Why read The Queen's Handmaid?

Book cover of The Queen's Handmaid

Book description

In Egypt, 39 B.C., young Lydia serves as a handmaid to an aging Cleopatra and her son, until she is entrusted with an ancient set of sealed scrolls and joins the household of a visiting Galilean governor to return them to Jerusalem.

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Queen's Handmaid as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Debra Clewer

Author

I am a history fan, especially when it comes to Ancient Egypt.

I loved this story as a wonderful blend of fiction, ancient and Biblical history, expertly woven by the author into an intriguing tale. It kept me turning the page to find out what happened to the young protagonist, Lydia, who starts out in servitude to the evil Cleopatra, and eventually becomes the handmaid to Herod’s wife, Mariamme.

The story spans a period of many years, after Lydia is tasked by a dying Jewish man to reunite ancient scrolls with a secret group of mystical keepers. The characters were…

From Debra's 3 favorite reads in 2023.