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chanizzle's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the character of Esther and the king and their relationship. I did not like Haman, of course who does like a villain... But more, I didn't like his background story of why he came to dislike the Jewish people.
Overall, I liked the story, however I wish it would have been longer. It was so short when it didn't need to be. Esther and her story is so interesting I wonder why the author felt a need to condense it? When I can finish a book in one day, usually that means I won't be thinking of it again, as I'll be moving on to the next book. So, it was good, but left me wanting more. Now on to the next book.
Overall, I liked the story, however I wish it would have been longer. It was so short when it didn't need to be. Esther and her story is so interesting I wonder why the author felt a need to condense it? When I can finish a book in one day, usually that means I won't be thinking of it again, as I'll be moving on to the next book. So, it was good, but left me wanting more. Now on to the next book.
sarahunsaker's review against another edition
4.0
I am so impressed yet again by Heather B. Moore, and the research that she puts into her books. My only wish would be it be longer, but I loved the way she portrayed Esther and all the rest of the characters.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved this retelling of the story of Esther. The writer really brought these people from the Bible to life and made me appreciate all the more the courage of Esther. Now, I want to go back and read the story from the Bible. My only criticism was that at first, the language seemed too modern, but as the story went on, I got used to it. Loved the customs and traditions woven throughout the story. It's clear that the writer did extensive research to make the time period really come alive and seem authentic. I also loved the way the love of Esther and the King was portrayed. Look forward to reading more by this author.
emiged's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for novels in scriptural settings, especially those that strive to shed light on the lives of women in Biblical times. I admire the imagination, study and effort it takes to fill in the gaps in the scriptural text to make these too foreign stories make sense to our modern minds.
In Esther the Queen, Heather B. Moore does a solid job of making Esther come to life as a realistic, sympathetic character. King Ahasuerus is given depth as well, as Moore allows him to express his regret for the decisions that he made leading to Queen Vashti's banishment, accepting his own responsibility for the situation and willing to look at how he can improve. The tensions between the dominant Persian culture and the Jewish minority are well explored and explained.
The elements Moore adds to the story to help us modern readers connect the dots may or may not be how it "really happened," but they move the story forward in a plausible way. She provides Haman believable impetus for hating the Jews as virulently as he did in the Biblical text. I really like how she orchestrates the first accidental meeting between Esther and Ahasuerus, too, that sets everything in motion. Mordecai could have been fleshed out a little better, I thought, though I enjoyed the introduction of his children at the beginning.
To read the rest of this review, visit Build Enough Bookshelves.
In Esther the Queen, Heather B. Moore does a solid job of making Esther come to life as a realistic, sympathetic character. King Ahasuerus is given depth as well, as Moore allows him to express his regret for the decisions that he made leading to Queen Vashti's banishment, accepting his own responsibility for the situation and willing to look at how he can improve. The tensions between the dominant Persian culture and the Jewish minority are well explored and explained.
The elements Moore adds to the story to help us modern readers connect the dots may or may not be how it "really happened," but they move the story forward in a plausible way. She provides Haman believable impetus for hating the Jews as virulently as he did in the Biblical text. I really like how she orchestrates the first accidental meeting between Esther and Ahasuerus, too, that sets everything in motion. Mordecai could have been fleshed out a little better, I thought, though I enjoyed the introduction of his children at the beginning.
To read the rest of this review, visit Build Enough Bookshelves.
ghumpherys's review against another edition
5.0
The story of Esther really comes to life in this historical novel! Even knowing the basic story ahead of time, I was caught up in how events unfolded. I loved all the rich historical details and while I realize many aspects of the story are fictional, it was easy to visualize and think of these Biblical characters as real people. I loved it!
(And as a side note, I was listening to the audio book and had my girls in the car with me one day and they all got caught up in the story too! My 12-year-old took my print copy so she could finish the story on her own, although she did have some questions about what a harem and concubines were.) :-)
(And as a side note, I was listening to the audio book and had my girls in the car with me one day and they all got caught up in the story too! My 12-year-old took my print copy so she could finish the story on her own, although she did have some questions about what a harem and concubines were.) :-)
brookiecowles's review
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kbeddes's review
3.0
Genre: retold Bible stories, tried and true.
Summary: Esther is chosen as the new Queen of the Persian Empire, even though she is a Jew, a hated minority. When threatened genocide of the Jews comes to light, Esther must sacrificed her own life and love to save her people.
Response: This version had a huge wait list, so I'm afraid I had higher expectations of this poor book. It was ok. It certainly didn't blow me away. It's a simple retelling of an old story. I love the original so I gave this three stars for that fact alone. I've read others that were better told.
Summary: Esther is chosen as the new Queen of the Persian Empire, even though she is a Jew, a hated minority. When threatened genocide of the Jews comes to light, Esther must sacrificed her own life and love to save her people.
Response: This version had a huge wait list, so I'm afraid I had higher expectations of this poor book. It was ok. It certainly didn't blow me away. It's a simple retelling of an old story. I love the original so I gave this three stars for that fact alone. I've read others that were better told.
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