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Jewel of Persia
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.
345 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2010
78 people are currently reading
1620 people want to read
About the author
Roseanna M. White
61 books3,901 followersRoseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White
see also Roseanna White
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
June 9, 2011
Roseanna White has done a masterful job of weaving solid history, compelling characters and a biblical setting into a story so fascinating, I lost sleep. And sleep is important to me.
Yes, it is the story of Esther. Yes, it is the story of Xerxes, the Persian King. Both are compelling stories in their own right. But Jewel of Persia is much, much more. I love historical fiction, and so wasn’t taken aback by the list of almost 50 characters in the 340 page book. But that makes some people nervous. Let me say this: Roseanna did such a great job of creating believable, distinct characters that I did not even once look at the list to remind myself who was whose wife, concubine, or mortal enemy. And when I turned the last page, I wished the book were twice as long.
Jewel of Persia has it all: love, betrayal, forgiveness, and the amazing power of prayer. There are women you wish were your sisters or friends and one you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Men you could fall in love with and men you want to shake until their teeth rattle.
Not just a great love story, not just great history, but a story that stays with you and makes you a better person. It is historical fiction at its best.
Yes, it is the story of Esther. Yes, it is the story of Xerxes, the Persian King. Both are compelling stories in their own right. But Jewel of Persia is much, much more. I love historical fiction, and so wasn’t taken aback by the list of almost 50 characters in the 340 page book. But that makes some people nervous. Let me say this: Roseanna did such a great job of creating believable, distinct characters that I did not even once look at the list to remind myself who was whose wife, concubine, or mortal enemy. And when I turned the last page, I wished the book were twice as long.
Jewel of Persia has it all: love, betrayal, forgiveness, and the amazing power of prayer. There are women you wish were your sisters or friends and one you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Men you could fall in love with and men you want to shake until their teeth rattle.
Not just a great love story, not just great history, but a story that stays with you and makes you a better person. It is historical fiction at its best.
October 3, 2024
Second time through October 2024. I love it even more than I did the first time I read it when it was first released! So so so good!
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I knew a little more what to expect from this book since reading A Stray Drop of Blood. I had also read Chapter One that was offered on the website. Like her first book, the characters came alive from the very beginning. The ones you are supposed to love, I loved deeply. The ones you are supposed to despise, I despised just as deeply.
I love how Roseanna intertwines history with fiction is such a way it is hard to tell where the truth ends and fiction begins. She has lots of historical information listed on her website to help you see how she wove her story around those facts. She is very clear on what she created and what is factual. It is done so beautifully that it is easy to see how it could have happened the way she wrote it. But make sure you check it out AFTER you read the book. There are spoilers in her information.
Esther has always been one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Roseanna has created a most intriguing story that shows what life could have been like in the house of the King of Persia during that time. I recommend that everyone read this book. It is a must have in my library collection. I got the digital copy but will get the paperback when it comes out in June of 2011. I look forward to many more novels from this wonderful author.
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I knew a little more what to expect from this book since reading A Stray Drop of Blood. I had also read Chapter One that was offered on the website. Like her first book, the characters came alive from the very beginning. The ones you are supposed to love, I loved deeply. The ones you are supposed to despise, I despised just as deeply.
I love how Roseanna intertwines history with fiction is such a way it is hard to tell where the truth ends and fiction begins. She has lots of historical information listed on her website to help you see how she wove her story around those facts. She is very clear on what she created and what is factual. It is done so beautifully that it is easy to see how it could have happened the way she wrote it. But make sure you check it out AFTER you read the book. There are spoilers in her information.
Esther has always been one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Roseanna has created a most intriguing story that shows what life could have been like in the house of the King of Persia during that time. I recommend that everyone read this book. It is a must have in my library collection. I got the digital copy but will get the paperback when it comes out in June of 2011. I look forward to many more novels from this wonderful author.
July 28, 2011
Jewel of Persia is a glowing example of wonderful writing combined with a fascinating historical era and mesmerizing characters. But the author took me for a romantic spin I never expected with this story set just prior to the reign of Esther, the little Jewish Queen.
I was prepared for an epic tale set within the rich tapestry of a Biblical setting, the elegant and sophisticated kingdom of Xerxes, King of Persia. And this book fulfilled all its promises. At times the exploits of Xerxes reminded me of scenes I’d seen in the movies 300 and Troy.
What I wasn’t prepared for, and absolutely delighted by, was the tender monogamous-type love between King Xerxes and his favourite concubine, Kasia.
The last thing Kasia wanted growing up as a young Jewish girl in Susa was to be concubine to the richest and most influential man in the world, especially when she could never be his wife or Queen, only a concubine among hundreds of wives and concubines.
The author painted the scenes of the wives’ palace with such detail that this social phenomenon of past ruler’s having hundreds of wives enthralled me.
