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This is a beautiful novel, rich with historical context and characters deeply immersed in the culture of their time. I already knew the book was about women who ended up living at Masada, a fortress palace built for King Herod years before. We're told that much in the description.
The novel starts in 70 BC when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. I was dismayed at the characters - the girl narrating the story seemed decent enough but the people she lived with were frighteningly awful. Their l ...more
The novel starts in 70 BC when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. I was dismayed at the characters - the girl narrating the story seemed decent enough but the people she lived with were frighteningly awful. Their l ...more

The writing transforms you to an ancient time. What was it like to be forced to run in the dessert at the mercy of robbers and thieves. To be thrown into a new world and to find your companions, lovers, enemies. To raise a child, to sacrifice, to witness. This mesmerizing story tells an ancient tale with a female twist. The strength of these women went right to my heart. Highly recommend.

Oct 04, 2011
Ginger
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Oct 14, 2011
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Oct 20, 2011
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Nov 06, 2011
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Jul 05, 2012
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Mar 26, 2013
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Nov 04, 2019
Curlysue
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Oct 29, 2023
Deborah
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