This long, col­or­ful, and detailed nov­el fol­lows the rise of Herod from his time as gov­er­nor of the Galilee until he became king of Judaea. The author’s exten­sive research pro­vides us with a read­able ver­sion of his­toric events from over 2,000 years ago in Judea, Samaria, Baby­lo­nia, Parthia, Syr­ia, Rome, Alexan­dria, and Anti­och. We learn about the work­ings of the Tem­ple, the role of the high priest and the San­hedrin and their com­pli­cat­ed inter­ac­tions with the Roman gov­ern­ment. Herod, referred to by the Jews as ​“a pagan Idumean,” is from a fam­i­ly of forced con­verts, and was regard­ed as an out­sider. Herod is depict­ed as resent­ful, clever, moody, and dan­ger­ous, con­stant­ly plot­ting his next move up the polit­i­cal lad­der. The author pro­vides fic­tion­al dia­logue elu­ci­dat­ing dis­cus­sions among Roman rulers and Jew­ish lead­ers, and pri­vate con­ver­sa­tions between the main char­ac­ters and their fam­i­ly mem­bers. The var­i­ous intrigues read like fas­ci­nat­ing melo­dra­ma. Julius Cae­sar, Sex­tus Cae­sar, Cas­sius, Antony, and Cleopa­tra all have star­ring roles. Infight­ing among the Jews pits Hyr­canus, the Has­monean Eth­narch, against his nephew Antigonus, who wants to seize his throne and priest­hood. The solu­tion pro­posed by Herod is for him­self to mar­ry Alexandra’s daugh­ter Mari­amne, there­by con­sol­i­dat­ing pow­er. What hap­pens next? If you enjoy his­tor­i­cal fic­tion, this is def­i­nite­ly a book to add to your read­ing list. Pref­ace and after­word includ­ed by Mal­ka Hil­lel-Shule­witz who ​“added the fin­ish­ing touch­es” and pub­lished the book after her hus­band, Yehu­da, passed away. A map and time­line would have enhanced it greatly.