Product Description

Intrigue. Murder. A classic tale that brings the biblical Queen Esther to life in a way you'll never forget A sinister plot. A desperate plea. And a daring mission... Young Esther never thought her life would turn out like this. All she ever wanted was a quiet life in her Jewish community...and a loving husband and children someday. Then, one frightening day, she's stolen off the streets by the Persian king's guards and forced into the competition to be Xerxes' next queen. Catapulted against her will into life inside the harem, Esther's simple world becomes complicated. There's her chief rival, Isis, who is out for blood.and the king's mercurial temperament. Then a dastardly plan gains momentum that will make all evil pale in comparison. And Esther is the only one who may have the power to stop the bloodshed....

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1992682 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 164 pages

Customer Reviews

A wonderful retelling of Esther's story
Such a Time as This is based on the Biblical book of Esther. The Book of Esther has always been one of my favorites, so I was thrilled to get the chance to read this novel and had great hopes for it. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.

In Such a Time as This. the Jewess Esther is kidnapped by palace guards while she's at the marked, shopping for her sick grandmother. The Persian king has just discharged his queen in disgrace, and all the beautiful girls of the city are rounded up and brought to the castle to join the king's harem and compete for the position as a possible replacement.

By the grace of God Esther is chosen as the new queen, placing her in a position to fulfill God's plans for her life and intercede for the Jews when a malicious assistant to the king sends out a decree to kill all Jews.

Such a Time as This is a fascinating retelling of a well-known story that brings the characters of the Book of Esther to life as never before. It is written in a way that is accessible and easy to understand even for people not familiar with the Biblical tale.

Author Rebecca Velez is currently working on a sequel to Such a Time as This, and although it will obviously be based on free speculation rather than a true story, I am already looking forward to reading more of her work.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique look at Esther's story.

Retelling Brings Story to Life
Many other authors have tried to tell the story of Esther who became queen of Persia. Rebecca Velez has succeeded in bringing this story with its rich cast of characters to life. She tells the story as it is written in the Bible and embellishes it with subplots and characters from her own fertile imagination. From Esther's best friend, through whom we learn of life in Esther's hometown and family, to Isis, Esther's rival and arch foe in the harem of women who wait upon Xerxes the King. Xerxes himself is protrayed as he really was, a cruel and selfish monarch who fell in love with a Jewish maiden and thereby, saved the lives of all the Jewish people in his kingdom. Rebecca Velez has obviously researched the way of life both in ancient Persia and of the Jewish people of that day. A rich and rewarding retelling of the Book of Esther. Highly recommended!

From the blog 'It Is To Write'
In Such A Time as This, Ms. Velez retells in unique style the delightful tale chronicled in the Biblical book of Esther. She takes us from the young girl Hadassah's warm and peaceful home in Susa's Jewish enclave, to the guile and intrigue of the royal harem in Xerxes palace. Along the way we're given glimpses into the tender mind of Hadassah as she copes with her capture by Xerxes' soldiers, her preparation for his bed, and finally with her prominence as his queen.

Ms. Velez appoints a poignant caste of characters to add color to the story, some as close allies of Queen Esther, some as scheming enemies. Together, we tread the streets of Susa, the halls of Xerxes' palace, and the gentle corners of Hadassah's mind as her role in God's plan for his people in exile begins to unfold. Reminicent of Tommy Tenney's A Night With the King, Ms. Velez takes the story further along, as the family of the disgraced and executed Haman plot revenge against Mordecai and the Jews of the realm.

The story of God's deliverance of His people from the evil Haman's genocidal plot through His fragile servant Hadassah is well known. But the `what' of the story is not the draw of Such A Time as This, it's the `how'. The precious thoughts of this most humble of God's servants carry us gently along the storyline, imbuing a poignant pathos--even empathy--into Hadassah's experiences at the hands of a moody and unpredictable king, an often hostile court, and growing in her devotion to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of these experiences matures a young, sometimes naïve, Jewish girl, who, in the fullness of time, blossoms into a competent queen--a woman of substance prepared to give her life for her people and her God in `such a time as this'.