# Read the first page of The Book of Esther by Emily Barton Read the opening of The Book of Esther by Emily Barton free, no signup. A Jewish warrior nation defies invaders in a counter 1930s. - Page: https://uncovered.ink/read/the-book-of-esther-emily-barton - Genre: Alternate history - Year: 2016 - ISBN: 9781101904114 - Read it blind (cover and title hidden): https://uncovered.ink/?b=9781101904091&s=read-page - Buy: https://bookshop.org/a/125786/9781101904114 - Borrow: https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=9781101904114 ## The opening Dim pricks of blue light shone through the shutters’ decorative punchwork. Careful not to wake her sister, Esther braced her hand against one door while she drew back the other. The wooden panel stuck a moment before popping free, letting in the damp, salty air and a view of purplish sky. To the east, the sun cast its first pink glow over the place where the mighty River Atil spilled into the Khazar Sea. Esther raced through her morning prayers, her voice a sibilant whisper. From her father’s house, high up in the walled city of Atil, Esther could see sailors on the island-sized expanse of an aerocraft carrier’s deck. Some worked with mops and pails; some checked the serried rows of flying machines; one hoisted the kaganate’s white flag, which hung limp in the still air as it jerked up its pole. The decks of the Khazar warships bustled with activity. Men also worked aboard great Ortoman and Persian merchant ships, moored across the river in Atil’s twin city of Khazaran. Fishing boats plied the water. Downstairs, someone dropped a log and swore to her native god. The smell of fresh flatbread rose from the kitchen. Much of the world was at work at this hour, just not the children of the bek’s kender, or chief policy adviser, Josephus. Esther’s sister, Elisheva, still slept, her mouth open, her dark hair trailing onto Esther’s pillow. Esther slipped out of her nightgown, pulled on the sweater and loose trousers she’d worn the day before, and walked barefoot into the cold hallway and down the stairs. Her boots, like everyone’s, waited by the back door. On her way through the kitchen, Esther filched a flatbread the older kitchen maid, Afra, had just pulled from the oven. The younger maid, Kiraz, looked up teary-eyed from chopping onions, but didn’t say anything. Holding the hot bread between three fingertips, Esther scooped into the pot of warm lentils over the fire. Afra began to complain, it had been her, swearing a moment earlier, and Esther gestured an apology and said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll clean it up.” But she was already at the door, the bread and lentils folded into one hand while she wrestled on her fur-lined boots with the other. When she’d taken them off the night before, they’d been caked with red mud. Someone had brushed them clean. She had nearly crossed the inner courtyard before Itakh zoomed up beside her, hopping to pull on his second shoe. He carried a rucksack on his back. Mindful not to hit it or knock the Bukhari kippah off the back of his head, Esther put her free arm around his small shoulder. The top of his head reached her armpit. Itakh took the opportunity to grab the dripping bread and lentils. He took a big, sloppy bite before returning it to her. “Disgusting,” Esther said without meaning it. “You didn’t even bless it.” He was only about nine years old, but should have known better. He sang out a quick Motzi and wiped his mouth on his forearm. “Good morning to you too,” she said. Then she tore the bread in half. They kept walking, companionably quiet while they ate. The sharp, dry turmeric in the lentils cleared Esther’s nose. Lentil juice plopped onto the ground. At the far end of the inner courtyard, the gate stood shut, held fast by a wire loop. Esther swung this up, then drew the gate open, careful to lift as she did so to prevent the hinges from squeaking. Itakh ran through and she closed it again behind them. A higher brick wall surrounded the house’s outer courtyard to protect the whole enclosure from attack. ## Books with a similar feel - [The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick](https://uncovered.ink/read/the-man-in-the-high-castle-philip-k-dick.md) - [Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price](https://uncovered.ink/read/children-of-ash-and-elm-neil-price.md) - [Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake](https://uncovered.ink/read/entangled-life-merlin-sheldrake.md) - [At Home by Bill Bryson](https://uncovered.ink/read/at-home-bill-bryson.md) - [1968 by Mark Kurlansky](https://uncovered.ink/read/1968-mark-kurlansky.md) - [Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly](https://uncovered.ink/read/hidden-figures-margot-lee-shetterly.md) --- Source: Uncovered (https://uncovered.ink). A short sample shown for reading and discovery. Rights holders can request removal at https://uncovered.ink/takedown.