Daughter of Two Nations by Katrina Covington Whitmore
By Beverly Jackson • Mar 31st, 2010 • Category: Book Review 2010 •
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There is nothing I enjoy better than traveling to an exotic place and time through a well-crafted historical storyline. I enjoy observing a new place and time through the eyes of the characters as they go about their daily lives. This is exactly what I got when reading, Daughter of Two Nations by Katrina Covington Whitmore. My interest was piqued from the beginning when meeting Lady Kiah, princess of the ruling family of the kingdom of Kush, an intelligent compassionate yet innocent young lady, as she is traveling from her home to Palmyra, Syria. Kiah is taking the reverse route for the same reason as her mother, Tiri, took 22 years ago when she left her home in Palmyra to travel to Kush. As this is the third century and women are expected to be a negotiating tool between nations, Kiah has been contracted to marry the heir of the most powerful family in Palmyra, the eastern jewel of the Roman Empire. In deference to her age, Kiah will first live with her aunt, Aziza, and her cousin, Zenobia, so she can become accustomed to the customs of her new home.
The author took me on a wonderful journey through the third century. The sights, sounds, and smells came alive through the characters. While Kiah is a privileged teenager of royal birth, she experiences some of the same trials and tribulations as teenagers of today; jealousy among friends, distinguishing who is friend or foe, learning to navigate the adult world, and experiencing the first pangs of love. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and while the story will be enjoyed by all female teenage readers, those of color will appreciate seeing the characters that look like them. Quick reading, but well paced — the story builds to an unexpected conclusion. As this is the first book in the Bride of the Desert trilogy, I will be anxiously waiting for the next book to see how the conclusion plays out.
I recommend this book to readers of historical fiction, especially teenager and young adult readers. This would be a wonderful book choice for Mother-Daughter book clubs.
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by Beverly Jackson
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Beverly Jackson is is a recent transplant to the Charlotte, North Carolina area. She is an avid reader, and there are very few times you will catch her without a book. Several years ago, she changed her dining room into a library with wall to ceiling bookshelves. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for reading with others and writing book reviews is a way she shares her thoughts. For the last twenty years, she has worked in the technology field for an international consulting firm, but is easing her way into retirement. Her biggest accomplishment is raising two daughters to be productive citizens of society, and they have blessed her with five wonderful grandchildren. Some of her other interest are traveling, watching sports and practicing yoga. And her latest toy is her Kindle which allows her to carry around her library in her purse.
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