Ancient Love in Patricio’s Asenath

Title: Asenath
Author: Anna Patricio
Pages: 389
Release: August 28, 2011
Genre: Historical Romance

They were two souls torn from their homes as children and thrown together by destiny during one of the most exciting eras – ancient Egypt. Somehow in the midst of terror, court intrigue and heroic visions they find a way to each other and love.

If you know your bible you know that Joseph, the boy with the coat of many colors, went onto be a man that was respected by the Pharaoh’s court. So much so that he was given a wife hand-picked by the Pharaoh. She was Asenath, and this story is their love story, told over the ages that includes before they met and after.

It is wonderfully written, so that you are soon in the desert village where she grew up and come very quickly to understand the trials she went through before she meets Joseph, her heart mate. It takes a while to get to the point where she meets him, but you will be glad that first time author Patricio took her time. It makes the story all the more real, as we begin to see the world from Asenath’s eyes.

Historical romances can be tricky. Too much history and they become dull, too little and you will have the wrath of historical romance fans on your back. Those of us who like our history told from a romantic point of view don’t like it when authors trifle with historical details. Patricio has mastered the artform in her first book, with a tale that uses our familiarity with the setting to make us comfortable and still brings enough new ideas to keep the story interesting.

Asenath is one of those great first books, reviewed all over the web by many authors, that makes you write the authors name down for future reference. You just know that Anna Patricio is going to continue to make our romance reading an historical pleasure, and I for one can’t wait to see what she will have in store for us after this one!