Title: Star of Persia: Esther's story

Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Chapters: 42 plus prologue and epilogue
Pages:368

Genre: Christian fiction, Biblical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the book of Esther, so when I saw that Jill Eileen Smith had written a Biblical fiction book on Esther called the Star of Persia: Ester's Story I knew that I had to read it. Jill Eileen Smith is one of only two authors I go to for, for Biblical fiction.
Star of Persia: Esther's Story is different than Jill's previous books but is just as good as the other books of hers that I've read. In this one, she balanced the Biblical account of the book of Esther with that of the historical account of Xerxes rein. Both the Biblical and historical accounts were woven together to bring this awesome book to live.
Star of Persia brings the story of Esther to life an after reading this book I went back and read the book of Esther from my Bible.
This book is perfect for fans of Biblical fiction and Tessa Afhsar.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Everyone who’s read the Bible knows the story of Esther; the Persian Jew who saved her people from annihilation by defying the rules and pleading to the king. The Jewish people even celebrate this freedom on a day called Purim. And being one of the most famous women of Jewish history, there are most likely hundreds of retellings.

Star of Persia is one of them.

We open up on Vashti—who was queen before Esther—as she wanders the palace gardens and meets Esther—then known as Hadassah—for the first time. Then we are catapulted into the future, when Hadassah is only twelve years old, and we follow her life from Jew to queen.

Not much happens climactically in the story, as while Esther is famous, her life was not glamourous. I appreciated the amount of research put into the story, and how the Smith didn’t pull punches when it came to certain events that happened with King Xerxes, portraying him as accurately as possible.

Smith’s writing is excellent, and she describes everything in a way that paints wonderful pictures. But because I am more used to reading action-packed fantasy than less-than-exciting historical fiction, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit bored with the plot. Things didn’t really move along until around the last 90% of the book, but then it went back to a steady pace.

Because of this, I wouldn’t say Star of Persia is exciting. But it is interesting and would be a good fit for those who love books with more of a slow pace, as well as those who love historical fiction, biblical fiction, and stories with strong female leads.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story on the life of Esther was definitely not one to be missed and I enjoyed every minute of it.
A first for me by this author, but I was eagerly anticipated the read and I wasn't disappointed. I love how she took the characters and fleshed them out. Esther and Modercai, though a minority, God used them to save a nation. The fact that though it's fiction, she stays true to the story is another added bonus.
The characters were real and relatable. I love that she included Vashti into the story as part of the story we got to kind of know more about her and what she was thinking. Xerxes too, although he was really selfish and paranoid and depended more on men and what his armies could do.
It was definitely a fun and exciting read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are solely mine

This is a well written story about Esthe, the Queen of Persia. This goes from when she is six years old to just after she helps to save the Jewish population. I love how she can take a small bible story and bring all of these people to life. You like some people and dislike others. This also shows the difference in how we live today. This is an easy read so anyone can enjoy this story. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I absolutely loved this book! Jill Eileen Smith really has a way of drawing you into her books. I really felt like I was there in that moment, in that time period. There was not one dull moment. It was full of action, romance and intrigue. I really enjoyed reading about Esther. She was such a brave and strong woman, and this book really portrayed that. I absolutely recommend it. Jill Eileen Smith has quickly become a favorite author of mine. Go get this book! You won’t regret it! 😀

About the Author:

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King and the nonfiction book When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com.

I received an advance copy for my honest review. This book is available on Amazon.com, as well as other retailers like ChristianBook.com and Barnes & Noble.

"Star of Persia" by Jill Eileen Smith is a Biblical Fiction book. This book shows what life was like during Xerxes reign. The reader will feel like they are stepping into life during that time. Esther is well described. She has a strong character with being honorable , honest, having integrity, loyal. The reader will understand the risks Esther lived with. She protected her Jewish people from horrible danger. The back round of Esther is well researched. The author wrote this book well and will help the reader feel like they have stepped into life during that time. I commend her for a job well done. Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, author for allowing me to read and review this book. I will be posting my review on netgalley, Goodreads, my blog, facebook, our church staff.

