Lithuania, 1943. Grieving for his daughter, one father uses kishuf--an ancient and profane magic--to create a golem in her image, not a real girl of flesh and blood but a nearly invincible avenging spirit of mud and steel. But when Vera awakens, it's not only with a violent purpose, but with memories of the real girl killed by the Nazis. Then she meets Akiva, a boy she already remembers--the feel of his hand in her hair, his lips on her skin--and instantly joins him on a quest for revenge. But there are those who would channel kishuf for less noble means, and to triumph, Vera will need more than what her creator gave her: not just a reason to fight, but a reason to live.