Starred review from February 15, 2020
Smith (The Heart of a King) has written several popular series about biblical women, including Bathsheba, Deborah, Sarai, and Rahab. This beautifully written novel creates a deep context for the biblical story of the Jewish orphan Hadassah, who was raised by her cousin Mordecai, became Esther, the queen of Persia, and rescued her people from the evil Haman, advisor to King Xerxes. This account begins with the king's first wife, Vashti, who is banished by Xerxes, who then marries Esther. Smith also reimagines characters mentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus who enhances the intrigue, including Amestris, a rival wife of the king and the mother of Darius II and Artaxerxes I. Esther realizes she is in the palace for a reason when she learns of Haman's genocidal plot. Esther is celebrated for her willingness to act to save the Jewish people and for how her prayers for courage and wisdom were answered. Smith's latest will be of great interest to fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in biblical times, as well as readers who enjoy new perspectives on women figures of the past.Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)