King's Shadow by Angela Hunt

Review: I loved this book. Upon completing it I sat on the couch with my husband and explained to him, in great detail, this incredible story and everything I'd learned in this fascinating and historically accurate novel. This is one of those few novels that I plan to read again in the near future. I had scarcely finished it and I was wanting to start it over again. There was so much information woven into this amazingly written story about the events occurring during this tumultuous time period: the interplay between Rome, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, the different religious sects of the Jewish people, and Herod's family and court.

I gained so much perspective and understanding reading through these historical events in the context of a story and from the viewpoint of women who lived in Herod's palace.

I would definitely recommend this book. The quality of writing was superb and I couldn't put this book down. I have already ordered the rest of the series from an online retailer, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books.

"King's Sadow" is actually the last book of the four part series called "The Silent Years". This series chronicles the 400 years of silence before the birth of Jesus Christ - a 400 year period where God did not speak to His people through his prophets. King's Shadow is a gripping tale told from the perspective of King Herod's sister, Salome and a Jewish handmaid - and it is a story you do not want to miss.

Back Cover: 

Two women occupy a place in Herod's court. The first, Salome, is the king's only sister, a resentful woman who has been told she's from an inferior race, a people whom God will never accept or approve of.

The second woman, Zara, is a lowly handmaid who serves Salome, but where Salome spies conspiracies and treachery, Zara sees hurting people in need of understanding and compassion.

Powerful and powerless, Idumean and Jew, selfish and selfless--both women struggle to reach their goals and survive each day within Herod the Great's tumultuous court, where no one is trustworthy and no one is safe.

Click THIS LINK to go to a page where you can get a few exert of this novel. 
Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing House for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.