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In Golden Palaces, Chaikin weaves a tale of intrigue and betrayal. At the heart of the story is Helena, a young Byzantine noblewoman. Due to her mother Adriana's disappearance and presumed death, she has been raised by her aunt, the scheming and ambitious Irene of Troy. Rejecting her aunt's belief in astrological revelation, she has chosen to cling to her mother's legacy -- the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Helena seeks to thwart Irene's plot to marry her off to the Turkish Moslem prince, Kalid. She loves only her cousin, Philip Lysander. Yet she is drawn to the barbarian Redwan, whose allegiance she must win to defeat her aunt and find her mother. Tancred Redwan, a student of the healing arts, has a mixed heritage -- both Norman and Moorish. Though raised by his grandfather to revere the Koran, he is instructed in the sacred scriptures by Helen's uncle, Bishop Nicholas. What he learns causes him to doubt that Allah is the only god. Forced to wear the uniform of a Byzantine warrior, Tancred struggles to define his identity -- is he a Norman barbarian or a Moslem infidel?
Accused of his brother Derek's murder, he must elude his uncle, who has sworn blood vengeance. He traverses the Byzantine Empire searching for the only person who can testify to his innocence -- the real killer, his Moslem cousin, Mosul.
Tancred recognizes that where Philip is concerned, Helena is blind. She cannot see him for the opportunistic cad that he is. As self-serving as his mother, Irene, Philip wavers between his desire for Helena and for the political advantage of her union with Kalid. Yet, she chooses to believe he'll whisk her away to be his bride -- and she accuses Tancred of duplicity.
The Bishop Constantine, Philip's father in secret, has his own reasons for wanting Helena wed to Kalid -- and for finding Helena's mother before she does. In clandestine negotiations he manipulates the emperor to his selfish ends.
Refusing to be Helena's soldier for hire, Tancred willingly pledges his service to her. But where does his loyalty lie? Does he want Helena for himself? Can he perform his duty to the minister of war, find Lady Adriana, and keep Helena from Kalid's clutches?
The author skillfully, without preaching, reveals the authenticity of the God of Abraham as opposed to the counterfeit Allah.
Author Linda Chaikin is no stranger to readers of historical novels. Her Heart of India series has been very popular, and her book Empire Builders won an Angel Award for Excellence in Fiction. Her exotic choice of time and setting for Golden Palaces, as well as her knowledge about the Byzantine Empire and the Holy wars, make this book another fascinating episode in The Royal Pavilions.
Andrea Huelsenbeck is frequent reviewer from Tempe, AZ.
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