About the Book
Seventeen-year-old Carrie is lying in her backyard ignoring all the looming responsibilities in her life, when a fox makes a mad dash across the grass in front of her. After she manages to keep her dog from attacking the frightened animal, the fox turns to Carrie and bows in gratitude before disappearing into the bushes. All Carrie knows in that moment is that something has unexpectedly changed in her life.
Carrie has been best friends with Lindsay Smith and Rebecca Campbell for years. During a summer when they should focus on choosing colleges, the girls suddenly find themselves swept away on the adventure of their lives. The fox reappears three days later and reveals to Carrie that he is Adom, emissary to the King of Hadariah. With his land of music and magic in peril, Adom has been sent to seek help from Carrie and her friends. In the blink of an eye, the three teenage girls go from living an average suburban life to being the champions of a world where they must contend with giants, witches, and magical beings. Will they ever make it home once more?
Carrie has been best friends with Lindsay Smith and Rebecca Campbell for years. During a summer when they should focus on choosing colleges, the girls suddenly find themselves swept away on the adventure of their lives. The fox reappears three days later and reveals to Carrie that he is Adom, emissary to the King of Hadariah. With his land of music and magic in peril, Adom has been sent to seek help from Carrie and her friends. In the blink of an eye, the three teenage girls go from living an average suburban life to being the champions of a world where they must contend with giants, witches, and magical beings. Will they ever make it home once more?
Recognition
Winner of The Atlas of Stories Award the Literary Titan Silver Book Award BREW Seal of Excellence
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Preview Excerpt
Carrie stared at the small collection of leaves. How could she possibly fit through that? She hesitated, and one of her hands sought her necklace. She gave a small shrug and got down on all fours. As she approached the bush she heard her dog barking hysterically from the house. “Bye, Finn,” she whispered and crawled forward.
Was she shrinking? Was the bush getting larger? Whatever was happening was clearly magic. Carrie crawled onward. Branches and leaves caught in her hair and tore at her pack. The tunnel (for she was now sure there was a tunnel in that collection of twigs) seemed to go on forever. Carrie was keenly aware of everything around her. Her eyes sharply saw each leaf in stark detail, the way the light filtered through the holes in the foliage and dappled everything in a mossy green. She heard every breaking branch under her knees and hands with a sharp, resounding crack that seemed to stab the silence in the air around her. She felt their sharp ends scratch her hands through the velvety moss that carpeted the ground she crawled over. Her lungs breathed in the moist air—cleaner than the air of cities and suburbs and more real, more nourishing than anything she was used to. She smelled rain, grass, and soil, all of which smelled natural, lacking man-made smells from home. The overabundance of oxygen made her head heavy; her heart felt as if it would burst.
Just as she thought she would never reach the end of the tunnel, she abruptly found herself kneeling under a night sky, surrounded by a primeval forest, the likes of which she had never seen before. Carrie stood up on shaky legs, speechless, in another world.
Reviews
OneTribune says:
The friendships form the emotional core of the story. Carrie’s bond with Rebecca and Lindsay feels realistically shaped by shared history, inside jokes, and the kind of frictions that arise when people face uncertainty together. The way their dynamics shift under pressure mirrors what social science research finds about group cohesion under stress: people reveal their truest selves, and conflicts often clarify what matters most.
Those who enjoy fast-paced plots will appreciate the momentum; those who prefer character-driven stories will find depth in the group’s evolving motivations. And readers who are drawn to cultural or mythic resonance will find touches of symbolic meaning throughout, expressed in a way that welcomes curiosity rather than requiring prior knowledge.
This book is ideal for readers aged preteen through adult who enjoy adventures built on moral clarity and emotional sincerity. It may not be the right match for those seeking grim, gritty, or intensely dark fantasy; this story leans toward hope, empathy, and the belief that ordinary young people can influence extraordinary worlds.
The Song of Hadariah is both heartfelt and adventurous, offering a journey filled with wonder, danger, and the kind of courage that grows one thoughtful choice at a time.
5/5 on The Chrysalis Brew Project ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The novel is remarkable in every aspect. The pacing is engaging without being overwhelming; the balance between childhood fairytale and just the right amount of spooky is spot on. The language is rich enough for the intended audience without being overly complex, and the characters are perfectly developed. I will take a moment to applaud how an adult can develop a teen voice that actually sounds like a teen, even without too much slang or profanity. Adom has a charming and delightfully formal way of speaking, and the reader can easily tell who’s speaking even without dialogue tags, which is, in my opinion, the hallmark of perfect dialogue...
There’s nothing to dislike about this book. Alisse Lee Goldenberg has once again delivered a story that’s the right amount of endearing, exciting, and thought-provoking, reminding us that “Sometimes the stories for children are the most poignant and contain the most truth.”
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ on Literary Titan
"The Song of Hadariah is a lovely, thoughtful fantasy that captures the ache of adolescence and the pull of imagination. It’s ideal for readers who miss the sincerity of early young adult fantasy, those who grew up on Narnia, Inkheart, or His Dark Materials, and still look at the world hoping to find a hidden doorway somewhere."
More Praise
Alisse Lee Goldenberg effortlessly weaves together Jewish folklore and an empowering tale of friendship to create a truly delightful new story. Underlying the adventure of travelling to a magical world to save it from darkness and doom is a message about solving problems with cooperation, honesty, and knowledge passed on from previous generations. I can't wait for the next installment!
- Jen Frankel, award winning filmmaker and author of Undead Redhead
Take a trip down the fox hole and into Jewish mysticism. Join Carrie and her friends as they embrace the stories of their childhood and bring their own fairy tale to life. The Song of Hadariah is a refreshing take on magic and adventure from the rich folklore of Judaism. Whether you are looking to reconnect to your roots or are in need of a new adventure, The Song of Hadariah is a must read for any fairy tale collector.
