Voice of the Goddess

Rating:
Summary: Lost World Resurrected
Review: Even if I were not somewhat obsessed with the 18th Dynasty and the Minoan world, Judith Hand's thoroughly researched and re-created sea battles - and the details of private life - would easily have made this one of my favorite reads of the past two years. This is an absolutely delightful first novel, by an archaeologist-author who really does have the potential to become literary heir to James Michener. y

Rating:
Summary: You won't want this advenure to end
Review: In a way this wonderful book reminds me of The Mists of Avalon. It is more fantasy novel than historical novel and seen through the eyes of a heroine rather than a hero. What are the forbidden secrets of the priestesshood? How are young girls prepared and trained sexually and romantically to take their place in this paradise of a society. How does a woman thus trained rise to become an actual goddess to her people and deal with the cataclysmic natural disaster that threatens to doom them all? Will she have to give up her true love to save her people? You will be surprised how this dynamic and clever heroine Leeshandra contrives to keep her honor but "have it all."

Rating:
Summary: You won't want this advenure to end
Review: In a way this wonderful book reminds me of The Mists of Avalon. It is more fantasy novel than historical novel and seen through the eyes of a heroine rather than a hero. What are the forbidden secrets of the priestesshood? How are young girls prepared and trained sexually and romantically to take their place in this paradise of a society. How does a woman thus trained rise to become an actual goddess to her people and deal with the cataclysmic natural disaster that threatens to doom them all? Will she have to give up her true love to save her people? You will be surprised how this dynamic and clever heroine Leeshandra contrives to keep her honor but "have it all."

Rating:
Summary: Written with painstaking historical research
Review: Set in ancient Minoa, Voice Of The Goddess is an epic novel of two lovers who must struggle to protect their island home from invasion from Mainland Greece, and survive the catastrophic 1628 BC explosion of the nearby island of Santorini. Judith Hand has combined painstaking historical research with a flair for dramatic story telling that truly emerses the reader into a time of Bronze Age high culture and a sophisticated society of Mediterranean goddess-worship of Crete as it existed 1600 years before the birth of Christ. Voice Of The Goddess is Hand's debut as a novelist and we can only look urgently for her next venture into historic fiction.

Rating:
Summary: A strongly crafted novel rooted in historical construct
Review: This strongly crafted novel is a compelling love story etched on a lush canvas of competing Mediterranean cultures as the early civilizations clashed on land and at sea¾a conflicted world restless with military adventurism. At the crossroads of contending tyrants, gods, philosophies, religions, and economies stands the serene culture of ancient Crete. Judith Hand invites us there to experience that society's struggle to survive. Her heroes and heroines are rooted in historical construct. In pursuit of their aspirations, they make mistakes, ones that could topple one of the loftiest of ancient cultures. Who then might survive the carnage to carry their examples of harmony and coexistence to following generations?

Confessing a personal bias, as a retired military officer, I enjoyed the shrill authentic ring of gnashing swords, the battered groaning shields, splintered oars and shattered masts so vivid in her battle scenes. War is not pretty. Killing is not a game. To her credit, Judith Hand did not write those scenes as entertainments. The human fear, sweat, blood, exhaustion, revulsion and tears weren't omitted.