Delilah
A Novel
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4.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Given to the temple of Atargatis as a child, Delilah is raised to be a priestess to the Five Cities that rule Canaan. With her beloved friend Aylah, Delilah grows up under the watchful eyes of high priestess Derceto, who sees the devout young priestesses as valuable playing pieces in her political schemes.
In the hills of Canaan, the Israelites chafe under the rule of the Five Cities, and choose Samson to lead them to victory. A reluctant warrior, Samson is a man of great heart who prefers peace to war. But fearing a rebellion, those who rule the Five Cities will do anything to capture Samson. When Samson catches a glimpse of Delilah, he is ready to risk his freedom to marry her, and Derceto seizes the chance to have Samson at her mercy. The Temple's intrigues against Samson force Aylah and Delilah apart, lead Delilah to question her own heart, and change her future forever.
A glorious and inventive retelling of an ancient story, Delilah is a soaring tale of political turmoil, searing betrayal, passionate friendship, and forbidden love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Edghill's (Queenmaker) tedious retelling of the story of Samson and Delilah, the beautiful, dark-haired Delilah is given away by her mother to be raised to become a priestess to the Five Cities that rule Canaan. The novel alternates between Delilah's point of view and third-person narratives featuring Derceto, high priestess of the temple of Atargatis, who keeps a watchful eye over Delilah; Aylah, Delilah's best friend and confidante; Sandarin, prince of the city; and finally, the tall, strong warrior, Samson, who catches sight of the beautiful Delilah and is determined to have her. For Samson, who is chosen by the Israelites to lead the rebellion against the restrictive Five Cities, Delilah comes with risk. Yet Samson cannot resist her, despite falling directly into Derceto's trap. Edghill's attempt to give a voice to Delilah is commendable, and the novel is strongest when it focuses on her. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters lack Delilah's depth, and the third-person narration tries too hard to achieve historical accuracy and, as a result, loses the reader.
