We are taking to ancient times and lands in an exciting story of intrigue, prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah answered, sweet romance, battles, humor, and characters you will fall in love with. If you have read The Hidden Prince, you have already been introduced to Keren, Jared, and Cyrus in their youth. Now we join them as adults along with new people to populate the pages of this adventure.
Jemmah is my favorite new female character. She is strong, gifted, funny and has no idea how special she is. Her favorite saying “Fire and Lightning” tells you all about her personality. Asher is a new hero that you will be routing for as he faces his own demons. And for those who like to have a new critter to fall in love with, we have Gilead, the owl.
As in all good Biblical fiction stories, the thread of redemption and faith run through the pages. God always shows up, often He accomplishes His plans little by little often not on our timeline.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.

This is the sequel to The Hidden Prince.

Keren, Jared and Cyrus are now older and the first two have kids Jemmah, J and Zarina.

At a biblical time when Cyrus was fighting Astyages, the latter’s illegitimate son Asher fights against bitterness, learns more about the Hebrew God and finds himself inadvertently caught up in his plans. There are no easy paths for any of them in a time of war, but each learn to trust God - and each other - more. I particularly liked how the women were portrayed - powerful, daring, brave and unashamedly assured of their opinions.

There is a love story that blossoms throughout the book, bringing the characters face to face with their worst fears but also as they find the desire and courage to open up about them to the other, ultimately safety and healing.

Tessa weaves biblical fiction masterfully and I find myself enthralled by the story but also challenged and spoken to by God. Highly recommend.

Another wonderful story by Tessa Afshar! I can only imagine the work that she goes through to research the history included in her stories. I appreciate how she brings it alive in this story!

I throughly loved The Peasant King! The book was very well written with the characters described so you felt like you were there with them. A second in the series yet could be read as a stand alone too, which I appreciate. Sometimes you read the next one in the series much later and it is hard to put the pieces together. Love the strong female characters that don’t give up in difficult situations. Thank you for a great read!!!

Tessa Afshar does a brilliant job with the research on the time period and setting. I love the immersion in Biblical times and the way the author really rounds out characters and events, bringing them to life in such an engaging way. While it is the second book in a series, it can be read just fine as stand-alone. The characters are complex and well written, as the story digs into their layers and I loved seeing how they grew over the course of the book. I will absolutely be reading more by this author and highly recommend for anyone who enjoys historical romances.

𝑵𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔. 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒄𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏.

Have you taken the time to thank God of how He has written your story and how he used every situation, good or bad, to take you where you are now?
To make your life a living testimony of His goodness, mercy, and loving kindness.

Before I was wary in reading Biblical fiction. I thought all authors who wrote that genre will make a bad job writing it.
Will there be a Tessa Afshar book that I will not enjoy? I think none.
Loved reading The Peasant King!
Can't wait for my physical copy to arrive and transfer all my highlighted notes. 😍

All characters are interesting and the author has written them as if they really are alive.
From the first page up to the last (yes, even the author's notes) has got me hooked.
So happy to see Keren and Jared, and yes, Cyrus too!
This book can be a stand-alone but if you want to know more about the first three characters I mentioned, read The Hidden Prince.

I love that the author has shown in this book a glimpse of how God works in our lives.
Some we may think that He has already abandoned us and some are victorious stories. And no matter where we are right now, the most important thing is our relationship with Him. If we can trust Him that all things work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose. 😊

I really enjoyed this book. I liked that we got to see characters from the Hidden Prince and that we got to see some new characters. I liked how the author brought this period of time to life and helped us to really engage with the characters. I felt that I learned things that I didn’t know before. I also liked the romance between Jemmah and Asher. I liked how Jemmah helped Asher want to be a better person and how other dreams besides revenge. I liked seeing the character grow through out this story and seeing them rely more on the Lord.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. I stopped reading at around 20% because it lacked the depth and character development Tessa Afshar's books usually have. It felt like she just wrote it to continue the story of characters in The Hidden Prince. I wish I had enjoyed this book and finished it. If I had, perhaps my initial opinion of this book would have changed. But what I did read, fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Revell for sending me a complimentary e-copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has a really interesting plot with characters that do not disappoint. I appreciated the authors attention to detail.

I appreciated that she included a map in the beginning and it was useful to flip back to during the story.

I love history and especially ancient history, so this was the perfect read for me!

I love her stories. If you haven’t read one you must!!! The book is well written. The characters we well developed and her books are page turners for me.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. A trust in God gave a freedom that no one could rob.

Powerful words of the bible and goes so well with the story. Taken from the time of Daniel and how God used a Cyrus whom he mentioned by name to set His people free. It is a love story of a different kind. A story between two people who are thrown together in a difficult situation and the love story of God for His people whom he still working to bring a people to Himself. Jemma came from a family that loved well. Her mother worked as a scribe and her parents encouraged education. Jemma knew only one fear and it was a fear that she could not control. When her mother is kidnapped, her sister and her take a journey to find her. Rescuing her mother in prison along with another prisoner, she is forced to face those fears with a complete stranger. Asher who has his own fears but is focused on thing. Avenging his mother who was forgotten by his father.

Asher and Jemma have a short time to save the kingdom that will lead to the freedom of the Jewish people and fulfill prophecy. It is amazing like all prophecy, how God uses people at given times to fulfill his purpose. A thread that is woven with precision. Not only is this a great read of historical fiction, but a great study of the bible and God. As always, Tessa takes historical fact and makes it come alive with faith and awe of a good God.

