Alice Hoffman (The Red Garden) has composed a beautiful fictional saga of four intrepid women brought together during the siege of Masada in 70 C.E. Yael's father, a famous assassin, has not forgiven her for being born in the moment her mother died. Revka is grandmother and caretaker to two mute boys who bear silent witness to her constant bravery and guilt over the death of her daughter in the desert. Raised as a boy, Aziza has a warrior's heart and skill, both of which draw her into the arms of another warrior. Aziza's mother, Shirah, dubbed "the Witch of Moab," has extensive knowledge of ancient medicine and magic, but she knows that all her powers cannot undo the fate that awaits her.
The four women are brought together in Masada by their occupations as dovekeepers, but it is destiny that keeps them bound to each other. Each one is blessed and cursed by love; before their stories end, each one divulges her secrets. The intricate storyline stunningly unfolds in Hoffman's usual lyrical style, greatly enhanced by the depth of her research (including the only contemporary account of Masada's fall, by the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus). Drawing upon these historical sources, Hoffman vividly captures the world of her characters in sharp detail. The narrative lives of each engaging character are arranged cleverly, weaving a little more into the fabric of Hoffman's tapestry every time. Ultimately The Dovekeepers is an ambitious tour de force not to be missed. --Sarah Borders, librarian, Houston Public Library