Potiphar's Wife - (Egyptian Chronicles) by Mesu Andrews (Paperback)

Mesu Andrews is a master at creating a story that embraces the cultural setting, customs and attitudes of the time. Her extensive historical research not only grasps the period but also captures the historical figures so well that you can’t help but believe the resulting story could very well be what truly happened or is at least exceptionally close to the true events. This story sets the reader into the time and place of Joseph’s life between his time in slavery and his rise to power in Egypt. Andrews crafts a brilliantly balanced storyline with multiple POVs, writing Potiphar’s wife in close and personal first person while other POVs were written in third person. The emotions I felt while reading were part of what I found to be so compelling. Andrews characters are well developed, vivid and frustrating, even extremely lost and sinful yet you want them to find Elohim all the same. Potiphar’s wife. A woman who suffered loss yet sacrificed so much for the sake of her homeland. The life she loved and the future she clung to died in a day. With no time to grieve, she performed her duty as their princess and the only answer to the rebuilding of her beloved Crete. Zuleikha (Zully) is both aggravating, manipulative, and unnerving. Her constant deception continually creates a wake of destruction within her path. This story delves into the possible triggers and motivations for why she was who she was and acted as she did. She was ridiculed by the noblewomen, put to shame, and publicly shunned. Even Potiphar left her just a day after they wed and kept making promises that he did not keep....”His promises were as empty as my heart.” Zully had no support, no family and no real purpose anymore. She just wanted to go home. This novel also explores the atrocities and brutality, sinfulness, lies, greed and illicit acts individuals will commit for the sake of power and insatiable longings to have their own way. The magnitude of conflict throughout the storyline was, no doubt, true to the time in history but unsettling all the same. Even so, the last third of the book was amazing, as Andrews weaves Elohim through the wreckage created by each MC and creates a beautiful and unexpected ending. I received this book from the publisher free of charge with no expectation of a positive review.

Joseph is a beloved character in the Bible, and I've long known that the lies of one woman caused many of the tragic circumstances in his life. The Holy Bible refers to this woman as Potiphar's wife, but now, she has a name! Zuleika is the name that author Mesu Andrews gives her, and this book has given me a new perspective of this deceitful woman. Andrews is an acclaimed author of biblical fiction, and this book is certainly another triumph for her. The combination of historical details and the author's imagination suggests an explanation for Zuleika's actions, and I was actually led to feel sympathy for this woman who was forced into a loveless marriage and betrayed by those around her. I was intrigued by the interaction between Potiphar and Joseph, the romance between Joseph and Zuleika's servant, Ahira, and Joseph's continuous rebuttal of Zully's advances. As I continued to read, I was reminded of several things. Zully's need for love and acceptance is universal, our lives are often determined by outside influences, but there is One who will never forsake us. Temptation is always present but acting on those temptations is our personal choice! It's evident that Andrews devoted much time to research, and her storytelling kept me turning the pages to see if love and redemption were possible for this troubled, tragic woman. Potiphar's Wife is a must-read for all who enjoy biblical history! I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was absolutely no obligation for a favorable review. These are my unbiased thoughts.

This was a very powerful novel. I am thrilled that my husband and I have been reading the Old Testament recently so I knew the story very well. The author did a wonderful job of meshing real history and fictional content. This is the second Biblical fiction that I have read from this author. I have enjoyed both of these books very much. This Bible story totally came to life as I read it and was very entertaining as Potiphar's wife, Zully, tries to seduce Joseph and he wants nothing to do with that. There is so much historical information in this book, you know the amount of research that goes into a work such as this. I found myself totally captivated by the entire book as each of the characters truly are amazingly well written and you feel as you are right there experiencing their stories with them. I love that Zully tells her story in her words and with her own feelings and thoughts. This is a book I recommend. It was very good! I received an ebook copy from WaterBrook through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.