The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy Higley
From goodreads.com:
"From the servant halls of Cleopatra’s Egyptian palace to the courts of
Herod the Great, Lydia will serve two queens to see prophecy
fulfilled.
Alexandria, Egypt 39 BC
Orphaned at birth, Lydia was raised as a servant in Cleopatra's palace, working hard to please while keeping everyone at arm's length. She's been rejected and left with a broken heart too many times in her short life.
But then her dying mentor entrusts her with secret writings of the prophet Daniel and charges her to deliver this vital information to those watching for the promised King of Israel. Lydia must leave the nearest thing she’s had to family and flee to Jerusalem. Once in the Holy City, she attaches herself to the newly appointed king, Herod the Great, as handmaid to Queen Mariamme.
Trapped among the scheming women of Herod’s political family—his sister, his wife, and their mothers—and forced to serve in the palace to protect her treasure, Lydia must deliver the scrolls before dark forces warring against the truth destroy all hope of the coming Messiah."
Alexandria, Egypt 39 BC
Orphaned at birth, Lydia was raised as a servant in Cleopatra's palace, working hard to please while keeping everyone at arm's length. She's been rejected and left with a broken heart too many times in her short life.
But then her dying mentor entrusts her with secret writings of the prophet Daniel and charges her to deliver this vital information to those watching for the promised King of Israel. Lydia must leave the nearest thing she’s had to family and flee to Jerusalem. Once in the Holy City, she attaches herself to the newly appointed king, Herod the Great, as handmaid to Queen Mariamme.
Trapped among the scheming women of Herod’s political family—his sister, his wife, and their mothers—and forced to serve in the palace to protect her treasure, Lydia must deliver the scrolls before dark forces warring against the truth destroy all hope of the coming Messiah."
Paperback, 400
pages
Published March 18th 2014 by Thomas
Nelson
Leona's Review:
I thought I had read Tracy Higley's books in the past, but
find this is my first read by her. I always like to read historical fiction and
this book did not disappoint. It is full of history and gave me some more
knowledge of the times and people. I did not know that Cleopatra, for example,
had sisters. There is a map of the Mediterranean area in the front of the book
and the family charts of The Hasmonean Dynasty and also Herod's
Family.
The book is dedicated to: For Steve Laube. In gratitude for
nearly a decade of unwavering support, wise guidance, and genius
friendship.
The book begins in Alexandria, Egypt on January, 39
BC.
Lydia is the handmaid to Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. She is
to become the handmaid of Herod's future wife Mariamme and so travels to
Jerusalem.
The journey is long but on the trip Lydia becomes acquainted
with David, who is younger than her.
Lydia's mentor, Samuel, was killed but before he dies he had
passed the scrolls from the prophet Daniel to Lydia with instructions where to
deliver and to whom. The scrolls are usually passed from father to son but these
were now for Lydia to deliver. Lydia must carry the scrolls with her and keep
them a secret and so they are hidden most of the time
There is a lot of warfare in this novel with some descriptions
of death but fits the story and the history of the wars at that
time.
The Queen's Handmaid is full of history and of the Jewish
religion and beginning of the Christian religion.
I give this a 5 star rating. It is a historical fiction book
with some romance. The author, Tracy Higley, shows she has done extensive
research to write this novel. The end was unexpected for me but I was pleased
with it. This is a book that can be re-read for those interested in
history.
I wish there had been a list of the characters and the places
in the book. There were many and I think it would have helped the
reader.
Read more of Cleopatra on this site:
Read more of Octaavian, Antony and Lepidus
on this site:
There is a study guide at the back of the book. Two questions
are Question Number 2: Lydia struggles throughout the book with issues of
identity and feelings of worthlessness. Do you relate to her struggles? In what
way? And Question Number 9: How do you feel about the author's portrayal of
spiritual darkness in the story? Do you believe that people like Salome may have
been in touch with evil powers at this time in history? How about
now?
I received a complimentary copy of The Queen's Handmaid to
read and review from Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers. The
opinions are my own.
Leona Olson
Tracy Higley may be reached at www.TracyHigley.com
List of some characters:
Lydia- The main character. She is an orphan and does not know
anything about her parents.
Simon- Ran the palace staff at Jericho
Cleopatra Philopator- Queen of Egypt
Herod- The Galilean governor but he is not Jewish
Mariamme- Wife if Herod
Banafrit- In charge of Cleopatra's kitchen
David- Lydia meets him on the boat after leaving
Egypt.
Samuel- A Jewish man who taught Lydia about the Jewish
religion and who gave her the
scrolls.
Marc Antony- Lover of Cleopatra and father of her
twins
Caesar- Ruler of Rome
Caesarion- Son of Cleopatra and Caesar; also under the care of
Lydia when she lived at Cleopatra's palace.
Ha Shem- Name of God in the Hebrew Bible
Octavian-Nephew of Julius Caesar
Octavia- Sister of Octavian and wife of Marc
Antony
Joseph- Herod's brother
Salome- Herod's sister
Jonah and Ester- Friends of Simon
Some places in the book are:
Egypt
Jerusalem
Masada
Temple of Cybele
Temple of Ceres
Kidron Valley
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