The Republic of Salt

Last year I absolutely loved The Pomegranate Gate, the first in Ariel Kaplan‘s Mirror Realm Cycle trilogy. Set during the Spanish Inquisition but in a differently named world and a whole Mazik realm, it was a book that was a little bonkers and a ton of fun. Now, the second installment is here: The Republic of Salt. Now that the various groups of characters have come together, they’re immediately split apart again, this time in different groups and with new goals to achieve. They’re all on the run, but how can they find safety with so much danger around and so much at stake?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:

• Characters on the run
• Various magics and fantastical beings (like demons)
• Rising tensions, politics, and the threat of war
• Third-person narration, following all main characters

What I Liked:

• Shifting friends and foes. Who you thought were allies and who were enemies before may not be the same now! Unexpected alliances and constantly changing goals keep readers on their toes as the myriad characters are continuously thrown into new pairings and groups. But can they trust the people who were once on the opposite side?
• Relationship between Barsilay and Naftaly. In the previous book, I was surprised and delighted by the unexpected connection between Naftaly and Barsilay. Here, their relationship is explored much further, and despite their very different circumstances, I like the dynamic between them. Both are always a joy to see on the page.
• Deepening look at the Mazik realm. Whereas the first book was split between the real world and the Mazik one, this sequel is primarily set in the Mazik realm. Moreover, we get a deeper sense of the magic systems and what each of the characters is able to do. Now beyond the fantasy version of Spain, much of this book took place in Zayit, roughly where Venice is in real life. I’m already excited about where the characters will end up in the final installment (no spoilers here though)!

What Didn’t Work for Me:

• The Republic of Salt falls into the all-too-common trap of feeling like a bridge between the first and final books of the trilogy. It was a bit slow to begin, and overall is building up to what I expect will be a spectacular end.

Final Thoughts

The Republic of Salt isn’t quite as zany as the first book was… or perhaps I’ve just gotten used to this fantasy world. But it’s still full of humor and charm, and I love the various characters. My favorites are currently Barsilay and the old woman. And the calico cat!

While this book feels like a connector between the first and third installments, it still stands tall in its own right and is a quick-paced, engaging read. It leaves us on quite the cliffhanger; I cannot wait to read the final book in the Mirror Realm Cycle trilogy!

Special thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy The Republic of Salt here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

The Republic of Salt by Ariel Kaplan
Series	The Mirror Realm Cycle (#2)
Audiobook Narrator	Vivienne Leheny
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Fantasy
Setting	Fantasy versions of Spain and Italy
Number of Pages	480
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC); Audiobook
Original Publication Date	October 22, 2024
Publisher	Kensington; Erewhon Books

Official Summary

In this riveting sequel to The Pomegranate Gate, Toba, Naftaly, and their allies must defend a city under siege—while the desperate deals they’ve made begin to unravel around them.

After a near-disastrous confrontation with La Caceria, Toba and Asmel are trapped on the human side of the gate, pursued by the Courser and a possessed Inquisitor. In the Mazik world, Naftaly’s visions are getting worse, predicting the prosperous gate city of Zayit in flames and overrun by La Caceria. Zayit is notorious for its trade in salt, a substance toxic to the near-immortal Maziks; if the Cacador can control the salt, he will be nearly unstoppable. But the stolen killstone, the key to the Cacador’s destruction, could eliminate the threat—if only Barsilay could find and use it.

Deadly allies and even more dangerous bargains might be the only path to resist La Caceria’s ruthless conquest of both the mortal world and the Maziks’, but the cost is steep and the threat is near. A twisty, clever entry in The Mirror Realm Cycle, The Republic of Salt asks what personal morals weigh in the face of widespread danger and how best to care for one another.