The Queen's Cook is the first in a new series by exceptional author Tessa Afshar. If subsequent installments are of this caliber...and they will be...readers are in for a huge treat. This new favourite of mine transported me directly into exotic Old Testament Persia, sparking all my senses. Afshar is God-gifted in bringing her stories alive. I love that each chapter includes a Bible Verse and powerful messages of faith, wisdom, trust, redemption, honour and instruction throughout. The romance is lovely and sweet.

Roxannah, a marvellous and instinctual cook, seeks work at the palace to provide income for her destitute family. Though her father is a Persian lord, his indebtedness contributes to the high-friction household. Roxannah's excellent reputation earns food favors. Her pistachio cakes, fig jam and tender lamb recipes are just a few of her specialties. As a passionate cook, I was enamored with the lively descriptions. Wise Queen Esther is impressed and Roxannah quickly moves up the cooking ladder, infuriating other cooks. Roxannah and the queen learn from each other.

Roxannah meets royal physician, Adin, and is amazed at his unwavering faith in his God. When an edict is passed which affects all Jews, she is devastated. The plot grows more intricate as Queen Esther intervenes on the behalf of her people chosen by God, risking her life. Her courage is unshakeable. But she has the powerful Lord on her side.

It is easy to become fully immersed in the breathtaking story and Biblical truths. Unmissable.

My sincere thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating novel.

The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar - 5 Stars

I have said it before and I will say it again, Tessa is the master of biblical fiction! I loved this story of Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, working in Queen Esther's kitchens. In this story, we see her determined to support her mother and repay her father's debts - she seeks out Adin to help her find work. Adin sees the need and secures her a position in the royal kitchens of Queen Esther.

Guided by Esther's grace and wisdom, she finds herself navigating prejudice and palace politics and deepening her bond with Adin along the way. As Roxanna goes up in the kitchen ranks, she and Adin uncover a plot targeting Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Queen's archenemy. This sets things in motion from here in the plot.

This book has a rich historical setting of ancient Persia - very vibrant and immersive. Also, the culinary details in this were - chef's kiss! I loved all the food and cooking details.

The relationship between Adin and Roxannah was very well developed. I personally loved seeing them on their journey of working together and developing that slow burn romance along the way. Adin was also a great guy inspiring Roxannah's faith journey to trust God.

Roxannah and Esther's friendship was beautiful to see as well. I loved the glimpses into Esther's POV.

Overall, highly recommend as another great biblical fiction by Tessa! Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am putting Tessa Afshar in my list of authors whose books I will buy for my church library. The list has become really short and selective as Iibrary space is shrinking. Many things to commend about this title and I am definitely buying a copy. We already know how well Ms Afshar brings a Bible story to life and how engrossing and delightful her stories are. I loved how she integrates food and cooking into the book this time. Great faith elements to teach, instruct and encourage too.. Of course, the romance is sweet. I was so glad to read about a character who doesn’t pursue a relationship until he/she is sure the other is also a believer.

4 and a half stars from me. Rounded up to 5. Bravo, Ms Afshar, please keep writing and writing!

This was a lengthy and thorough slow burn Biblical fiction romance. Set in the time period of Queen Esther, with her as a side character, this story was handled a bit differently from other Biblical fictions I’ve read but it was very good. A story that was much more than a romance as our heroine found friendship and faith along her journey also. She suffered at the hands of her father growing up and through unfortunate circumstances was, as a lady, reduced to the position of a cook through necessity. This book has a lot to do with cooking, the kitchen, and various dishes and ingredients. Our Jewish hero is a physician who grew up in a soldiering household. In this novel we see well known stories from the book of Esther and we learn more from the historical record, all bound together with some fiction and creativity. I loved delving into this thorough novel. Upon completion I discovered that the next novels are concurrent ones where we get different perspectives throughout the same time period. I’m so curious to read them and see how that is handled. This was my first by Ashfar but will not be my last.

