This audiobook transported me back in time to the 5th century BCE and fully immersed me into the Persian empire ruled by Xerxes I, or Ahasuerus. The story is narrated by Hadassah, later to be known as Queen Esther, and Harbonah, a eunuch in service to King Xerxes. I often find alternating narrators to be confusing, but the style works very effectively in the case of this book. The voice actors who read the parts of Hadassah and Harbonah each did an absolutely outstanding job of capturing the emotion and personality of the narrators. The characters really do sound their parts.
Although this book is based on a biblical tale from the Old Testament, and does contain a fair amount of inspirational content, do not let that throw you off from reading it if you're not the religious or spiritual type. There is plenty to draw you in as far as historical details, character development, and interpersonal relationships. Queen Esther's identity as a Jew is certainly a focus of the book, and there's some reference near the end of the book of the Jewish Messiah to come. Virtues such as prayer, humility, and putting others before yourself are also touched upon. However, these are virtues present in many religions and philosophies, and in my opinion, they don't limit the story to being appreciated only by those of a Christian or Jewish religious background.
I never felt drawn-in by the fairly brief book of Esther in the Jewish scripture. The fictional elaboration this book makes on Esther's story is enough to make me want to read all I can get my hands on about Esther, Xerxes, and the place, time, and culture in which they lived. Certain aspects of Persian culture in 5th century BCE are so foreign to me that I found myself astonished. For instance, if anyone-- even the queen-- approached the king without being summoned, that person would be immediately killed by the king's "immortals" (guards) unless the king extended his scepter in pardon. So, when Queen Esther approached her husband without having first been summoned, she really was staking her life on the hope that he would extend pardon to her. Can you imagine living in such a way as that? I know I can't. It's so fascinating to me how women such as Hadassah, a.k.a. Esther, made the best out of such a harsh existence.
One concern I had: Esther consistently speaks of loving her husband better, as well as respecting and obeying him. In her situation, she really had no choice. It was either that, or be deposed or killed. Her predecessor, Vashti, had been deposed for disobeying a single unreasonable request by the king. Women of this time period were property, not equals. My concern is that modern women who read this book will interpret it as a call to submit to and obey their husbands, as this woman did her king. I don't think that what Esther had to do in order to survive is applicable to what women should do today in healthy relationships with their spouses. That said, the message about putting others before yourself and respecting others is applicable not only in marriage, but in all areas of interacting with others. So the message isn't totally problematic.
Minus the above concern, this book is absolutely fabulous. It offers deep character development, historical details that bring the time and place alive, and a female character with strength and grit. A second book in this "A Dangerous Beauty" series just came out: Bathsheba: Reluctant Beauty. I can't wait to read that one, too. When I do, you can bet another review will be coming your way.
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