Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Bethany House Pub (2004), Edition: First Edition. first printing, 304 pages
Description
A gripping action/adventure 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. During in-depth research on the life of Esther and its setting in ancient Persia--contemporary Iraq and Iran--Tenney discovered a compelling, heart-stopping tale lying at its core. He uses here his skilled storytelling gifts to capture the power and beauty of the peasant girl who became queen.
User reviews
LibraryThing member annegirl1919
This is one of those books that you cannot put down. it is graphic and tense-not what i'd call a cozy read. it was a great version of what the details of the story of ester may have been. it was also very inspirational to me with regards to my relationship with my husband. i highly recommend it!
LibraryThing member KingstonUCA
This novel, based on the Biblical book of Esther, provides a gripping account of how Esther, a Jew, became Queen of Persia and ultimately saved the Jewish people from destruction. This thrilling adventure story begins with Esther as a child and the tragedy that shaped her. It provides an intriguing
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and sometimes shocking glimpse into palace life and customs. This is a riveting story and well worth reading! Show Less
LibraryThing member nolak
Hadassah is taken to a special place where she receives ancient writings from her many times great-Aunt Esther. The story of Esther is told in her own words and those of the people who loved her. The sequel focuses on modern-day Israel and Persia and intrigue as well.
LibraryThing member DLUC
A novel written about Esther, of the Old Testament.
LibraryThing member mookiekat
This is the most fasinating book I have ever read. Throughout the book I felt as if I was a part of the story, as if Hadassah was telling me the story, as if we were walking side-by-side throughout her daily life. I was very surprised that this book was written by a man since it is written from a
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woman's point of view but I guess that is what makes the story so phanominal. the book flowed together very well. I would give this book a five out of five in rating. An excellant story and an excellant novel. If there was only one book to read on the story of Esther this would be it. Show Less
LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
Perhaps a young Jewish woman, a peasant in 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
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'm not okay with genocide.
It may be additionally ironic that I still consider this work of Biblical Fiction to be one of my all-time favorites. 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.
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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'm not okay with genocide.
It may be additionally ironic that I still consider this work of Biblical Fiction to be one of my all-time favorites. 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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bunnyjadwiga
While this story is framed as a Jewish one-- and it is based on the Book of Esther-- it's definitely written in a Christian format (for one, there's a lot of Christian-ish discussion of God as Father etc). There's a frame story involving Esther writing to a younger bride-candidate with her advice
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about her story and how to win the love of her bridegroom. Evangelical marriage-theory is entwined in the plot as well. Still, not entirely boring and not entirely a romance, so extra points for that. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003
Physical description
9 inches
ISBN
0764227378 / 9780764227370