All Things Bookish

Ahoti: Book Review and Giveaway

May 14, 2024 /

Anything you read by Eva Marie Everson is sure to leave a lasting impression, and Ahoti: A Story of Tamar, which she co-authored with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh, is no different.

When I first heard about this project, I was intrigued and excited. Like many of you, I am familiar with the tragic story of Tamar in the Bible: violated by her half-brother and said to live desolate in her brother’s house afterward. However, the historical research done by this author duo paint an alternate ending. Through biblical fiction, they weave a story of hope and redemption for this biblical heroine.

I loved the ending to this story, which is where I thought this story might begin. I stayed up late just to get there! However, most of the story chronicles the hard path Tamar walks and all the challenges she must overcome. Sprinkled throughout are evidences of God’s provision in her difficult life. In some places, the story is not an easy read, but the authors discreetly handled some tough scenes. That said, if the book were a movie, it would be PG-13 for violence and sexual content.

Ahoti, fiction though this story is, teaches a lesson that readers need to hear today: that no matter how dark or unfair life is, God can redeem and restore.

Author Q & A

Now, I hope you enjoy this excerpt from an interview with authors Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson as they share a little about the background for writing this story.

Q: How did the two of you meet?

Miriam: The first time I saw Eva Marie at Ben-Gurion Airport in June 2002. Eva Marie had arrived with a small group of women journalists who had been hand-picked to tour Israel with me with an itinerary based on my book, Women at the Time of the Bible, which I had written a few years before. Then, the Ministry of Tourism came up with the idea of a specialized tour of sites in the Holy Land where you could find the women of the Bible and focus on their story. It was such a privilege to put together what I had learned in writing Women at the Time of the Bible with an itinerary where I could actually show all the places where the female characters in the Bible were the “stars of the show.”  And what a time we had…

Eva Marie: Like Miriam said, what at time that was! Of course, our “famous” story is that when a few of us went down (literally, one had to crawl down and then back up) to the newly discovered ancient palace of King Jabin (Joshua 11), I experienced a little “fall.” From that moment on, everything looked different to me . . . I experienced Israel from so many different levels.

At one point I said to Miriam, “We should write a book together!” We began to talk about what that would look like and, as God would have it, that book released in 2008 (Reflections of God’s Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel, Thomas Nelson).

One of my favorite moments in Israel in ’02 was when we were in Beersheva. Miriam told us the story of Rebekah coming to be the bride of Isaac (Genesis 24). The English version of verse 64 that reads: Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel.

BUT! Miriam explained . . . in the Hebrew text Rebekah doesn’t GET off her camel . . . she FALLS off her camel.

I replied to the group, “When was the last time your bridegroom made you fall off your camel?”

Q: What is the background of the “Ahoti” project? Tell us more about the ancient document that led to the writing of the book.

Miriam: My scientific adviser on the book I wrote about the daily life of children in the Bible was Prof. Meir Bar-Ilan, an expert on the subject. At the launch dinner for that book, I was to discover that he was an expert in another area – an ancient document called the Book of Gad the Seer. It’s actually mentioned in the Bible (1 Chron. 29:29) but was believed to have been lost, like the other books mentioned in that same verse. But as it turned out, it wasn’t lost. A copy of this book had been preserved by the ancient Jewish community of Cochin, India, whose elders said it had been brought to them by the Jews of Yemen, who had come to Yemen when they were exiled from their homeland by the Babylonians after the destruction of the First Temple. There it remained, unrecognized, until Western scholars first laid eyes on it in the 18th century. Eventually, when the Scottish theologian Claudius Buchanan, became head of the Anglican Church in India he traveled to Cochin, captivated by the idea that the Jewish community there might be descended from the original Twelve Tribes. He was shown the document, which he recognized for the treasure that it was, and took it with him to England in 1809. It’s there to this day, at Cambridge University. And that’s where Prof. Bar-Ilan began his research, in the 1980s, which culminated in the publication of his definitive book on the subject The Words of Gad the Seer in 2015, introducing to a wider audience the commentaries of the author on various Bible stories about the reign of David. It was at that launch dinner that Prof. Bar-Ilan leaned over and whispered to me: “I have a story that needs telling, and I think you’re the one to tell it.” It was the story of Tamar, David’s daughter, who was raped by her half-brother Amnon (2 Sam. 13) and later remained “a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.”  But “Gad the Seer” takes the story much further. And so, based on the words of this ancient author, I believe Eva Marie and I are the first to turn one of its ancient tales into a contemporary novel with a resonant message for men and women today.

From the Back Cover

A masterful retelling of Tamar’s story of redemption, faith, healing, and justice

“As an author of biblical fiction, I know the amount of research and work that goes into crafting a story like this. Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson comprise the perfect team.” —Jerry B. Jenkins, The Chosen series

Ravaged by one brother, silenced and betrayed by another, and abandoned by her father, Tamar—once beloved daughter of the king of Israel, and healer of the court—suddenly finds herself in exile, fleeing for her life. But the story continues where the scriptures end: a dangerous journey and tenacious pursuit of her true identity and calling brings her full circle, to her rightful place in the kingdom.

Connoisseurs of Biblical fiction will love Ahoti.