The Queen's Cook is another captivating Biblical fiction story from award-winning storyteller, Tessa Afshar. Her stories are fascinating, and rich with detail that take readers right into the scenes of Scripture and the culture of the people. Readers will love this fictional account of a young woman of ancient Persia, Roxannah. From a young age, she has dreamed of cooking for kings and queens. Through a series of events, her dream is realized. A fulfilled dream, though, is not all that Roxannah experiences--mysteries to solve, acceptance, love, and the realization that the God of the Jews loves her too. The characters have depth and reality. Their emotions and strengths resonate well with readers. Throughout the story there is a strong thread of faith in the God Who Sees and is at work in difficult situations, extending grace and mercy and changing lives. For readers who enjoy Biblical fiction, The Queen's Cook is a must-read. I am excited to see this is the first book in a new series by Ms. Afshar, Queen Esther's Court.
I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley, and a favorable review was not required. The opinions are my own.

I never really thought about what happened to Esther after reading her story in the Bible. But, author Tessa Afshar creates an intriguing story and charged atmosphere of the complexities of royal court life. I loved the story of Roxannah as she discovers she is precious to God. Adin, and to many others, including royalty!

Read for:
dual POV
cooking
mystery
fact woven into the story
monarch rivalry
political intrigue
murder
romance
forgiveness
faith of characters

I highly recommend this book to readers of Biblical fiction that has a wonderful male main character. This is the first book in the Queen Esther’s Court series. I am looking forward to reading the other books too!

I was given a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

{Thank you to @netgally and the publisher for my gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.}

What a lovely start to what I know will be an incredible three-part series of fictional tales based on Queen Esther’s life!

Tessa Afshar is a phenomenal writer, and I absolutely loved the way that she wove biblical truth and a great deal of ancient history into such a lovely fictional tale. The author’s note was so fascinating!

I really appreciated the deep faith themes of this book. The author uses this story to explore God’s providence, a theology of suffering, and redemption.

I had a qualm with something used as a plot device towards the end, but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. If you’re interested or think you may want a content warning, feel free to send me a DM.

Warning: this book will make you hungry! I promise you I’m actually altering my meal plans for this week based on this book!

This story was gripping with its romance and mystery. I really didn’t want to put it down! Highly recommend!

For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ~ Ruth 1:6

Why am I including a verse from the book of Ruth in my Esther review? See below for five amazing things about this new read from Tessa Afshar:

👑Each chapter begins with a scripture verse that frames and overshadows the plot ahead.

👑The frequent entries "From the Secret Scrolls of Esther" give us her firsthand thoughts (based on Scripture and historical texts).

👑God's providence, lovingkindness, and faithfulness to His people shine through in every chapter. The story of Ruth is relevant to the folks in this book and they cherish her godly example.

👑Filled with delicious food, royal intrigue, and gorgeous robes. The cover is a perfect representation of the book inside. What's not to like?

👑This is the first of a series of three books. Can't wait to read the second book with the spotlight on a potter.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This story immediately grabs you and doesn't let go. Tessa Afshar does such an incredible job at truly capturing the opulence of ancient Persia. I always say that Biblical Fiction gives us the "what-if's" of what we are already reading in the Word. The author takes a story from the Bible and with their extensive research comes up with a story that is not only interesting but also filled with faith and lets you wonder if these scenarios could've really happened.

In this story we meet Roxhanna, a Persian woman, who is a noblewoman is impoverished by actions her father has taken. She is caring and has learned cooking skills from her grandmother. She wants to help her Jewish friends as an edict has been served by the King. I won't tell you too much of the story but her transformation and growth in the story is amazing. We also meet Adin, the royal physician, who also helps not only Roxhanna with different things in her life, especially getting a position in the Queens kitchen. But let us not discount Adin so hastily, he may be considered the love interest for Roxhanna but he is so much more. He truly guides Roxhanna to see who God wants her to be and the path she should follow. He helps her be strong and rely on the one who gives strength.

Did I mention this book is also about Queen Esther ? She is one of my favorite women in the Bible so it was neat to see another side of her (again another what-if) We see her as more than a queen but also a sister in Christ. Although her scenes were brief, they were powerful. We continue to see Esther just like we see her in the Bible, fighting for her people and we continue seeing her trust in God deepen.

