The Queen's cook

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Title:

The Queen's cook

Author:

Afshar, Tessa, author.

Series:

Queen Esther's court ;

Series Number:

Summary:

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.-- Publisher

Physical Description:

395 pages : map ; 22 cm.

Genre:

Christian fiction.

Subject Term:

Cooks -- Fiction.

Jews -- Fiction.

Kings and rulers -- Fiction.

Publisher:

Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group,

Publication Date:

2024

ISBN:

9780764243691

9780764243974

Publication Information:

Minneapolis, Minnesota : Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2024.

Call Number:

AFSHAR

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003756072	New Adult Fiction	AFSHAR Tessa	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings, but instead he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother while settling the debt, Roxannah approaches Adin--the man whose kind eyes still haunt her--to help her find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther's reign hang in the balance.

Author Notes

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. Learn more at TessaAfshar.com.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Afshar (The Peasant King) kicks off her Queen Esther's Court series with a rich and resonant retelling of the Purim story. It's the 12th year of Persian king Xerxes's rule and 23-year-old Roxannah lives in constant fear of her erratic father, Lord Fravartish, a former nobleman who sold off the family's land to fuel his drinking habit. When he's injured in a fight, Fravartish sends Roxannah to fetch the Jewish court physician, Adin, who's immediately taken with her, though his faith forbids him from associating with a gentile woman. Meanwhile, court adviser Haman has convinced King Xerxes to issue an edict ordering the annihilation of the kingdom's Jews. While Queen Esther works to intercede on behalf of her people, sectarian tensions combust into bloody conflict and Roxannah and Adin find themselves on opposite sides of the fight. Then Roxannah starts working in Queen Esther's court, and they reunite to unravel a secret plot. Afshar rotates between Roxannah, Adin, and Esther's perspectives, powering a twisty plot full of intrigue and divided allegiances, set against an intricately rendered ancient Persia seething with power struggles and violence. Fans of biblical fiction will be captivated. (Nov.)

Library Journal Review

Afshar (The Peasant King) brings biblical characters alive in their own times, with scrumptious descriptions of food and the devious machinations of palace life. Roxannah has perfected the art of making herself small to avoid the attentions of her abusive father, who was once a proud Persian noble but now tries to drown the horrors of war with alcohol. Despite her trials, Roxannah wants to protect her neighbors when a decree from the king encourages an attack on all Jewish people across the empire. Her friend Adin, a palace physician, assures her that God has a plan. When Queen Esther bravely confronts the king on behalf of her people, Roxannah secures a position as a lowly cook in the queen's household. Afshar gets better with every book, and her characters grow in faith, gaining the courage to stand firm when everything around them bids them to fall. VERDICT Readers will not want this book to end, but works by Connilyn Cossette and Christine Dillon may tide them over until the next release.