Review - Asenath by Anna Patricio

Title: Asenath

Author: Anna Patricio

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 224

Published: September 24th 2011 by Imajin Books

ISBN:  9781926997261

Source: Sent for honest review

 

Description: Two Destinies...One Journey of Love.  In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.  When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.   Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.  Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

I Give This ...

 

I would think your enjoyment of this book might depend on what you expect from your historical fiction.  If you want gossip, intrigue, and scandal this is not it.  If your looking for an overall sweet story about a biblical figure that very little is known, than this is for you.

I must confess, prior to reading this, I don't think I knew that Joseph had a wife.  Since Joseph was such a devote follower of God, I don't see him willingly taking a wife who followed pagan gods.  So, in all reality, I imagine that it might have been love that drew them together.  Knowing nothing about Asenath, and only the basics about Joseph, this story seems entirely plausible.  

I liked that the story included all the basic information about Joseph that I already knew.  But sticking to the facts, it made Asenath seem more plausible.  I enjoyed her background story.  Kidnapped and orphaned at a young age, she was then raised in the temples.  She caught the eye of some nobility, who then decided to adopt her (this was the only part of the story that I found odd).   While she grows up with wealth and prestige, she never gives up her background.  She always helps those who are less fortunate and despises those around her who do nothing.  Maybe that's drew her to Joseph.  They were kindred souls. 

While the story never really feels like it pushing a religious agenda, it's definitely an undertone.  It's almost like there's a divine energy that pushed Asenath and Joseph together.  And maybe there was.   Asenath put up with a lot to be with him, and yet she never gave up on the idea.  She went against her customs to get her wish.

A light read for sure.   It didn't contain many of the elements that make historical fiction intriguing.  But, I found that I enjoyed it.  Plus, it was a fast read!