The Golem and the Jinni (Helene Wecker)

I really liked this intricate, touching story about a Golem (a woman of clay brought to life through Kabbalistic magic) and a Jinni (a magical creature from the Syrian desert) who find themselves adrift in turn-of-the-century New York City. Their separate worlds come together in complex, overlapping ways as they struggle with who they are and how they can live among humans. There are evil forces that would destroy them and those they care about, and lives are sacrificed as they fight for survival. It's amazing that this is a first novel. Though the sense of place could have been stronger, I was caught up in their lives and their tale. Recommended.