Star of Persia: Esther’s Story, by Jill Eileen Smith is the exotic, out-of-this-world, true-to-life tale of how the simple, lovely orphan girl, Esther became the beautiful, honored and revered battle queen of Persia. Caught in the throes of the bitter intrigue and murky strife of palace politics, Esther finds herself in an impossible, catch 22 situation, one in which she can either risk her life or consign herself and her people to the fiery flames of annihilation.
With her impeccable flair for research and her imaginative, conversational, story-telling style, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the romantic, suspenseful, and beloved story of Esther, drama queen of Persia.
Here in this book, you will meet real people with flaws and foibles, whose palpable emotions tug at your heartstrings, in this passionate story of the Bible’s greatest Jewish heroine.
Jill Eileen Smith weaves together richly crafted descriptions, well-researched historical detail, and merges them together in biblical stories with a fresh, new perspective.
I highly recommend this book to all who wish to make Queen Esther’s story come alive to readers of today. I was captivated and spellbound as I read it, line by line, page by page. I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end. Great reading!

Jill Eileen Smith is one of my favorite Biblical Fiction authors. In her newest relief, she brings the well known story of Hadassah known as Queen Esther to life. With a strong Biblical foundation and excellent historical detail of the life and times in Persia during King Xerxes reign, this is a beautiful read that's hard to put down. It definitely expresses the theme that if God wants us to do something He will see us through it.

Recommend for those who love Biblical fiction and authors Lynn Austin, Mesu Andrews and Tessa Afshar.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

The annual Jewish holiday of Purim was earlier this week. I didn’t know this when I planned my book review schedule, so it was pure coincidence that I was reading a novel based on the reason for the event. Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from the Persian Empire official, Haman, recounted in the Book of Esther.

Star of Persia is a great novel that really brought the story of Esther to life. I was thoroughly immersed and, although I knew the outcome, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The characters involved were fleshed out and came to life in such a way that I could form opinions of them. I thought Mordecai was pretty much useless in raising Esther and providing for her, although he did seem to get his act together eventually. I loved that Vashti was played as a sympathetic character, trying to do her best for her husband, and wished that we could’ve known more about her. In contrast, the bad wife role went to Amestris who is not in the Bible but is included in historical narratives of King Xerxes I (presumed to be the King Ahasuerus of the Old Testament).

Yes, there are a couple of issues in the book that are distasteful, such as methods of execution and, also, the King having concubines. Let’s face it: the whole idea of the king trying to find a queen by sleeping with multiple virgins is distasteful to our minds. But we must accept that history isn’t always pretty, and cultures always have an ugly side. But if the king didn’t go through his selection process and Haman didn’t get his comeuppance, what kind of story would it be? While the Book of Esther doesn’t mention God by name, we can see His hand at work even in the bad stuff.

I’ve read a couple of novels about Esther. As Smith says in her end notes, her story has been written several times. Some have been good. One I won’t mention was so bad, and departed so far from the Bible, that I couldn’t recommend it to anyone. Thankfully, Star of Persia is one I CAN recommend.

Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the words and opinions below are my own.

Wow! Where do I even begin with this glorious story. This is by far my favorite Esther story I've read. A solid 5 star rating for this! Jill has such a way with words. The way she wove the entire book of Esther into a fictional novel was outstanding. Her character development and attention to details were both phenomenal! She created a beautiful love story while maintaining the integrity of scripture. She blended fiction with truth seamlessly.

Hadassah better known as Esther was such a strong character! She was kind, she was beautiful inside her heart and she worked hard. I loved seeing her age over the course of the novel. In face of danger and drama she never batted an eye or backed down. She stood like a queen with grace. The purity of her heart amazed in the face of betrayal and heartbreak. She had her moments when she whined and complained, but she never let things keep her down. As queen, she didn't abuse her power. She relied on the Lord and kept strong to her faith. I loved her!

