rheannag's review
5.0
It was hard to get into the book at first, but once I did, it was definitely a page turner! The main characters are all strong women which is always a plus. The story takes place around 73 CE in Masada so it was an interesting look at life for Jewish women during the siege of the Romans, and definitely a very different setting from the books I normally read. The characters were all well developed and very different from each other, and each section is written from a different character’s lens, so it made for a dynamic read of the whole story.
stevensabby's review
5.0
Beautiful and haunting, this book will make you ache for the losses we encounter in life and the truths that hold us together. Set between 70-74 A.D. in Israel, it tells the story of the Jewish rebellion against Rome and the Jews at Masada who chose to take kill their families and themselves rather than be made slaves to the Romans.
The book follows 4 women whose paths have lead them to the mountain where their lives intertwine. They are brought there by love, by desperation, by the men they follow, but their strength is found and renewed in their care for each other and their love for their families. They are unlikely friends, bound together by their job -- caring for the doves -- and later by their fierce protection of each other and the men they love.
You will weep when the book ends, and you will find yourself looking for the strength of these women in yourself and your friends. It's an unforgettable story and an unforgettable book.
The book follows 4 women whose paths have lead them to the mountain where their lives intertwine. They are brought there by love, by desperation, by the men they follow, but their strength is found and renewed in their care for each other and their love for their families. They are unlikely friends, bound together by their job -- caring for the doves -- and later by their fierce protection of each other and the men they love.
You will weep when the book ends, and you will find yourself looking for the strength of these women in yourself and your friends. It's an unforgettable story and an unforgettable book.
mokey4's review
3.0
I loved the historical setting and the story itself was interesting, if a bit melodramatic (think soap opera set in 1st century Israel). But the prose was just barely acceptable- there is no economy of language here, everything is described literally and without any play or poetry. There is no way I would have been able to finish this book if I wasn't stuck on a plane with nothing else to read. That got me through the first half, and then I was vested in the characters. It's a good enough read if you want to learn about Masada, and if you can tolerate goopy prose. I will not be picking up another Alice Hoffman anytime soon, unless I am stuck somewhere with little choice.
sandra_broadwill's review against another edition
4.5
This will stay with me for years to come. I am wrecked. Beautiful in the way only devastation can be. Utterly heart-wrenching.Â
rspades's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Infertility, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, and Infidelity
kitkat2500's review
5.0
I fell into this book and felt like I had fallen inside a dream. The writing is mesmerizing and lyrical. I would re-read sentences and paragraphs just to savour the beautiful words and the depth of the emotions. When I arrived at the last word, I wanted to go right back to the beginning and remain inside this engrossing tale.
While this is a fictional novel, it is based on historical events around 70 AD, after the fall of Jerusalem. A group of 900 Jews who took refuge on the mountaintop fortress of Masada were the last holdouts to the Romans. According to historians, 2 women and 5 children survived. Hoffman has imagined their stories in a skillful and spellbinding way.
I was lucky to have read this book just after having visited the actual site of the Masada by the Dead Sea. It likely increased my enjoyment of the story. And I would highly recommend this fabulous book, which is the first one I have read by Hoffman, and now will not be the last!
While this is a fictional novel, it is based on historical events around 70 AD, after the fall of Jerusalem. A group of 900 Jews who took refuge on the mountaintop fortress of Masada were the last holdouts to the Romans. According to historians, 2 women and 5 children survived. Hoffman has imagined their stories in a skillful and spellbinding way.
I was lucky to have read this book just after having visited the actual site of the Masada by the Dead Sea. It likely increased my enjoyment of the story. And I would highly recommend this fabulous book, which is the first one I have read by Hoffman, and now will not be the last!
vegfashionista's review
5.0
This book continues to stick with me... highest of highs and lowest of lows, and kept me interested thoughtful. Would recommend.
fishiecakes's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Child death