The Royal Artisan

Afshar (The Queen’s Cook) transports readers to ancient Persia with this high-octane spin on the Purim story. Sazana is a prodigious potter who keeps her Jewish heritage a secret from her employer Haman, the instigator behind a royal edict to annihilate all of Persia’s Jews. After Queen Esther persuades her husband, King Xerxes, to execute Haman and grant Jewish people the right to defend themselves, Sazana is cautiously optimistic there may be hope for her people yet. But when it becomes clear that sympathizers to Haman’s cause remain—including his 10 vengeful sons—Sazana must summon her faith and join forces with her ex, Jadon, an agent of Queen Esther, to ensure peace in Persia. That involves investigating the death of Sazana’s mentor and guardian Arta, who left behind clues that embroil the pair in a generations-spanning mystery. Despite a few hiccups near the end (including a quickly resolved and somewhat out-of-place plot twist), the textured narrative is effectively propelled forward by its endearing characters, including resilient Sazana and complex Queen Esther. Fans of biblical fiction should take note. (Nov.)