The King’s Shadow

by Angela Hunt Book 4 in the The Silent Years series.

First published 2019

Amazon

4.4(1,411)

Salome, sister of Herod the Great, has learned to survive by identifying threats before they can reach the king or herself. Her Idumaean origins and hunger for recognition sharpen a suspicion that turns family relations into evidence of conspiracy, while Zara, her Jewish handmaid, sees pain and vulnerability where her mistress sees rivals.

The women occupy opposite positions in a court where favour can become a death sentence. Through Salome’s calculations and Zara’s compassion, the novel examines the insecurity beneath Herod’s monumental rule and the ethnic divisions of his kingdom. Faith appears in the powerless woman’s refusal to surrender mercy, even when truth offers no guarantee of safety.

Historical Periods

Herodian Kingdom of Judaea37–4 BCE

Genres

Biographical Fiction Christian Fiction Court & Political Fiction Dynastic & Royal Fiction Historical Sagas Historical Thriller Social & Domestic Fiction