Denise S. (Dargent) - reviewed on 3/11/2013

Helpful Score: 3

Disappointed. I didn't hate it - it was so-so, not too bad, could have been better.

I knew after about 16 pages I was in trouble when "tremble" was used about 47 times. Everything was trembling. But then, it got more into history for a while but then! it turns out Deborah isn't even the main character. A warrior, Barak, and his relationships with three+ women is primarily what this book is about and frankly, I didn't care. I loved the bits about Deborah as prophetess and judge. I got a sense Etzioni-Halevy wrote a good book but then an editor said "sex it up" and Deborah no longer triumphed. I am not anti-romance but I want to read more about history and social customs, with writing that takes me to that time in history. I'm glad they seemed to have enjoyed the same sexual positions enjoyed through the ages but I figured that was true anyway and writing about it just a few times would have made it abundantly clear. It is also never explained where they get the water from - it just appears. This is possibly a true test of good historical fiction about ancient times, explanation on delivery of water. :)

Fortunately, its a library book and I give it back tomorrow.

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