She was young, beautiful, and one of many concubines — No one expected her to become Queen of an empire... — The timeless and romantic story behind the Jewish tradition of — Purim comes vividly to life in Gini Andrew's powerful new novel, — Esther: The Star and The Sceptre. — A beautiful, innocent young girl is taken in bondage to serve the — desires of a powerful king. Trained in the arts of a harem concubine, Esther meets her captor, the legendary Xerxes...and becomes his queen. In the face of sinister plots and court intrigue, Esther is torn between her passion for Xerxes and her love for her people. Finally, she must risk everything and reveal her well-kept secret... a secret that could mean death. Only Esther, the beautiful, clever young queen, stands between the Jews of Persia and a bloody massacre. She cannot fail them, no matter what the cost... Basing her novel on the Old Testament Book of Esther, Gini Andrews weaves an exciting tale of passion, intrigue, and suspense, together with a sinister struggle for power, in the fabled land of Persia. The story is ancient and true. The characters are real. With all the splendor and mystery of ancient Persia as a backdrop, Esther's romantic story of courage and destiny has never been more forcefully told.