultural pain and mourning.
Isla Lader is a journalist and English MA student with a bachelors in political science. When they’re not writing, they are performing comedy, reading Table Top Role Play Guidebooks, or exploring alleyways for forgotten furniture.
