So Many Precious Books, So Little Time: Review and Giveaway: Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Review and Giveaway: Written In the Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

Written In the Ashes takes place in the 5th century after the Roman Empire collapses, in Alexandria Egypt. It opens with teenager, Hannah, a shepherd girl roaming the desert with her father in search of a new place to live that has water for their sheep and themselves to live. One night Hannah sleeps close to the sheep to keep an eye on them but she is awakened by men who kidnap her and rape her. They bring her to Alexandria and auction her off as a slave to the highest bidder, Alizar.

Alizar recognizes the beauty and talent in Hannah for her intelligence and singing voice. He decides to give her the opportunity to buy back her freedom and sends her to the Library of Alexandria to get educated and is taken under the wings of Hypatia, the library's headmistress and other's. When Hypatia gives lectures, she invites Hannah to sing and the audience is mesmerized.

Meanwhile, the Bishop, Cyril vows to rid Alexandria of all he views as pagan, including Jews and Hypatia. Cyril does find a way to chase the Jews out and a great many are killed. How far will he go? Does he and his disciples have anything to do with the burning of the Great Library? How will Hannah fair in all of this?

You must read Written In the Ashes to find out! Yes, this is a must read for all historical fiction lovers. This is K. Hollan Van Zandt's first book but you would never guess it. It sung to me like the main character, Hannah with beautiful prose, gleaming characters and 5th century Alexandria, Egypt being brought to life. The words poured off the pages and as hard as I tried to savour each word, I could not put Written In the Ashes down. I cried at the end because I was so upset that the book ended!

Written In the Ashes is book one in what Van Zandt hopes to be a trilogy. It has been optioned by Mark R. Harris, Academy Award-Winning Producer (Crash, Gods & Monsters) for a TV mini-series! Van Zandt told me that one of the big publishers really loved the book but doesn't think that readers are interested in 5th century Alexandria, Egypt and the burning of the Great Library. I find that hard to believe and I hope you will help K. Hollan Van Zandt, I, and others prove them wrong. Written In the Ashes is in my top 5 books of all time, I hope it will be yours as well!

Please note that I coordinated the upcoming May tour for Written In the Ashes but the book was given to me from the author for my honest review and opinion. I was not paid for my review and the opinions |I expressed are my true and honest view of this amazing book!

5/5+

About K. Hollan Van Zandt:

K. Hollan Van Zandt has always loved libraries, oceans, ancient history and migrating birds. Her mentor, novelist Tom Robbins, instilled in her an abiding love and respect for language.She lives in Southern California, and dreams of a home in Greece. This, her first novel, took ten years to complete.

K. Hollan Van Zandt started a group on GoodReads to answer questions about Written in the Ashes and the Great Library of Alexandria. Please join her at http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/68538-q-a-with-k-hollan-van-zandt

Thanks to K. Hollan Van Zandt I am giving away one copy of Written in the Ashes

to one lucky winner.  If you live in the U.S., you have a choice of paper or eBook.

If you are from any other country, you will receive and eBook. Follow the tour in May for more chances to win! This giveaway ends on June 1, 2012. Please use Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:00 AM

Labels: Books Read in 2012, My Past Giveaways

16 comments:

My daughter would love this book, it would be great if I could win it for her.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

Wendy Newcomb said... May 1, 2012 at 10:07 AM

Sounds intriguing! Thanks for the giveaway.

Margie said... May 1, 2012 at 11:38 AM

I love stories based on people from the Bible and look forward to reading "Written In the Ashes". I have added to my wish list. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said... May 1, 2012 at 1:08 PM

Misskallie, it's not based on people in the bible, as far as I could tell.

Teddy Rose said... May 1, 2012 at 3:19 PM

Love ancient Egypt and stories about biblical times!

Literary Chanteuse said... May 1, 2012 at 7:21 PM

Nice review. The book sounds very interesting.

bn100 said... May 1, 2012 at 10:49 PM

Great looking book Teddy. Thanks for putting it out there.

Carl Scott said... May 2, 2012 at 1:34 PM

Love an in-depth story of this sort. Thanks for the giveaway.

nanze55 at hotmail dot com

Nancy said... May 3, 2012 at 5:17 AM

A very generous review, Teddy, thanks so much! (And it made my mother cry.) If I can answer any questions for readers just feel free to find me on Goodreads.
- the author : )

K. Hollan Van Zandt said... May 3, 2012 at 10:06 AM

I haven't read many storeis set in Ancient Rome so this is an interesting period.

Na said... May 3, 2012 at 10:54 PM

It looks like an interesting story, with a unique setting.

Maureen said... May 4, 2012 at 3:09 PM

Would love to read sounds very interesting. Thanks for the chance.
:)Jeanne B. T.

momma8385 said... May 4, 2012 at 7:26 PM

This sounds very intriguing. I love Egypt stories. It is exciting that it will be a mini-series.

Sarah M said... May 5, 2012 at 10:47 AM

K. you so deserve it! I wish you every success. IMO, you should be on the best sellers lists.

Teddy Rose said... May 5, 2012 at 6:27 PM

Sounds like a great book, and i love historical fiction. Thank you for the giveaway:)