I have been given the honor and privilege of reviewing another really good, historically accurate book. You will find two completely different reviews on this page because Paraclete Publishing sent two books and I asked a friend to read and review with me.

Ahoti is a Hebrew word that means “my sister” and is a retelling of the well-known Bible Story about Tamar, King David’s daughter. However, the authors go much deeper into the story using information from the Book of Gad, the Bible, historical resources, and literary license to enhance and expand our understanding of what happened after she was raped by her brother.

As in real life, healing from a traumatic incident takes time, silence evidenced by the friends who will sit with you in the stillness, productive physical activity – music that helps express grief and a way to move on. In Tamar’s case, this came in the form of a garden.

Tamar disappeared into history after her brother Absalom was killed but, there is so much more to her story. King David’s Court was typical of political communities throughout history. There was the expected intrigue, murder, rumor mill, court affiliations and collaborations, alienations and separations that determined the fate of this woman.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the vocabulary. The authors are very skilled at using words that are rarely used in fiction books. Words that are not so old or uncommon, giving the reader a better understanding of what was really happening in the time and place, were placed in just the right places.

I highly recommend this book. This story is the timeless history of good and bad. It is intense in spots, contemplative, and represents what life 3,000 years ago could have been like in king’s court.

The next review is by Tonya Heston. She is an avid reader of many genres and I’m proud to call her my God-daughter. Thanks, Tonya!

Ahoti is the beautiful story of a young girl whose innocence is stolen and what happens after her family sweeps it under the rug for the sake of family pride. As a 21st-century woman, this book saddened me, and then healed me in a way that only a book can.

Our God is a mending and healing God, and that is true no matter the harshness of what we have to go through to finally see it. I admire Tamar for her resiliency and her absolute faith that God still loved her, even if it felt like everyone had let her down. Everyone except for Mara, of course. Everyone needs a friend like Mara in their lives. I believe that Mara and Tamar were placed together for this divine purpose. 

While this book isn’t my normal type of book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It did get a bit wordy at times, but I don’t think it took anything away from the story. I did have to go back and refresh myself on what was said if Tamar had a lot of thoughts before responding to someone. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who’s interested in Biblical fiction and would like to imagine what happens after the writers of the Bible stopped recording.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free directly from Paraclete Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR requirements, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”