Book Recommendation - The Royal Artisan

 

Tessa Afshar is one of the foremost voices in Biblical fiction these days and it's no wonder. As a native Persian by birth and having earned a masters of divinity, she has a unique background qualified to share the Bible as no one else. But she also has the gift of creating characters that are relatable in spite of the cultural differences and giving them a voice that is filled with Biblical truth, character growth, a touch of humor, and some romance in the setting of a familiar Bible story that brings that story to life in a greater way. Her current series surrounds the story of Esther and I love how she creates fictional Jews living in Susa and how the events in the book of Esther impacted and shaped them. Here's a bit about her latest story in this series:

Sazana of Persia creates exquisite pottery that graces Susa's finest tables, but her master, Lord Haman, does not know her Sazana is one of the Jews he despises. When Haman discovers her true identity, he forces her into indentured servitude. In an unexpected reversal, at Haman's downfall, Queen Esther becomes the new master of the pottery workshop, restoring Sazana to her rightful place. But her troubles are not over. The loss of their inheritance has enraged Haman's ten sons, so the queen assigns one of her men to the workshop, posing undercover to root out any spies.

Sazana is shocked to discover that the queen's agent is none other than the man who left her heart in ruins years ago. On assignment from the queen, Jadon safeguards the workshop, yet the situation escalates with the need to discover an ancient artifact. Can Jadon and Sazana set aside past heartache and unearth the secrets that will allow them to thwart the impending tragedy threatening their people?
 
Rooted in biblical truths and detailed historical research, Tessa Afshar paints a moving and captivating tale of life, love, and intrigue in Queen Esther's royal court.

This book releases November 4, 2025 wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out! For more information, check out the following links:

Tessa Afshar's website: https://tessaafshar.com/

Tessa Afshar's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessaAfshar

My full 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8031648564