- Sarah WaterRaven, critically acclaimed author of The Detective Doherty Series
The world building in this book is absolutely stunning! A must read!
-Meg Bonney, award winning author of Everly
Song of Hadariah is a beautiful Young Adult high fantasy novel that kicks off the Dybbuk Scrolls trilogy. Three very modern (and believable) teen girls leave their suburban Canadian homes to go on an epic quest to save the dying, magical world of Hadariah. There are many elements inspired by fairy tales and Jewish folklore adding a richness to the fantastical aspects of the story. No prior knowledge of Jewish folklore is required; it all feels relatable to anyone. For example, the Bad Guy, the dybbuk Asmodeus, is a demon in many faiths.
Goldenberg creates an exciting, satisfying plot with likeable, compelling characters and we feel the pang of protagonist Carrie's every emotion. A great read!
- Ward Parker, author of Pariah: The Zeke Adams Series
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite:
4 Stars
Carrie and her friends are thrown straight into an adventure, so they're a bit naive and a little out of their element, though they're also compassionate, loyal, and stronger together. Since they've been friends since childhood, they already have a sisterly bond with fun banter and bickering, while always working through their disagreements and building each other up. The humor is clever with nods to pop culture and technology. The Song of Hadariah is an adventure full of magic and heart, following the journey of three best friends that encounter a talking fox, talking trees with tainted fruit, a shadow-less princess, and demons.
The friendships form the emotional core of the story. Carrie’s bond with Rebecca and Lindsay feels realistically shaped by shared history, inside jokes, and the kind of frictions that arise when people face uncertainty together. The way their dynamics shift under pressure mirrors what social science research finds about group cohesion under stress: people reveal their truest selves, and conflicts often clarify what matters most.
Those who enjoy fast-paced plots will appreciate the momentum; those who prefer character-driven stories will find depth in the group’s evolving motivations. And readers who are drawn to cultural or mythic resonance will find touches of symbolic meaning throughout, expressed in a way that welcomes curiosity rather than requiring prior knowledge.
This book is ideal for readers aged preteen through adult who enjoy adventures built on moral clarity and emotional sincerity. It may not be the right match for those seeking grim, gritty, or intensely dark fantasy; this story leans toward hope, empathy, and the belief that ordinary young people can influence extraordinary worlds.
The Song of Hadariah is both heartfelt and adventurous, offering a journey filled with wonder, danger, and the kind of courage that grows one thoughtful choice at a time.
5/5 on The Chrysalis Brew Project ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The novel is remarkable in every aspect. The pacing is engaging without being overwhelming; the balance between childhood fairytale and just the right amount of spooky is spot on. The language is rich enough for the intended audience without being overly complex, and the characters are perfectly developed. I will take a moment to applaud how an adult can develop a teen voice that actually sounds like a teen, even without too much slang or profanity. Adom has a charming and delightfully formal way of speaking, and the reader can easily tell who’s speaking even without dialogue tags, which is, in my opinion, the hallmark of perfect dialogue...
There’s nothing to dislike about this book. Alisse Lee Goldenberg has once again delivered a story that’s the right amount of endearing, exciting, and thought-provoking, reminding us that “Sometimes the stories for children are the most poignant and contain the most truth.”
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ on Literary Titan
"The Song of Hadariah is a lovely, thoughtful fantasy that captures the ache of adolescence and the pull of imagination. It’s ideal for readers who miss the sincerity of early young adult fantasy, those who grew up on Narnia, Inkheart, or His Dark Materials, and still look at the world hoping to find a hidden doorway somewhere."
More Praise
Alisse Lee Goldenberg effortlessly weaves together Jewish folklore and an empowering tale of friendship to create a truly delightful new story. Underlying the adventure of travelling to a magical world to save it from darkness and doom is a message about solving problems with cooperation, honesty, and knowledge passed on from previous generations. I can't wait for the next installment!
- Jen Frankel, award winning filmmaker and author of Undead Redhead
Take a trip down the fox hole and into Jewish mysticism. Join Carrie and her friends as they embrace the stories of their childhood and bring their own fairy tale to life. The Song of Hadariah is a refreshing take on magic and adventure from the rich folklore of Judaism. Whether you are looking to reconnect to your roots or are in need of a new adventure, The Song of Hadariah is a must read for any fairy tale collector.
- Sarah WaterRaven, critically acclaimed author of The Detective Doherty Series
The world building in this book is absolutely stunning! A must read!
-Meg Bonney, award winning author of Everly
Song of Hadariah is a beautiful Young Adult high fantasy novel that kicks off the Dybbuk Scrolls trilogy. Three very modern (and believable) teen girls leave their suburban Canadian homes to go on an epic quest to save the dying, magical world of Hadariah. There are many elements inspired by fairy tales and Jewish folklore adding a richness to the fantastical aspects of the story. No prior knowledge of Jewish folklore is required; it all feels relatable to anyone. For example, the Bad Guy, the dybbuk Asmodeus, is a demon in many faiths.
Goldenberg creates an exciting, satisfying plot with likeable, compelling characters and we feel the pang of protagonist Carrie's every emotion. A great read!
- Ward Parker, author of Pariah: The Zeke Adams Series
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite:
4 Stars
Carrie and her friends are thrown straight into an adventure, so they're a bit naive and a little out of their element, though they're also compassionate, loyal, and stronger together. Since they've been friends since childhood, they already have a sisterly bond with fun banter and bickering, while always working through their disagreements and building each other up. The humor is clever with nods to pop culture and technology. The Song of Hadariah is an adventure full of magic and heart, following the journey of three best friends that encounter a talking fox, talking trees with tainted fruit, a shadow-less princess, and demons.