Star of Persia: Esther's Story

Written by Jill Eileen Smith

Narrated by Leah Horowitz

In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap, and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. When they finally leave, he decides on one more week of frivolity, which ends in the banishment of his favorite wife, something he never intended to do. But when he discovers Esther, Xerxes is sure he has a second chance at happiness. In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes's wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther's adoptive father. Caught in the middle of palace politics, Esther will find herself in an impossible position: risk her life or consign her people to annihilation. With her impeccable research and her imaginative flair, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the romantic, suspenseful, and beloved story of Esther, queen of Persia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980064312

Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther's Story, Miriam's Song, The Prince and the Prodigal, and Daughter of Eden. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in biblical times. Jill lives with her family in Michigan. Learn more at www.JillEileenSmith.com.

Reviews for Star of Persia

[tereloisworld · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing work. I can only imagine the amount of research work that the writer must have put into this book. Thank you for giving us angles to consider a we read the book of Esther in the Bible. Well done!

[jewela50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read this book before and I enjoyed it, however, the Audiobook not so much. It's not that the narration is bad, but one of my few pet-peeves is proper pronunciation, specifically in audio narration. Two prominent words were continuously mispronounced when a simple Google search would have provided the correct pronunciation. "Vashti " and "Ima ." No excuse for that.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I enjoyed this fictionalised story of Queen Esther, I have read better. However, "Star of Persia: Esther's Story" was still an enjoyable read and I thought the author did a good job of bringing the woman and the period alive for her readers.

[bookscookslooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy Biblical fiction and this retelling of the story of Esther is very well done. It starts when she is just 6 and we get to know the little girl who will grow to become the woman who saves her people. I had some knowledge of the story before I started reading but that is not necessary to enjoy this well written book about a strong, intelligent woman navigating dangerous times.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a well written story about Esthe, the Queen of Persia. This goes from when she is six years old to just after she helps to save the Jewish population. I love how she can take a small bible story and bring all of these people to life. You like some people and dislike others. This also shows the difference in how we live today. This is an easy read so anyone can enjoy this story. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[meganleigh844 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Star of Persia: Esther's Story" by Jill Eileen Smith is a retelling of the book of Esther from the Bible. I love the story of Esther and Esther as a person. She has always struck me as being so brave amid some very scary and life-threatening circumstances. This retelling by Ms. Smith does a wonderful job of bringing this well-known story to life. I love entering Esther’s world and the opulent world of the palace. Ms. Smith transports the reader to the biblical time period. I especially love how she makes these characters come to life, with fears, thoughts and motives. I especially enjoyed reading more about Queen Vashti. "Star of Persia: Esther's Story" makes me appreciate the biblical story even more and I loved reading the story from my Bible along with the book. Fans of biblical fiction and the story of Esther will especially love this retelling.Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: talk of sharing a bed; concubines; mention of people sleeping together; a man is said to be a drunkard; fade-to-black married sex; talk of sleeping together; a steamy scene when Esther first visits the king, but no sex.Rating: I give this book 4 stars.I want to thank Revell and Jill Eileen Smith for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

To be honest, I am not that familiar with Esther's story or have that much knowledge about King Xerxes. Yet, I am familiar with Mrs. Smith's books. Mrs. Smith really does her research and is a great storyteller. She brings to live all the women of the Bible. I have been looking forward to reading this book ever since I first heard about it. Well I can tell you that it did not disappoint. It was great to get to know Esther. She may have started out innocent but by the end of the story; she had grown into a very wise woman. Her faith in God is strong and refreshing. Amen. Do not be fooled by the portrayal of King Xerxes in the movie, The 300. He is not like that. He did care for his wife even Vashti. Although, she may have shamed the King. She was not in just in her reason or action. Star of Persia is not to be missed! Mrs. Smith shares the beautiful story of Esther.

[kimpotter-309059 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Star of Persia by Jill Eileen Smith is a stand-alone Biblical story. Ms. Smith tells the Biblical story of Esther from the scriptural view with bits of history thrown in. The story had plenty of palace intrigue and followed pretty closely to the Biblical account. I’m not sure I agree with the way Xerxes was portrayed, but it made for a very interesting read. I really enjoyed reading this version of the story. The love between Esther and Xerxes is something that a lot of authors leave out of the story of Esther because they are writing from the Biblical account. So to have that woven into this story was a very nice touch. I received this book LibraryThing for my honest review.

[kaylynvh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this ARC from the LibraryThing giveaway. Jill Eileen Smith brings Ester to lofe in her telling of this Biblical story. I loved the detail in which she described Esther’s Life as a child and teen before being taken to the palace. I also enjoyed everything about this story.

