J. Francis Hudson

Title: The Last Queen of Sheba
Author: Jill Hudson
Pages: 320
Year: 2014
Publisher: Lion
The tale of Sheba and her queens is told from the sole point of view of Tamrin the Merchant. Tamrin’s character sheds light on the inner workings of government in Sheba and Jerusalem. The Last Queen of Sheba is a work of fiction as there aren’t many Biblical or extraneous writings giving knowledge of those who ruled in a place so unlike any I studied.
At the end of book, the author shares where readers can learn about the past and other sources used in preparation for writing. The list of sources though could be better expounded upon including any websites available for readers desiring more historical information. The tale itself is enthralling even though there are a few cuss words used in the book. There are those instances of cussing that I wonder if so far back mankind spoke such words or if there were other ways of expressing disgust.
I really enjoyed seeing the positive and negative of Solomon written in the book to show all the more the glory of God and our need of Him. It was heartbreaking to see the disaster that pantheism and idolatry befell Israel after Solomon’s reign. The length and hardship of traveling back in those times is breathtaking as well as the danger caravans faced due to wild beasts or bandits.
Before readers enter the world of fiction it might be best to read the author’s notes in the back along with the Bible references in order to distinguish fact from fiction. Shining brightest in the novel is the sovereignty of God along with His desire to make Himself to known to all who seek Him with all their hearts.
My rating is 4 stars.
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This is a retelling of the Biblical story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. In this version, the queen visits Solomon as the Bible relates; here the two fall deeply in love. One assumes that the Song of Solomon is the king's love poetry written to this queen during this time. Due to their royal obligations and constraints, however, it is a passion that is hopeless and is consummated only once before the two go their separate ways. The Biblical story of Solomon relates how he fell into folly into his later years, taking hundreds of wives and allowing his wives' gods to be worshiped and that is the way the story unfolds here, too. The Queen of Sheba, returns to her homeland where the virginity of the queen is paramount and a subsequent child must be carefully concealed until the time is ripe.

The world is well enough realized; the matriarchal rule of Sheba is an interesting concept. But somehow the story itself is quite slow and it took me dozens of times of putting it down to read something else before picking it back up again and finishing it. The story lacks tension and in those parts where tension builds, the tension is dissolved quite peacefully and trickles quietly away. Great events seldom happen without great upheavals – in this book, however that is precisely what happens. Three stars – I didn't actively dislike the book; it was more that there was nothing to capture me and make me anxious to continue.… (plus d'informations)