I really enjoyed the story and I cannot wait to see how the next book unfolds. If you enjoy biblical fiction and stories that are filled with faith then you need to add this to your list.

I received a copy of this book for review. All views expressed are my own.

Incredible. That's what comes to mind when I think of this book. From the very first sentence I was hooked, and I did NOT want to put this book down.

I found the descriptions of the kitchens to be absolutely fascinating. I love seeing things in history. Queen Esther's scrolls are the perfect touch to this story, and seeing Esther as an actual person rather than an untouchable queen was eye-opening. And I just "happened" to be in the books of both Esther and Nehemiah in my personal Bible study when I was reading this. God is so cool like that.

I loved this book. I loved the descriptions of the relationships both of the court and between the peons.

I can't say enough good things about this story, and I think it may just be my favorite book of Tessa Afshar's. I am so excited for the next installment of the series!

~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

This was my first book by Tessa Afshar, and it was a spectacular introduction! I was thrilled that I had the opportunity to read it in one sitting as I could truly be transported to Persia in biblical times through this powerful, yet humbling story. I loved the characters of Roxannah and Adin and how they devoted their lives to serving others. In meeting these wonderful characters, I couldn't get enough of them as they maneuvered the inner workings of the royal court. I also loved getting a glimpse into Queen Esther's inner thoughts, with the story between her and Amestris a fascinating intrigue that captivated my attention throughout the book. This complex undertaking of multiple stories brilliantly wove the lives of the servants together with those they served, giving a full sense of being in Queen Esther's court.

In addition to a compelling story, the messages of faith in The Queen's Cook were poignant and meaningfully seasoned the book to perfection. Not only did the characters grow in their understanding of God's faithfulness, but they also pointed to His presence during hardship and trials. What stood out for me were the images of eating at God's table, relying on Him for sustenance, and being in fellowship with believers. Each description of food made the book even more of a culinary adventure to be savoured. If you love the idea of food as a metaphor for spiritual feasting, this book will be sure to delight all of the senses.

The Queen’s Cook completely mesmerized me from beginning to end. This beautiful forbidden romance between a handsome Jewish physician & a Persian cook all set against the backdrop of Queen Esther’s court had me devouring the pages. Full of palace intrigue, carefully woven in history, heart-achingly lovely romance, endearing characters, an inspiring faith journey, forgiveness, & delectable dishes, this story really captured my imagination & was impossible to put down.

Roxhanna’s transformational journey from impoverished Persian noblewoman to the Queen’s cook begins in her father’s house where his poor choices lead to needing a physician. From the first, Roxhanna’s drawn to Adin, the kind physician who treats her father. As their friendship grows, Roxhanna looks forward to each meeting, but when a terrible decree from the King threatens Adin & her other Jewish friends she finds herself in a difficult position of whether to betray her father & his friends who are using the edict as an opportunity to enrich themselves at the Jews’ expense, or warn Adin of their plans. Her choice leads to her family’s potential financial ruin when her father winds up dead.

Seeking to support her mother & save their home, Roxhanna accepts a position using her culinary talents in the kitchens of King Xerxes & Queen Esther. Facing opposition & jealousies, Roxhanna earns the respect of the head cook who recognizes her innate abilities & Queen Esther herself. But, when she discovers a plot against Amestris, Xerxes wife, & Esther’s chief rival, she & Adin work together to unmask the traitors.

I loved this story! Queen Esther has long been a favorite Biblical heroine & I enjoyed getting a glimpse of what her life may have been like through her secret scrolls & interactions with the main characters. Roxhanna & Adin were both such lovable characters. I enjoyed Roxhanna’s faith journey as she faces abuse, self-doubt, prejudice, & forgiveness. The romance between her & Adin was achingly lovely. Roxhanna has things she needs to work through but can’t resist the caring, thoughtful Adin. Adin’s such a charming man & has his own past he’s struggling to move on from. Though he’s reluctant to fall in love with Roxhanna, he can’t help himself as he sees her strengths, talents, & growing faith.

The palace intrigue & politics of the kitchen kept me quickly turning the pages. I loved reading about every dish Roxhanna created & wished I could jump through the pages to taste them. I enjoyed the way the author combined history & Queen Esther’s story in such a compelling way. I can’t wait for the next book in the series & am hoping we get to see more of Roxhanna & Adin.

