Hadassah: One Night with the King

Hadassah #1

by Tommy Tenney, Mark Andrew Olsen

A gripping action-adventure story full of political intrigue and suspense, with a brand-new perspective on a historical figure you may think you already know!

Both a palace thriller and a Jewish woman's memoir, Hadassah brings the age-old story of Esther to life. This historically accurate novel layered with fresh insights provides a fascinating twist on a pivotal time in religious history, and readers will find it bursting with page-turning drama.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Historical, Romance

304 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2003

About the author

Tommy Tenney is the author of multi-million selling The God Chasers series. He has written more than thirty books, with eight best-selling titles to date. Tommy has books in over forty languages, traveled into more than seventy-two countries and television broadcast into one hundred twenty nations. Tommy spent ten years pastoring and has spent over twenty years in itinerant ministry. His two passions are leading others to seek the presence of God and encouraging unity in the body of Christ. He is the founder of GodChasers.network, a mission's ministry organized to assist pastors globally, and distribute Tommy's teachings through various media. Three generations of ministry in his family heritage, and three daughters, have given Tommy a unique perspective on ministry. The Tenneys reside in Louisiana with their three daughters, their son-in-law, four grandchildren and two Yorkies.

Reviews

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books in the Bible is the story of Esther. I mean, it's a classic Cinderella-type tale. Poor girl who becomes a queen. Plus, the fact that she saves her people means that she's way better than most of the Disney princesses (i.e. all except Mulan). And my favourite re-telling of the Esther story is Hadassah by Tommy Tenney (not that I've read that many retellings).

Hadassah is written in the form of a letter from the elderly Queen Esther to a young Queen hopeful, full of advice and her life story. While there is some creative license (like what she was thinking and details of palace life), the book stays true to the actual Bible story. Using a metaphor, this book's treatment of the Esther story is like the movie Prince of Egypt's treatment of the Exodus story.

My favourite part of story is Esther's journey. She doesn't start of as a young women full of faith; she actually has a lot of doubts and anger towards God, especially about the death of her families. But as the book progresses, she experiences His love, which changes her. And like a normal human, there are times when she forgets, but that adds to the charm of reading about her journey of faith.

For some reason, the most touching paragraph in the whole book is a single sentence of six words. You see, the early part of the book recounts how Esther watched her whole family die (on her birthday!) and how that resulted in many years of bitterness. In the triumphant ending, Esther not only saves her people, but manages to wipe out the Agagites, fufilling the commands of God centuries before. And then the chapter ends with these six words:


"And a little girl's grief avenged."

That is so poignant. You can see that she's been hurt so much by the death of her family, that she feels trapped in time. Yet, she's managed to come through it all as the winner, not the victim.

(First published at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile)

[Leigh Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The actual story of Esther wasn't too bad, I mostly had a problem with the premise. This book in scroll form was written by Esther and his been unrolled and signed by every woman descended from her the night before her wedding. I'm guessing paper that's well over 2,000 years old is in pretty fragile shape. The Declaration of Independence is just over 200 years old and it has to be kept in a glass case with all the air sucked out of it. That scroll should be dust by now. And the women are supposed to read it the night before their wedding? It took me a week to read it and I read fast!

Also, Esther supposedly wrote this to encourage another young queen candidate who appears to be Jewish and she's supposed to keep it a secret. That would be one big scroll and I imagine difficult to hide from the other women. And by the time Esther wrote it and the queen candidate read it, most of the advice would probably be too late.

The other thing I noticed was that before the women started taking turns having their night with the king, they decided to lose weight after fattening up on a royal diet. Thin=beauty is a modern concept. Back then, a heavy woman was a rich, well-fed woman. I imagine the king would want someone with a little meat on her bones. Besides, when was the last time you saw a skinny belly dancer? I really think that was a modern bias showing through.

