Love and Other Enchantments

“Remarkably immersive—a rare blend of emotional depth, meticulous research, and a seamless shift from the natural to the supernatural. Idit and Halimi are compelling, multifaceted protagonists. . . . Intelligent, introspective, and rooted in a vivid sense of place, the novel avoids genre clichés and offers richly detailed medieval landscapes—languages, customs, characters, and textures—crafted with precision. A truly singular and captivating work.”—Tzippy Gurion, Mako

“Sharp and mischievous. . . . At its heart lies the understanding that every love story is, in some way, a kind of fairy tale: a thrill that exists alongside reality and sometimes clashes with it. Moving gracefully across three intertwined timelines—contemporary Atlit, medieval Château Pèlerin, and the Tel Aviv of Idit and Halimi’s past—the novel explores the space between desire and routine, magic and daily truth. With meticulous historical detail, poetic imagination, and a subtle meta-literary touch, the book is a singular, resonant work that feels both intimate and sweeping, local and universal.”—Ayal Hayut-man, Speculation magazine

“A wildly compelling debut [that] had me captive from page one. Her prose is magnetically clear, balancing the thrill of a time-slipped adventure with the authenticity of modern family life—and the result is utterly believable. This is a novel that is at once light on its surface, yet profoundly serious about the things that matter most. A literary achievement in its first flight—and a reading experience you’ll carry with you long after the final page.”—Atara Ofek, Hamitlahevet (The Enthusiast) blog