Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen by Tosca Lee

There is the story you know: A foreign queen, journeying north with a caravan of riches to pay tribute to a king favored by the One God. The tale of a queen conquered by a king and god both before returning to her own land laden with gifts.

That is the tale you were meant to believe.

Which means most of it is a lie.

The truth is far more than even the storytellers could conjure. The riches more priceless. The secrets more corrosive. The love and betrayal more passionate and devastating.

Across the Red Sea, the pillars of the great oval temple once bore my name: Bilqis, Daughter of the Moon. Here, to the west, the porticoes knew another: Makeda, Woman of Fire. To the Israelites, I was queen of the spice lands, which they called Sheba.

In the tenth century BC, the new Queen of Sheba has inherited her father’s throne and all its riches at great personal cost. Her realm stretches west across the Red Sea into land wealthy in gold, frankincense, and spices. But now new alliances to the North threaten the trade routes that are the lifeblood of her nation. Solomon, the brash new king of Israel famous for his wealth and wisdom, will not be denied the tribute of the world—or of Sheba’s queen. With tensions ready to erupt within her own borders and the future of her nation at stake, the one woman who can match wits with Solomon undertakes the journey of a lifetime in a daring bid to test and win the king. But neither ruler has anticipated the clash of agendas, gods, and passion that threatens to ignite—and ruin—them both. An explosive retelling of the legendary king and queen and the nations that shaped history.


                                                        
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling novelist of Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, Iscariot, and The Books of Mortals series (Forbidden, Mortal, Sovereign) with New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker. She is best known for her exploration of maligned characters, lyrical prose and meticulous research. Tosca received her B.A. in English and International Relations from Smith College and has also studied at Oxford University. A former first runner-up to Mrs. United States and lifelong world adventure-traveler, Tosca makes her home in the Midwest.
 My Thoughts:

Beautiful and inspiring! Tosca takes the mention of the Queen of Sheba, Bilqis in 1 Kings 10 and breathes life into the story of her and her visit to Solomon. I was completely captivated by Bilqis and Solomon. She who worshiped a foreign god, and he who had foreign wives, worshiped the one true God, but didn't fully obey.  Tosca pulls you right into the land of Ethiopia, with all the sights, sounds and smells. 
I was so enthralled with this story I was Googling the Queen of Sheba to learn more. I wonder if some of the Songs of Solomon were written about her.
As with Tosca's other books, this book will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this book!








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