Highly recommend to Biblical fiction & historical romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

Another stunning Biblical historical fiction novel by Tessa Afshar. Set in ancient Persia in the time of Queen Esther, this book provided a unique perspective on a familiar tale. The Bible itself and most other novels who depict this time period tell the story from Esther's vantage point. However, this story tells the story from the perspective of a Persian woman and a Jewish man, who continue to find themselves thrust in each other's company. I enjoyed each of their individual stories as well as their combined tale. There was a bit of mystery and intrigue thrown in amidst the romance, the character development and the overarching Bible story of Esther. This story follows Roxannah, whose history has been a bit traumatic, but who still has good humor and grit. Her ability to cook has kept her family afloat and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Adin, the Jewish physician who is called upon when Roxannah's father needs medical care, is intrigued by the nobleman's daughter who dresses like a commoner and spends time in the kitchens. When the fateful day of Haman's plot comes to be, their lives become more intertwined than they could have expected.

Though I struggled a bit with Roxannah's mouthiness (not as a trait overall because anyone who knows me knows I am mouthy) due to both her home-life circumstances and the culture, her cheeky comments did allow for some humor laced in throughout. I enjoyed her growth and development as well (even though that mouthiness would not have let her grow much in reality - ha!). I enjoyed the slow burn romance as well, and the outside perspective on Queen Esther. I also enjoyed learning more about the extra-Biblical history of the story, such as who Amestris was and some of the political and war happenings of the timeline. The story itself was intriguing and I enjoyed the overall plotline. There was a solid faith thread in this one as well, even outside the obvious as Roxannah came to know the Jewish God as her own. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable tale and one I could easily recommend to fans of Biblical fiction. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Readers who like Biblical fiction will love this first book of the Queen Esther’s Court trilogy. Such a descriptive story set in ancient Persia. Loved Roxannah, her cooking skills and sweet personality. Learning about the food and culture was very interesting. Looking forward to the next book. Highly recommended!

This story was simply beautiful in every way. Roxannah is the daughter of a highborn Persian Lord who suffers a head injury and ultimately leads Roxannah to working a job as a cook in the queen’s kitchen.

The strong character we see come out of Roxannah as she is tested through many hardships is wondrous. I loved how we see God working through her as well as following along her journey of going through what she thinks is best.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own. That said, I could hardly put it down. The Bible does not tell us much about Queen Esther, but through the author's study and thoughtful imagination, we get a little peek into some things that could have been going on in Esther's world and heart. As the title suggests, this book follows the journey of Roxannah, who becomes a cook in the Queen's kitchen. Learning about some of the food they may have used, made me curious to learn more about some of the possible recipes. Her journey is not an easy one, with lots of heartache. Her journey also contains, intrigue, deception, friendship, romance, mystery, coming to Christ and a future hope and promise. All of these make this a must read book for anyone who enjoys any of these topics or is intrigued to know a little more about Queen Esther. I would highly recommend this book, now for the next one in the series!

"In this world, sometimes God's faithfulness looks like success. Like healing. Like open doors. And sometimes, his faithfulness looks like a pit of suffering. It looks like injustice and pain... God's faithfulness can sometimes seem hard. But it's never cruel... Though he may allow tribulation in your life, he never leaves you in that pit, abandoned and alone. Those are the times he draws closest. The times he adds his strength to your bowed-down heart. The times his love is so tender, you can rest against it like a feather pillow."

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this story. From the very first page, I was hooked!