King Xerxes was incredible man at heart, but he allowed fear to hold him back. I didn't like how he relied to heavily on the opinion of men. The men on his council never ceased to lead him astray. I feel like he should have been more involved in his rulings and decisions, but seeing him make mistakes, realize them and work on changing was crucial as well. He may have been king, but his weakness stemmed from his fear of failing. I though she wrote him well especially since most stories portray him as an egotistical man. I enjoyed the vulnerable and sweet side of him.

The romance was so cute! I never expected Jill to write such a beautiful romance between Esther and Xerxes, but she did and I swooned over it. The way they talked to one another. They way they loved each other beyond the surface level was everything. I thought that they were cutest thing ever! Considering the times during the book of Esther I loved their romance.

Mordecai will always be an amazing man to me, but in this book he seemed a bit whiny. I still enjoyed his words of wisdom, his strength and his resolve. Seeing it all play out in fiction made me love him even more.

Vashti was amazing! In the Bible we really don't get know much about her, so I was excited that Jill created a beautiful personality for Vashti. I loved her approach at crafting the queen and especially how she wrote her in the prologue! Perfection.

Haman will forever be an evil person to bot in scripture and in fiction. He's egotistical, full of pride, a glutton for power. He was a smart villain who pissed me off until the very end. He got his perfect ending. Memucan was an idiot. He was like a puppy that did whatever he was told in order to gain power. He was honestly useless to the story, lol.

Amestris was a perfectly written antagonist. She was prideful and gluttonous for power. She annoyed me from start to finish. I wish she had repercussions for her actions, but overall she played her role in the story very well.

Atossa, the mother of Xerxes, was an interesting old woman. She wasn't mean, but she also wasn't nice. She kind of played favorites and let things go as they were even when she knew things shouldn't have. I liked that she didn't use her power as Queen Mother, but I do wish that she was more active in the story.

Overall, this was a phenomenal read and my new favorite for a novel on Esther! Highly recommend it.

If you enjoy Biblical fiction, you will love Star of Persia by Jill Eileen Smith. Her attention to detail and knowledge of the Scriptures shine through to bring the story of Esther to life.

Smith has taken the well-known Biblical story of Esther and given us all the little extra details that "might" have been going on in the background. Palace intrigue and the danger involved to those who crossed the King are covered, but something I have never considered before was the story of Queen Vashti, whom the King banished from his presence. I've always wondered why she refused to obey him and now I know one possibility.

The character of Amestris, mother of Darius (who would become King when his father died), was not mentioned in the Biblical account. Still, the author wove a backstory that provided intrigue and possible answers to Queen Vashti's banishment.

The question of how Esther adapted to life in the palace was a credible tale, and I loved seeing the love both she and Xerxes developed for each other. I was glad when the author included what could have happened to her after Xerxes died since this is not addressed in the Bible.

Be sure to read the author's comments at the end for even more detail on her research. And why some of the events mentioned in the Bible were not included in her story. Overall, I believe anyone who loves Biblical fiction or historical fiction, in general, will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it!

I so enjoyed Jill Eileen Smith’s take on the Biblical account of Esther in Star of Persia. Biblical fiction is a genre I have come to love over the past few years. Seeing how authors bring well known Bible stories to life backed by historical research has given me a greater appreciation and understanding for the time period. And Smith has become an author I greatly respect when it comes to such stories.