Another reviewer questioned the swastika. It's an ancient symbol and may well have been in existence then, but it wasn't linked to anti-semitism until World War II. Mostly it was a good luck symbol or used purely as decoration. A little research into that history would have been nice.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story that fuses a Biblical epic and relates it to the present day.
Hadassah is getting married, she is a modern day Jewish bride and a week before the wedding her father takes her to see a very ancient scroll and presents her with a book of the story of one of her ancestors.
So starts the journey back in time to the days of the original Hadassah who lived through a turbulent time in Persia and had to deny her identity and faith as a Jew, her parents are murdered, plots abound and one day she is selected to be a candidate to spend "One night with the King."
The king in question is King Xerxes and through many obstacles Hadassah ends up the King's favourite and attains the Queenship of Persia under the assumed name of Esther.
This is HER story, one woman's fight to change her life, change her country and the fate of her people.
Breathtaking and epic in scope and narration the author though its his first attempt at a novel does a marvelous job of taking a Biblical story and giving it a modern day meaning by smoothly intersecting it with a twist within the present.
Not at all "preachy" or moralistic in tone this is not a didactic novel in any way just a story to entertain, inform and totally enjoy.
This will probably appeal to those fans of the historical genre in general.
Definitely worth the time of anyone to read.
Already bought the movie and also the sequel, Hadassah's covenant.
A brilliant read.

[Elizabeth Loeb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful, awful, awful. I read it because I saw a review that said it was like the Red Tent. The only similarly is taking a biblical character and building a story around her. Beyond that it's sexist, stupid and clearly written by a man. In the story, Esther undergoes a transformation from a young girl who doesn't believe in God because her parents were slaughtered to a woman who suddenly trusts everything in God (with no explanation of the change in heart) and realizes that what HE wants is for her to become Queen by giving herself completely over to King Xersies and exist to make him happy. Conveniently, of course, she falls in love with the king after a few hours of conversation even though he is the one who ordered the castration of 500 innocent boys (including her sort of boy friend) and her imprisonment in the harem initially against her will. Very poorly written to boot; really just a man's wet dream. A complete waste of time.

[Shanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Esther has been one that has always touched me and challenged me. To see a woman of such courage, a believer in God, to be led by her heart and her faith in a way that threatened her very life and yet saved all of her people. I see such strength in her. Such beauty. I admire her. This book, although fiction, allowed me glimpses into her life and story that inspired me even though they may not be true. It is a story that shows God's sovereign hand over our lives and even over our deaths. Esther was a heroine. But she was one only because she trusted in God who led her to be someone important for a time such as the one that was placed before her. It's what we are all meant for. To live out our lives in the places set before us in a manner that honors God alone. For His purposes. Who knows but that we are living now because God has ordained us a purpose for such a time as this??

[Jennifer Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't found a book that I like yet about Old Testament figures, including Orson Scott Card's books.

I felt like this retelling of the story of Esther was a romance disguised as historical fiction--which is really weird, because I have a hard time with the believability of a romance where your husband can arbitrarily have you killed at a moment's notice because you displease him, and he also is sleeping with his harem of 100 concubines. Really? Sorry, didn't work for me.

[Alison Caddell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read, but I'm not able to give it four or five stars because the initial setup/prologue is cheesy, the writing level seemed to be lower than average adult reading level, and the conflict devices seemed cheesy as well. I felt the same say I feel when watching a better than average made-for-TV movie: it was a nice way to pass the time, but nothing I'd recommend for high awards. Still, I commend the fact that it awakens interest in the original biblical account, and it also piques your interest in the historical context as well.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this one. It's a badly contrived, mostly Christian, look at the traditional biblical tale. And to top it off, Esther is more of a sexpot than a heroine. And blonde. Pul-leazze!

Grrr.

To see the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_13339...

[Abigail Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I don't often read Biblical fiction but I tried this one. It was okay but I'm not likely to reread it. There were some things that I felt wouldn't be like they were in Biblical times.

[Carolyn C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an okay read for me. Here's the scoop. If it were strictly a fictitious novel and not "historical fiction" I would have done better. I am told that the author did extensive research on the subject of Queen Esther before writing this book. In my opinion, he took his author's liberties way, way too far. After I finished reading the book...I reread the actual account in the bible. For example, he describes the extremely brutal and gory execution of King Xerxes' wife Vashti...not in the scriptures...it just says she was "deposed as queen." He also said that Haman was skewered (naked) on a gallow 50 cubits high he'd built for Mordecai - the actual account said he (and his 10 sons) were "hanged"...not graphically "skewered" and left for weeks for the towns people to see.

The story is written in first person told by Esher herself. I'm so sure that she would use terms such as "henchmen"..."thugs"..."blah, blah, blah"..."hoodlums"...and "gang"...give me a break:( Also, in this potentially beautiful account about Esther saving her people, I think that the focus of the book should have been more on that but instead about 1/3 of the book was centered around preparation an upcoming "sexual" encounter with the king. Dang...they forgot that part in the scriptures too! Good grief!!

I read some of the reviews and it made me so sad to see so many of them taking this fictitious story as the true scriptural account and actual "gospel" truth.

[Shantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm... what I will point out here, is that Hadassah: One Night with the King was well-written and very interesting. Very stunning novel based on the book of Esther from the Bible. However, I say BASED, because there were a few things that didn't seem quite historically acurate concerning Hadassah and her story. And, her search for revenge at the end of the book didn't leave me with a nice feeling.

I don't want to completely write it off though. A lot of people would enjoy it, I'm sure. But as for me, there were just some things I didn't agree with. Another thing is that the book doesn't quite focus on the right thing--on what the book of Esther from the Bible focuses on. For example, the books of Esther does not focus so much on Esther having her "one night with the king" at all; rather, God putting her in the palace, a poor Jew, to save the other Jews, God's people, from being destroyed by the king, due to Hamen's evil plot.

A stunning work of fiction, yes, but as it was based on a book from the Bible, which I believe in, it just didn't settle with me very well.

[Kellyn Roth]

DNF. Just didn't find it interesting.

[Grace Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Warnings*
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You'll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which will mean some spoilers, so watch out.

This book is not for the faint of heart.

You may already be contriving ideas and images of the content this book will content, the emotions it will invoke, and perhaps even the ending—especially if you have read the Book of Esther or watched the film based upon this particular novel.

Forget them. You’re wrong.

This is not a book about Esther, Queen of Persia. This is not the story you imagined, as our narrator makes a point of, full of court intrigue, political scandal, pagan sensuality—or even a tale of pious martyrdom. It’s not entirely a romance—not in the modern sense, that is—not entirely an adventure, not entirely a fictional work, even.

It is perhaps the most tragic love story of all time, the most action-packed adventure ever lived, and the true story of Hadassah, the girl who became queen.

I don't read a lot of "retellings"--fictional books based upon or about actual people. Usually because I either know the true story too well to be convinced of anything else or I don't want to spoil my own fanciful ideas of what a true story (particularly Esther's) was like. I read Jewel of Persia sometime earlier this year or late 2019, and it just didn't do it for me. The depiction of King Xerxes was not as a powerful king, but rather a sentimental child. And maybe, in reality, he was at his heart--but coupled with a heroine like Kasia and a story of love between the two, both he and the true story of Esther (who was in Jewel of Persia) were spoiled for me. Knowing that Rosanna M. White had toyed with Esther and Xerxes so was just disappointing.

Which is why I was hesitant to read One Night With the King.

I've watched the 2005 movie tons of times. I love it. It's well-made, great cinematography, almost perfectly accurate, wonderful acting (co-starring John Rhys-Davies as Mordecai, so what do you expect?). Of course, I'd never known it was based upon a novel, which was based upon the Book of Esther, until a few months ago.

So I put this book on hold at my local library.

My main concerns were that it would be boring, full of war and political intrigue that I wouldn't understand nor want to read through, or else largely about the scandal of Xerxes' childhood and lifestyle and many wives and concubines and...ick. Or that the characters would be bland--Xerxes' completely unrelatable and unlovable, Hadassah pious and too-perfect. Of course, if the book were anything like the movie, it was destined to be more than wonderful.

But here's the thing: it's none of those things. Nothing I was afraid of. Nothing it could have been about. Nothing like the movie. Of course, I could definitely see the parallels and the similar scenes, and every time Mordecai entered the seen, I saw John Rhys-Davies and heard his Welsh accent as clear as day.

Hadassah: One Night With the King is about those two very things. Hadassah. And her one night with the king of kings. (And, yes, I'm pretty sure they called Xerxes that.) So, regardless of what you think about these two people and their love story, or even about the Book of Esther itself (as in, whether it's true or not), or what you've read before (because so many people have tried to write Hadassah over the years), you need to read this book.

Tommy Tenney is simply an amazing author. I've never read anything by him before in my life, but he has a spectacular storytelling method. It's captivating. This white, Christian, 21st-century man--note: man--writes from the point-of-view of a young, 400 BC era Hebrew woman better than, I think, even a Jewish woman could. Hadassah is not a Mary Sue. She's not perfect, not bland, not too mature or too immature. As a character, she is perfect. Her voice is so smooth, taking on a person, a character, all its own, apart from the same woman the story is about. The development of her worldview and her faith throughout the story is really what it's about. Her experience with Xerxes and, most importantly, God, is at the forefront of this novel. It's not politics, not war, not scandal, not our twisted idea of "romance" and "love" stories.

It's simply Hadassah, myrtle tree, Star of Persia.

