please read disclosures & policies
purchases via affiliate links offset the cost of this website. thank you!
about the book
The Hebrews are a divided nation. Israel in the north—ten tribes strong—has bowed to pagan worship. In Judah’s two tribes, an evil king mocks King David’s legacy while a remnant of Yahweh’s faithful cling desperately to their one true God.
Caught in the middle of the warring is an orphaned girl named Ishma—meaning “desolation.” Her short life already mirrors the name. Yet Yahweh’s plan for her has only just begun.
Ishma enters the prophet Isaiah’s home as a household servant, but her quick mind and lively spirit gain the friendship of Prince Hezekiah. When Isaiah sees their relationship mature, he adopts Ishma, giving her a royal pedigree and a new name. Ishma becomes Hephzibah—”delight of the Lord”—and the desolate captive becomes Judah’s queen.
But loving Hezekiah will require more of Hephzibah than she ever imagined. From Ahaz’s terrifying reigh to the Assyrian threat and Isaiah’s own perplexing prophecies—Zibah remains trapped by fear, facing an uncertian future. Will palace life lead to freedom from her past? Or can she trust everything to the only One who gives life and delivers both a captive heart and a desperate nation?
goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
my thoughts
I am having a time of it with this swoof, there is just so much to love about this book and I can’t keep my thoughts in order! *deep breath* First of all, before the story begins, a straightforward division of fact and fiction is provided and I sincerely appreciate when authors provide extras like this, especially when they are at the beginning… before I get lost and confused!
The Prophets and Kings series time period is one that I tend to rush through before it leaves me feeling excessively down and discouraged. Andrews skillfully plucks an account from the pages of Isaiah and 2 Kings and carefully crafts a fictional narrative to fill in details that the Bible and historical records of the time left behind.
The characters are relatable and authentically flawed yet seem true to their time period and circumstances. I was completely drawn into this story, reader friends! The plot is rich and deep and wide, woven with biblical truths and lessons which are still applicable to our lives today. This author’s creative style and careful research secured this book’s place among my all time favorites!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
about the author
Mesu Andrews is an author and speaker who has devoted herself to passionate study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep love for God’s Word, Andrews brings the biblical world alive for her audiences.
Mesu and her husband, Roy, have two grown children and (Praise God!) a growing number of grandkids. They live in Washington, where Roy serves as the academic dean at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. They have a Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke who keeps Mesu company while she writes.
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (the story of Job), won the 2012 ECPA debut Book of the Year. She has since published biblical novels touching on the lives of King Solomon, Hosea and Gomer, Queen Athaliah, Pharaoh’s Daughter, and Miriam.
website | facebook | twitter | pinterest
Treasures of the Nile series
goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
Share YOUR thoughts on this time period, reader friends!
Do you have certain expectations for a book set within a biblical account?
Faithfully Bookish 
I pre-ordered this book and can’t wait! Thank you for your thoughts!
LikeLike
Happy reading, Jeanne! It’s a book to savor ????
LikeLike
Exceptional review, Beth! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Caryl!
LikeLike
Excellent review! I loved this book so much. ????
LikeLike
Me too!
LikeLike
Great review & I agree about the time period. I’m hoping to read this soon (it would be second from Mesu Andrews)!
LikeLike
How about that! It’s my second too!
LikeLike
Amazing review Beth! I too am loving this so much. I’m amazed at how Mesu worked out a lot of the confusing parts of the book of Isaiah.
LikeLike
Mesu does her homework, no doubt about that!
LikeLike
I do have high expectations for Biblical fiction. I like to be able to go and look it up in the Bible and find that it all DID or COULD HAVE happened as described in the novel. (It makes me feel like I understand and can relate to it all so much better!)
LikeLike
yes I have high expectations for biblical fiction. It needs to be as close to the bible accounts as possible. A lot of what Elly Cox says, I feel also. I love an author that really does her research. This is a new author to me and everything I have read, she is good. I would love to learn more about her and her writing
LikeLike
She is! She really is! ????
LikeLike
Thank you for introducing to a new to me author and your review. I’d love to read “Isaiah’s Daughter “.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
LikeLike
My pleasure, Kay!
LikeLike
New author for me.
LikeLike
Yay!
LikeLike
I’ve read each one of her books. Though I’m in my young 40’s, I’m old school and buy them in paperback new. When I finish, I donate them to my church library. I highly encourage you to read any of her books-there are no proper words to describe them.
LikeLike
Great review–I love the out of breath part. I haven’t read Mesu’s books before but from your review it sounds like i’m missing out on great writing and storytelling.
LikeLike
I try to read Biblical fiction as in deed a work of fiction but if it doesn’t line up with the true accounts I will lose interest the same way I would with other historical fiction.
LikeLike
Really looking forward to reading yet another book from Mesu. You bring the bible alive & the characters are much like us in modern times.
LikeLike
I love Biblical fiction! It makes the Bible come alive for me and gets me even more interested in the original Scriptures. My favorite authors/novels in this genre are the ones who strike the perfect balance between poetic license and Biblical truth, understanding that staying true to the Biblical facts can take extensive research if there isn’t a lot in the Bible on the subject to begin with.
LikeLike
Mesu Andrews is a new-to-me author, but I’ve heard so many great things about her books. I really want to read them.
LikeLike
Beth, thank you for the review! I’ve heard a lot of good things about the book 🙂
LikeLike
Back in high school, I competed in Bible Bowl and we studied 1 & 2 Kings. I think I’d enjoy reading it as a novel.
Dianna
LikeLike
I heard about Mesu Andrews and the book through my SIL, Jill.
LikeLike