In Star of Persia, Smith brings forth an in-depth and fascinating look at Queen Esther. Fast paced, full of lively descriptions, colourful characters, and palace intrigue, this story captivates and challenges our imaginations. Characters I had only known through the Bible burst into reality, and King Xerxes, Queen Vashti, and Mordeccai grew in dimension before me. I was captivated by Smith’s attention to detail and brilliant storytelling ability. This book was truly a delight to read. I highly recommend it!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This has been a month of Esther for me between Devotionals, Awana lessons and now this novel. Jill Eileen Smith has written a book that stays true to Scripture yet weaves a truly beautiful tale.
Esther, a Jew, becomes queen after being chosen by King Xerxes to replace Queen Vashti when Vashti dared to refuse his request to attend a party. Esther has been being raised by her Mordecai and his wife following the death of her parents. In the palace she encounters plots to kill the king, plots to slaughter the Jewish people and even more subterfuge. The author has written what I consider to be her best novel yet. The plot and characters are extremely well defined. This book moves at a rapid pace and is hard to put down.
As this is based upon The Book of Esther in The Bible, Jill Eileen Smith adds an Author's Note at the conclusion of the book that gives further information about the novel. It will be beneficial reading after you've finished reading the book.
Any review of Smith's book wouldn't be complete without mentioning the cover. This author has consistently had some of the most stunning covers to grace literature. Bravo! Overall, I highly recommend this book.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. @Revell @bakerpublishinggroup @jilleileensmith #bookstagram #StarOfPersia #RevellReads

The fact a book is a Biblical fiction would normally stop me from reading a book, but I had to read this one. You see of all of the stories in the Bible Esther is my second favorite old testament book, it's just so beautiful, Joseph is my favorite, Ruth is my third favorite.

Now if you've followed me long you may have noticed I rarely read Biblical fiction, because I want to make sure I know the true account of the story. Makes sense, right? But I have one weakness in Biblical fiction and that is Esther … I know the story well enough to keep facts straight from fiction, I read Esther several times a year.

Now, the second reason I had to read this book is the cover … It has purple, my favorite color. Just so pretty, and I love it.

For the "story" I was happy to find a story that was accurate, showed a side of Xerxes that made me see him as more of a human? I've enjoyed reading Esther and Xerxes' romance but at times it is hard to realize that Xerxes was only a man, a human like anyone else.

What I was not expecting was to read from Vashti's point of view, which was really interesting, and different and intriguing.

As far as Biblical fiction goes I must say this is a one of a kind, lovely, and informative, yet interesting story.

There is violence mentioned, backstabbing, and killing as well.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

"Star 🌟of Persia" was a fantastic read.

Who doesn't love the story in the Bible of Queen Esther? I have read and done Bible studies over the years and Jill Eileen Smith weaved historical accounts and biblical accounts so well. I have to read more of her novels.
It was a beautiful retelling of Esther that through love and faith in God, she was very courageous as she stood up and helped to save the Jews. I loved the detailed descriptions and some characters and the research the author did with the Bible and the historical accounts.

"Sometimes our God works in silence."

And that quote is so true. I think when he is silent that sometimes that's when we see the biggest changes in our lives.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

Star of Persia: Esther's Story
by Jill Eileen Smith
Rating: 4/5

Who doesn't love the story of Esther? Who hasn't read a retelling of this epic story from the Bible? I was curious how the author would put her own spin on the story and was super impressed!

Meet the king of Persia, Xerxes, who is planning a war and has all of his officials and leaders celebrating for the week. Tricked into exiling his favorite queen, Xerxes is feeling even more inadequate at being a king. After selecting the young and beautiful Esther to be his new queen, he finds himself still distrusting all those around him. He doesn't know who to trust except maybe Esther. As much as he finds himself falling more and more in love with Esther, the duties of his kingdom pull him away from their love. Esther must also face challenges of her own and risk her life to save those she loves.

The author thoroughly researched the historical record and compared it with the biblical record to weave a brilliant story that never fails to encourage and inspire. The author introduces some historical figures who are not in the biblical account but they provide hidden agendas and motivations for why certain familiar characters act the way they did. I loved getting a different perspective on Vashti and hearing her story in the beginning is definitely different than the account I grew up learning in Sunday school. The main characters have more layers and their backstories really drive them in their decision-making. I loved the author's notes at the end regarding "Sometimes our God works in silence." Though God's name is not mentioned in the biblical account, "His handiwork is visible on every page." So good!

I highly recommend this retelling of the story of Esther, especially for those who think they know what happened.

