Title: Jezebel: A Novel
Author: Megan Barnard
Publisher: Penguin Books
Copyright: July 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0143137672
ASIN: B0BL7BT9RH
Format: E-Book, 304 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction, Women’s Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction Inspired by the Bible
Price: $13.00 [Amazon Paperback], $13.99 [Kindle], $13.01 [Audible], $14.49 [Barnes and Noble Paperback], $13.99 [Nook], $22.50 [Barnes and Noble Audiobook], $13.99 [Google Play], $14.95 [Google Play Audiobook], $13.99 [Apple Books], $16.99 [Apple Books Audiobook]
Summary
Jezebel was born into the world howling. She intends to leave it the same way.
When Jezebel learns she can’t be a king like her father simply because she’s a girl, she vows never to become someone’s decorative wife, nameless and lost to history. At fifteen she’s married off, despite her protests, to Prince Ahab of Israel. There, she does what she must to gain power and remake the dry and distant kingdom in the image of her beloved, prosperous seaside homeland of Tyre, beginning by building temples to the gods she grew up worshipping. As her initiatives usher in an era of prosperity for Israel, her new subjects love her, and her name rings through the land.
Then Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh and her former lover, begins to speak out against her. Bitter at having been abandoned by Jezebel, he lashes out, calling her a slut. Harlot. Witch. And the people, revering their prophet’s message, turn on her.
As ancient powers and faiths are pitted against each other, bloodshed descends on Israel and Jezebel faces the fall of her legacy. Determined despite the odds to make Israel a great nation, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect her family, her throne—her name. A stunning revision of a notorious queen’s story, Jezebel is a thrilling lyrical debut about a fierce woman who refuses to be forgotten.
Review
Princess Jezebel of Tyre is a strong young woman who knows her own mind. She lives in a time when the names of queens and princesses are virtually forgotten, but she is determined to forever be remembered by history. When it is announced that she is to marry Prince Ahab of Israel, she protests. Her heart belongs in Tyre, the flourishing seaside city-state, while Israel is an arid land. At first, her arrival is welcomed because she brings great prosperity, but in time, the Israelites disapprove of her because she worships her own gods instead of the one they worship. When the prophet Elijah starts speaking against her and Ahab, their adversaries only grow.
Jezebel is such an interesting and unique take on the famous story from the Book of Kings. In this story, the reader has the opportunity to peer into Jezebel’s mind. Often depicted as a villain, she tells her story in her own words for once. The characters are well-written, and Jezebel comes across as a genuine and flawed protagonist. Though a beautifully woven tale overall, some of the writing is awkward and clunky, and more descriptions would have made the book stronger. While the book does have some issues, it is a delight to read.
This was published in the Historical Novel Society.
Rating