SYNOPSIS: "In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire's Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a once-privileged but now impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings, but instead he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother while settling the debt, Roxannah approaches Adin--the man whose kind eyes still haunt her--to help her find employment in Queen Esther's kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah strives to overcome prejudice and adversity as she ascends through the ranks in the royal kitchen. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther herself, a woman of grace and wisdom, who is navigating treacherous palace politics and whispers of her inability to produce an heir after six years of marriage. Amid this unfolding connection, Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king's most powerful wife and Esther's archenemy. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Amestris and Esther's reign hang in the balance. "

This story is so diverse - full of romance, mystery, biblical history, faith, and recipes. I have said it before, and I'll say it again. No one does biblical fiction like Tessa Afshar. The way I am immediately catapulted into biblical times, intertwining my life with her characters so deeply is unmatched. I loved seeing the slow-burn romance unfold between Roxannah and Adin. I enjoyed seeing her discover the Hebrew God and come to have faith in Him through every trauma and trial she went through. I appreciated the insight from Queen Esther's scrolls. I was intrigued by the mystery and political intrigue surrounding the palace. And I was left with my mouth watering from all of the delicious food descriptions.

Thank you to Tessa Afshar, Bethany House, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I cannot wait to continue in the Queen Esther's Court series!

"The Queens Cook" by Tessa Afshar is the beginning of a wonderful new trilogy by Afshar of Queen Esther's court. Roxhanna, a Persian woman and Adin, a Jewish man are at odds with faith and direction, though they are drawn to each other. This book is a bit slower paced in the beginning, but once Roxhanna moves into Esther's court, the book picks up and will draw the reader in completely.

I really liked reading about the inner workings of the Persian court. The author used a lot of imagination going back and forth between two time periods as well as Queen Esther's perspective vs. Roxhanna's stories, though the story was mainly about Roxhanna. There are villains, a mystery, intrigue and a bit of romance as well. The author gets you thinking about the personalities of Esther and Xerxes.

I really liked reading about Persian food and ingredients. As someone who likes to cook I wanted to taste some of the foods described in the book. The faith story was powerful and encouraging. The coming to faith part of the story was very rich for several characters in the book.

If the next books for this trilogy are like this, it's definitely one I'll want to keep reading.

Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tessa Afshar has crafted a brilliant story, The Queen’s Cook, that endures long after the last page is turned. This extraordinary story follows the book of Esther with an intriguing touching tale of what may have also happened after the actual events depicted in the Bible.

The Queen’s Cook is the story of Roxannah, who becomes Queen Esther’s cook, and her deeply inspiring journey to a trusting relationship with God. Throughout her journey from a nonbeliever to a believer, Roxannah heard the word of God from Esther and Adin, who both encouraged her along her own path to putting her life in His hands.

Told through the eyes of Roxannah and Adin, the court physician, Afshar transports her readers to ancient Persia, drawing us into a world filled with delightful rich flavors, intrigues, mystery, love, and faith. All of her remarkably strong characters, both fictional and real, had concerns and fears relatable to those we all experience today. I was in awe witnessing their growth as they progressed along their paths, together and separately, giving this reader newfound insight into the power of faith not only in God but in each other, too. Afshar constantly reminds us that God’s purpose for us is revealed on His timeline, not ours, and it may occur in the most unexpected place, and when we least expect it.

I highly recommend The Queen’s Cook, a fictionally depicted exquisite story based on the Bible. Tessa Afshar penned a truly unique perspective on a popular Bible story, bringing Queen Esther’s court to life in this first book of her must-read Queen Esther’s Court Series.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

I have so much I want to say about The Queen’s Cook. Literally everytime I sat to try to write a review, I just got overwhelmed by my love for this story, these characters, and my God. But instead of overloading you with exposition (I promise reading the synopsis would be better than my version), I want to share about why I loved this:

🧡 Tessa’s dedication to setting. TQC takes us to ancient Persia and I could see, hear, and even taste, the scenes.
🧡 A new take on Esther. I love that in biblical fiction, the core of Biblical narratives are honored while providing authors with creative space to color inside the lines.
🧡 My girl Roxannah. Her character arc was perfect and … gah, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I just want to give her a hug and ask her to teach me some cooking/baking skills!
🧡 ADIN THE PHYSICIAN! If you’re looking for a man who protects the vulnerable, is very competent, encourages and cares for your soul, then look no further.
🧡 A kissing-only romance, a high-stakes mystery, and a realistic spiritual & emotional journey
🧡 A few nods to Tessa’s previous books 🫶🏼
🧡 SO. MANY. OTHER. THINGS. But you’ll have to read it for yourself and then come chat in my DMs!!