A special thank you to Tyndale House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest revie

This was my first book by Tessa Afshar. It won't be my last. This is biblical fiction set during the Judean exile to Babylon as the Medes and Persians come to power. The story is very interesting, filled with political intrigue, betrayal, crippling fear, and sacrifice. As biblical fiction, it is also filled with faith, prayer, and love. The book is well-researched and stays true to the time period. Jemmah is relatable, likeable but not perfect. Asher is an ancient version of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all readers.

Family friendly. Note - there are scenes of war but nothing graphic.

"Her mother’s faith, like her father’s, had been shaped in a furnace of trials. Somewhere over the years, they had learned to rely on God’s provision beyond what could be reasonably expected from hard work or mental and physical acumen. They had come to believe in God’s intervention in their lives, come to expect the miraculous when the ordinary simply proved insufficient. Jemmah had yet to learn that kind of faith."

While the bulk of this story was good, and had some interesting elements, there was particular parts of the story that dropped this rating lower for me and was a major bummer in general.

Jemmah and a male character around her age travel together (just the two of them) on a couple different quests for the empire. Jem's parents are ok with this, but this was honestly reckless of them as parents regardless of how good one's intentions are.

Then and now, it makes you look like someone with loose morals to travel overnight or longer with someone of the opposite gender.

The main thing though is a scene where a married couple is shown in their bedroom (clothed) talking and the bride is mentioned wearing ".. a white robe of some fabric so sheer it left little to the imagination."

Ok, why? Why would you want to paint that mental picture for male or female readers?
Up until this point, the story had been awesome. This scene was unnecessary, and made for an awkward and uncomfortable ending.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for the complimentary e-book I recieved to review though Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and the thoughts above are my own.

This was a wonderful book by Tessa Ashfar. The Peasant King is excellent read. This book is about Jemmah and her family., how they all support each other and help each other. The characters are great. You be cheering and laughing and on the edge of your seat to find out what happens. I could hardly put this book down. Mrs. Ashfar is an amazing Biblical Fiction author. I wax given copy of this book by the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

I absolutely loved this story full of faith, determination, loyalty, and spies. The Persian empire has been at war for years. When the Persian king's senior scribe is kidnapped, a party is sent to rescue her accompanied by the scribe's two daughters. In the unlikeliest of circumstances, she is recovered, but not alone. Now they must survive the grueling trek to safety. This is a great Biblical suspense book that is also filled with romance and spies. I highly recommend this book.

"'Perhaps it is not so much how high your position or how great your influence,' Jemmah said slowly. 'Perhaps what matters is whether you are a perfect fit in God's plan. A lowly profession can hide an exalted ability.'"

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Readers are taken on an exciting and unforgettable journey by this author as Jemma and her group confront honorable warriors, face the unthinkable, and save loved ones.

Asher is informed about Cyrus in the Bible by the prophet Daniel during this time. For years, Keren and Jared talked about God with Cyrus in the hopes that he might get rid of his idols. According to scripture, God set His people free via Cyrus. I enjoyed the manner in which the author wrote this tale. I had the feeling that I was traveling with them.

This story builds faith and restores hope in the God who rules all nations. This author’s writing is absorbing and pulled me in from the start. If you haven’t read this author before, make sure you put her on your TBL for 2024.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

This is my second read by this author. I love how she keeps close to whatever biblical era she writes about. I can’t wait to read more.

Once again Tessa Afshar brings biblical times to life with engaging characters, a fascinating plot, and her endless research of all things related to that time period (and place, food, clothing - everything!). She truly amazes me at how well she brings it all together, in a story that keeps you on your toes, keeps you up late at night so you can get just one more chapter, and makes it a true joy to read. The Peasant King isn't a book that you need to sit here and read reviews for. It's a book you need to just read and experience for yourself.

Historical fiction and biblical fiction fans alike will no doubt fall in love with the entire cast of characters, the pacing of the plot, the suspense and the romance. Afshar combines them perfectly, leaving you wanting more when you reach the end. Might we be able to tempt her into penning another perhaps? (hint, hint) I highly recommend The Peasant King, and its predecessor The Hidden Prince.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Peasant King
Intrigue, fast action, adventure, betrayal, romance…The Peasant King had it all. It was a book I found hard to put down. I think I’ve read all of Tessa’s books to date and am loving the experiencing Bible stories as they might have been. “I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I always love reading books about historical fiction during Biblical times. Author Tessa Afshar writes excellent books in this genre and The Peasant King was one such book! This storyline took place during the Persian rule of Cyrus the Great. The two main characters are Jemmah and Asher. Jemmah's mother is the chief scribe for Cyrus.

During the time there is a war taking place. Jemmah's mother is kidnapped while traveling for the King. Jemmah and her sister set out to rescue her, but must journey through enemy territory in dangerous terrain. Asher is another main character that crosses paths with Jemmah. He is a weapons designer and manufacturer. Jemmah and Asher begin to develop a relationship and their adventures come alive as they work together to rescue Jemmah's mother. How does Asher play a role in aiding the king?

They must trust God's provision and their faith grows throughout the story because of this. I love how the characters build and the excitement of the plot itself. There is action, romance, faith, suspense, and love. I recommend this book and look forward to reading another of her books!!