Tamar

This book was incredibly detailed and wonderfully researched. Chamberlin gives a vivid description of how religion and politics might have mixed, and clashed, in Biblical times. She also gives a human side to the more earthy parts of matriarchal religions. Although we can only reconstruct part of what might have happened during such rites, from existing frangments of tablets found in the region, Chamberlin does a great job of filling in the blanks. Kudos to her for also tackling the intriguing issue of trance-based Goddess rites in the Middle East (readers might be more familiar with the stories of the Priestess-Oracles at Delphi, but the practice was far more widespread).

"Tamar" is a great read for anyone interested in ancient Biblical history and/or goddess worship. Chamberlin expertly weaves an amazing amount of detail into her descriptions of ancient Hebron, Jerusalem and other Biblical places of importance. A beautifully written story!!

In contrast to Sofia, I could relate to and sympathize with the characters of this story. Also unlike Sofia, Tamar was not shallow and the plot had a clear direction. I will give Ann Chamberlin another chance with "The Sultan's Daughter"