But unexpected love can come to the ‘king of kings’, and to a lowly Jewish girl when they meet on the banks of the river like two ordinary people.
That tender, sensuous love carries the reader through much heartache with Kasia and Xerxes. And the king is seen to be a man who needs the wisdom of a good wife. Xerxes relies on Kasia to shape decisions that will shape the world. It is an ordinary Jewish girl who teaches the king of kings about the Lord of Lords, paving the way for Esther and her crown.
I highly recommend this book.
I was prepared for an epic tale set within the rich tapestry of a Biblical setting, the elegant and sophisticated kingdom of Xerxes, King of Persia. And this book fulfilled all its promises. At times the exploits of Xerxes reminded me of scenes I’d seen in the movies 300 and Troy.
What I wasn’t prepared for, and absolutely delighted by, was the tender monogamous-type love between King Xerxes and his favourite concubine, Kasia.
The last thing Kasia wanted growing up as a young Jewish girl in Susa was to be concubine to the richest and most influential man in the world, especially when she could never be his wife or Queen, only a concubine among hundreds of wives and concubines.
The author painted the scenes of the wives’ palace with such detail that this social phenomenon of past ruler’s having hundreds of wives enthralled me.
But unexpected love can come to the ‘king of kings’, and to a lowly Jewish girl when they meet on the banks of the river like two ordinary people.
That tender, sensuous love carries the reader through much heartache with Kasia and Xerxes. And the king is seen to be a man who needs the wisdom of a good wife. Xerxes relies on Kasia to shape decisions that will shape the world. It is an ordinary Jewish girl who teaches the king of kings about the Lord of Lords, paving the way for Esther and her crown.
I highly recommend this book.
April 30, 2022
Jewel of Persia**** by Roseanna M White—from author
A Biblical story blending biblical accounts with fiction in the time of King Xerxes. Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with a large family. One day by chance she meets King Xerxes, which ends up bringing her to his palace and becoming one of his many concubines. Life is not easy for her or those living in the palace—there is intrigue, betrayal, mistrust, lurking danger and war.
Roseanna takes us on a fascinating story filled with biblical characters who face not only danger, jealousies, secrets, surprising twists and turns, but forgiveness, love, the power of prayer.
~I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~
A Biblical story blending biblical accounts with fiction in the time of King Xerxes. Kasia grew up in a poor Jewish home with a large family. One day by chance she meets King Xerxes, which ends up bringing her to his palace and becoming one of his many concubines. Life is not easy for her or those living in the palace—there is intrigue, betrayal, mistrust, lurking danger and war.
Roseanna takes us on a fascinating story filled with biblical characters who face not only danger, jealousies, secrets, surprising twists and turns, but forgiveness, love, the power of prayer.
~I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~
February 5, 2021
This book was a lot meatier than I thought it would be. I was expecting it would be mostly a romance set in Biblical times, and it definitely had that going on, too. I'd say it's one of the most lovely-dovey books I've ever thoroughly enjoyed. But it had so much else going on too, with the Jewish protagonist, Kasia, constantly battling to be allowed to practice her faith in the pagan household of her husband, Xerxes, who is king of all Persia, etc., etc., etc. Kasia would be described today as a "prayer warrior," lifting up those around her to God with prayer for his help and guidance.
This book also has almost a kind of religious magical realism, with characters glimpsing angels and demons that help or impede them. That was particularly intriguing, as I hadn't expected it, but it did make a lot of sense within the context of the story.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, even if parts of it made me a little squeamish (ancient violence can be really extreme, and though White left the gory particulars to our imaginations, some things are just never going to leave my brain...). I do think I will reread it at some point in the future.
This book also has almost a kind of religious magical realism, with characters glimpsing angels and demons that help or impede them. That was particularly intriguing, as I hadn't expected it, but it did make a lot of sense within the context of the story.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, even if parts of it made me a little squeamish (ancient violence can be really extreme, and though White left the gory particulars to our imaginations, some things are just never going to leave my brain...). I do think I will reread it at some point in the future.
January 1, 2011
Roseanna White is a superb story teller! I couldn't put Jewel of Persia down! I loved the rich, engaging characters who lived in an incredibly well developed historical world. The fresh view of Esther's story from Kasia's eyes brought it to life for me. Vivid, beautiful, intense, and imbued with purpose. One of my favorite sections is near the beginning where Ms. White writes through Mordecai's wisdom, "He allows much tragedy, or so it seems to us. But we cannot see the future, precious Esther. We do not know what greater tradedy may have come had this one been withheld. It is our part to have faith in his diving orchestration. To put our hand into his and keep our eyes open, so that we might see what small blessings blossom under our tears." The foreshadowing through the story builds beautifully to keep the reader turning the page as fast as possible. But also instills the message to live out the purpose we've each been given as well. Bravo!
