It begins with the journey of "The Assassin's Daughter," Yael, who is forced to flee Jerusalem with her father and another family, into the desert. When she finally arrives at the desert refuge of Masada, she is pregnant and hardened to the reality of the harsh life of a refugee.
There she meets Shirah, an Egyptian and her daughter, Aziza, as well as Revka, a baker's widow. All of the women have their own story of love and loss and betrayal. All have made it to Masada with a deep desire to survive and all are strong in their own ways. Shirah is a mystic, full of magic and spells, despite their forbidden nature; Aziza harbors her own secret identity, disguising herself as a her brother and receiving acclaim for her heroics; Revka has proven she will kill, if the situation calls for it, to protect her family.
Hoffman tells the story in sections, with each portion told in the voice of one of the four women. This necessitates a non-linear style as the story shifts back and forth in time. It's told in a lovely and haunting manner, full of beautiful imagery and language. The story is one I'm only vaguely familiar with and to have it dramatized was a delight.
Yet, I can't say I loved the book.
All of the women are mystics of one sort or another, despite professing a Jewish faith. While they claim to serve the one true God, Adonai, a little reliance on the magic of spells and talisman seems to be the better option, especially when faced with particularly treacherous circumstances. In fact, the God they claim to serve never actually comes through for them. It is only magic that serves their purposes. And even that is not always to be relied upon.
I guess, I wanted to see their faith in God manifest, but it never is. They live their lives reliant on themselves and whatever incantations and spells available. I actually didn't like any of the characters and could not see them as real people. They were too... much. All of them were very intense. Their thoughts, actions, and interactions were unlike those of anyone I've ever met. That made them seem wholly unreal and contrived. They are the version of women that this author wants women to be. But I didn't recognize them at all.
I can see why the book has great reviews. It's beautifully written and apparently deeply researched, but it wasn't for me.