My thanks to Revell and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Exceptional characters, entertaining banter and beautifully crafted historical details ensure a delightful read. With historic details that bring to life the exciting decade of Biblical times, Jill Eileen Smith's 'Star of Persia' weaves a charming tale of companionship that blossoms into an everlasting coincidence of what God can do. She brings her interest in healing and inspiring the human spirit into researching and writing about the lives of actual historical men and women. Jill is a master at using fiction to illuminate history's truths. This beautiful and compelling work of historical fiction deserves the widest possible audience. I was given this book for my honest review. I give it 5 stars, and you would too if you find a chance to read it. I highly recommend that you do. You will not be disappointed, for it will garner a place of prominence on anyone's keeper shelf.

I have read the book of Esther in the Bible several times but I enjoyed the way this story brings the characters to life. The author clearly did a lot of research, which she always does, and I appreciated the combining of the biblical account with other written history.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Xerxes is preparing to go to war, and attempts to get his country 'on side' by having a huge banquet - with the unfortunate result that the combination of alcohol and palace intrigues end in the banishment of his favourite wife. When he returns from war some year later, longing for Vashti but unable to get her back, further advice results in him ordering the collection of beautiful young girls from across the empire, to 'audition' for the position of his wife. Young Hadassah, a Jewess, is taken to the palace in pursuance of this order, but is instructed by her adopted father Mordecai not to acknowledge her nationality and to go by her Persian name, Esther. After a year of preparation, Esther is chosen as the new queen, and things seem to be going well - but Haman, a descendant of the Amalekites, the enemies of Israel, has become the king's second in command, and Mordecai's refusal to bow down to him brings down his wrath on not only Mordecai, but the whole Jewish nation. He sneakily arranges for the king to make a law ordering Jews throughout the empire to be destroyed on a certain day, not realising that this includes the king's beloved wife. But even his beloved wife does not have permission to approach the king without leave, and risks death should she do so... Can Esther and Mordecai, with God's help, foil Haman's evil plans?

Esther's story is probably well known to Bible readers, but this book brings the Bible record to life. With a mix of Biblical and other historical records being used to form the background, the reader is plunged into a tale of palace life, the struggle for power, and the love and faithfulness of God. As the author points out, while God's name is never used in the book of Esther, his hand is clearly visible at each step of the way, from Esther's selection to Mordecai's position in the palace to the king's sleepless night. As far as the story is concerned, I'm not necessarily convinced that everything worked exactly the way the author presented, but it was only in the less important details that I felt inclined to quibble - and nothing was said that is explicitly contradicted in the Biblical account, which I appreciated. I found myself getting near the end of the book while still feeling in the middle of the story, and was preparing myself for a disappointingly abrupt ending - but I should have known better. The ending was expertly crafted to provide a satisfying result without all the bloodshed and political machinations needing to be spelled out (trying to avoid spoilers here - not sure whether I'm succeeding...)

I greatly appreciated the historical note at the end, with its comments about what was based on extra-Biblical sources - it's nice to know when something is actually based on fact rather than merely an author's imagination. In addition, the writing is great and the content clean. All in all, a great book if you're looking for fictionalised Bible stories, or even historical fiction with a religious slant.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

The tale of Queen Esther has always been one of my favorite Bible stories, so when I heard that Jill Eileen Smith was penning her newest novel about this amazing Holy Book heroine, I knew it would be a wonderful book. Even so, this beautiful retelling exceeded my high expectations.
Smith has a gift for fleshing out characters and making them seem as if they could walk right out of the pages. The depth of historical research she has done is readily evident in her detailed descriptions. As with all her stories, this book helped me better imagine what it would have been like to live in this historical time period. I always find myself pulling out my Bible to delve more deeply into Scripture whenever I read a book by this author, and this time was no exception.
I highly recommend Star of Persia, as well as all other books by Jill Eileen Smith, to anyone who enjoys a well-told Biblical fiction story rooted in extensive historical research. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.