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Reign of the Favored Women #2
The Sultan's Daughter
Giorgio Veniero, once a Venetian sailor, now a eunuch, guards the life and honor of his beloved mistress, Esmikhan, wife of the Grand Vizier. Unable to bear children that survive, the Sultan's daughter nearly resigns herself to a life alone, unloved by absent husband or child.
Sofia, captured by the Turks at the same time as Giorgio, enthralls the heir to the Ottoman Empire with her loving wiles. Secure within the cloistered depths of the harem, Safiye, as she is called, wields power that stretches its tendrils far beyond the palace walls.
When these plots grow to threaten Esmikhan, Giorgio does what he can to thwart them. But his more difficult challenge lies in the love he bears Esmikhan. When kidnappers threaten her, this slave must choose between his chance to regain freedom and his desire to help the woman he loves. And when forbidden passion tempts her astray, earlier dangers pale in comparison. Giorgio finds that he holds Esmikhan's happiness in his hands--and risks death for both of them, should he give it to her.
Sofia, captured by the Turks at the same time as Giorgio, enthralls the heir to the Ottoman Empire with her loving wiles. Secure within the cloistered depths of the harem, Safiye, as she is called, wields power that stretches its tendrils far beyond the palace walls.
When these plots grow to threaten Esmikhan, Giorgio does what he can to thwart them. But his more difficult challenge lies in the love he bears Esmikhan. When kidnappers threaten her, this slave must choose between his chance to regain freedom and his desire to help the woman he loves. And when forbidden passion tempts her astray, earlier dangers pale in comparison. Giorgio finds that he holds Esmikhan's happiness in his hands--and risks death for both of them, should he give it to her.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2017
Hurremden annelik dersi alması lazım bu kadının gerçektende..
Safiye bazı konularda ondan beter çıktı. Güce olan tutkusu çocuğunun yaralanmasına ya da be olduğuna dikkat etmesini bile engelleyecek derecede.. Ayrıca Ismihan Sultanın sonunda çocuğu olmasına çok sevindim.
Safiye bazı konularda ondan beter çıktı. Güce olan tutkusu çocuğunun yaralanmasına ya da be olduğuna dikkat etmesini bile engelleyecek derecede.. Ayrıca Ismihan Sultanın sonunda çocuğu olmasına çok sevindim.
December 11, 2010
Judging by the cover and title, I expected a cheesy and easy reading, but it turned out to be a carefully written and fascinating book. I know it's the second installment in the series, but I could enjoy it even without having read the previous one. The story is being told alternately from the point of view of Safiye, the intelligent, cold and manipulative wife of Murad, the grandson of the great Suleiman, and her previous acquaintance (lover?), now the slave of the title character Esmikhan, a naive, good and despite all that a very intriguing and charming lady.
Yes, oddly enough, Safiye with all her ambition and cunning was too crude for me to be interesting, I enjoyed reading about Esmikhan's affairs much more. The second part of the book, where Esmikhan is in the limelight, was therefore better for me, especially the story of peregrination to Konya and Abdullah's troubles. Even the style somehow reflected this - when I was reading the first part about Safiye, I felt the language tedious and convoluted, but this impression disappeared as soon as Esmihkan was on the stage.
The purple language was sometimes too much, but the descriptions of the city, food, smells and buildings were good enough to forgive it. I'd definitely like to read the remaining two books now.
Yes, oddly enough, Safiye with all her ambition and cunning was too crude for me to be interesting, I enjoyed reading about Esmikhan's affairs much more. The second part of the book, where Esmikhan is in the limelight, was therefore better for me, especially the story of peregrination to Konya and Abdullah's troubles. Even the style somehow reflected this - when I was reading the first part about Safiye, I felt the language tedious and convoluted, but this impression disappeared as soon as Esmihkan was on the stage.
The purple language was sometimes too much, but the descriptions of the city, food, smells and buildings were good enough to forgive it. I'd definitely like to read the remaining two books now.
August 18, 2023
I picked it up at a library sale, thank goodness, so it didn't cost me much. I don't know who Harriet Lausner is, but on the back of the book, she says, "...among the best historical fiction written in the nineties." What books has she been reading?
Every page has sentences similar to this metaphor: " Safiye saw their physicality now, too, their ramshackle houses making uneven tumors at the edges of her sight." or "Safiye settled back behind the defenses of her mirrors rim." And these are the good ones. Not to mention, there was no coherent dialogue. I had to go back and keep rereading to see why I couldn't understand - maybe I missed something. But no. Besides that, nothing happened or seemed to be heading in the direction of something happening so I closed the book half way through and went on to another hopefully more enjoyable book.
I always feel bad giving a one star, but I leave it up to other readers to rate it as they see fit. It's just my opinion.
Every page has sentences similar to this metaphor: " Safiye saw their physicality now, too, their ramshackle houses making uneven tumors at the edges of her sight." or "Safiye settled back behind the defenses of her mirrors rim." And these are the good ones. Not to mention, there was no coherent dialogue. I had to go back and keep rereading to see why I couldn't understand - maybe I missed something. But no. Besides that, nothing happened or seemed to be heading in the direction of something happening so I closed the book half way through and went on to another hopefully more enjoyable book.
I always feel bad giving a one star, but I leave it up to other readers to rate it as they see fit. It's just my opinion.
December 7, 2014
One of the most articulate fictional eunuch characters around. This is set in 1560s Turkey; it reminds me of another worthy character in Equal of the Sun, set in 1570s Iran. More thoughts, including perhaps some spoilers, on Disruptive Dissertation.
April 22, 2012
lovely book
June 12, 2012
The second in the trio, I consumed it voraciously, and enjoyed every minute of it.
Want to read
May 25, 2015tuebl
September 19, 2008
This whole trilogy is amazing if you like historical fiction.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews