Salome by Beatrice Gormley

Salome by Beatrice Gormley 5 of 5 stars.

Her name is Salome. You may think you know her story. . .how her seductive Dance of the Seven Veils led to the beheading of John the Baptist. But you don't know it from her side. You don't know how a web of betrayal, and greed, and desire was spun around an innocent teenage girl. How she came to doubt her own mother. How she searched for a friend in an unfamiliar land. And how she walked into a trap and changed the course of history.

This is Salome's story in her own words.

Listen, and learn of strength, of power, of loyalty. . .and of death. (Book blurb)

When Salome's mother becomes involved with Antipas, a high political official in ancient Rome, Salome begins to see her mother for what she is, a jealous and power hungry woman. But after spending her whole life practically worshipping the ground Herodias walked on, even thinking of them as sisters, it is hard for Salome to accept. But as Antipas's sights switch from mother to daughter, there is no denying Herodias's cruelty to her Salome.

As Salome realizes that power and seduction are the two main themes ruling this game of courtly intrigue, she can no longer deny what she wants: to become a priestess of the Goddess Diana in Rome. She finally decides to do anything in her power to get what she wants, even seducing her own mother's husband. But Herodias isn't finished playing all of her cards yet...

Salome is the beautiful tale of an all too familiar and misunderstood girl in Ancient Rome, struggling to keep her head above water in the midst of greed, jealousy, and politics. Beatrice Gormley shows us the tragic story of the girl who called for John the Baptist's head. Her prose is innocent and beautiful as she speaks from Salome's point-of-view, giving us a picture far different from the one that has always been portrayed.

Beatrice Gormley swept me away with Poisoned Honey, her latest novel about Mary Magdalene.  Salome was no disappointment either. The characters were vivid and whole, jumping right off the page. My favorite character in the novel was probably Leander, Salome's tutor and friend. He added layers to the story as well as being able to show Antipas from a slightly more objective perspective. Joanna was also an interesting character, and one who I recognized from Poison Honey.

Salome was simply a beautiful historic fiction novel that I will cherish forever. I believe anyone could love this book, whether you enjoy historical fiction, religiously based novel, or don't read much at all.

To order Salome by Beatrice Gormley from Amazon.com please click here.

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