Jezebel is a beautiful retelling of a classic, controversial woman. i am in love with Jezebel's drive to be known and to have the powerful recognition she deserves. These retellings that have been so popular have been an amazing view into WOMEN, and Jezebel is a great addition.

Jezebel, a historical fiction, is an adaptive take of a historical figure who has been called controlling, promiscuous, and a power-hungry woman.

I am extremely fascinated by stories that are based on historical figures. Especially the ones where women did not fit into society's mold of that period. Jezebel is one such character. In this novel, the author has done an excellent job of portraying her character, who wants to be remembered. She wants her story to be known. She wants to be as powerful as a king because she is making decisions for the prosperity of her country. She misses her homeland, but is expected never to see it again. She wants to worship her goddesses, but the beliefs are questioned. She is unapologetic, and that's a huge problem.

I really enjoyed this book. Jezebel, as a character in this book, is jaded, and she is not perfect. She is strong, but at the same time, she is vulnerable. I loved getting to know Jezebel.

Thank you, Penguin Group and Netgalley, for this book. All opinions are my own.

<b>4.5/5 stars</b>

Jezebel is a strong and power hungry woman, filled with rage. She wants power, to be known and remembered as a woman better than any king. In a lot of ways, Jezebel reminds me of Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth.

The book tackles themes such as misogynistic expectations for women from their very own families, women struggling to gain power that is handed to men from the very moment they are born, religion, love, men craving idolized versions of women, miscarriage, some themes of infertility, female friendships and rage.

This book is so short yet so powerful. We get to see the entirety of Jezebels life and I felt so strongly for her, both anger against her for certain acts and against those around her for how they treated her. I thought that this was an interesting story, especially since I don't know the biblical story very well. Unlike others, I didn't know where the story was going or the relevance of Elijah. I found the story interesting. I liked the dual perspective of multiple faiths and how Jezebel pushed against, what she felt, was a jealous god. I also liked learning about the temples and places of worship.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an e-ARC of this novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Megan Barnard for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Jezebel coming out July 25,2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Jezebel was born into the world howling. She intends to leave it the same way.

When Jezebel is told she can't be a king like her father, she promises herself she will never become someone’s decorative wife, with no name and lost to history. At fifteen she’s arranged to marry Prince Ahab of Israel, despite her objections. There, she tries to gain power and remake the dry and distant kingdom in the image of her beloved, prosperous seaside Tyre. She has temples built to worship the gods. As her initiatives usher in an era of prosperity for Israel, her new people love her, and her name is known throughout the land.

Then Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh and her former lover, starts to preach against her. Bitter at having been abandoned by Jezebel, he lashes out, calling her a harlot and a witch. And the people, revering their prophet’s message, turn against her.

As ancient powers and faiths are set against each other, bloodshed falls on Israel and Jezebel must face the downfall of her legacy.
Destined to make Israel a great nation, she must decide how far she's willing to go to protect her family, her throne—her name.

I received this book directly from NetGalley. It isn’t a book I probably would’ve picked out myself, but I did find it fascinating. I do love books set during biblical times. It’s interesting to think about what happened during that time and how people conversed with each other. It’s hard to know what it was like with little evidence. Jezebel was certainly a strong, ruthless character in this story. She was royalty and wanted to be remembered. Obviously there aren’t a lot of women known by name from those times, so I could understand her ambition. I thought the writing was excellent.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys ancient historical fiction.

