I read The Emperor’s Assassin by Autumn Bardot (5 stars) so when offered another of her novels, Confessions of a Sheba Queen I was happy to accept. I thank Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for sending me a copy at no charge for my honest review.
About Confessions of a Sheba Queen:
Publication Date: March 10, 2019
Cleis Press
eBook & Paperback; 384 Pages
Genre: Historical/Erotica
With a host of unforgettable characters and unbridled sensual escapades, Confessions of a Sheba Queen is a triumphantly erotic retelling of an indomitable woman prevailing in a man’s world.
During a raging sandstorm along a riverbed in the ancient lands of Saba, a powerful jinni born of smokeless fire gives birth to a half-human daughter. Bilqis does not inherit her mother’s magical abilities, but the fire of her jinni blood does imbue her with other powerful gifts. As she undergoes her rites of womanhood and her insatiable sexual hunger is awakened, it becomes clear—this is the key to her “great destiny” prophesized at her birth. But it could also lead to her total undoing.
Bilqis comes to understand that her supernatural talents have the power to make men, and women, and nations prostrate themselves in utter devotion to her. When tragedy strikes, she leaves her home to seek revenge against the tyrannical god-king whose reign is a plague upon his land and people. Armed with only her body, courage, and wits, she quickly masters the art of seduction, all the while resisting the mind-consuming call to stay locked in an endless cycle of carnal passion.
Destiny soon intervenes, and what began as a quest for vengeance becomes a mission to heal the land of Saba from a twisted, corrupt regime and to see it become the wealthiest kingdom in all the land. Yet, it is only after meeting the already legendary and wildly attractive King Solomon that Bilqis discovers her greatest battle is not with others, but with herself.
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About the Author:
Autumn Bardot writes historical fiction and historical erotica. Her debut historical fiction is THE IMPALER’S WIFE. Her debut historical erotica is LEGENDS OF LUST.
Autumn, a pen name, has worked as an educator for more than sixteen years. She teaches literature, writing, and the magic of words. She has a passion for history and a special affinity for the unsung courageous females that history has neglected. Or misunderstood. Autumn lives in Southern California with her husband and ever-growing family. She wishes she was one-tenth as brave as the women she writes about.
Historical Fiction
~ The Impaler’s Wife
~ Dragon Lady
~ The Emperor’s Assassin
Historical Erotica ( Cleis Press)
~ Legends of Lust, Erotic Myths from around the World
~ Confessions of a Sheba Queen
My Opinon:
First up, this is one sexy book. If you missed that it is historical erotica let me make sure you know that. I somehow did. I saw the author’s name and knew I loved her last book and honestly didn’t read much further. Was I in for a surprise. Not in a bad way mind you, but it is erotica – just make sure you know that going in. Well written, page turning erotica.
In between all of the sex is the story of Bilquis, the Queen of Sheba. She is mentioned in the Bible and I do find it somewhat disconcerting to be writing about a Biblical figure – as minor as she is – in the same review as I discuss the erotica but hey, without sex there is no procreation, right? And the Bible does tell us to procreate. The Queen of Sheba tells the story of a young woman, Bilqis who was born of a Jinni and a human. On the night of her birth and Oracle foretold that she had a Great Destiny. Thanks to this her mother provided her with an expansive education including one in the sexual arts.
One night her life is violently altered and Bilqis is pulled towards her future. Using the skills she learned from ALL of her teachers she is soon the Queen she was meant to be. There are those that still don’t trust or respect her but as the kingdom (queendom?) starts to flourish her popularity grows. She lacks one thing – an heir but she won’t marry anyone beneath her. She needs a king who is as least as powerful as she. Bilqis starts hearing about a powerful king in another land. A fair and wise man named Solomon. When he sends a letter to her by way of a hoopoe bird she decides to visit. But it will be in a caravan of riches the likes of which no one has ever seen. She plans to secure a trade deal for her people during the visit but she secures so much more.
The book was like two different books in one – the erotica sections and the historical ficton sections – but Ms. Bardot wove them together very well. It was a hot read.
Rating:
4.5
The Giveaway:
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of Confessions of a Sheba Queen! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on April 1st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
