Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia by Diana Wallis Taylor: A Book Review

Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia
Author: Diana Wallis Taylor
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Whitaker House
Release Date: 2019
Pages: 304
Source: My personal collection
Synopsis: One of the great heroines of the Old Testament, Hadassah was a beautiful, graceful young woman who put her faith in God and her guardian, her cousin Mordecai.

She dreams of marrying Shamir, a tall, handsome, studious young man who is the rabbi’s son. Her heart beats faster when she hears the sound of his deep voice as he reads the Torah. And she hopes that he will visit Mordecai soon to present a betrothal request.

Then, an upheaval in King Xerxes’s palace changes everything. Queen Vashti has been banished and an edict goes out for all qualified young virgins throughout the empire to be taken to the palace as he searches for a new queen.

Fear strikes in the hearts of many, including Mordecai, as he realizes Hadassah will be taken. To hide her identity as a Jew, he tells her to go by the name of Esther. Since he works as a record-keeper at the king’s gates, he can keep tabs on how she is doing.

Hadassah: Queen Esther of Persia imagines what life was like for the woman who saved her people—and perhaps found love in the process.

My Review: The Book of Esther is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. It is a mix of a Cinderella story and a political thriller. In this retelling. Hadassah dreams of marrying Shamir, the rabbi’s son. Her hopes are dashed when she is taken to King Xerxes palace to be a candidate for queen. Hadassah is forced to hide her identity as a Jew and changes her name to Esther. She rises to the position of queen. Esther gradually realizes that her role as queen could save her people from danger.

Hadassah is portrayed as an innocent and reluctant young girl who is forced to enter the king’s harem. Esther’s beauty captivates the king, and he makes her his queen. As queen, there are many duties she has to oversee. She works hard to establish a caring relationship with her step-siblings. The novel also portrays a loving marriage between Esther and King Xerxes.

Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia has courtly intrigue, romance and religious conflict. The author does an excellent job in fleshing out Queen Esther’s story. She has given the reader a detailed portrait of Hadassah’s origins. One example is how she became an orphan and lived under Uncle Moredecai’s household. I also found it interesting that Moredecai is portrayed as a widower. The author does a fantastic job in weaving the biblical tale with known facts about King Xerxes. By the time the novel is over, the reader feels as if you have come to know King Xerxes and his family. I also thought that Hadassah’s relationship with her mother-in-law Queen Atossa was the best aspect of the novel. The only thing I did not like about the book was the Haman plot seemed very rushed. Still, Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia is a feast for fans of biblical fiction! Mrs. Taylor has given us another refreshing retelling on one of the Bible’s most enduring heroines!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki: A Book Review

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post Author: Allison Pataki Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Ballantine Release Date: February 15, 2022 Pages: 381 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar’s treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood’s biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweath...

A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea by Eunsun Kim and Sebastien Falletti: A Book Review

A Thousand Miles to Freedom: My Escape from North Korea Author: Eunsun Kim and Sebastien Falletti Genre: Nonfiction, Modern History, Autobiography and Memoir Publisher: St. Martin's Press Release Date: July 21, 2015 Pages: 240 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Eunsun Kim was born in North Korea, one of the most secretive and oppressive countries in the modern world. As a child Eunsun loved her country...despite her school field trips to public executions, daily self-criticism sessions, and the increasing gnaw of hunger as the country-wide famine escalated. By the time she was eleven years old, Eunsun's father and grandparents had died of starvation, and Eunsun was in danger of the same. Finally, her mother decided to escape North Korea with Eunsun and her sister, not knowing that they were embarking on a journey that would take them nine long years to complete. Before finally reaching South Korea and freedom, Eunsun and her family would live homeles...

New Jersey Women in World War II by Patricia Chappine: A Book Review

New Jersey Women in World War II Author: Patricia Chappine Genre: Nonfiction, History Publisher: The History Press Release Date: June 8, 2015 Pages: 144 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: During World War II, New Jersey’s Women Answered The Call. Real-life Rosie the Riveters worked the lines in New Jerseys factories, such as those of General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division, while women on the vulnerable coast enforced blackout orders. Others sold war bonds, planted victory gardens and conserved materials for the war effort. Thousands more served as nurses and in branches of the armed forces like the Women's Army Corps and the U.S. Navy's Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. African American women fought a double war, one against the nations enemies and another against discrimination. Historian Patricia Chappine explores the pivotal roles that New Jersey women played in World War II. ...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

Search This Blog