Asenath – Anna Patricio

Asenath is the debut novel for author Anna Patricio, who got in touch with me in September of 2011 offering me a review copy of this book. What with the historical and biblical references in this book I couldn’t help but snap her hand off for a free copy. Anna studied Ancient History at university so my expectations are high that she will throw in some real facts to make this story really come alive. I received Asenath in a pdf format, as I didn’t have a kindle then but now I do and this book got to be first read on it, however you can now also get it in kindle format on Amazon for a bargain price.

‘Two Destinies…One Journey of Love’

Asenath is born and raised in a small fishing village on the edge of the Nile. Her quiet and peaceful life is going to be broken forever when her village is attacked and she is taken prisoner by a vicious tribe. Asenath and some fellow villagers are rescued only to return home to a desolate village, and to find many of their loved ones dead including Asenath’s parents. Asenath and the other village orphans are taken away by a powerful priest to start new exciting lives in the temple complex of Heliopolis. Now she is surrounded by wealth and opportunity Asenath still can’t seem to find her true calling…that is until she meets Joseph. Joseph is beautiful, kind and a slave far away from his home, and the first person who truly seems to understand what Asenath is feeling. Their happiness is not to last though as Joseph is accused of a crime he did not commit and thrown into prison. Is Asenath doomed to lose all the people she has ever loved? Or is it her fate to save Joseph?

Asenath is a beautifully detailed romance set to the stunning background of Egypt in its heyday of power, wealth and majesty. I found myself utterly enthralled. I think the author’s actual knowledge of the time period must have really helped because the descriptions of the world that Asenath and Joseph inhabited was so rich and most importantly believable (whether or not the details were real or not). Since I was a child I have been fascinated by Ancient Egypt, it is one place I would love to visit, so this book played straight into my hands. Especially as it also had the religious theme with Joseph…yes he is THE Joseph…multi-coloured coat and all! The relationship between Asenath and Joseph is very intense, and the romance element of the book I found to be very in your face, I probably wouldn’t normally choose such a full on romance myself but the setting of it kept me on side. I didn’t feel that close to Joseph I understood the attraction but he just came across as what I expected from the Bible stories of him. The person I really felt close to was Asenath; she is beautiful, intelligent, but also at times an emotionally weak character who can be completely ruled by her heart rather than her head. Rather than annoying me though that actually endeared her to me instead.

I would highly recommend this book to bookworms with a passion for history and romance, if you also have an interest in the biblical that  would be an added bonus.

Other Reviews: Reviews by Jane , Top Romance Novels , History and Women

Have you read this, if so what did you think? If you have also reviewed this book but don’t see your link above then let me know so I can add you.

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