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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death
Moderate: Miscarriage, Violence, War
Minor: Child death
Angela Hunt does an amazing job of retelling the story of Esther family I’m a different perspective. I love Angela’s books.
I have always loved and been fascinated by the story of Esther, and I found this to be a fantastically written book that adds so much more depth and context to the story.
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Misogyny
Full Review: April 25, 2020
3.5 Stars
I amend my original review posted below. Not because my opinion has changed, but because in the last week I actually read the full Book of Esther in the Bible (can’t remember the last time I picked up my Bible) and did a little further reading regarding Esther and Vashti.
Understandably, to write a novel about ancient, biblical figures, an author must take liberties. However, surprisingly, despite the expanded plot Hunt is able to stay true to the source material while also making it a worthwhile read (or in this case, listen). Well-written and easy to follow along, Hunt gives studied character to a story that is, to put bluntly, a product of its time and audience.
Esther, also known as the Hebrew Hadassah, is, unfortunately, naïve and innocent. For three quarters of the book, she is portrayed as a young Jewish girl fascinated with beauty and a culture that is so inherently different from her own. Raised by a deeply religious couple, who believe in only Adonai and their people’s history, she follows their guidance with only half a heart. Certainly, she believes the same as those around her but her faith is nowhere near as strong as Mordecai and Miram’s.
It is only after she learns Mordecai and her people are threatened does she decide to take a stand. Her actions up until then, while not entirely selfish, are mostly vain. True, the death of her aunt and Mordecai’s fear for her person had given her a semblance of sense, as she accepts with good grace the situation her own kidnapping and placement in the king’s harem, however she is still portrayed as young and inexperienced even as a queen of some years and standing.
Queen Vashti, however, was more interesting to me. Portrayed as a ruthless woman who would do anything to stay in power, her ambition for her sons is ultimately her downfall, as the faithful Harbona relays at the end. Granted, even Esther cannot blame the former queen for her actions, as Vashti refuses the king his desire, which is to gaze upon her own beauty. Vashti knows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and has no wish to subject herself to the eyes of drunken men.
I unquestionably cannot blame her for that.
The differences between the two are stark: the former is portrayed as faithful and obedient, while the latter is portrayed as a harpy and concerned with only her own satisfaction; one is admired for her bravery and the other is punished for displaying the same characteristic. Thus, both Hunt’s novel and the original lavish praise on the “good” woman and rebuke the “bad” woman.
However, I must remember that the source material was written over a thousand years ago and is meant to be a lesson and an explanation of the Jewish holiday of Purim.
That being said, despite attending Catholic school (or perhaps because of it) and having been raised by a woman who was deeply Irish Catholic, I tend to lean more towards agnosticism and spirituality than any set faith. However, I admit I find learning about the history and politics behind religion absolutely fascinating. Therefore, 3.5 Stars for Hunt’s portrayal of two women who should be honored equally.
Original Review: April 19, 2020
3.5 Stars
Surprisingly enjoyable, and only a little irritating, Hunt's novel about an unlikely biblical heroine was a surprise to me.
Maybe it's because I know little of Queen Esther, despite studying Scripture and theology in Catholic school, or maybe it's because Catholic school turned me off biblical fiction. (Although I admit to having read the odd biblical novel here and there.)
In any case, I mostly enjoyed this take on a biblical queen of Persia.
I shall explain more in-depth at a later time when I'm back at my computer. Until then...definitely 3.5 stars.
3.5 Stars
I amend my original review posted below. Not because my opinion has changed, but because in the last week I actually read the full Book of Esther in the Bible (can’t remember the last time I picked up my Bible) and did a little further reading regarding Esther and Vashti.
Understandably, to write a novel about ancient, biblical figures, an author must take liberties. However, surprisingly, despite the expanded plot Hunt is able to stay true to the source material while also making it a worthwhile read (or in this case, listen). Well-written and easy to follow along, Hunt gives studied character to a story that is, to put bluntly, a product of its time and audience.
Esther, also known as the Hebrew Hadassah, is, unfortunately, naïve and innocent. For three quarters of the book, she is portrayed as a young Jewish girl fascinated with beauty and a culture that is so inherently different from her own. Raised by a deeply religious couple, who believe in only Adonai and their people’s history, she follows their guidance with only half a heart. Certainly, she believes the same as those around her but her faith is nowhere near as strong as Mordecai and Miram’s.
It is only after she learns Mordecai and her people are threatened does she decide to take a stand. Her actions up until then, while not entirely selfish, are mostly vain. True, the death of her aunt and Mordecai’s fear for her person had given her a semblance of sense, as she accepts with good grace the situation her own kidnapping and placement in the king’s harem, however she is still portrayed as young and inexperienced even as a queen of some years and standing.
Queen Vashti, however, was more interesting to me. Portrayed as a ruthless woman who would do anything to stay in power, her ambition for her sons is ultimately her downfall, as the faithful Harbona relays at the end. Granted, even Esther cannot blame the former queen for her actions, as Vashti refuses the king his desire, which is to gaze upon her own beauty. Vashti knows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and has no wish to subject herself to the eyes of drunken men.