The writing is clear and compelling and Jezebel makes for a fascinating character. She is a woman with big ambitions living in a world where few care to hear what she thinks or how she feels. I do not normally read stories focused on/drawing from religion but I was drawn to the premise of hearing Jezebel’s story in her own words.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Having grown up in a vaguely Christian household, I knew who Jezebel was, but I wasn’t super-familiar with her story, although I had come to embrace stories written in a similar vein about women who are maligned in history by men. Megan Barnard’s Jezebel continues in this revisionist tradition, and does so to great effect.
Jezebel is a strong figure from her first appearance on page one, howling as she came into the world. She’s strong-minded and set in her ways, and refuses to be a mere footnote in history as someone’s wife, or worse, completely obscure. I couldn’t help but see elements of one of my other historical heroines, Anne Boleyn, in her, making the fact that Anne was derogatorily compared to Jezebel quite ironic. Like Anne centuries later, Jezebel’s religious practices and the influence they have are considered controversial, and I couldn’t help but notice that Barnard had Jezebel go through issues conceiving a son, while Ahab was easily able to have a child with his mistress.
I was most moved by how Barnard contextualized Jezebel’s relationship with Elijah. Elijah slut-shaming her has so much more weight with the understanding of their romantic history, and the way he uses his divine connection with God to exact revenge on her for rejecting him and refusing to give up her life of luxury and power (does he not understand her at all?) pissed me off. She didn’t behave perfectly in that situation, but she made the best of her situation to ensure she’d be able to make her mark, and Elijah did not respect that was what she wanted.
This was such a beautiful book, and I’d recommend it to fans of feminist retellings of stories of maligned female historical/mythical figures.

I'm curious how those who know the story of Jezebel well feel about this intriguing novel. If you, like me, only know her as sort of conniving woman who forces men into things and is later called a harlot, this is revelatory because it gives her a voice. And taken in that spirit, this is a very good read with twists, turns, and intrigue. The writing carried me along when I felt tangled up and concerned that I was missing where Barnard diverges from the traditional story because I realized that didn't matter, that this stands on its own. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Definitely worth a read.

"Jezebel" by Megan Barnard is a powerful and evocative novel that follows the journey of its strong-willed protagonist, Jezebel, as she defies societal norms to find her identity and pursue her dreams. Barnard's writing captures the essence of the historical setting and explores themes of gender, power, and resilience, making it a compelling and emotionally intense read. This thought-provoking novel leaves a lasting impression and encourages readers to question societal expectations and embrace their true selves.

A fantastic feminist retelling from HER perspective. I love that I live in a time where this is becoming more and more popular, looking at a tale, folklore, popular story and understanding the “villain” from the original. It reminded me of Keykia, Circe, Rhaenyra, and the countless women who were overshadowed by the men around them simply because they were men. Megan Barnard, thank you for writing a female character who doesn’t just give everything up for the man, especially when he’s basically an incel in the end! Love is the pinnacle for many, but Barnard and Jezebel understand the first thing you come into the world with is your name and it’s the only thing you leave with. Don’t let people convince you to compromise yourself or your beliefs, it just leads to xenophobia and vitriol. Thank you for writing this book.

I DNF'd this book about halfway through. I loved the prose, and found Jezebel flawed in a way that sometimes really made me sympathize with her and sometimes made me really dislike her, but ultimately there was something about this story that I couldn't quite get behind and that wasn't quite clicking for me.

Now this book really altered the way I view all sorts of stories I've been told from history. Although this is a work of fiction, it is an alternative interpretation of Jezebel from the Bible. In real life she has become a symbol of evil and scheming based on how she was written in the Bible. However, this book offers a different perspective. Barnard plants a seed in our minds that maybe we don't know the real stories of these historical women. The events of this story are near identical as the ones in the Bible, however we see the WHY behind it. Jezebel is still an imperfect woman- quick to anger and low in empathy, but she was trying to strengthen her kingdom. She was considered to be evil because at the time women weren't supposed to vocalize the fact that she wanted power, that she wanted to be remembered.

This book sat with me for long after I read it. Whether or not this perspective is historically true doesn't even really matter. What matters is that it COULD be true and we wouldn't even know because history has altered women's stories. I would really recommend this book.

3.5 stars
I was unfamiliar with the story of Jezebel and by extension the prophet Elijah. I had heard the name and knew the connations associated with Jezebel but I didn't actually know her story. Obviously I had to find out more. I have said it before and I will say it again: I am a fan of lesser known women in history.

