Delilah: Treacherous Beauty

June 1, 2016

After the death of her stepfather, Delilah is imprisoned by her stepbrother and used at his whim. She escapes with her life but must rely on the kindness of strangers to survive. Determined to recoup her losses, she agrees to find out the secret of Hebrew Samson's superhuman strength in exchange for money. Unexpectedly the two fall in love, but it's too late to prevent Samson's destruction. Hunt's vivid retelling of the biblical tale of Samson and Delilah creates a plausible backstory, portraying Delilah as a surprisingly sympathetic character. Told in alternating points of view of the two protagonists, the narrative delivers both sides of this familiar story in a fresh manner. Readers will have to make up their own minds regarding Delilah's motivations. Once again, Hunt (Bathsheba) stays true to the original account in this reinterpretation. But she adds authentic historical details to present Delilah and Samson's relationship and individual personalities in a new light. VERDICT Devotees of Hunt and biblical fiction will be eager to read.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2016
The story of Samson and Delilah is often reduced to her cutting his hair to destroy his supernatural strength in exchange for mere money. But in the latest installment in her Dangerous Beauty series (Esther: Royal Beauty, 2014), Hunt turns the brief biblical story into a heartbreaking study of human psychology and behavior. Violated by her cruel stepbrother, Delilah is consumed by her need for revenge. It was prophesied that Samson the strongman would launch the liberation of the Israelites from the Philistines, but he questions God's solitary use of him. His role as a judge could bring Delilah the justice she seeks, but their delicate, unexpected love leaves her questioning the price of vengeance, and blurs the lines between deliverance and deceit. Told through the dueling perspectives of Samson and Delilah, an approach she has used throughout the series, Hunt breathes brilliance into the dusty, mystical past. Her precise and purposeful details immerse the reader in the world of Gaza circa 1200 BCE in this fascinating, richly researched, and artfully composed biblical novel that explores the timeless themes of grief, hope, and betrayal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)