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“A tender and touching tale. Tessa Afshar has given us two wonderfully charming heroines.” — ANGELA HUNT, New York Times bestselling author of *The Emissaries* series

In ancient Persia, the Jewish people face a dire decree that threatens their survival. Roxannah, the daughter of a destitute Persian nobleman, is heartbroken for her Jewish friends but feels powerless to help. Determined to support her struggling family, she seeks out Adin, the compassionate royal physician whose gaze lingers in her thoughts, and asks for his assistance in securing work in Queen Esther’s kitchens.

Within the lavish halls of the palace in Susa, Roxannah must navigate the treacherous schemes of her fellow cooks as she steadily rises through the ranks. Her steadfast loyalty earns her the trust of Queen Esther, who is carefully maneuvering the dangerous politics of the court with wisdom and grace.

When Roxannah and Adin stumble upon a dangerous conspiracy aimed at Amestris—the king’s influential wife and Esther’s greatest rival—they are thrust into a perilous mission to uncover the mastermind behind the plot. As secrets come to light and allegiances are tested, the future of Esther’s rule hangs in the balance.