Jezebel grows up as a princess of Tyre and she longs for more. Maybe not longs but demands more from life. Jezebel wants to be remembered as a king so it comes as quite a shock when she learns she's simply a political pawn to her father to be married off. However, Jezebel is indulged by her father and is highly educated (for a woman). Jezebel even has her own scribe, her childhood friend Sapphira. After being sold in marriage to prince Ahab in Israel she immediately sets about reforming the country and making it in the image of her beloved homeland. Part of this involves commissioning temples to be built to the goddess Astarte, angering the worshippers of Israel's god Yahweh. Jezebel also does good, opening schools, building grain silos, and encouraging trade between Israel and Tyre. However, when the prophet Elijah (former scribe of the king and Jezebel's former lover) is called by Yahweh to "cleanse the evil" he and Jezebel are suddenly made enemies with tragic results.

Jezebel was a fascinating character she was self-centered, determined, cruel at times and also occasionally sweet. She was not a particularly likeable character and at times I wanted to shake her because I knew her decisions would have consequences. I really enjoyed her story and her perspective on her gods versus Yahweh.

The only reason I'm giving it 3.5 stars is because I felt the book started meandering a little toward the end. There were a few extra chapters I felt didn't need to be there especially as the author scoots time up in some earlier parts.

Overall though I really enjoyed this book and will definitely check out more books by this author. I highly recommend to fans of historical fiction.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

When I read the blurb comparing this to Circe (a book I loved), I had to grab it. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to the bar set by the blurb. Yes, they are both "feminist" retellings of female figures from mythology (or the Bible) that try to bring light and context to their experience and their perspective. Whereas Circe was rich and engrossing, Jezebel lacked depth and felt like a slog to read. It was funny, I was somewhat looking forward to getting to the end and reading the author's note that often comes with historical fiction, a bit about the research done and the liberties taken. I was disappointed the Acknowledgements stuck mostly to thank yous and provided no insight into the author's process for this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for this honest review.

I was so excited for this book. I love retellings of historical or mythological characters - especially those about women who are often overlooked or made to look awful with one sided stories. Unfortunately, this just didn't work for me.

If you're familiar with the Biblical story of Jezebel, there isn't a lot of room in this one to see new details. I appreciated learning more about why she may have wanted to take the actions she did. But some storylines were very predictable (for example, what happens with Elijah). The plagues were interesting in how people reacted and the impact they had.

Part III felt rushed and disjointed. The ending made me sad because it felt like such a let down of the independent Jezebel character we've seen throughout the book.

Ultimately, not my favorite of this genre.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Jezebel is a ferocious princess of Tyre at the opening of this story, and she soon journeys to Israel to be wed to Prince Ahab. Though she wanted to be a king in her own right, Jezebel accepts that she can still have plenty of influence as a queen, and she is determined that her name will be recorded in the histories for all to remember. Bel sets about her plan to modernize Israel and manages to turn it into a prosperous, happy country with people who love her and her children. Unbeknownst to Jezebel, her former lover Elijah has become a prophet of Yahweh and is slandering her name and her deeds across the country. She is confident that her beloved populace will never turn their backs on her, but can she truly go toe-to-toe with such a vindictive god and triumph?

This was a compelling reimagining of Jezebel's story and I thoroughly enjoyed it! You do not need to be familiar with the historical/Biblical story of Jezebel or Elijah in order to understand this book, so don't fret if you've never heard these names before. Bel is a fierce character with so much spirit and compassion, and when she makes mistakes she truly suffers under their weight. I loved watching her grow from a fiery child into a strong woman, using her intelligence and benevolence to influence the lives of others.

The story did begin to drag for me a bit in the middle, and I would have loved more detail about the world Jezebel lived in. I think it would be beneficial for the finished version of this novel to include an author's note about the "other" story of Jezebel, for readers who are unfamiliar with how this narrative compares to it.

