Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia

“She must trust Adonai for strength to face her future.”

Although God is not directly mentioned by name in the Biblical book of Esther, His presence and the manifestation of His power are clearly demonstrated. With any work of Biblical fiction, some liberties are taken in order to offer more details and flesh out characters and their backstories. When done well, Biblical fiction points readers to the original story, encouraging careful study of the people and cultures therein. Diana Wallis Taylor’s “Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia” does just that. Drawing upon the details in Scripture and various historical accounts, Taylor pieces together a stirring account of the unassuming Jewish girl, Hadassah, who would become queen.

show more Hadassah’s story begins at age eight with the death of her mother, leaving her an orphan. Her older cousin Mordecai and his wife, Jerusha, adopt her and treat her as the daughter they never had. Years later, Hadassah finds herself in King Xerxes’ palace under an edict commanding that all virgins in Persia be taken there to be considered as a potential queen or otherwise consigned to a lifetime in the harem. Hadassah follows Mordecai’s advice to take the name Esther and conceal her Jewish heritage, and Adonai’s plans for her play out as she becomes Queen of Persia.

Seeing Esther’s story come to life in the pages of this novel gives the reader an idea of Persian life from the perspective of both the subordinate Jewish population and the royal family. The uncertain existence and safety of the Jewish people emphasizes Esther’s position both before and especially after becoming queen. In this story, Esther and King Xerxes’ marriage is one of love, adding in some gentle romance and lightheartedness. Intrigue is incredibly rife within the palace, demonstrating the continuing precariousness of Esther’s life despite her position of power. Throughout her life, Esther relies on Adonai’s guidance and provision for her and maintains a wise and compassionate demeanor despite being married to a pagan king and thrust into a world she knows little about.

All of the characters have depth, both the benevolent and the wicked. Esther and later Mordecai seem to have a stabilizing influence on the often capricious King Xerxex. Atossa, the queen mother, is one of my favorite characters. Haman is the character whom everyone loves to hate, but he is not the only villain lurking in the wings. Also, I enjoyed some of the little details that the author included to make the narrative more well-rounded, such as the scene with Esther and the children. My criticisms are trivial; there were editorial errors throughout the book, although I did receive a copy prior to the release date and though it was not marked as an advanced reader’s copy, it may have been, so I am not deducting stars for that. Also, there seemed to me to be a discontinuity in the passage of time. There were time lapses throughout and it seemed as though more time had passed than actually had, particularly once Esther entered the palace. However, this could just be my reading of the story.

“Hadassah” is an inspirational story of what the Biblical Esther’s life may have been like. Trusting in God and following His guidance is paramount, just as it is today. For anyone interested in Biblical fiction, the story of Esther, Christian historical fiction, or women’s historical fiction, this book is a must-read.

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

One of the best things about this book is how the author takes a story from the bible and brings it to life. I could picture Hadassah as a young girl. She was in awe of her new home after losing her family. She is taken to a place by relatives that bring her a better life. I loved reading how she honored her new life and respected those who were her new parents.

The beauty of the land, the people at the market place and the grand banquet all make the story so realistic. I can't imagine what it would be like to line the streets waiting for a glimpse of the King. His power was felt throughout the land and some feared that a war was soon to break out. I loved reading how Hadassah became Queen Esther.

I appreciate the authors research done show more for this book and added a depth of biblical truth to the story. Some parts of the story did bring up how Jews were treated and had to be careful around certain people while in the marketplace. I enjoyed getting to know how it might have been for Esther as she became Queen and the decisions she had to make. I always enjoy retelling of bible stories when the author can capture the heart of the characters and make us think about what it must have been like living during times of danger and uncertainty. Overall the story was good and makes for a great book to see what life may have been like for Esther who became Queen.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less