Read for endorsement prior to print run. I am honored and blessed to endorse this book!
Read for endorsement prior to print run. I am honored and blessed to endorse this book!
December 10, 2014
A simple, largely unbothersome love story. The embellished speculation on the historical characters was interesting, the plot was reasonable, and the prose was clean. However, probably because the American author has expressed her personal mission to understand literature through a Christian lens, the Jewish characters in this book don't express their Judaism in credible or convincing ways. Their style of prayer seems Christian. Also, it is odd that this love story is set in a harem and yet avoids any trace of language that might be perceived by some as "dirty" or offensive. It's not that a sex scene is needed for entertainment; rather, it's that you cannot write about harems without reference to sex. I wrote more on Disruptive Dissertation.
November 29, 2010
This is the familiar story of Esther but recounted in a fresh, new way. Author Roseanna M. White dishes up quite a love story filled with intrigue and danger, told from a perspective that’s fictional yet entirely believable.
Usually I think of King Xerxes as a womanizer, somewhat clueless, with a streak of evil running through him. After reading Jewel of Persia, he seems more of a real person, way more likeable, and I can even sympathize with him a bit. I’m not saying he’s my hero for life, just that I’ve acquired a different opinion of him.
Heroine Kasia is definitely a woman of prayer. What a great role model. She prays about everything all the time. This is one character that’s worth emulating in real life.
If Biblical fiction is your passion, Jewel of Persia is a book you won’t want to miss.
Usually I think of King Xerxes as a womanizer, somewhat clueless, with a streak of evil running through him. After reading Jewel of Persia, he seems more of a real person, way more likeable, and I can even sympathize with him a bit. I’m not saying he’s my hero for life, just that I’ve acquired a different opinion of him.
Heroine Kasia is definitely a woman of prayer. What a great role model. She prays about everything all the time. This is one character that’s worth emulating in real life.
If Biblical fiction is your passion, Jewel of Persia is a book you won’t want to miss.
April 6, 2011
Roseanna has done it - what an INCREDIBLE book!
Jewel of Persia was amazing. The author did an excellent job of creating a historically accurate story that grips the reader's attention as few books do. Roseanna has definitely written a keeper.
Having researched a lot about Persia for the book a friend and I are writing a decade or so after Roseanna's ends, I was able to recognize the amount of accurate research Roseanna put into this story. Filled with surprising twists and well described situations, Roseanna has written a new favorite of mine. Jewel has easily made it into my top 10 books.
Jewel of Persia was amazing. The author did an excellent job of creating a historically accurate story that grips the reader's attention as few books do. Roseanna has definitely written a keeper.
Having researched a lot about Persia for the book a friend and I are writing a decade or so after Roseanna's ends, I was able to recognize the amount of accurate research Roseanna put into this story. Filled with surprising twists and well described situations, Roseanna has written a new favorite of mine. Jewel has easily made it into my top 10 books.
July 16, 2018
Roseanna M. White's Jewel of Persia sheds light on the hidden life of one of the Bible's most enigmatic women: Queen Esther. Unlike most books about the events that make up the origins of the Jewish holiday Purim which focused solely on Esther and her journey from Jewish orphan to Queen of Persia, Jewel of Persia, ties Esther's life with that of her childhood friend Kasia. Also, the competition to be Xerxes' queen is not portrayed as a series of abductions with girls taken unwillingly into the harem. Rather, it was a contract willingly entered into by the potential brides.
I find Jewel of Persia quite gripping, particular when you consider that:
1. Esther was not portrayed as the love of Xerxes’ life. Rather, it was Kasia whose chance encounter with the king sealed her fate to become his most-loved concubine. Kasia’s love for the king was big enough to forgive his many failings as a ruler and as a man, and even to welcome Esther to the harem and help her fulfill her own destiny.
2. Kasia and Esther's faith is central to the story. It sustains them through the many trials: such as the trials Kasia faced as an outsider in the harem and Esther's heartbreak over a childhood love. Their personal relationship with God is contrasted heavily against the religion practiced by her enemies.
3. The book also has lighter moments. A running gag is of Xerxes (as in the Bible) offering cities up to half his kingdom at different instances to the people he favors but being met with requests for something else. By the third time this happens, he wonders why no one seems to want his cities.
Jewel of Persia is a compelling sample of biblical fiction.
I find Jewel of Persia quite gripping, particular when you consider that:
1. Esther was not portrayed as the love of Xerxes’ life. Rather, it was Kasia whose chance encounter with the king sealed her fate to become his most-loved concubine. Kasia’s love for the king was big enough to forgive his many failings as a ruler and as a man, and even to welcome Esther to the harem and help her fulfill her own destiny.