Thank you to Megan Barnard, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

I had to go back to my Bible and follow along with this one; Jezebel tells her story, from a child princess of Tyre to queen of Israel, and all the drama that follows - or is caused by - her. It's an interesting look at what life for a royal woman would have been, how women were treated, how religion vied for place in the ancient world. I enjoyed how the author humanized Jezebel, giving her a more fully-developed character, and Bel's persistence in wanting to be remembered. That's what all humans are after, I believe. Really engrossing tale of Bible times, men vs women, and power vs love.

Problems: page 30 of 227, forgot close quote after king's first paragraph.
Page 67 of 227, forgot close quote on Sapphira said with a little laugh. "As soo as she left you would start moving again.
Page 131 of 227, forgot a word, "I touched a finger to the medallion, which had slipped out of robes in my eagerness...."
Page 153 of 227, forgot close quote on "He was not Yahweh's chosen one yet. Being chosen by a god changes you.
Page 164 and 165, 176 of 227, "....pouring over maps...." and page 219 of 227, "....pouring over the letters..." should be "poring" according to Grammarly.

Jezebel by Megan Barnard follows the story of the Jezebel, a character from the Bible whose name became synonymous with other words like harlot and whore. This story starts with Jezebel’s birth and follows the trials and tribulations she faced in life being a woman put into an arranged marriage and sent off to a country that has an entirely different belief system than her own. When she tries to bring her belief system to Israel, she is met with a lot of hatred and misogyny. Jezebel is often times out in difficult decisions between choosing her faith or her husband.

I was raised in the church and even went to a religious college so I was somewhat familiar with Jezebel and Ahab’s story but I was definitely more familiar with Elijah the prophet so reading about him through Jezebel’s eyes was a very unique experience. This book is wonderfully written but I wouldn’t say it is particularly flowery in the prose. I keep seeing this compared to Madeline Miller’s books and while I see why there would be that comparison, I would compare this more to Jennifer Saint’s writing style. Beautiful writing but still very to the point.

I found myself very immersed in this story even though it was not really fast paced and took me awhile to get through. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a character study of someone who is usually painted as a victim. Funnily enough, I can see this book really not working for people who are religious due to it being from Jezebel’s perspective. Most of the men in this story are not painted in a good light. But if you read it as a reimagining instead of a retelling, I think this could be enjoyed by a lot of people.

I loved this retelling. It tells a much more nuanced version of the harlot Queen Jezebel. It is sad that in 2000 years we haven’t moved past calling strong women names like whore and witch… I think the story hits Jezebel’s wish for people to remember her name a bit hard but overall I enjoyed the story. I also liked that Ahab’s story is also treated in a more balanced way and he isn’t a villain. I read a lot of mythological retellings and this holds up well in that genre.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Jezebel, we are presented with an alternate take on Queen Jezebel of Israel, from the Old Testament of the Bible. I grew up the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister, and I am definitely familiar with my Biblical stories, and as a non-religious adult, the premise of this book immediately captured my attention.

Jezebel is born into this world angry, and determined to leave her mark, despite being a girl, knowing that women are left out of history, their actions attributed to their husbands. That anger fuels her into forging her own path, using her wit and wiles to make sure her opinions and ideas are acted upon after her marriage to Ahab of Israel. If you are familiar with the Bible story, you know her life ends tragically, but in this book, she claims her own path, and makes her own choices in order to live on after her death.

This is a quick little book, at just under 300 pages, but it is well written, Jezebel is well developed, with her own unique voice, that jumps out from the page from the very beginning. The conclusion does come on very quickly, but I enjoyed the way the author explained how the version of Jezebel we know today from the Bible was the one that lived on.

Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Two things made me want to read this book. The first is the cover, it's absolutely stunning! The second is it was recommended for fans of Circe. I'm a sucker for a myth retelling so I requested it based on that alone. Then I looked into the book a little more. As someone that is not religious a biblical retelling made me hesitate a bit, there's so much potential for the book to be preachy.

This book isn't. Jezebel is a wonderful feminist retelling of a queen strengthening her country and determined to see her name go down in history.