Hadassah: One Night With the King (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author), Mark Olsen (Author)
Key Phrases: Hadassah-One Night With the King, Tommy Tenney, King's Gate (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite a few glitches, there is much to like about this coauthored novel from Tenney, best known for his nonfiction book The God Chasers, and Olsen, a writer whose work includes screenplays. Esther, queen of Persia, who inspired the eponymous book of the Bible, is a fascinating character whose story lends itself well to a fictional retelling. The novel opens as a contemporary woman named Hadassah receives a letter penned by Esther (also called "Hadassah" and "Star" in the novel) and passed down through her family for generations. The reading of the letter transports the reader back to the Persian Empire (a similar device is used in Bodie and Brock Thoene's Zion Legacy series). Several time periods and points of view make for a slow start, but the pacing picks up when Esther becomes the focus. The dialogue is stiff in places, and some readers will find the use of "G-d" rather than "God" out of reverence rather tiresome. However, from their imaginative fleshing out of Esther's unusual girlhood and preparation for her tryst with the king to the uttering of her famous words, "If I perish, I perish," the authors reinvigorate an age-old story. The sexual tension and violence necessary to the tale are rendered inoffensive for the evangelical Christian market, and a few surprise twists will catch readers familiar with the story off-balance. CBA readers should enjoy this account of one of the Bible's most courageous heroines.
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Review

"An exhilarating ancient romance with ribbons of suspense, mystery, and intrigue cleverly woven through. I highly recommend Hadassah." -- Road to Romance

"Breathtakingly suspenseful...this story is rich in historical detail and spirituality. Be forewarned. This is a real page turner." -- Large Print Reviews

"Esther springs to life...a wealth of history and spiritual admonition in the pleasing guise of a well-told tale." -- Romantic Times, Feb. 2004

"Full of romance, intrigue, sudden plot twists and a finale that is heart-stopping even for those familiar with the story." -- Messianic Times, Feb/Mar 2004

"I cannot say enough good things…such a fresh perspective to a familiar story. Be swept away by this fantastic story." -- BookLoons.com

"Much research and study have obviously gone into Hadassah to preserve the authenticity...an enjoyable read." -- Messianic Times Feb/Mar 2004

"Tenney has given readers a gift similar to that Esther gave Xerxes: a source of wonder and conversation." -- Faithful Reader

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764227378
• ISBN-13: 978-0764227370
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #723,731 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Woman of Influence in Ancient Persia, January 19, 2005

By	Rebecca Johnson "SeasonedwithLove.com" (Washington State) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

The memorable story of Esther in the Bible is now retold through the eyes of Esther. As Hadassah Kesselman prepares for her wedding day, she finds the experience steeped in mystery. Her story is set aside as Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen delve into what is perhaps one of the most ancient fantasies. As women dream of marrying powerful men, men dream of the beautiful woman who worships them in body, mind and spirit. This fantasy is brilliantly woven into the story of Esther and makes for a compelling read.

Hadassah Kesselman is required to read the story of Esther before her wedding day and soon learns of Esther's horrifying childhood experiences and mysterious awakenings into womanhood. Tommy Tenney's comforting writing style seems to mask the horror in a way that allows the reader to comprehend each situation without becoming overwhelmed by tragedy itself. He has a talent for capturing moments in time with exquisite attention to detail. The scent of myrrh lingers on the pages as an exciting drama unfolds in moments of sexual tension, suspense and intrigue.

Esther's story is truly brought to life in this retelling filled with political conspiracies, wars, longings of the heart and brutal action. In her search for G-d, she also finds her place in the world and begins to understand her true destiny. Must she sacrifice herself to the King of Persia and fall prey to Haman's evil intentions?

Even if you remember the biblical details, an entire new world of captivating adventure and romance awaits in Hadassah's journey to One Night With the King. I intended to read this book in two nights, but ended up reading all night.

~The Rebecca Review

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing Spin, June 13, 2006

By	Christian Fiction Reader (Carrollton, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hadassah: One Night With the King (Paperback)

This novel puts a refreshing spin on the story of Esther while remaining true to the Biblical facts. I especially appreciated how Tenney emphasized that King Saul's refusal to totally wipe out the Amalekites resulted in the near annihilation of the Jews centuries later. Disobedience does have consequences! Tenney's description of ancient Persia's lifestyle and customs brought the story alive to me. It's obvious the writer did his research.

The book would have benefited from more diligent editing. For instance, Esther would not have used the word "platonic," because Plato wasn't even born until 427 B.C.; the Persians definitely would not have served potatoes, since they weren't introduced to the Eastern Hemisphere until the Spaniards discovered the Incas eating them. The overuse of hyperbole sometimes made me cringe too. Otherwise, I highly recommend it.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book of Esther Brought to Life With Only Minor Embellishments, October 16, 2006

By	Jan Peczkis "Scholar and Thinker" (Chicago IL, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: One Night With the King: A Special Movie Edition of the Bestselling Novel, Hadassah (Paperback)

This movie provides an excellent overview of the Book of Esther, and does so with only minor extraneous distortions. The scenes are excellent. There is the one-eyed eunuch, and there are the columns of horses, the swordfights, and the apartness of royalty. The look on the face of Haman, as his self-flattering plan backfires and he is forced to publicly extol Mordecai, is priceless. There is a humorous scene of a queen-candidate repeatedly falling off her horse. (This recounts the awkwardness of Cinderella's older sisters as they vainly tried to impress the prince). The apartness of royalty prevents a commoner from even seeing the king or approaching the king without the king's invitation. This helps the Christian appreciate the Lord's teaching about gentiles wanting to lord it over others, while the man esteemed of God instead is a servant of all. It also helps Americans appreciate the fact that their society is based on the premise that "all men are created equal".

There is a minimum of overt violence in the film, and there is an absence of bloody scenes. Haman is shown smiting Mordecai with his staff for refusing to bow down to him. One of the king's guards is shown stabbing a conspirator planning to poison the king, but only the downward stroke of the knife is presented. The gallows are shown, but Haman is not shown being hanged.

Some of the extra-biblical scenes are as follows: The maidens intended as candidates for the queen (to replace Queen Vashti) are portrayed as being kidnapped by the king's agents. Is this how it was actually done, or was such candidacy more an act of volunteering? While a candidate for the position of Queen, Esther is portrayed as reading the Biblical account of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah to the King. Finally, Esther is shown wearing a jewel that reflects light in the pattern of a series of Stars of David. (In actuality, the Star of David is of relatively recent vintage).

All in all, this is an excellent film!