2. Kasia and Esther's faith is central to the story. It sustains them through the many trials: such as the trials Kasia faced as an outsider in the harem and Esther's heartbreak over a childhood love. Their personal relationship with God is contrasted heavily against the religion practiced by her enemies.
3. The book also has lighter moments. A running gag is of Xerxes (as in the Bible) offering cities up to half his kingdom at different instances to the people he favors but being met with requests for something else. By the third time this happens, he wonders why no one seems to want his cities.
Jewel of Persia is a compelling sample of biblical fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2016
This book was a lovely surprise. I had average expectations but the characters and new take on the story far surpassed them. I won a e-book copy of this in a giveaway, and I am glad I did. The story had some really interesting harem intrigue, and relational turmoil. It also involved a lot of plot points that were real historical facts but had a great impact on the story. But the best part was the characters amazing faith. The characters became so much more than historical or fictional figures and there real-ness just drew me into the story and their lives. There was a strong contrast between the light and goodness of God and the darkness and evil power of the god of Xerxes and the Persians.
There is a case of adultery and a few of seduction and obviously people are killed and the king had a heap of wives and concubines, and there is romance so I would recommend this book for 16+ but none of the violence is described neither is the sleeping together of characters.
Did I mention I loved the characters, other than the ones I despised of course, everything all fitted in so well with what we know of history. It was all very satisfying, and just made it come so alive. I was engaged and enjoyed this a lot. I would definitely recommend this as a good read.
There is a case of adultery and a few of seduction and obviously people are killed and the king had a heap of wives and concubines, and there is romance so I would recommend this book for 16+ but none of the violence is described neither is the sleeping together of characters.
Did I mention I loved the characters, other than the ones I despised of course, everything all fitted in so well with what we know of history. It was all very satisfying, and just made it come so alive. I was engaged and enjoyed this a lot. I would definitely recommend this as a good read.
February 16, 2012
I stayed up reading way too late last night to finish this book. Wow! What a wonderful job of storytelling. It started a little slow, but picked up steam and never looked back. Roseanna White did a masterful job of weaving fact and fiction into a believable, engaging tale that was too good to put down. I started recommending it to others when I was less than half was into it!
This is the story of Queen Esther's fictional best friend, Kasia. Through her eyes we experience the royal court of Xerxes, with all its intrigue and dangers. We watch young Esther become a woman, we come to know and love Mordecai, and we witness the downfall of Amestris, known by her Hebrew name, Vashti, in the Book of Esther. We see the underside of lift at court, grittiness under the glory.
I highly recommend this book for older teens and up. It deals tastefully with the issues of infidelity, immorality, and harem life. It is historically accurate with issues such as executions and warfare without being overly gruesome.
This is the story of Queen Esther's fictional best friend, Kasia. Through her eyes we experience the royal court of Xerxes, with all its intrigue and dangers. We watch young Esther become a woman, we come to know and love Mordecai, and we witness the downfall of Amestris, known by her Hebrew name, Vashti, in the Book of Esther. We see the underside of lift at court, grittiness under the glory.
I highly recommend this book for older teens and up. It deals tastefully with the issues of infidelity, immorality, and harem life. It is historically accurate with issues such as executions and warfare without being overly gruesome.
January 17, 2012
Delve into an incredible tale with a stunning backdrop that will sweep you away into an enchanting world of another time, bringing the Kingdom of Persia to life until you can see it, touch it, smell it . . . and taste it!
Jewel of Persia took my breath away! Roseanna White is an amazing storyteller, and as I read this brilliant story, the prose danced off the pages, breathing life into a host of characters. I fell in love with Kasia and Xerxes, and found myself cheering for them, loving them, despite their imperfections. Only a talented author like White could pull that off, and I am humbly impressed with her writing. This author knows the craft.
I can't wait to read more from Roseanna White. She never disappoints.
Jewel of Persia took my breath away! Roseanna White is an amazing storyteller, and as I read this brilliant story, the prose danced off the pages, breathing life into a host of characters. I fell in love with Kasia and Xerxes, and found myself cheering for them, loving them, despite their imperfections. Only a talented author like White could pull that off, and I am humbly impressed with her writing. This author knows the craft.
I can't wait to read more from Roseanna White. She never disappoints.
June 29, 2011
What a wonderful read. This book combines the biblical account of Esther with Herodotus' Histories. I was very familiar with the former, and completely unfamiliar with the latter. While Esther is woven through much of the book, it is mostly about the fictional Kasia, a Jewess who became king Xerxes' concubine and beloved.
I can't say enough about how much I loved this. The characterization, the setting descriptions, the plotting - all wonderful. I was completely engaged from beginning to end. I will definitely be reading more Roseanna White books.
I can't say enough about how much I loved this. The characterization, the setting descriptions, the plotting - all wonderful. I was completely engaged from beginning to end. I will definitely be reading more Roseanna White books.
