Jerusalem's queen : a novel of Salome Alexandra / Angela Hunt.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Born in the small village of Modein, a town made famous by the warrior Maccabees, Salome Alexandra knows better than to harbor grand dreams for her future. She pales in comparison to her beautiful older sister, and though she learns to read at an early age, girls are not valued for their intellectual ability. But when her father and sister are killed, John Hyrcanus, a distant relative, invites Salome and her mother to live with his family in Jerusalem, where her thirst for knowledge is noticed and indulged.

When her guardian betroths her to a pagan prince, she questions HaShem's plan. When Hyrcanus finally marries her to a boy half her age, she questions her guardian's sanity. But though Salome spends much of her life as a pawn ordered about by powerful men, she learns that a woman committed to HaShem can change the world.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Booklist Review

Hunt continues the Silent Years series (Judah's Wife , 2018) with the story of Salome Alexandra, here called Shelamzion, who rose through a time of political and religious fracture to become queen of Jerusalem. After a family tragedy, Shelamzion finds herself in the good graces of the high priest and befriends her handmaid, Kissa. When her womanhood and status become bargaining chips amidst family betrayal and warring pagan nations, Shelamzion questions HaShem's plan for her. With faith to fortify her convictions and friendship to bolster her courage, she realizes she is perhaps the one person who can save Judea from its corrupt lineage of rulers. Narrated by Shelamzion and Kissa, Hunt's compelling chronicle dramatizes the repression of women during this historic time and spotlights the role faith played in female empowerment. Hunts places Shelamzion's story within the growing religious dissonance and speculation about the long-awaited Messiah. Readers who admire the biblical Esther will enjoy this tale of another brave woman playing a pivotal role in the survival of her people.--Kate Campos Copyright 2018 Booklist

Author notes provided by Syndetics

The author of more than 100 published books and with more than 5 million copies of her books sold, Angela Hunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Note , The Nativity Story , and Esther: Royal Beauty . Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, Angela completed her PhD in biblical studies in theology. She and her husband live in Florida with their mastiffs. She can be found online at www.angelahuntbooks.com.