Moon Goddess : The Queen of Sheba

Rating:
Summary: Manna from heaven
Review:

In 950 BC Ethiopia, a numbed Princess Makeda wanders among the sea of dead bodies, including her mother, Queen Zenobia, that flood the floor of the courtyard. Makeda has no time to grieve as she is now the Queen of Sheba and must find a way to protect her people and their wealthy lands from the invading tribes who covet them.

Her foster uncle sees only one avenue of safety for their people. He suggests that she propose a marriage alliance with the legendary King of Judah Solomon. When Solomon and Makeda meet, they fall in love with each other. Solomon, whose harem is estimated at seven hundred women, has never lost his heart before. However, he knows that though he loves this pagan, his tribe would never accept her as the queen of the Jews. Still, when an unknown assailant tries to kill his beloved, he vows to protect her even though he suspects one of his own as the culprit.

MOON GODDESS is a fabulous retelling of the biblical romance between Solomon and Sheba. The story line is fast-paced and filled with a genuine feel for the era. The characters seem genuine without losing or changing what the bible describes of them. Janice L. Dennie demonstrates she is a major talent within the biblical historical fiction sub-genre. Fans who relish a wonderful love tale from out of the Old Testament will want to read this novel and its predecessor (see THE LION OF JUDAH). Both novels contain entertaining, well written, and exciting tales. Anyone who does will be a fan of Ms. Dennie and clamor for an early release of book three, MENELIK THE CONQUERING LION.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: historical romance; emphasis on the romance
Review: I have just finished reading Ms. Dennie's book "Moon Goddess; the Queen of Sheba" and feel compelled to recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romances. It is, I must emphasize, a ROMANCE, telling a tale of the legendary relationship between King Solomon of Israel and Queen Makeda of 'the South'/Sheba/Ethiopia/Yemen. What little we know of this famed relationship comes from readings of 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles, the Noble Qu'ran, and the Ethiopic 'Glory of Kings'-the "Kebra Nagast". Ms Dennie has woven the story from an unusual starting point: that of Solomon being still a young man, and Makeda being not yet twenty summers old, and only gradually maturing into her throne (as Solomon does also during the course of the novel, althought seeming to have a headstart at the beginning). Ms. Dennie draws freely on Ethiopian history and legends with roles taken by the Zagwe people who figure in history during Medieval times, and the ususal exageration of traits provided by Scripture, the term 'Biblical proportions' being especially demonstrated here. It was very enjoyable to imagine Queen Makeda as a seventeen-year-old thrust suddenly into the role of monarch of a sophisticated trading people hearing of the wisdom and skill of a monarch to the North. One could easily envision not only the opulence of King Solomon's domiciles and cities, but also the exotically different -yet no less fanciful- gold and brocade of the Sheban Court. The Queen portrayed herein is not the mature, sober, attractive and self-aware lady, but rather a somewhat abashed teenager only learning the crafts of State. The book is after all a romance, and we have legend and Midrash concerning the celebrated romance between the Israelitish king and the dark 'Queen of the South' which has generated that most celebrated piece of love poetry: the luxuriant 'Song of Songs' -which although authorship has been doubted as Solomon's, is intuitively known to refer to the, uh, 'visit' of the most exotic and beautiful lady that Solomon had ever encountered. I recommend it most highly to anyone looking for a good historical fiction under a blazing equatorial -or seashore- sun. Readers interested further may find either the translation of the Kebra Nagast by Miguel Brooks or Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, to tell a more conventional, male dominated, but still generally unknown side of the tale all too briefly hinted at in the brief passages in Hebrew Scripture. The next installment, being a sequel as well as a stand-alone, will detail the founding of the 'Solomonic' line of kings of Ethiopia with the birth of David II, ibn al Malik, and the covert removal of the Ark of the Convenant from the Temple in Jerusalem. I think Ms Dennie will have my interest for some time....

Rating:
Summary: historical romance; emphasis on the romance
Review: I have just finished reading Ms. Dennie's book "Moon Goddess; the Queen of Sheba" and feel compelled to recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical romances. It is, I must emphasize, a ROMANCE, telling a tale of the legendary relationship between King Solomon of Israel and Queen Makeda of 'the South'/Sheba/Ethiopia/Yemen. What little we know of this famed relationship comes from readings of 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles, the Noble Qu'ran, and the Ethiopic 'Glory of Kings'-the "Kebra Nagast". Ms Dennie has woven the story from an unusual starting point: that of Solomon being still a <relatively> young man, and Makeda being not yet twenty summers old, and only gradually maturing into her throne (as Solomon does also during the course of the novel, althought seeming to have a headstart at the beginning). Ms. Dennie draws freely on Ethiopian history and legends with roles taken by the Zagwe people who figure in history during Medieval times, and the ususal exageration of traits provided by Scripture, the term 'Biblical proportions' being especially demonstrated here. It was very enjoyable to imagine Queen Makeda as a seventeen-year-old thrust suddenly into the role of monarch of a sophisticated trading people hearing of the wisdom and skill of a monarch to the North. One could easily envision not only the opulence of King Solomon's domiciles and cities, but also the exotically different -yet no less fanciful- gold and brocade of the Sheban Court. The Queen portrayed herein is not the mature, sober, attractive and self-aware lady, but rather a somewhat abashed teenager only learning the crafts of State. The book is after all a romance, and we have legend and Midrash concerning the celebrated romance between the Israelitish king and the dark 'Queen of the South' which has generated that most celebrated piece of love poetry: the luxuriant 'Song of Songs' -which although authorship has been doubted as Solomon's, is intuitively known to refer to the, uh, 'visit' of the most exotic and beautiful lady that Solomon had ever encountered. I recommend it most highly to anyone looking for a good historical fiction under a blazing equatorial -or seashore- sun. Readers interested further may find either the translation of the Kebra Nagast by Miguel Brooks or Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, to tell a more conventional, male dominated, but still generally unknown side of the tale all too briefly hinted at in the brief passages in Hebrew Scripture. The next installment, being a sequel as well as a stand-alone, will detail the founding of the 'Solomonic' line of kings of Ethiopia with the birth of David II, ibn al Malik, and the covert removal of the Ark of the Convenant from the Temple in Jerusalem. I think Ms Dennie will have my interest for some time....

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating love story¿.
Review: I truly loved the African royalty story and was truly inspired by the spiritual power of God that took place in this story. This is an excellent book for entertainment, not quite sure if it could be used for anything more than that. I for some reason question if the events really happen. However, I will brush up on the history of Queen of Sheba after reading this book. Interesting topic and makes you wonder. The Bible doesn't speak much of Queen of Sheba and Solomon however I'm very curious. I look forward to reading other stories by Ms. Dennie.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating love story?.
Review: Makeda, a 17 year-old princess, abruptly becomes the Queen of Sheba. Through a series of page-turning adventures she gives birth to Solomon's son, Menelik.