This is the second book I've read by this author. I liked the first one from the late '80s, about Joseph the dreamer.

As for this novel from the '90s, it's at least the tenth adaptation of Hadassah/Esther's story I've either read or watched over the years. So it was interesting to see this author present a take on the story I hadn't seen before.

This different take includes the nature of Xerxes and Esther's marriage: altogether loveless right from the start, based on a delusion Xerxes has. In fact, given the book's pretty cursory sketch of their poor relationship, which doesn't start until Esther becomes queen around the last third of the novel, we don't hear her even speak at all to Xerxes until only a quarter of the novel is left.

Moreover, while the book's descriptions of the overall plot and context are certainly important, Hadassah/Esther herself doesn't really seem like the lead character, maybe not until that last quarter. During the first three, her fairly limited time in the forefront is like that of a supporting character, while the story is more occupied with Mordecai, Xerxes, Vashti, and imperial war and intrigue, including where the notorious Haman comes into play.

Now, aside from some issues I have with the narrative style and a few technical aspects of this adaptation that don't quite make sense to me, Esther's celebration of death at the end of the book rubbed me the wrong way. See, the backstory regarding Haman, a descendant of Agag the Amalekite—a backstory involving a mass killing of Haman's people: men, women, and children—I'm sorry to say it's only in recent years that it finally struck me as genocide. I don't take that biblical account of killing for granted anymore.

As I recall from other fictional adaptations of this story, the endings tend to focus on the saving of Esther and her people. But at the ending of this book, much of the focus is like, "Let's kill off the rest of the Amalekites at long last, then we'll rejoice over their obliteration!"

At this point, I've seen too much demonizing and "othering" of people in real life, seeing how the dehumanizing of humans desensitizes people, making it easier for them to celebrate, or justify, or excuse, or feel indifferent about the harsh treatment—even the killing—of "other" people. I've seen too much of it to take it for granted, even in fiction.

That includes biblical fiction.

One of several positive things this lifelong book lover can say is that reading novels oftentimes shows me or reiterates how I'm changing or have changed as a person. It's a bittersweet experience sometimes, but I'm grateful for it. ( )

This book is a retelling of the story of Esther as told in the Old Testament book of the same name. It's a bit disappointing, and a case of where the original is far better than the retelling. In the book the author does provide some historical context to both the Jews in Persia, and the Persian wars. Furthermore, without any good reason that I can think of she added an external romantic interest. There is little dialogue in the book, and a lot of expression of thoughts of various key players.
Readers may be interested in reading The Star and the Scepter by Gini Andrews, another retelling of the same story. It's many years since I read it, but I do remember enjoying reading that book. ( )