December 3, 2012
While I don't often read biblical fiction, I picked up this and A Stray Drop of Blood before my agent submitted one of my stories to WhiteFire Publishing--after all, if I were going to be involved with a publisher, I wanted to determine the quality of their releases. I wasn't disappointed.
Roseanna White takes risks in these two books, and those risks raise the works above the norm for the genre. Her biblical fiction isn't sweet. It's raw and real, full of history and drama and personalities that leap off the page.
Roseanna White takes risks in these two books, and those risks raise the works above the norm for the genre. Her biblical fiction isn't sweet. It's raw and real, full of history and drama and personalities that leap off the page.
October 17, 2019
6-11: It was good. Very very good. It's the story of Esther from the Bible. And yet Esther is not the main character. To the best of my knowledge, the book was biblically accurate. I enjoyed it a lot, and I highly recommend it to older readers. Seeing that we're dealing with a king who has a harem, there are some more mature themes. Overall, I really enjoyed it! Get a copy if at all possible. Worth buying.
5-12: Great book! I love this one.
5-12: Great book! I love this one.
April 7, 2012
Brilliant author! She seamlessly wove together the biblical account of Esther with the Histories of Herodotus to create a fascinating story of faith, love, intrigue, and allegiance to family set in ancient Persia. The story contains a strong element of spiritual warfare throughout, which I thought was essential to the plot. I will definitely read more of Ms. White's work.
P.S. You MUST read the Author's Note at the end!!
P.S. You MUST read the Author's Note at the end!!
March 13, 2012
This was a good story, and I would have given it 5 stars except the idea of sharing my husband with other women gives me nightmares, literally. I know that's how things were in those times, but it's still hard for me to read! Otherwise, a good book!
June 22, 2011
There are dozens of books on the market today telling the biblical story of Esther…but none have told it like Roseanna White! Wow. I was enraptured in Kasia’s story! Bringing a fresh and un-explored angle to this amazing story, she not only presents a story never heard before, she shares amazing historical details about the years of King Xerxes reign over Persia.
While Jewel of Persia does tell the story of Esther; she is, uniquely, only a secondary character. Taking center-stage is Xerxex, king of Persia, and a young Jewish woman, Kasia, who caught his eye and stole his heart. Right away I liked Kasia. What a perfect example for Christ she is to everyone in the Palace. Amazing, I grew to like the king as well. While he is historically known for his bloody rule, Roseanna presents him not as a blood-thirsty barbarian without a heart, but a faulty man who made mistakes and found comfort in the arms of his Jewish wife. Esther was very sweet and gentle and I really enjoyed getting to know her through the course of the book. Her connection to Kasia was neat. Zachariah was one of my favorite characters, maybe even next to Xerxes! He made mistakes—a big one—which had consequences, but he learned from them. I loved watching him grow, mature, and change through the book.
It’s a story about a Jewish woman, one of many wives to a powerful king, so there is some content warning. Xerxes and Kasia often exchange kisses or sleep together and Xerxes takes turn with his other wives, but this is kept as clean as I’ve ever seen in books before. There’s also one character who, though never spoken outright, the reader comes to realize is a homosexual. Two different couples have an affair, but nothing is ever explained in great detail. I’d still recommend this for mature readers, but I was amazingly pleased at how clean this book was.
As I’ve mentioned many times, the plot was awesome. Completely unique and like nothing I’ve ever read before, Roseanna brings an amazing love story that will leave you amazed and wanting more. Her writing is just as wonderful as her plot. Right away it pulls you into the story and I felt like I was right there alongside Kasia in Persia. All the characters seemed so believable and fleshed-out, I felt like I knew them by the end of the book. Absolutely wonderful!
What else can I say to convince you…this is an amazing book! I love history, and that, coupled with the amazing story with Kasia and Xerxes, completely endeared this book to me. I won’t ever think of the story of Esther the same way again! Roseanna continues to amaze me and I look forward to reading many more of her books in the future.
While Jewel of Persia does tell the story of Esther; she is, uniquely, only a secondary character. Taking center-stage is Xerxex, king of Persia, and a young Jewish woman, Kasia, who caught his eye and stole his heart. Right away I liked Kasia. What a perfect example for Christ she is to everyone in the Palace. Amazing, I grew to like the king as well. While he is historically known for his bloody rule, Roseanna presents him not as a blood-thirsty barbarian without a heart, but a faulty man who made mistakes and found comfort in the arms of his Jewish wife. Esther was very sweet and gentle and I really enjoyed getting to know her through the course of the book. Her connection to Kasia was neat. Zachariah was one of my favorite characters, maybe even next to Xerxes! He made mistakes—a big one—which had consequences, but he learned from them. I loved watching him grow, mature, and change through the book.
