Praise for The Egyptian Princess!

THE EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, A Story of Hagar

by KD Holmberg | Read by Lillian Rachel

Historical Fiction • 12.5 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2022

The life of the biblical figure Hagar is imagined in a historical fiction audiobook narrated by Lillian Rachel. The princess of Egypt and future wife of the royal heir, Hagar, lives a charmed life. When Sarai, a Sumerian, joins the pharaoh's harem, Hagar's visions start to come true. Before long, Hagar is questioning the existence of her gods and recognizing the truth of Sarai's one true God. Rachel's performance adds a deeper level to Hagar's story. Her careful pacing adds gravity to Hagar's world. By breathing life into the residents of the pharaoh's court, she ensnares the listener. As she deftly switches between their voices, including their accents, she captures the personalities of both major and minor characters. Rachel's narration makes this production well worth the listen. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]

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I also started and finished @authorkdholmberg’s The Egyptian Princess; a story of Hagar. This is actually book one of a series called The Women of Valor. I’m guessing from how this book ends, the series is actually a continuing story and not a set of stand-alones. Normally cases like that I will read the whole series before writing a review, but the subsequent books for The Women of Valour haven’t been published yet, and after some looking around haven’t found any dates as to when they might be coming out. So until such a time I will review book one.

As I said in a recent review I will biasedly love anything related to ancient Egypt on the spot! But, even so I would never admit to loving a book that I actually didn’t love as a reader. As for The Egyptian Princess I not only loved this book as an ancient Egypt enthusiast but also as a reader! I was smitten with the idea that Hagar would’ve actually lived with and gotten to know Sarai (possibly even befriended her) very well after she was taken as Pharaoh’s concubine/wife. It was an idea I had never thought of! This is Probably because sometimes Hagar is referred to as an Egyptian servant rather than a princess in some Bible translations. This makes the idea of Hagar being sent out of Egypt with Sarai when she’s released even more interesting due to several historical and cultural factors which Holmberg addresses in what I thought were superb situations weaved throughout a plot line of both conniving and lovable characters and tremendous natural disasters. The research and development of this work couldn’t have been an easy feat and I commend the effort Holmberg made!

The spiritual elements of the story were also strong; the presence of the Holy Spirit when Sarai and Abram arrive in the palace is a stark contrast to the dark worship of the deamons Hagar has always known as gods. While she’s plagued with dreams of death upon their city, a spiritual being is also beckoning her to turn to him. She learns about the strange invisible, singular God Sarai serves while dealing with threats from her brother and his new wife.

All the way around this story did not disappoint!

Intelligent, well-researched, and interesting!

This is a well-researched story, emotionally and intellectually charged. The story definitely provided deep insight and a clearer understanding of that time period. An interesting and thought-provoking read! Hope there’s a sequel!!!

~WBU Jr.

Gorgeous Imagery

KD Holmberg's wonderfully emotional Historical Fiction explores a fascinating backstory for Hagar, the woman who later became Sarah's handmaid and the mother of Abraham's first son, Ishmael. I'd never heard this take on Hagar as a princess of Egypt, a twin sister to the prince, and also destined to be his primary Great Royal Wife. Sarah (called Sarai at that time) comes to Egypt under the false pretense that she is merely Abram's sister, and trouble begins. Princess Hagar is a conflicted heroine in this book, feeling the call of the God of Sarai and Abram, but fearing the gods she has been raised to honor. The story is deeply researched from ancient sources (Midrash, Josephus, Dead Sea Scrolls) and filled with descriptions of Egypt's grandeur, myths, and customs. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, especially the ancient Egyptian world.

~Dana McNeely, Christy award finalist and author of Rain and Whirlwind.

"I have spent my life gazing upon the gods of Egypt." The truth tumbled from my lips and numbed my insides. "This is the first time a god has gazed upon me." ~KD Holmberg, The Egyptian Princess.

A fantastic Debut! KD Holmberg has painted a story lush with imagery. The courts of the pharaoh and the story of Hagar came to life with beautiful crafting! I can't wait to read more of her books!

~Naomi Craig, author of Ezekiel’s Song

Enthralling!

This was the most incredible piece of historical fiction I have read! I admit, I put off reading it, but from the moment I opened the book, those pages enraptured me! Christian or not, the tale of the power of a woman’s voice, love, and friendship, regardless of the journey one's life takes us, gives way to trust, hope, and goodness.

~Bobbie Paradise

Skillful portrayal of Bible character in fiction.

This audiobook was skillfully written and narrated. The narrator made each character’s voice sound unique and easy to distinguish. This entire tale takes place in the time before we meet Hagar in the first book of the Bible. The author used her detailed research to craft a fine historical novel set in ancient Egypt, where Hagar is the firstborn child of the pharaoh and a twin to her brother, whom she is destined to marry. As a member of the royal family, she is well-educated and takes her role as princess seriously. When Sarai and Abram are presented to the court, Hagar feels an attraction and a wariness about their “one” God. Could He be the one who has appeared to her and spoken to her in her dreams? I found it interesting how the author incorporated a growing interest about God and faith in Hagar. This is the first time I ever heard that she might be royalty. The story of her life before becoming a handmaid piqued my interest and kept me engaged. You can picture the scenes with the skillful descriptive writing and characterization, which connects well to the intriguing plot.

~M. Hake Vine Voice

The author illustrates the time and attention to detail spent to make this book interesting and well-written.

Hagar serves as Sarai’s handmaiden in the Bible. But how did she achieve that position? This book explores one possible scenario in which a daughter of a pharaoh – a crowned princess of Egypt may have found herself in that position. I love getting to know Hagar and seeing her interactions with her family, servants, and others who come in contact with her. The storyline moves at a good pace, and the characters are well-developed. I especially enjoyed reading about the interactions between Hagar and her mother,

~Patti Pierce Vine Voice

Visibility for Hagar – Excellent representation of a real Egyptian woman.

I loved that this took a traditional Biblical story and flipped it upside down to give a voice to a woman who is always glossed right over. The author has obviously spent a great deal of time researching the time, culture, and Biblical history. It's colorfully written, nuanced, and easy to get lost in. It's a great read!

~Orit Moyal McConnell