I unquestionably cannot blame her for that.
The differences between the two are stark: the former is portrayed as faithful and obedient, while the latter is portrayed as a harpy and concerned with only her own satisfaction; one is admired for her bravery and the other is punished for displaying the same characteristic. Thus, both Hunt’s novel and the original lavish praise on the “good” woman and rebuke the “bad” woman.
However, I must remember that the source material was written over a thousand years ago and is meant to be a lesson and an explanation of the Jewish holiday of Purim.
That being said, despite attending Catholic school (or perhaps because of it) and having been raised by a woman who was deeply Irish Catholic, I tend to lean more towards agnosticism and spirituality than any set faith. However, I admit I find learning about the history and politics behind religion absolutely fascinating. Therefore, 3.5 Stars for Hunt’s portrayal of two women who should be honored equally.
Original Review: April 19, 2020
3.5 Stars
Surprisingly enjoyable, and only a little irritating, Hunt's novel about an unlikely biblical heroine was a surprise to me.
Maybe it's because I know little of Queen Esther, despite studying Scripture and theology in Catholic school, or maybe it's because Catholic school turned me off biblical fiction. (Although I admit to having read the odd biblical novel here and there.)
In any case, I mostly enjoyed this take on a biblical queen of Persia.
I shall explain more in-depth at a later time when I'm back at my computer. Until then...definitely 3.5 stars.
The story of Esther has always been my favorite bible story since I was a little girl, so I was extremely excited when this book came out. Though it was a tad bit different than any of the other stories I had read before, I found myself unable to put it down and finished it within about a day and a half.
It took a bit for me to get into the story at the beginning, but once I was into the flow of the book and the two viewpoints, Esther’s and Xerxes’ chamberlain Harbonah’s, I couldn’t stop reading.
I’ve read one other book by Angela Hunt, Magdalene, and now I can’t wait to get my hands on more of her books. You can trust her books to stay as close to the Biblical version as possible, which I really like. I hate it when people take a character out of the Bible and give them a completely fictionalized story.
This is one book I will definitely recommend to my friends and family that are in search of not just a historical novel, but a Biblical based one filled with facts from the Bible.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
It took a bit for me to get into the story at the beginning, but once I was into the flow of the book and the two viewpoints, Esther’s and Xerxes’ chamberlain Harbonah’s, I couldn’t stop reading.
I’ve read one other book by Angela Hunt, Magdalene, and now I can’t wait to get my hands on more of her books. You can trust her books to stay as close to the Biblical version as possible, which I really like. I hate it when people take a character out of the Bible and give them a completely fictionalized story.
This is one book I will definitely recommend to my friends and family that are in search of not just a historical novel, but a Biblical based one filled with facts from the Bible.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it. It is about Esther! I absolutely love the movie One Night With the King and the biblical book of Esther. Esther (or rather, Hadassah) is one of the biblical persons who really fascinates me. And the cover is just beautiful.
Varying Perspectives
I love how the book doesn't keep with just one perspective. Throughout the books different characters get their turn to tell the story in first person. I really like that, a lot. Throughout the book, you get to hear from Hadassah and Harbonah, a servant and eunuch in the palace. The thing that most often irritates me about first person is that you only get to hear from one perspective. In Esther, this was not the case. You are able to hear from two perspectives that are, at times, extremely different. I really appreciated that.
Historical and Biblical Accuracy
This book is accurate both biblically and historically to the time of Esther. I really like it when books that are historical fiction bother to actually get the historical facts correct. This book did. There were also some biblical quotes throughout the book. I know that I recognized one from Deuteronomy and at least two from Psalms. I really appreciated that.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasn't too sure since, as I already mentioned, I was afraid it wouldn't be historically and biblically accurate. But it was. And I really liked it. I stayed up a bit later than I usually would last night because I wanted to finish it so bad. This is a book that I am going to want to buy a physical copy of once it is released.
Thank you so much, Bethany House! I really enjoyed the book.
I received this book for free from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This review first appeared on CatholicAmanda.com
Varying Perspectives
I love how the book doesn't keep with just one perspective. Throughout the books different characters get their turn to tell the story in first person. I really like that, a lot. Throughout the book, you get to hear from Hadassah and Harbonah, a servant and eunuch in the palace. The thing that most often irritates me about first person is that you only get to hear from one perspective. In Esther, this was not the case. You are able to hear from two perspectives that are, at times, extremely different. I really appreciated that.
Historical and Biblical Accuracy
This book is accurate both biblically and historically to the time of Esther. I really like it when books that are historical fiction bother to actually get the historical facts correct. This book did. There were also some biblical quotes throughout the book. I know that I recognized one from Deuteronomy and at least two from Psalms. I really appreciated that.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this book. At first I wasn't too sure since, as I already mentioned, I was afraid it wouldn't be historically and biblically accurate. But it was. And I really liked it. I stayed up a bit later than I usually would last night because I wanted to finish it so bad. This is a book that I am going to want to buy a physical copy of once it is released.
Thank you so much, Bethany House! I really enjoyed the book.
I received this book for free from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This review first appeared on CatholicAmanda.com
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No