The Royal Artisan by Tessa Afshar: Book Review

 **ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Sazana of Persia creates exquisite pottery that graces Susa's finest tables, but her master, Lord Haman, does not know her secret: Sazana is one of the Jews he has vowed to eradicate. When Haman discovers her true identity, he forces her into indentured servitude. But at Haman's sudden downfall, Queen Esther becomes the new master of the pottery workshop, restoring Sazana to her rightful place.

Yet her troubles are not over as Haman's sons are enraged by his death, and the queen assigns one of her men to root out any threats. Sazana is shocked to discover the identity of the queen's agent is none other than Jadon, the man who left her heart in ruins years ago. But despite his presence, danger still lurks, and when Sazana and Jadon become entangled in the hunt for an ancient artifact, so much more than their own hearts and lives depends on the success of their mission.

Experience the thrill and intrigue of secrets and romance within Queen Esther's royal domain in this biblical fiction tale that will appeal to fans of ancient history, The Chosen, House of David, Francine Rivers, and Angela Hunt.

The Author

Tessa Afshar's award-winning biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into thirteen 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.

Book Review

I'll be honest, Biblical fiction is not a genre that I often gravitate towards... I've read several throughout the years, but it's a genre that is more hit and miss, so I don't tend to choose them. However, when I saw that this one involved Queen Esther (my favorite book in the Bible), I decided to give it a try. I did not realize at the time that this was the second book in the series, but I did find that it could be read just fine as a standalone. Now, I can't say that this has made me a fan of Biblical fiction in general, but I did find I enjoyed this story. The author's research and attention to detail is quite evident, which I always appreciate in any historical read, but I think even more so in Biblical stories such as this. It really helped to bring this place and time to life in a new way, which I personally really appreciate. That said, while it is based on Biblical events, it IS still a work of fiction, so if things like The Chosen are not your thing... this might not be either. This is certainly one that fans of Biblical fiction are sure to enjoy though! 



You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/48pAjmk