ABOUT THE BOOK

One of the great heroines of the Old Testament, Hadassah was a beautiful, graceful young woman who put her faith in God and her guardian, her cousin Mordecai.

She dreams of marrying Shamir, a tall, handsome, studious young man who is the rabbi’s son. Her heart beats faster when she hears the sound of his deep voice as he reads the Torah. And she hopes that he will visit Mordecai soon to present a betrothal request.

Then, an upheaval in King Xerxes’s palace changes everything. Queen Vashti has been banished and an edict goes out for all qualified young virgins throughout the empire to be taken to the palace as he searches for a new queen.

Fear strikes in the hearts of many, including Mordecai, as he realizes Hadassah will be taken. To hide her identity as a Jew, he tells her to go by the name of Esther. Since he works as a record-keeper at the king’s gates, he can keep tabs on how she is doing.

Hadassah: Queen Esther of Persia imagines what life was like for the woman who saved her people—and perhaps found love in the process.

Book: Hadassah

Author: Diana Wallis Taylor

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: July 2, 2019

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MY BOOK REVIEW

"Hadassah" is an inspirational story about the Biblical Esther's life who grew up to be the queen of Persia. She saved many Jews from being killed by the mean Persian official named Haman. A story about a young Jewish girl, who becomes Queen of Persia. The book begins when she was at the age of eight with the death of her mother leaving her an orphan until her older cousin Mordecai and his wife, Jerusha who ended up adopting her. Years later, Hadassah finds herself in King Xerxes' palace. She is considered as a potential queen or a lifetime in the harem. Hadassah follows Mordecai's advice to take the name of Esther and conceal her Jewish heritage. Adonai's plans for her play out as becomes Queen of Persia. Esther relies on Adonai's guidance.

Diana Wallis Taylor put many aspects from the original Bible story. She made the relationship between Xerxes and Esther more in-depth. There is a cohesive theme from the beginning to the end. Taylor did a great job with explaining the timeline through well thought out details of the years and struggles Esther experienced. There was a good amount of backstory of each character in the book. Esther and King Xerxes' is a marriage of love. Taylor added some gentle romance and warmth. There were a lot more historical and day-to-day details compared to the Biblical story.

The beginning of the book contained many chapters about her childhood and her life was like before becoming a queen. Then it flew through Esther saving people from being killed. Taylor ended the book in a strange abrupt way.

I am not really into Biblical fictions like this book because I find them very boring. I wasn't bored with
"Hadassah" but it isn't on my favorite book list. Taylor did a fine job of telling the story of Esther.

If you are interested in Biblical fiction or a Christian Book Club then this would be a good book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a great review. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diana Wallis Taylor was first published at the age of twelve, when she sold a poem to a church newsletter. After receiving her B.A. in Elementary Education at San Diego State University, she was an elementary school teacher for twenty-two years. Diana has also sold real estate, opened two coffeehouse/used book stores, and was a conference director for a private Christian college.
She has an extensive portfolio of published works, including a collection of poetry; an Easter cantata, written with a musical collaborator; contributions to various magazines and compilations; and several books, including Lydia, Woman of Philippi; Mary, Chosen of God; Ruth, Mother of Kings; and Halloween: Harmless Fun or Risky Business?

Learn more at www.dianawallistaylor.com.

Diana Wallis Taylor's Twitter Account: Click Here @aladywrites

Diana Wallis Taylor's Facebook Page: Click Here

READ A EXCERPT

Besides the usual vendors, there were strange, sweaty men with beady eyes who were looking to get rich from the additional population.

In the wee hours of the morning, while Mordecai sat with his head in his hands, silently praying, Jerusha stopped breathing, slipping away so quietly that Hadassah thought she was still sleeping.

One day, to the people’s relief, the news was spread that the unwelcome banquet guests had been ordered back to their provinces—to prepare for war.

Instead of bowing, Hadassah smiled unabashedly and gazed directly at the king, who at that moment had turned his head.

“Do not give your name as Hadassah, but tell them it is Esther, which is a Persian name. I would have you hide your Jewish heritage for now.”

She felt their eyes silently appraising her; some with open interest, some with sympathy, and others with calculating shrewdness.

Esther asked each maid gentle, innocuous questions about her homeland, favorite foods, culture, and the like, listening attentively to their answers and making sure to speak to them by name both to let them know they were important to her and also to help her remember who was who.

“If you maidens help me to be my very best when I am called to the king’s chambers, if he honors me by selecting me as his queen, I will not forget you, who helped to put the crown on my head.”

Esther had seen some of the women pass her quarters so laden with jewelry they could hardly walk. She wanted to laugh out loud, but suppressed even a smile.

Recognition came. “Ah, the maiden in the crowd. I thought about you many times.” He moved closer. “I remember your hair, like a cloud around your face.”