Queenmaker: A Novel of King David's Queen

Written by India Edghill

Narrated by Suzanne Toren

For over forty years, Michal lived and reigned in David's court. She was the beautiful and proud daughter of King Saul and the prize David would risk his kingdom to win. Behind the palace doors, beneath the burning sun of the desert, or fleeing from Absalom's warriors, Michal was at the center of court intrigues. Queenmaker introduces in unforgettable detail the characters of one of the greatest periods in Biblical history - their public deeds and private thoughts-and gives us the court of the kings as only a woman could see it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 24, 2009
• ISBN: 9781436142212

India Edghill

India Edghill is a librarian living in the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York. She is the author of Wisdom's Daughter, which was a Romantic Times Nominee for Best Historical Fiction, Queenmaker and Delilah.

Reviews for Queenmaker

[Susannah Hogan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this telling of Queen Michal's version of the story. A believable and more complete story emerges as you hear things from the woman's perspective.

I also really enjoyed the narrator's style. Her languorous reading of the story makes this a perfect listen in a candle lit bath.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Reminiscent of [The Red Tent]. This novel tells the story of the first kings of Israel - Saul, David and Solomon - told through the eyes of Queen Michael, daughter of Saul, first wife of David, and loving friend to David's mistress Bathsheba (who is the mother of Solomon). The story is one of intrigue, lust, war, hate, passion, treachery, and love. It's a fascinating look at this well-known biblical tale.

[sdunford_6 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not a great novel, but wonderful storytelling, an easy, enjoyable read

[zoharlaor · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed India Edghill’s Delilah very much so I figured I’ll pick up her novel “Queenmaker” as a follow-up.The book is a first person narrative of Michal, King David’s first wife (out of several) and the one to hold the title of Queen. The book follows the biblical books of Samuel and II Samuel from Michal’s perspective; from her humble beginning as a daughter of Saul, a humble farmer, through his ascension to king, wars and madness. After marrying her father’s harper / war hero David she helps him escapes her father and for her help gets sold to another man until David’s army goes back to reclaim / steal her ten years later only to lock her up in his castle.Even though Michal did not give King David an heir, being the daughter of King Saul she played an important part of legitimizing David’s claim to the throne. The author tells the tale while throwing in a dose of political intrigue, adultery, scandals, palace politics as well as sibling rivalry. Ms. Edghill’s writing is interesting and she weaves quite a story while letting her imagination flow. The book is not difficult to read and quite appealing but I always felt as if something more interesting could have happened, but didn’t – as if the author is setting the reader up for a climax and then pulls back.While I understand the need to take literary license with such stories I feel, as several other reviewers, that some of the finer but important points of the biblical story (such as David and Bathsheba’s first born dying) were missing and the author missed the mark on them since they were key points in the lesson of the tale.Since this book is sold under the biblical-fiction and/or historical-fiction categories I would have liked to know more about the daily lives of the people who lived during that time instead of imagined palace life.Also…there were typos which drive me nuts; I hope this was fixed in later editions.Despite the inaccuracies I did enjoy reading the book even though it fell under the “chick-lit” category which, honestly, doesn’t speak to me.

[ladycato · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a work of biblical historical fiction, and I bought it solely because the cover blurb said it was on the same level as The Red Tent, one of my favorite books of recent years. Unfortunately, it's not anywhere near as good as that book.The story is a first-person account of Michal, daughter of King Saul and first wife of David. At heart, it's a story about the power of men and how they abuse that power, and how even repressed women can earn power in their own right. This involves a lot of talking. A lot. Michal is entirely removed from ongoing wars and conflicts, being secluded in the palace; there isn't even much court intrigue except for one other wife who gets snippy on occasion. It ends up being David or Bathsheba talking to Michal while she spins in the garden. That's pretty much it. The material is very interesting, but there was no suspense or conflict. Michal bides her time, waiting to pwn King David the Jerk. I pushed myself through the last half of the book just because I wanted to get it over with before I got too bored.That said, I have the sequel to this (found it at a thrift store months ago) and I'm still going to give it a shot. Maybe part of the problem is that Queenmaker feels like a first novel. Like the author has some great ideas but is still honing her craft. Therefore, I'll give her one more chance and hope it's a better book. Or maybe I'm just masochistic. [The sequel is awesome - much, much better than Queenmaker.]

[michellegarrette · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a really good picture of a person growing from a girl to a woman, and all of the stages and emotions that she went through. It made me want to go and read the Bible, but as literature, to see more of the story.

[cozylover · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this novel! It captivated me from the first line until the final one. I found the story to be enthralling, well thought out and full of period details that made the story come to life. This really impressed me as being more true to life than the version commonly depicted in the bible. If you liked the Red Tent, then this would be a good one for you. I am looking forward to more by this author.