Based on true history, four women manage to survive against all odds. There is both beauty and heartbreak in this story.

No wonder this book took five years to complete! The details are heartbreaking and necessary to hear for people who have never experienced suffering. However, it was really repetitive to experience the same details through several different lenses.

I also struggled to switch gears from one character (that I grew really attached to) to an entirely new character in the second part. I even had to read at least 5 or 6 pages before I figured out who this next main character was. I lost a little motivation because it started to feel like a different book.

I wondered why the author had not mentioned Jesus Christ at all. Referencing largely Josephus, she had to jump through some serious hoops to leave out the One Man who could have given these poor people eternal salvation from their hell on earth. Instead, she turned to black magic which left me feeling empty on the inside.

Still, I really enjoyed the way the author flowed with her wonderful word choice. Her vivid descriptions lent themselves to a picturesque showing of an important historical event.

This harrowing tale of four women who are at Masada when it falls to the Romans is a tad tedious. Masada is a key event in Israeli history. Yet, the focus of the book is on their lives and transgressions before the last day. The book is overly long and gives short thrift to the climatic real life ending.

"Dove Keepers" by Alice Hoffman is one terrific adventure story based on historical accounts during ancient times in old Isreal. The "Dove Keepers" is a story about four heroic women, all different from each other, one is a warrior, one is a healer, one is a mystic, and one is leader. The Jewish people are on the run from the Roman army that has invaded and is now destroying the nation. The escape is lead by families who walk through the desert searching for a safe haven locate on top of a mountain. As the families settle in to their new surroundings each person assumes a position within the community that would add to their survival. The dove keepers are persons who care for birds. Doves lay eggs which provides food to help sustain the group. As time passes, relationships form, young girls become young women, hormones start to kick in and love blooms. The rules and traditions of Jewish Culture are less important when your on the run! "Dove Keepers" is an exciting story that keeps the reader entertained and riveted til the very end. Full of outstanding scenic descriptions, well developed characters you want to know more about and action that take your mind's eye into uncharted territory. A must read. Already a feature film I can't wait to read it again.

Highly recommended!

Ghettostone Publications Editor/Chief
www.ghettostone.com

BEST SELLERS BOOK CLUB -Leader

Loved this book! In fact reading was ruined for me for a bit because this was so fascinating and captivating.

This novel is set in ancient Israel, when 900 Jews held Masada for months against Roman armies. The story is based on the tragic event when warriors for freedom fought against trained soldiers. it is a mesmerizing story of courage seen through the eyes of the four extraordinary women, each holding to their own secrets and beliefs. Alice Hoffman's masterpiece is a testament to the human spirit.

An unforgettable novel! Powerful and dangerous women. The feminine aspect of God. Mysticism, destiny, history.

An epic tale that is told through the eyes of four women who were seeking refuge at Masada. The book was fascinating read and well-researched. The journey of each woman shows their suffering as the Roman legions take over their homeland and how their stories intertwine even more than first realized.

There was much mixing of paganism i.e. Ashtoreth and other rituals with the practices of Judaism. God clearly told his people that such practices were forbidden and would bring judgment. At this same time in history, there were Jews who had been taken captive to Rome and were embracing the gospel message of the Messiah.

If you enjoyed this book, you may want to check out the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers.

Most experts on ancient history remember the tragic siege of Masada, where hundreds of Jewish refugees committed suicide rather than surrender to the Roman army. The only survivors were two women and five children. A lot of the stories focus on the military aspects, but "The Dovekeepers" speaks from a different perspective; from the lives of four women. There's a suspected witch, an Amazonian warrior, a baker's widow who has seen untold horrors, and an abused, neglected daughter of an assassin.

Hoffman wraps her novel with fascinating details and intense, dream like imagery. The terrors of being persecuted in your own land by the Roman conquerers are distant as thunder at first, then gradually develop into the horrific storm of the nightmarish final nights. As you read on to find out who survives and who doesn't , the suspense becomes as taut as a tightrope. If you liked Anita Diamant's "The Red Tent", you'll love "The Dovekeepers".

This is one of the most beautiful and moving novels I've read in some time.