It’s a story about a Jewish woman, one of many wives to a powerful king, so there is some content warning. Xerxes and Kasia often exchange kisses or sleep together and Xerxes takes turn with his other wives, but this is kept as clean as I’ve ever seen in books before. There’s also one character who, though never spoken outright, the reader comes to realize is a homosexual. Two different couples have an affair, but nothing is ever explained in great detail. I’d still recommend this for mature readers, but I was amazingly pleased at how clean this book was.
As I’ve mentioned many times, the plot was awesome. Completely unique and like nothing I’ve ever read before, Roseanna brings an amazing love story that will leave you amazed and wanting more. Her writing is just as wonderful as her plot. Right away it pulls you into the story and I felt like I was right there alongside Kasia in Persia. All the characters seemed so believable and fleshed-out, I felt like I knew them by the end of the book. Absolutely wonderful!
What else can I say to convince you…this is an amazing book! I love history, and that, coupled with the amazing story with Kasia and Xerxes, completely endeared this book to me. I won’t ever think of the story of Esther the same way again! Roseanna continues to amaze me and I look forward to reading many more of her books in the future.
November 28, 2011
This extraordinary book gives a fresh look at the politics between the wives and concubines at the highest level of a harem. Until I read Jewel of Persia, I never considered how things would work if the king loved one wife more than another. And I never considered what it would be like to be one of many wives if you truly loved the king as a man. How it would feel if you knew he continued to sleep with his other wives. That’s what I liked about this book… it gets right down to the core emotions as well as the social interactions involved.
The story centers around Kasia (ka-SEE-uh), the oldest daughter in a large Jewish family with not much money, but lots of love. One day she makes the mistake of speaking to a wealthy Persian and soon finds herself a concubine in the King of Persia’s harem. Her shamed parents tell her siblings and her friend, the young Esther that Kasia was swept down the river and with that lie, Kasia is cut away from the family she loves and begins her influential climb into the very heart of Xerxes (ZIRK-seez).
If you think this is just another story of Queen Esther’s life, think again, for the actual Biblical tale is only a very small portion of this book. I’ve read many books that marry Biblical truth with fictional characters, but none came close to the heart wrenching storylines in the Jewel of Persia. Using several point-of-views, we discover who is really telling the truth and who just seems to be. Who is willing to die for the king and who’d rather see him dead. Who is acting out of love and whose act of love is a screen for more sinister purposes.
Jewel of Persia is about good versus evil and light against darkness. Steadfast Kasia feels herself surrounded by God's presence as a light shining through the murky veil of evil. It's very effective in showing those who believe in God as the omnipotent Creator who loves and cares for them and those who put their faith in the god of darkness, Ahura Mazda.
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This was the first book I read from this author and although I received it as a gift for review purposes, any books by Roseanna M. White in this genre will now go on my auto-buy list.
The story centers around Kasia (ka-SEE-uh), the oldest daughter in a large Jewish family with not much money, but lots of love. One day she makes the mistake of speaking to a wealthy Persian and soon finds herself a concubine in the King of Persia’s harem. Her shamed parents tell her siblings and her friend, the young Esther that Kasia was swept down the river and with that lie, Kasia is cut away from the family she loves and begins her influential climb into the very heart of Xerxes (ZIRK-seez).
If you think this is just another story of Queen Esther’s life, think again, for the actual Biblical tale is only a very small portion of this book. I’ve read many books that marry Biblical truth with fictional characters, but none came close to the heart wrenching storylines in the Jewel of Persia. Using several point-of-views, we discover who is really telling the truth and who just seems to be. Who is willing to die for the king and who’d rather see him dead. Who is acting out of love and whose act of love is a screen for more sinister purposes.
Jewel of Persia is about good versus evil and light against darkness. Steadfast Kasia feels herself surrounded by God's presence as a light shining through the murky veil of evil. It's very effective in showing those who believe in God as the omnipotent Creator who loves and cares for them and those who put their faith in the god of darkness, Ahura Mazda.
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This was the first book I read from this author and although I received it as a gift for review purposes, any books by Roseanna M. White in this genre will now go on my auto-buy list.
June 2, 2013
Roseanna White's Jewel of Persia was a great story of love between the king of Perisa, Xerxes, and his wife Kasia. Kasia, a jewish girl living in Persia inadvertently gets chosen to be the next concubine for King Xerxes. She leaves her family and friends to move to the palace. She falls in love with Xerxes and he falls madly in love with her too. She is the only wife in the compound who he truly cherishes and genuinely cares for. The novel then describes the realtionships between the very many characters.