And maybe that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Maybe you've never read a narration so alive and have no idea what to expect.

Just read it.

But beware--this book is not for the faint of heart. And not because of the harem practices or the semi-detailed descriptions of castration or the impalement of criminals and brutal slaughtering of our heroine's family--although that surely plays some part.

But because you won't walk away from Hadassah the same. It will totally change your perspective of this story, of this amazing young Jewess. You won't be reading the Bible the same, or romance novels, or Biblical novels the same after this. Not when you feel as though you know the Queen of Persia. The emotion in this novel is so poignant that it will pierce your heart. The spirituality in this novel is so alive that you won't be the same Christian afterward. Hadassah truly lived the life we all--man, woman, Jew, Gentile--should be living.

A life in God.

BookWorm

[Suzanne Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, I found it very descriptive which is ok if you like descriptive books. At one point Esther describes being taken to the kings bedroom and it takes about 3 pages of description to get there. Towards the end she said "it felt like I would never get there" and I felt exactly the same 😂.
I spent a lot of the book feeling sorry for Jesse (her childhood friend). The book was ok but I was very pleased when I was finished and could read something else.

[Emi-Wan Kenobi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book came highly recommended, and as I love historical fiction and the story of Esther has always been one of my favorites, I couldn't resist.

Unfortunately I was highly disappointed. I won't go in to the long, long list of things that bothered, frustrated, or downright ticked me off, as other reviewers have done it much better than I could, but I will name a few.

First, the language was far too modern. The majority of the story is supposed to be copied from a scroll write by Hadassah herself, several thousand years ago. As such, you wouldn't expect to hear many of the modern phrases and uses of language that make up the entire story. (There were several examples of this, but to list just one: at one point Haman literally uses the phrase "Blah-blah-blah" in the middle of his dialogue). Language like that in a manuscript that is supposedly thousands of years old felt misplaced and awkward, not at all like you were reading an ancient tale written in "----- BC" and it continually jerked me out of the story.

Second, the use of the "twisted cross" (swastika) made absolutely no sense. While the symbol existed long before the Nazi's adopted it, as far as I know it was never a symbol of hatred against Jews before that time. To me tossing it in there felt like a lazy use of a convenient plot device and was proof that no actual effort or research went into designing that aspect of the story.

Lastly, I felt that the characters were rather bland and two-dimensional. Haman was your typical insidious villain, Mordecai the overprotective but well meaning father-figure, Esther a flawless heroine, and Xerxes a handsome, dashing, heroically flawed king. And Jesse was... I can't even think of what to say about him. He had so little character that his most telling moment was when he was devastated and mourning the "loss of his manhood" (something that was lamented so many times I got sick of it--especially since the loss of "what made him a man" was treated as more of a tragedy than the fact that Hadassah was going to be forced to have sexual intercourse against her will, which was quickly defended as okay because she was "doing it for the king"). I couldn't get attached to any of them.

As far as books go, One Night With the King wasn't awful. At best I'm indifferent towards it (it was neither good enough for me to like or bad enough for me to hate). It's not something I think I'll ever read again, or recommend, however. And there are definitely far superior examples of historical fiction to be found.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps a young Jewish woman, a peasant from Susa, should have been the most unlikely possibility, the most unlikely candidate to be the next Queen of Persia. Nevertheless, her ascension to the throne turns out to be a timely rise to meet impending danger in Hadassah: One Night With the King by authors Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen.

The first time I read this book over a decade ago, it became one of my all-time favorites. The flawed heroine's journey in this novel that's part thriller, part fictional memoir based on the biblical book of Esther was a needed balm for me during a dark season in my life.

Reading the novel for the second time years later, I again have found it to be a rich, nuanced, violent, poignant, deftly written story. It has so much of what makes historical/period reads engrossing to me. And Tenney's intent stands out in the spiritually driven metaphors that speak to close relationship with a King.

Even so, the metaphors will never make a hero out of the cruel, vulnerable, weary, changeable man of excess and war, Xerxes. And despite what Hadassah/Esther comes to feel for the king, this novel isn't a romance.

While I in no way need this to be a romance or a fairy tale, one of its key ironies didn't strike me earlier in my life, but it strikes me now. The irony of the story's genocide. An Amalekite is out to exterminate Jewish (Hebrew) men, women, and children—a mission stemming from a time when Israelites (Hebrews) were out to exterminate Amalekite men, women, and children.

