Review: Jewel of Persia by Roseanna M. White
I love when historical fiction authors don’t stick with one era, especially when their books are just as well written and interesting no matter what time period they are writing about. Roseanna M. White is one such author.
I’ve recently seen a large number of fellow readers discovering Roseanna for the first time (which makes me so happy for one of my favorite authors!). If you are new/fairly new to Roseanna’s work, you might not know that she not only has three series of brilliant Edwardian/WW1 era novels, but she also has ten other novels and novellas ranging from Biblical times to the Civil War. I am a huge fan of Biblical fiction and Roseanna’s writing style, so the two put together are PURE MAGIC.
I’ve been trying to make my way through Roseanna’s Biblicals and other older works, and I’m almost completely caught up now! My most recent read was Jewel of Persia, in which Roseanna puts her own spin on the story of Esther and crafts it in a way truly unique from any other version I’ve seen or read.
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How can she love the king of kings without forsaking her Lord of lords?
Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with more siblings than luxuries. But when a chance encounter forces her to the palace of Xerxes, she becomes a concubine to the richest man in the world. She alone, of all Xerxes’ wives, loves the man beneath the crown. She alone, of all his wives, holds the heart of the king of kings.
Traveling with Xerxes through Europe as he mounts a war against Greece, Kasia knows enemies surround her, but they’re not the Spartans or Athenians. The threat lies with those close to the king who hate her people. She determines to put her trust in Jehovah even if it costs her her marriage.
Years of prayers are answered when Kasia’s childhood friend arrives at the palace after the war, but even as she determines to see Esther crowned in place of the bloodthirsty former queen, she knows the true battle is far from over. How far will her enemies go to see her undone?
Combining the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus’s Histories, Jewel of Persia is the story of a love that nearly destroys an empire . . . and the friendship that saves a nation.
I loved this book so much!! And I know it’s one that will stick with me for years to come. Roseanna’s signature wit, intricate plotting, deep POV, and life-like characters shone just as strongly here as in her current works. Something that is unique to Roseanna’s Biblical works, though, is her use of deeply spiritual themes. While her current Edwardian/WW1 books have well-thought-out and moving themes, her Biblical novels delve deeper into things of God and the workings of the supernatural. This puts Jewel of Persia and the other Biblical works I’ve read by Roseanna, in my opinion, on par with Francine Rivers’s Mark of the Lion series in terms of deeply moving and powerful messages.
I don’t think I’ll ever see the story of Esther the same way again. Roseanna brought it to life so vividly, in a way that was different from anything I’d ever considered before but still made total sense as a reality that could have been. I loved how she made Kasia the driving force and motive behind much of the true historical and Biblical events. Placing Kasia in the life of Xerxes made the hard to understand events make more sense, and gave others a deeper meaning and impact. At times, it was hard for me to separate fact from fiction; it felt so natural for Kasia to have been a part of the real life story. In fact, I’m pretty sad that she wasn’t actually a part of it.
Throughout this dramatic story I was struck over and over again by what a tangled web the Persian court-or really any ancient royal court-was. The king, his wives, his children, his friends and family… they were clearly a group of very twisted and broken individuals. Murder, deception, affairs, incest and much more plagued the court of Xerxes. At times, the depravity of these people was frustrating and even hard to stomach. However, I believe that the darker the night, the brighter light can shine-even in novels. The darkness surrounding Kasia’s world only served to make her light of Godliness shine all the brighter. If Roseanna had dumbed down the harsh facts of what life in the palace was like, the impact of Kasia’s character would have lost its power. It would have been harder to understand why God needed to place someone like her and Esther in this environment.
I am genuinely sad to say goodbye to the amazing cast of characters in Jewel of Persia. All I can think about right now is this story and how much it captured my heart and inspired me to stand for my God no matter what it may cost me. Oh, to be as brave and firm in my beliefs as Kasia, Mordecai, and Esther!
Thank you, Roseanna, for writing such a beautiful story of true love, forgiveness, selflessness, bravery, and the Divine love, protection, and salvation of the Lord! I am made the better for reading this book.
A whole-hearted 5/5 Stars for Jewel of Persia! While I do not recommend this for younger readers due to the mature content (we are talking about the story of a man with dozens of wives, okay), I do highly recommend this book for anyone who loves Biblical fiction, ancient history, or stories with deep and moving themes. Trust me, you won’t regret reading it!