The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

In Helene Wecker’s compulsively readable debut novel, supernatural worlds collide as a female golem, Chava, and a jinni, Ahmad, meet on the streets of 19th century Lower Manhattan. Each is the product of a magical accident-Chava is created to be the wife of a man who dies en route to America, and a Little Syria tinsmith releases Ahmad from centuries of captivity. Wecker creates appealing conflicts for her almost-human characters as they navigate the wildernesses of Manhattan and other people, but at times the style she maintains to paint her historic backdrop rings false; and, like comic book heroes who haven’t quite figured out all their powers, the golem and the jinni can sometimes waffle between being impenetrably superhuman and fallible enough to be likable.