Yet, only one of these extermination missions is really painted in a negative light here. Of course, I know why, but I'm not okay with it. I am not okay with genocide.

It may be additionally ironic that I still gave this work four stars (down from what used to be five). While it's partly due to the deep, beautiful writing and to my previous experience with the novel, it's also partly because reading this book has again shown me something so important about myself.

[Katina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Hadassah
"Death or Cooperation, there was nothing else"

Star of Susa* "God's Plan"

One of the most annoying things while reading this book is that the word God is shown as G-d in the book. This maybe for religious reasons of the author which is why it did not bother me as much as it could have. The first chapter opens a bit slow but by chapter 4 I was completely hooked. I loved how it jumped from her present day to the past to let the reader understand what happened in the early chapters. I still feel upset for Vashti (his first wife who was sent into exile for disobeying his orders to dance before men at a feast. She really got a raw deal I later found out that she was killed)

Later I would find out that Hadassah felt at odds with God because of the lost of her family.Hadassah and her love for the story of Jacob, his love for Rachel and his burden with Leah, is beautiful.
I am still annoyed that women were basically viewed as sexualized playthings.

I think strong women are not women without fear but women who face fear head on despite their panic and the traumatic events that plague their life. I tried to imagine being in her shoes in the palace where she is forced to hide who she is. I hope no Jewish person or any other minority has to feel like they have to deny who they are for any reason.

[Bt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relatively enjoyable and pretty well-written, I guess, but I don't think it was anything special. Through all the things I knew were going to happen, I was just like bored, "blah, blah, blah, I already know this" and through all the added stuff, I was like, "HEY! THAT WASN'T IN THE BIBLE!!!" So it was probably partially just me. But at the same time, I didn't particularly love any of the characters. And because the author added so much, I wasn't sure what I could trust as historically accurate (or historically accurate to the best of historians' knowledge) and what was pure fantasy. For instance, I could not find any record that Tenney's take on the story of the Saul and the Amalekites (why the race survived) was true. And SWASTIKAS?!? REALLY?!? I don't know if he thought that was clever or ironic or what but its name tag said, "Hello my name is Glaring Inaccuracy." Because of this and other inaccuracies (or "unfounded/imaginative additions" if you want to be kinder), I don't know what I can believe. Was Xerxes's palace really that opulent? Are the Jewish customs described real customs? Is the Esther character's everyday life realistic? I can't tell without a lot of outside research... and so because I must doubt everything, I have learned little.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

About first 20% of the book almost made me gave up. But once she was hauled into the palace? Oh, man! I couldn't stop reading. I mean, yes, sometimes there were too much information about how beautiful the palace was, a lot of description. But it was still interesting to keep me up with it.

I've read Esther in the Bible and it's cool to read about the story again in a more novelistic way. I love reading about the background of her character, Haman's, and Mordecai's. Even Xerxes. To see the king as who he was, mighty and deadly, yet he was as human as he could be.

As a Christian, I also love the mention of God. How the author describe His presence in the story, how Esther had been solely depending on Him. Love to see that every process Esther took was done with precisely care and heavily rely on God. It was amazing to read about those in details. The book gave me a glimpse of how Esther might actually felt when she walked into the inner court of the king uninvited, how she chose to hosted the banquet twice before revealed her intentions to the king, and why she was favored throughout the whole book.

Many great advises from the queen indeed.

[Anna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get that this is a fiction novel but to take so many liberties with the details of making a biblical story into a novel is repulsive! I couldn't bring myself to read beyond the 13th chapter. I felt what I was reading was stretched too far. First off, Hadassah waking in extreme pain and spilling her whole bed at the onset of her first menses proves Tenney has no clue what this experience is like. If he would have talked to even 2 women, he would have discovered how wrong his depiction of getting the first menses is. And, beyond that, until there is historical evidence of Haman being an ancestor of the Nazis, Tenney should not be suggesting that their insignias were the same. If an author wants to write historical fiction, they should still do the proper research to ensure they are honoring the genre and historical figure they are writing about.

[Tracey Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book started a little slow for me, but once it took off it never stopped. I had tears at the end. I'm so glad I finally, after all these years, decided to give biblical fiction a try.

Highly recommend!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL!!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It cleared up some questions that I had in my own mind concerning the story of Esther. Would highly recommend.

