Star of Persia: Esther's Story
I've always loved the book of Esther. It's such an incredible story of how God places you in certain places, at certain times, and for certain reasons. The story of Esther shows that perfectly. And I really liked how this book told her story.
I enjoyed how we were introduced to Esther before she was Esther, when she was Hadassah. I also liked the insights to Xerxes courts, the intrigue, and struggle. Esther's gentle ways are a breath of fresh air and it is really lovely to see how if you are a gentle and kind person, it really stands out.
Jill Eileen Smith's writing was really nice and it really drew me in. There was a really good intention to detail and she depicted things very well.
I did have a few problems. The first is while the writing was wonderful, sometimes I felt as if it dragged a little. Some of the characters were a little two-dimensional at times and it kinda threw me out. Since it does deal with Xerxes and his many wives, there is quite a bit of kissing and mentions of the marital embrace. It wasn't that bad and done in a tasteful manner, it just got kinda uncomfortable sometimes.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book. I liked the characters and the storytelling. The setting also really pulled me in and kept me interested. This gets a solid 3 stars from me.
I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Runaway Bride
While this is the second book in this series, this reads like a standalone.
I also liked this book. I always enjoy those books about the heroes who are scared and eventually overcome those fears because it's so hopeful and if there is something our world needs it is definitely more hope. Arabelle was easy to admire and even though her past darkness haunts her, she stills finds it in herself to care for other people. Pete was another great character. Charismatic and kind, you can see how people were drawn to him, I loved the storyline of forgiveness.
I liked this setting. I honestly didn't know much about the bride ships. I knew that there were poorer women that would come in those ships but I didn't know about the middle/upper-class women who would also go. The part about the measles was also very intriguing.
One of the things that mainly bothered me was the content. It wasn't crude or anything but it did make me uncomfortable at certain parts. We learn about Pete's past struggles with sex and desire and he struggles to overcome those things when it comes to Arabella. And sometimes he does get carried away. There were a few points where I had to set the book down because it made me uncomfortable.
Something else that bothered me is how Arabella didn't seem to change much. Ultimately yes, she was a different person at the end than she was at the beginning and it was a very admirable change but she stays in that middle point for so long that it drags. She takes a step forward then a step back and it gets a bit tiresome after a while. There also seemed to be a minor plothole with that person Arabella thought she saw a couple times and was never mentioned again? Or maybe it was and I just missed it.
I did end up liking this book and besides some of the content, it did keep me drawn into the story and the setting. Another three stars!
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion.
Have and of y'all read these books? What did you think? Do you want to read them?