What a wonderful way to flesh out a story from the Bible that we all know so well! I’m sure many little girls imagine what it would be like to be a real princess, especially in this day and age when we so easily see pictures of royalty on a regular basis. Young Hadassah, Esther, had dreams of her own and I doubt that becoming queen was one of them. However, she was very aware of the Lord’s leading in her life, so when she was taken to the palace, she listened to her advisors, prayed about their advice, and grew in knowledge and faith. Willing to do what the Lord and her advisors asked she learned that with God, all things are possible! Her constant thought that Adoni had everything in control was a lesson I think we all can learn show more from.
The incredible research and detail made this book one you will not want to put down until finished. I appreciated the fictional license that the author used to bring Esther, Mordecai, Xerxes and the other characters to life. The story would not have been the same without the love expressed between Esther and Xerxes. Did it really happen like that? No one knows except those who lived those many years ago. I have always loved the story of Esther in the Bible - now I will read it with fresh eyes.
This ARC was received through CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions stated are my own. show less

People who are familiar with the Bible know that many of the stories are so amazing that they seem like fiction but they are, of course, indeed true. Hadassah's bravery; Mordecai's important job in the King's treasury and his intelligence and wisdom; and the very evil Haman are all important details in this book and they are all a part of the remarkable story that was recorded in the Book of Esther. It is a fact that God chose a young Jewish girl to complete His plan for his chosen people and that she was obedient to God's will but this biblical fiction book allows us to understand her uncertainty and to feel her fear as she readied herself to approach the king.
I appreciated the notes that the author shared in the back of her book. show more Taylor admits that she doesn't know if Esther and Xerses had a loving marriage but she chose to write it as such because of the Scriptures that state that the king 'loved her above all the other women'. She also shares that there is a tomb in present-day Iran that carries the names of Esther and Mordecai and it is believed that they were buried there.
I enjoyed Hadassah: Queen Esther of Persia and I recommend it to all who enjoy Christian romance and historical or biblical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit. I have voluntarily chosen to share my honest thoughts. show less

I love the story of Esther, and I love reading retellings of her story. However, Hadassah by Diana Wallis Taylor did not land among my favorites.

A young, beautiful Jewish girl, Hadassah has the unique opportunity to become the queen of Persia and save her people. In Taylor’s telling, the biblical story is on display—the events and history are depicted interestingly—but the possible emotions, including doubts, are not as prominently explored as I hoped.

Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia is solid biblical fiction, but unfortunately, did not stand out for me among the retellings of Esther’s story. Still, readers of biblical fiction could perfectly enjoy this novel, so for the interested reader, it could be worth checking out.

I show more received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. show less

Hadassah, or Esther as she is more commonly referred to in the Bible, does an excellent job of taking the Biblical account of Esther and making it more personal. Diana Wallis Taylor does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. Even though there are characters and details in the book that are not in the Bible, the basic premise of the story remains the same.

The storyline and characters were well-developed. I loved how the author gave the story a new depth. I felt the extra details enhanced the story for me. I enjoyed reading about the author’s view on how Esther may have come to live with her uncle Mordecai. I loved the relationships that were developed throughout the pages.

Some parts of the story stay completely true to show more the Biblical account such as Mordecai providing information that saved the king and how Vashti was removed from being queen. Other facts were changed, but I did not mind the changes.

Truly this is a book worth reading. So check it out for yourself.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review. show less

Hadassah Queen Esther of Persia by Diana Wallis Taylor is the retelling of the Biblical story of Esther. Everyone knows the story of how the young Jewish girl became queen of Persia. I’ve loved this Bible story ever since I was a kid. Who wouldn’t love to be a queen? I never really thought about how Hadassah must have felt about leaving her family, her people, even maybe a boyfriend. Ms. Taylor told the story with a more personal look at Hadassah’s life. To go from a strict religious household to living in a pagan king’s palace must have been a very traumatic time for her. Yet she never lost her faith in the One true God; and He was faithful to her. This was a lovely read. I would highly recommend it if you like Biblical show more stories.

I received this book from Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review. show less