  • Ahoti brings to life the Old Testament story of the biblical princess Tamar, the daughter of David, King of Israel.
  • The familiar Bible story ends with Tamar living “desolate” (2 Samuel 13:20), but master storytellers Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson take readers beyond this sorrowful ending to a horizon of hope, thanks to their brilliant adaptation of an ancient anonymous manuscript, purportedly written by Gad the Seer (1 Chronicles 29:29), which was discovered in India in the early 18th century. Beyond the biblical text, this manuscript provides a surprising conclusion, which has powerful modern-day significance.
  • Rich with cultural, biblical, and historic detail, and spiritually compelling, Ahoti will inspire readers to overcome humiliation, pain, betrayal, and bitterness, to embrace a life of purpose.
  • Learn more at ahotibook.com.

How to Win Your Copy

Simply add a comment to this blog post to enter. For example, you could share why this story intrigues you or another biblical fiction title you have enjoyed.

A few considerations:

  1. You must be over 13 years of age to enter.
  2. You must have a US address. (Sorry to my international friends!)
  3. The winner’s name may be posted on this site and/or social media.
  4. While this contest may be shared on social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with these entities.

The giveaway runs through Saturday, May 25, and I’ll announce the winner on the blog and Facebook the following week.

Blessings to you,

Kristen

Congrats to our giveaway winner!

Congratulations to Brenda for winning a copy of Ahoti! Thank you to everyone who commented and participated.

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56 Comments

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 1:04 pm

      It is a fascinating story! I would love for you to read this book by Everson and Vamosh and have entered you into the giveaway.

      • Samantha

        May 14, 2024 at 2:54 pm

        This book sounds so interesting! I love biblical fiction and the story of Tamar is one I haven’t read about before!

      • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

        May 14, 2024 at 7:58 pm

        Thanks for chiming in, Eva! I’m honored you took the time to stop by the blog today. Massive congrats to you and Miriam on the release of Ahoti! This is such a powerful story, and I have no doubt it will touch so many readers’ lives.

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 1:05 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Lisa. I’ve entered you into the giveaway.

    • Eva Marie Everson

      May 14, 2024 at 7:38 pm

      I think sometimes we forget that the biblical characters were real breathing people with real breathing emotions. Reading biblical fiction (and creating it) helps with that! 🙂

    • Devon C.

      May 14, 2024 at 11:19 pm

      Not a biblical person you hear preached on except in passing. Love the idea of a seeing where a fictional story takes her!

      • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

        May 14, 2024 at 11:52 pm

        No, she isn’t, but I agree: This hopeful ending is so refreshing! Thanks for your comment, and I’ve entered you into the giveaway.

  • Dinah HGirl

    May 14, 2024 at 1:43 pm

    Ahoti sounds like a wonderful book to read. I’ve already added it to my TBR on GoodReads. A Biblical Fiction book I enjoyed reading was Esther: Royal Beauty by Angela Hunt.

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 11:26 pm

      It is a powerful story. Ooh, Angela Hunt is an excellent author. That sounds like another good read. Thanks for your comment, and I’ve entered you into the giveaway.

  • Jennifer Lara

    May 14, 2024 at 3:00 pm

    I have enjoyed the Biblical novels of Tessa Afshar. I have spent the last few years studying the women of the bible and I am familiar with Tamar’s story so I’m interested in reading Ahoti

  • Faith Creech

    May 14, 2024 at 3:46 pm

    Looks like a very interesting book. Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway.

  • Charlotte Saltzman

    May 14, 2024 at 4:53 pm

    I love Biblical Fiction!! It places me in the same time period and opens my eyes and heart to the biblical character. It’s an amazing genre.

  • Patrice Zeigler

    May 14, 2024 at 7:05 pm

    In our women’s bible study we are studying women that are in the bible. I would love to read Ahoti so I can tell them about it. I also hope they might want to read it too.

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 7:53 pm

      That’s so neat! This would be a timely story for you to read.

  • Ava Pennington

    May 14, 2024 at 7:27 pm

    The account of Tamar is captivating to begin with, and I look forward to its retelling at the hands of master storyteller Eva Marie Everson and her co-author Miriam Vamosh! Looking forward to your drawing results!

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 7:54 pm

      I agree, Ava. You don’t want to miss this story and have entered you into the giveaway.

  • Laura

    May 14, 2024 at 7:29 pm

    My favorite fiction is Biblical fiction because it expands my imagination which leads to greater appreciation of the Bible.

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 7:54 pm

      That is such a good perspective on biblical fiction, Laura. It really does!

  • titone5147155d7b

    May 14, 2024 at 9:42 pm

    Looks like a very interesting read! The details make me want it to be my next read.

  • Kathleen

    May 14, 2024 at 10:20 pm

    I’ve often been intrigued by this story ever since a pastor once used the text surrounding it for sermon reference, but left that section out. Of course, that meant I had to look it up and find out why!

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 14, 2024 at 11:10 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Kathleen! I hope you’ll get a chance to read it.

  • Lual Krautter

    May 15, 2024 at 2:51 am

    I enjoy reading biblical stories, so would love to win a print copy! Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Brenda Murphree

    May 15, 2024 at 5:58 pm

    I know I would love this book because I love Biblical Fiction. Not too long ago I read about Tamar. I try to read the Bible through every year. Most of the time I succeed.

  • Sarah Taylor

    May 20, 2024 at 6:42 pm

    Thank you for this amazing print book giveaway I love reading print books and this one sounds amazing! Please enter me in this giveaway Love the cover!

    • Kristen Hogrefe Parnell

      May 20, 2024 at 9:44 pm

      Thanks for your comment, Sarah. The cover is lovely, isn’t it? I’ve entered you into the giveaway.