A Heartwarming Sequel: The Royal Artisan
The Royal Artisan by Tessa Afshar
She has done it again! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Tessa Afshar has once again captured my heart with this strong, adventurous, endearing continuation of her Persia journey through Queen’s Esther’s Court Series.
The Royal Artisan—the second book in this series and her most recent release as of right now—gathers your attention and refuses to let go. 😁
This series takes three different perspectives of Queen Esther’s life in the Royal Palace, leaving you with a fresh and admirable view of true Biblical history. 📖
In this novel, we get to experience the main POV of Sazana, a Jew among Persians. At this time, it is extremely dangerous to be a Jew, so she hides her beliefs under a Persian name. But wait, there’s more! Get this: it’s dual-POV. And who better to be the MMC than Sazana’s ex-fiancé, the man who broke her heart all those years ago. And now both previous lovers strive to forget their past and move on from broken dreams. 💔
I dived into this with so much excitement, simply because Tessa Afshar has yet to fail to write a book that does not leave me feeling amazingly satisfied in the deepest way. Oh, and the first book in this series, The Queen’s Cook, had me absolutely in love! So, of course, I am pre-ordering the third and final one ASAP. 🤷♀️
You’d think you’d get tired of hearing the same story retold, right? Well, not with this series. Even though all three books are set around the same time, when Haman manipulates King Xerxes into decreeing that the Persians can murder the Jews for a whole 24-hours, there’s definitely such a fresh, new theme with each one. And they don’t disappoint! 😍
This is not a review for The Queen’s Cook, and thus, I won’t mention more than couple words about it, but in its case we see the story of the heroine Roxannah, who goes to work in the Queen’s kitchen. Oh, and ends up having to team up with a certain guy to solve a murder-plot of one of the Queen’s esteemed sister of the palace. So, you should go check that one out! ✨👩🏼🍳
Here, in The Royal Artisan, we see our heroine is a professional potter. Despite being a young woman, her name is well-known in the marketplace of Susa for her impressive works. As events unfold, she the man who used to be her beloved, are forced to protect each other when evil seems adamant on destroying a secret Sazana’s family has held onto for generations. The only catch is… Sazana herself was never aware of this secret, and now no one is around to pass it down. 🤫
✍️Afshar’s writing not only has you eagerly turning the pages, but paints the picture of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness through dire circumstances. A story of brokenness and redemption, defeat and hope, loss and victory. All wrapped up in Queen Esther’s enlightening encouragement and bravery for her people, and an ending worth swooning over.
💞The romance, slow to come, and yet always present, ties it all together in a heartwarming twist. I loved it. High-tension, “second-chance”, adorable. At times I was ready to reach through the page and force them to admit that they never stopped loving each other, but alas. A beautiful tale altogether.
👩🏻CHARACTERS🧑🏽 — again: emojis needs more varied hair color and skin color people!
Sazana🏺🎨❤️🩹 — I liked her a lot! She was kind-hearted, gentle, compassionate. But as soon as her loved ones were threatened (even those she won’t admit she loves…*wink wink*) she was tough and rightfully defensive, ready to fight, even if it was hard. I adore FMC’s who are very much female, with their unique personalities and naturally emotional take on the world, but who also don’t faint at the first sign of struggle. From page one you can tell this about Sazana. She isn’t one to be reckoned with, but she is one to love.
Jadon ⚔️🛡️💔 — He was so good. There was such an air of mystery when it came to his life story and reasoning for some things he did, but he was such a down-to-earth, lovingly protective, swoon-worthy soldier. He never put himself first, and that was also one of his weaknesses. His need to sacrifice himself for others, but didn’t realize that the “other” needed him. (If that was gibberish, just go read the book). Ahh and how he treats Sazana, especially during his POV, is pricelessly precious. What a man!
Queen Esther 👸📖💅 — “Queen” could not be better suited on anyone else. She is the most amazing, brilliant, intelligent, talented, beautiful, benevolent woman in history. Not to mention brave! I always, always, adore her. And the way Afshar displays her is like getting to meet her personally, as if I lived in her court in roughly 474 BCE! I will forever be captured and inspired by her.
Arta 📜🕊️🧩 — Sweet Arta! I really liked him. A lot. Such a wonderful father-figure for Sazana, he was a loyal guardian and protector. Their relationship was so sweet, even funny! Bravo to him, a great character! (Note: he deserves more, but this is my short take for him).
👏🏻 Wonderful job with everyone else, Tessa Afshar!! Fabulous!👏🏻
✨QUOTES✨ — enjoy! 😉
❗️As always, you’re gonna have to pick this series up yourself to reveal all of the best quotes, but here are a few❗️
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“I kept my own counsel and hid my Jewish heritage as my cousin Mordecai bade me. Like Abraham, I laid the Isaac of my hopes and dreams at God's feet.”
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“Sazana realized that with a few words, Esther had won the workers' loyalty for life. Heart and soul, they were her men after this, because they knew she valued them.”
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“Every failure is a victory in the making if you learn from it.”
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“I thought Esther was your friend."
"She is, Jadon. But she is also a queen who must protect more than those she loves best. It is what makes her worthy of our obedience.”
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“Sometimes the pain in the pursuit becomes part of the gifting. Part of the way God's call is formed. This injury may not be an end, but God forming something deeper in you."
She narrowed her eyes. "Did you pursue everything? With us? Because to me, that also felt like a gift from God.”
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“The dried pink petals tucked within had long since lost their sweet perfume. But the memories attached to them still evoked the enchanting scent of a perfect damask rose.
It had been the first flower Jadon had given her. After that day, he had brought her other blooms: irises, jasmine, roses. Armfuls of flowers. But none ever charmed her as that first single rose, which he presented to her shyly, his young face flushed and earnest.”
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“People her own age had found her tedious, not having the patience to wait until she found her words. To them, she was hardly present. Not worth the effort of friendship. She had learned to protect herself by not risking new friendships, a habit that had stuck into adulthood.
Jadon had been different from the start. He had waited on every word, his easy smile reassuring her anxious heart. Never once had he made her feel unwanted. At times she wondered if he had been born to understand her.”
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⚠️CONTENT⚠️
🌶️Spice/sexual/innuendo — Absolutely none! Nothing uncomfortable, only high tension/some yearning, all clean and swoony! No spice or innuendo. A few kisses, extremely sweet, not-semi described.
🤬Language — Absolutely none! It is a Biblical, historical, Christian fiction/romance. No profanity, no swearing/cursing. Nothing else.
🏳️🌈LGBTQ — Oh heck no. Of course not. Absolutely none. Again, biblical Christian fiction!
✝️ Lots of God! Amen and amen! He is good! 🙌🏻
Well, why are you still here? 🤔 Go read this!! 📚 (Just kidding!! Thank you for sticking with me!! Very loyal of you 🫶)
Until next time! Please don’t hesitate to comment on this review! Thanks so much!
Happy Reading!!✝️📚☕️❤️
📱Check out Tessa Afshar’s social media and website where you can find her books:
“I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”
~Psalms 16:8
*Photo taken by blog creator*
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