Mesu Andrews takes the reader on a delightful journey through the ancient Middle East to explore little-known Bible verses and the longer stories behind their few words.
Throughout her novel, Andrews’s dedication to preserving the historical accuracy of her stories is applaudable. The scant biblical references she worked off don’t offer much of a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the past, so she asked masterful questions to flesh out the story.
Why would David have agreed to marry a pagan princess? What stipulations would he have put on her religious affiliations before agreeing to a betrothal? How would a royal princess interact with his first two wives, who were from much lower social classes? How would David’s faith in Yahweh be tested or strengthened by taking a third wife, when the Law of Moses spoke against multiple marriages?
While we will never be able to know for certain what truly transpired thousands of years ago, Andrews invited the reader into a deeper look at the heart of God. The mercy, judgment, love, and eternal nature of Yahweh was clearly seen in each page, as the characters wrestling with trusting God in a world that often felt harsh and confusing.
The romance between David and his wives was sweet and tender, with Andrews balancing the warrior side of David with the tenderness that made him an excellent shepherd. It was fun to see Maakah develop as a character, whether or not her fictional attributes were similar to who she was when she was alive.
Maakah is everything a reader could ask for in a main character: spunky, loyal, willing to grow, and demonstrates an ability to stand up for what is right and consider the needs of others above her own.
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