Book Blurb:
King Solomon was wealthy and wise beyond measure. He could–and did–have anything he wanted, including many women from many lands. But for all his wisdom, did he or the women in his life ever find what they searched for all of their lives?
In this engrossing novel, you’ll find yourself whisked away to ancient Israel, where you’ll meet Solomon and four of the women he loved: Naamah the desert princess, Abishag the shepherdess, Siti the daughter of a pharaoh, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba. As you experience the world of Solomon through his eyes and the eyes of these women, you’ll ask yourself the ultimate question: Did Solomon’s wisdom ultimately benefit him and those he loved . . . or did it betray them?
Book Review:
I picked up this book because I’ve been studying about King Solomon in the Bible. Seeing his story from another perspective was interesting as all Biblical fiction is grounded in some truth. I was relieved to see multiple sections of the book included near word-for-word what I’ve read in the Bible. I can’t promise every single thing in The Heart of a King is directly from the Bible, but I know large portions are portrayed accurately.
I found myself increasingly frustrated with Solomon but that is not the fault of the author. I feel she did an exceptional job portraying how Solomon might have felt during those years. You have to consider the laws of Solomon’s time. And his pride. In The Heart of a King, Solomon believes his unbelievable wisdom will keep him from making a bad decision. Just thinking that constitutes a bad decision.
One line repeats through the book: A king’s might is shown by the size of his harem. This, in itself, is where my problem rests. Solomon should have trusted God. Solomon had already been reassured that the land was his so long as he did not stray from God. He should have trusted that even if he refused marriage and did not have a mighty harem, he would have remained king. Again, this was Solomon’s doing, not the whim of the author.
On to the writing. Beautiful descriptions abounded throughout the novel, detailing everything from the land, to the palaces, and even to the clothes of the different wives. The Heart of a King is told from several viewpoints including Solomon and each of the four main wives. My only issue here is, once Solomon married another, we no longer heard the viewpoint of a previous wife.
Although Solomon’s story is one I already know, I was still anxious to see how everything played out in the book. I highly recommend The Heart of a King to all readers but especially fans of Biblical fiction.
I requested a copy of this book from Revell Reads and was provided a copy via NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author:
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, the Daughters of the Promised Land, the Wives of the Patriarchs, and The Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.
When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).
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