There is an incredible number of strengths that this book has. Firstly, the entire plotline is captivating to read about. You get hooked after reading the first chapter and then you wont put it down until you have finished it. The aspect that I enjoyed most about White's work was the amount of storylines involved. The point of view switches in every chapter allowing you to gain a sense of each character's motives and desires. The switch of views was very well done and easy to follow. Secondly, the characters endure realistic situations and emotions. While one relationship is at a low point, another relationship is blossoming, and it creates a nice balance throughout the novel. The only downside I can think of is the amount of characters in the book. Within the first twenty pages there are already over ten characters introduced, and many have similar names. I began to panic and thought i would get very confused but White did an incredible job reintroducing characters. If a character hadn't been mentioned in a while, White would add a sentence or two reminding the reader what their relation was to one of the prominent characters.
This novel runs through a range of emotions. There is so much detail and history packed into the almost 400 page novel that if you missed a page or skimmed something, you would miss an important part of the book. Each page had you wanting more and more. I am definitly going to read other works by Roseanna White.
There is an incredible number of strengths that this book has. Firstly, the entire plotline is captivating to read about. You get hooked after reading the first chapter and then you wont put it down until you have finished it. The aspect that I enjoyed most about White's work was the amount of storylines involved. The point of view switches in every chapter allowing you to gain a sense of each character's motives and desires. The switch of views was very well done and easy to follow. Secondly, the characters endure realistic situations and emotions. While one relationship is at a low point, another relationship is blossoming, and it creates a nice balance throughout the novel. The only downside I can think of is the amount of characters in the book. Within the first twenty pages there are already over ten characters introduced, and many have similar names. I began to panic and thought i would get very confused but White did an incredible job reintroducing characters. If a character hadn't been mentioned in a while, White would add a sentence or two reminding the reader what their relation was to one of the prominent characters.
This novel runs through a range of emotions. There is so much detail and history packed into the almost 400 page novel that if you missed a page or skimmed something, you would miss an important part of the book. Each page had you wanting more and more. I am definitly going to read other works by Roseanna White.
January 19, 2014
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading Jewel of Persia by Roseanna White, which was the November selection for Carrie's book club. I'm not generally a fan of fictionalized Bible stories, but this story was less about Esther and more about the historical time period and the fictional Kasia. I have to admit I was impressed by the historical information she incorporated into the story.
In a nutshell, it's a love story about a fictional Jewish girl who becomes one of King Xerxes's wives as he is seeking to expand the kingdom. There are undercurrents of conflict due to the false god the Persians serve and the One True God of the Jews. As the spiritual battle comes to a head, Esther is chosen to be the queen and bravely appeals to the king to allow her people to defend themselves against Hamen's edict.
I enjoyed White's writing as I was sucked into the plot and made to care about the characters. She did a good job presenting Xerxes as a well-rounded character who struggled between his personal feelings as a man and his duties and power as king. There were also sub-plots going on as the former queen and Hamen conspired against the Jews and a Jewish man struggled simultaneously with his vocational calling, his desires, and submission to the Lord.
White illustrated many spiritual concepts including forgiveness, repentance, submission, trust in the Lord's deliverance, remaining faithful in difficult times and even under persecution, the power of prayer, and sacrificial love.
In a nutshell, it's a love story about a fictional Jewish girl who becomes one of King Xerxes's wives as he is seeking to expand the kingdom. There are undercurrents of conflict due to the false god the Persians serve and the One True God of the Jews. As the spiritual battle comes to a head, Esther is chosen to be the queen and bravely appeals to the king to allow her people to defend themselves against Hamen's edict.
I enjoyed White's writing as I was sucked into the plot and made to care about the characters. She did a good job presenting Xerxes as a well-rounded character who struggled between his personal feelings as a man and his duties and power as king. There were also sub-plots going on as the former queen and Hamen conspired against the Jews and a Jewish man struggled simultaneously with his vocational calling, his desires, and submission to the Lord.
White illustrated many spiritual concepts including forgiveness, repentance, submission, trust in the Lord's deliverance, remaining faithful in difficult times and even under persecution, the power of prayer, and sacrificial love.
August 10, 2012
Pink Skulls Book Reviews
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This has to be one of the best books I’ve read all year. At times I loved Xerxes and at others I hated him. Kasia has to be commended for having the patients of a saint. The history is so complex and rich in this book, and yet Mrs. White makes it an enjoyable read and not a tedious history lesson. There are two different society’s in Jewel of Persia, the Jews and the Persians. They are gorgeously put on display for the reader in this book. The romance of love is shinning though this book but it stops at the bedroom door. You know what is intended and implied but it never goes into detail and honestly I was 100% ok with that. It never needed it and I was kiddy at Kasia and Xerxes story. Mrs. White has a holds no bar punch when it comes to showing the Xerxes that Kasia knows and the one that history books looks on with awe.
I was relieved he was not portrayed as the weirdo from 300. Instead what you have is a book about love, trust, faith and the one true God. Please R. White, continue to write!.
http://pinkskullsbookreviews.wordpres...
