Publisher Description
“Two women occupy a place in Herod’s court. The first, Salome, is the king’s only sister, a resentful woman who has been told she is from an inferior race, a people God will never accept or approve.
The second woman, Zara, is a lowly handmaid who serves Salome, but where Salome spies conspiracies and treachery, Zara sees hurting people in need of understanding and compassion.
Powerful and powerless, Idumean and Jew, selfish and selfless–both women struggle to reach their goals and survive in Herod the Great’s tumultuous court, where no one is trustworthy and no one is safe.”
My Review:
This author has a unique way of taking historical facts that I might have overlooked and turning them into the intriguing backgrounds of her novels. As I began reading the first chapter, I was not quite sure I was interested enough to finish the book. But I kept reading, and I’m glad I did. Angela Hunt brought that time period of Biblical history alive for me. I was caught up in the palace intrigue, but also understood much more clearly the plight of the Jews under Herod’s reign.
Viewing this story through two completely different viewpoints was absorbing. Salome, the sister of King Herod, lives her life to protect Herod and his reign. Zara is a Jewish girl, who, at the young age of nine years old, becomes Salome’s personal attendant. Zara views everything that happens in the palace through the eyes of her faithful Jewish upbringing and the Torah. She quickly learns how to survive in a household that political enemies are literally around every corner and it’s difficult to know who to trust.
As this story follows the years of Herod’s descent into near madness and much tragedy occurs, things become much more dangerous for both Salome and Zara. When the magi come to Herod about the birth of “the new King”, Zara, her husband, and their new baby boy are in harm’s way. The ending to this story was surprising and very special.
The gritty realities of Herod’s reign might make this book a little edgy for some readers. The author handles everything in an appropriate way, but it’s still grisly at times, especially the death of Herod’s wife. This book needs to be read by no younger than the “young adult” category.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.