Review ~ "Star of Deliverance" by Mandy Madson Voisin ~ Blog Tour

Visit the Tour Page

Star of Deliverance by Mandy Madson Voisin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Fictional Retelling

Book Description: Born a slave and outcast, the young healer Emi discovers an ancient disease spreading among her people. Desperate, she races to the Capital for a cure and unwittingly finds herself in a competition to win over the Crown Prince’s heart. Staying in the game provides time to search for a cure, but it may cost Emi her life—or her heart.


My thoughts: When I opened up the book I was surprised to see a scriptural reference, Ester 4:14. I didn't think this was a religious book. It didn't take long to figure out that the book is a twist on the story of Esther from the Old Testament. It isn't a religious book, but the story line has similarities to the Biblical version.

Star of Deliverance takes place in the fictional land of Deshan. In this verison the Savian people are enslaved by the Brockan's. They live in small village communities where they are poorly fed and provide food for the Brockan. Guards surround their villages and they may not travel from village to village without permission.

Emi is a Savian. She ventures to the capital to find a cure for an illness that is plaguing her people. Villages are dying. In desperation she joins a group of girls headed into the palace. She didn't realize that they were there as candidates to be chosen as the next Queen. She must live in the palace for one year until the Prince has made a decision. She cannot have communication with her mentor and father figure, Cen. She is in enemy territory.

I liked Emi and Prince Corban. Both took risks to be together. Their attraction and flirtations were fun to read. Corban singles her out early, but needs to be attentive to the other girls competing to become his Queen. Emi knows that if she is found to be a Savian, she will be executed, so she walks a fine line between her desire to be with Corban and her need to deflect his attention.

The evil adviser is calculating. He truly is a man to avoid at all costs. It was great to read Emi figure out his plot to eliminate her people.

I thought that the characters were well thought out, the story line was changed just enough to make it unique. I knew how it would end, but I enjoyed the process of reading Mandy Madson Voison's way of getting there.

This is a clean book that I would feel comfortable recommending to my mother and myt teen daughter.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

About the Author: Mandy Voisin is a wife, marketer, and author. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English. Her parents told her she’d never make a living with an English degree, so she’s dedicated the rest of her life to proving them wrong. She loves poetry and babies and her sisters. Mandy currently resides in Phoenix, Ariz., with her husband Kevin who is a sleep deprived medical student with a heart of gold and the world’s best smile. Together they chip away at their dreams.