This has to be one of the best books I’ve read all year. At times I loved Xerxes and at others I hated him. Kasia has to be commended for having the patients of a saint. The history is so complex and rich in this book, and yet Mrs. White makes it an enjoyable read and not a tedious history lesson. There are two different society’s in Jewel of Persia, the Jews and the Persians. They are gorgeously put on display for the reader in this book. The romance of love is shinning though this book but it stops at the bedroom door. You know what is intended and implied but it never goes into detail and honestly I was 100% ok with that. It never needed it and I was kiddy at Kasia and Xerxes story. Mrs. White has a holds no bar punch when it comes to showing the Xerxes that Kasia knows and the one that history books looks on with awe.
I was relieved he was not portrayed as the weirdo from 300. Instead what you have is a book about love, trust, faith and the one true God. Please R. White, continue to write!.
August 14, 2013
What a creative way to tell the story of Esther! I have read numerous stories about Esther, but this is the first that I felt really put it into perspective with the history and culture of the period, the first I really felt like I could imagine fully because of all the background given. By the time the Biblical account of Esther showed up in this book, I was already well-immersed in the characters, the time, the place. Wonderful, wonderful read! I loved that the author wove in tons of historical events, drawing on Herodotus, as well as the Bible. Every character was well-developed, the relationships were real and raw, and, while I knew what would end up happening at the end of the book, there was still plenty of plot suspense. Some of the most innovative historical fiction I've ever read! At the end of the book, all I could say was, "Wow!" Loved it!
May 17, 2012
This book follows King Xerxes and a fictional concubine, Kasia, who is his favorite wife and great love. Although the love story is fictional, White knows her history well enough to make this seem probable. Although history paints Xerxes as a mad man, White gives him sane reasons for doing what he did and I found that I liked him well enough to root for him and Kasia. Esther, of course, figures prominently in this book too, but not as his great love, which I think the Biblical account would agree with. Many times while reading I wondered if some of the scenes were historically true, or part of White's imagination. In the postscript White tells us what is historic fact and I was surprised by what I didn't know. All in all, I enjoyed this and heartily recommend it!
August 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and the way Roseanna White was able to weave a beautiful story with a biblical background. Not only was it a lovely read but the history was absolutely fascinating. Her characters came alive and I couldn't put this book down.
The details of the king and court is really interesting and I loved reading how Xerxes controlled his court, he was a real hero...... even with countless wives and concubines ;) He was a man, a king and a ruler. Reading the book gave a fresh twist and insight against the preconceptions I had.
Jewel of Persia gives a breath of fresh air of the story of Esther. With fictional and biblical characters this is a wonderful read.
The details of the king and court is really interesting and I loved reading how Xerxes controlled his court, he was a real hero...... even with countless wives and concubines ;) He was a man, a king and a ruler. Reading the book gave a fresh twist and insight against the preconceptions I had.
Jewel of Persia gives a breath of fresh air of the story of Esther. With fictional and biblical characters this is a wonderful read.
June 10, 2018
This tale of Kasia, a poor Jewish girl who becomes the concubine of King Xerces, is a fascinating tale and an intense love story. Her religion becomes the stumbling block between the two, but will later turn to the salvation of the Jews. The story, especially at the end of the book, is intertwined with the book of Esther in the Bible. This book does nothing to alter the Biblical book but does provide an interesting view of what life was like for the wives and concubines of the King of Persia. I always read things that combine Biblical books with fiction with caution, and this book was no different but I still found it an interesting and quick moving book.
December 29, 2017
Very interesting take on the Esther story (If that's what you want to read, the Biblical events of Esther only occur in the last 20% of the book), but this was quite the unique twist in imagining how those events came about. It's a bit....hard to read with the idolatry and sexual escapades of a harem and the men who viewed women as possessions filling most every page, and yet the romance was satisfying. The author never imposed modern day ideas on the story making it an interesting read as I was taken inside the heads of people who didn't question the idea behind a harem, etc.
April 9, 2012
First time I have read a book from Roseanna White. I loved it! I love Christian fiction books. Quite a love story with Kasia and Xerxes. I enjoyed the historical, and also the fiction she added fit into the book nicely. I liked that she told you in the beginning which characters were fictional and what was historical.
Mrs. Roseanna White is quite a writer,right up there with my favorite, Mark of the Lion Series, by Francine Rivers.
I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction.
Mrs. Roseanna White is quite a writer,right up there with my favorite, Mark of the Lion Series, by Francine Rivers.
I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction.
August 28, 2012
Good book, easy read. This tells the Biblical story of Esther from the point of view of another harem girl, Xerxes' fictional "favorite wife," Kasia. Lots of interesting historical details, and the character stuff-how to share a husband with other women, how to maintain your faith in adversity-feels very authentic.
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