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Trigger warnings
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Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
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Synopsis
"A tender and touching tale. Tessa Afshar has given us two wonderfully charming heroines."--ANGELA HUNT, New York Times bestselling author of The Emissaries series In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin--the man whose kind eyes haunt her--and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens. In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her loyalty earns her the trust and friendship of Queen Esther, who is navigating dangerous politics with wisdom and grace. When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther's reign hangs in the balance.
Tags
Is The Queen's Cook (Queen Esther's Court) appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This biblical historical romance is entirely clean with no sexual content beyond sweet romance, no profanity, and minimal violence limited to political intrigue and the threat of persecution against Jewish citizens in ancient Persia.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include genocide, political violence, and class struggle.
Who'll love this
Teens who love biblical retellings and clean historical romance will enjoy this sweet story of a resourceful cook who navigates palace politics while falling for a kind physician.