My Thoughts and More on The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar

 

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Queen’s Cook 

Series: Queen Esther's Court #1 

Author: Tessa Afshar 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 

Release Date: November 19, 2024 

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biblical 

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin--the man whose kind eyes haunt her--and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens. 

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her loyalty earns her the trust and friendship of Queen Esther, who is navigating dangerous politics with wisdom and grace. When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther's reign hangs in the balance.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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About the Author

Tessa Afshar's award-winning biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into twelve languages. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.

Connect with Tessa by visiting tessaafshar.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Thoughts:

Be prepared to be immersed in the ancient world of Persia, in the time of Queen Esther and King Xerxes. And with that all the drama, court intrigue, and political machinations that were taking place. I certainly would not want to live in that palace or be part of that royal family no matter the opulence and riches that looked so appetizing from the outside. I think people had better chances of survival outside the royal court than inside.

I have read the true accounts of Esther from the Bible and many fictional stories based on her story. I like how author Afshar gives us a different perspective of the account. Especially regarding the terrible edict that the king allowed from Hamman. 

The story is mostly told from Roxannah's point of view. She is a poor daughter of a Persian lord. However, due to wars and drinking, her father is not the good man he once was. And this leads to daily trouble for her and her mother, and difficult choices later. 

We also get the royal court physician's and Jewish man Adin's point of view. With that we are also treated to forbidden love story between Roxannah and Adin. 

To top it all off, we are given a peak into Queen Esther's secret scrolls many years later that add an extra layer of insight into the court goings on and more.

What really stood out to me was when the edict of annihilation of the Jews was proclaimed. Though this story continues from that particular catastrophe that was stopped, just the feelings that Roxannah felt, though she a Persian when it was proclaimed. The horror and the unbelief that this was the world she was living in was powerful. However, so was the God who was going to intervene on the Jews behalf. Quite a powerful look at an important time of history.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of The Queen's Cook and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight December 4, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on December 11, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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