[coverloverbookreview · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If I had to pick a favorite woman from the Old Testament it would be Esther. I've always been touched and inspired by her strength, bravery, and faith. The Star of Persia is a wonderfully creative rendition of the story of Esther, showcasing how God can use us in His own way and in His own timing, no matter our faults or shortcomings.I really enjoyed the vivid imagery this story creates and the perfect blend of fictional and historical details. It is evident that the author did extensive research that makes this story come alive. Adding different POVs was a great addition, although I wish more of Vashti's POV was used. I loved walking in Esther's shoes and seeing what life may have been like during her time. She shows growth, as does Mordecai, and the themes of faith and compassion shine through.I'm never disappointed with a book by Jill Eileen Smith. She is a wonderful storyteller, creating vibrant scenes that make Bible stories come alive.#starofpersia #jilleileensmith #revellreadsI received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[karmabodhi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I must admit that I tend to love all of Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical fiction books, but this one definitely did not disappoint! This novel is about the biblical story of Esther, fictionalized of course. The characters are very well-developed and multi-dimensional, and the story is as exciting as the intrigues nowadays. I love reading historical fiction, so Jill Eileen Smith's fiction always tantalizes me with new and exciting Biblical fiction. Thank you to Library Thing Early Reviewers for an ARC of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[debf56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent read that brings the story of Esther to life. It is a work of fiction based on Esther and done in such a way that you have a better appreciation of how God used her to save His people. I had to go back and read the book of Esther after I read this book. This is a wonderful book of love, faith, and trust in God. I highly recommend this book.

[literarychanteuse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Apart from the beautiful book cover, I have always been fascinated by the story of Esther from the bible. The author tells her version here in a fairytale like manner captivating the reader from the onset. The characters really come to life. Towards the end however, it takes on a feeling of being slightly rushed. As the numerous events take place the easy storytelling vibe diminishes somewhat yet, it does continue to be a good read and a wonderful version of the Esther story. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[milibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Smith tells the story of the biblical Esther. When King Xerxes banishes his first and favorite wife Vashti, he does not realize the jealousy which motivates his second wife Amestris. After choosing Esther as his new queen, Amestris continues to scheme to take what she considers to be her rightful place as queen.Smith doesn't change the Bible story, but she mixes it with a lot of secular history to create realistic but flawed characters. A few sections seem somewhat repetitious and overly long, but overall this is a successful retelling of Esther's story with additional insights into the character's culture, motivations, and actions.God may seem to be silent in Esther's life, but she and her adoptive father Mordecai learn that she became queen for "such a time as this."

[alyssaross-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was so good! I love Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical Fiction books. They are always well researched and written. This book was no different. I was drawn into Esther's story right away and her life fascinated me. I don't know much about Esther so it was really neat to read this fictionalized version of her story. As always with her books, I had to go back to the Bible and read the Biblical account of Esther to compare. I always find myself reading the Biblical stories in a new light after reading their story in a fictional story. I feel like I can understand the people a little better.I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Biblical Fiction.

[croknot1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this story about Esther! The fiction was plausible and interesting to read. I thought it was awesome.I received this book through LT for my honest review.

[caslater83 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First of all, I absolutely love the cover art. It's fantastic! I don't know where she found this person or if she did it herself, but it's gorgeous work.Star of Persia is a great story of the account of Esther. While there is still some fiction thrown in, I feel that the author is allowing us to imagine what it was really like to live in such a perilous time knowing the anyone could turn on you. I like how Xerxes is portrayed as I do wonder if he ever regretted banishing Vashti in his fit of drunken rage. But we know God is able to bring something good out of a bad situation. When Vashti is gone, God utilizes Esther for His own work.Hegai also plays a significant role in Esther's life at the palace. He watches her and grooms her for the role of queen. He knew Esther had the skills and the beauty that was needed to win Xerxes over. Unlike the other woman in the palace, I think Esther was a woman that Hegai could truly respect.Mordecai (the uncle/adoptive father) is portrayed as a loving man who is serious about his love for the Lord. He's not wild about the idea of Esther living in the palace, not when Jews are unwanted and despised. This is a deadly situation that he can't fix on his own. His own life is in danger and he's more worried about Esther.Naturally, we come to the villain of our story: Haman. No one likes him. That's not surprising. He's cunning, sneaky, and very intelligent. Fortunately, he can't outsmart God. I'm sure he never imagined meeting his own fate in such a shocking way. He came prepared to kill Mordecai, but he was never prepared for his own death.While this is considered Biblical fiction, I hope other readers enjoy this as much as I have.

[jjean7-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read the story of Esther many times but this was a very interesting and different way of writing the story. She used both scriptural and history - Well researched, fast read - you feel as you really know the characters -

[koalamom_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A fictionalized story of how a young Jewish girl exiled in Persia ends up being its queen and beloved of King Xerxes. And then saves her people when they are slated to be executed on the whim of a man who took a great dislike to one of her own family.

[janerawoof · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful fast-moving version of the Biblical story of Esther. I liked the way the author mixed in historical characters who lived at the same time and were part of the royal family, with the Old Testament narrative. She set the story after the Persian defeat by the Greeks and equated the name Ahasuerus [in the Bible] with that of Xerxes. She did change the ending of the original story, but with no detriment to it. I also appreciated her giving logical motivations to the characters' actions. She kept stressing how God can use a person in His own time, and in His own way, for His purposes, which they may not understand. In spite of her resistance, Esther kept asking herself why was she chosen? Recommended.