[Sumayyah · Rating 1 out of 5]

teeeeeerrible writing, couldnt get through it

[Emily (I'll be gone except for book updates for awhile) · Rating 2 out of 5]

My original "review" got deleted but all I said was the dialogue was super cringy and it was just an okay book over all

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hadassah: One Night with the King” is a superb retelling of the inspiring journey of a young Jewish girl’s rise to Queen of Persia. Traumatized by the death of her parents and filled with doubts and anger at G-d, Hadassah lives an isolated and protected life in the household of her cousin Mordecai, a royal scribe at the court of Xerxes.

With the fall from grace of Queen Vashti, the plot heats up when Memucan the Master of Audiences persuades the King to look for a new wife from a bevy of Persia’s beautiful young women. When Hadassah’s friend Jesse is kidnapped by soldiers, she reacts impulsively only to find herself swept up among more than a hundred young women vying to be Queen in Vashti’s place.

Set in the ancient Persian capital city of Susa, Tommy Tenney with Mark Andrew Olsen bring the biblical story of Hadassah to life in vivid historical and emotional detail. Intensity and suspense escalate quickly as Hadassah (aka Star) faces challenges being groomed for her night with Xerxes; her friend Jesse struggles with the loss of his manhood and his role as a eunuch; and Mordecai becomes the target of a formidable enemy.

Well-developed and intriguing there is a strong current of faith that runs through this story as the shattered young Hadassah broken by her loss as a child rekindles her faith and takes a strong stand that could mean her death. Likewise as the romance between Star (aka Hadassah) and Xerxes blossoms the passion of love and longing in the biblical verses of the “Song of Solomon” seem to resonate. Enthralling, all too soon this page-turner progresses to the present day and the wedding of another young Hadassah.

Breathing life into the story are compelling characters like a young Hadassah who’s humble and reclusive only to grow into a self-assured, kind and regal woman; the irrational, insecure, lonely and flawed King Xerxes; and the down-to earth, wise and devout Mordecai. Yet it is the evil of proud and avaricious Haman the Agagite with his hatred of the Jews and hunger for a throne that adds a dark chill to the story.

“Hadassah: One Night with the King” is a beautiful retelling of a poignant and inspirational biblical story set in a time of conquest and war with characters that resonate with echoes of a past that won’t be forgotten.

[Zuziku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krásny biblický príbeh malého plachého dievčatka s menom Hadassá, z ktorého vyrastie krásna mladá žena Ester, kráľovná Perzie. Príbeh sa odohráva okolo r. 480 pred Kr. v obrovskej Perzskej ríši. Po smrti kráľovnej Vašti si kráľ hľadá novú kráľovnú a preto pozýva do svojho háremu stovky najkrajších panien z celého sveta. Jeho oči, ale najmä srdce, okúzli mladá židovka Hadassá, ktorej v dedstve vyvraždili rodinu a staral sa o ňu kráľovský pisár Mardochej. Kráľ ju po svadbe premenuje na Ester, čo v preklade znamená "krásna hviezda". Ester napriek ťažkým časom zostáva verná svojej láske ku kráľovi, ale najmä svojej láske a viere v jediného Boha. Vďaka nim sa jej podarí zachrániť svoj národ z rúk nepriateľov.
Štýl písania sa mi veľmi páčil, najmä to, že príbeh je písaný v prvej osobe. Sama Ester nám rozpráva o svojom živote a tak môžme spolu s ňou prežívať chvíle strachu, nepokoja, ale i lásky a šťastia. Z knihy sa taktiež dozvedáme veľa o histórii židovského národa, ale aj o Perzii, jej bohatstve či vojenských výpravách. Ester, ktorú môžeme považovať za silnú ženskú hrdinku, sa mi vo veľa veciach stala vzorom. Knihu odporúčam z celého srdca.

[Aleida Oskam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het heeft even geduurd voor het verhaal in dit boek me te pakken had. Pas zo'n beetje halverwege het verhaal vond ik het interessant genoeg worden om door te blijven lezen. Of dat dit komt doordat ik het verhaal ook al vanuit de bijbel ken weet ik niet zeker maar ook de schrijfstijl wist me niet altijd helemaal te pakken. Ik denk omdat ik kort ervoor een soortgelijk verhaal heb gelezen en dit behoorlijk is blijven hangen dit verhaal me ook iets minder aangreep. Het verhaal had uiteindelijk wel een mooi einde.

[Julianne Witmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read this as fiction, it is a great story of intrigue and betrayal. If you are looking for a close resemblance to the biblical account, this is not what you want. I also struggled to follow the dual story line, and felt the end was rushed.

[Kristy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction. Tenney writes with more detail so it was a little slow at the beginning.