Another FANTASTIC book by my sweet friend, Tessa Afshar! I had the privilege of reading an early copy and endorsing it. WOW, did I love this book! Let’s get right to the description and my thoughts…
Book Description
In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings, but instead he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother while settling the debt, Roxannah approaches Adin–the man whose kind eyes still haunt her–to help her find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.
In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king’s most powerful wife and Esther’s archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther’s reign hang in the balance.
My Review
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 5 Smiles
Afshar’s writing shines in this brilliant perspective shift on Queen Esther’s story. When Roxanna’s first love must do the unthinkable, she achieves the unattainable, and the Hebrew God accomplishes the impossible. Tessa Afshar’s knowledge of detailed Persian recipes provides a tantalizing backdrop for this powerful debut to her Queen Esther’s Court series.
I love all those mouth-watering recipes (like only Tessa could describe them because of her Persian heritage) and the way she weaves together her ancient characters’ lives in a way that mirrors the complexity of our modern existence. They face the same family issues, financial burdens, emotional yearnings, and hopes for success that we feel today. The emotions we feel have been the same since Genesis 3, when Eve took her first bite of that forbidden fruit. Biblical characters felt the same joys and sorrows we do, and no one shows that better than Tessa Afshar.
Afshar pens her best stories when writing the biblical tales set in the land of her birth. The Hidden Prince and The Peasant King were my favorite of her books until now, but The Queen’s Cook rivals them! I can’t find a thing to wish she’d done differently. Definitely a 5-smile worthy read for me!
CLICK HERE For More Info on Tessa and Her Books: https://tessaafshar.com/
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