In the years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, young Esther's greatest worry is that she will be forced to marry against her will but soon, she faces famine, seige, and slavery. Esther dreams of more than the marriage her parents have arranged, but she must accept the burden of being the dutiful daughter. Torn between her family responsibilities and her own desires, she longs for the handsome Joseph, even though he treats her like a child, and is confused by her attraction to the Roman freedman Tiberius, a man who should be her sworn enemy. As the streets of Jerusalem turn into a bloody battleground between rebels and Romans, Esther's journey becomes one of survival. She remains fiercely devoted to her family, and braves famine, siege, and slavery to protect those she loves.-- adapted from jacket.