Publisher's Synopsis
Born in to Pharaoh Khufu's harem, Hasina is on the brink of womanhood and entering Egyptian society as a woman of privilege.Trained to read and write, she manages trade deals as caravans swarm to the black lands for foods and Egyptian ware. She is unaware how a nomadic people fleeing the barren lands of Canaan are about to remover her from all she has known. Used by her Father as a peace offering to stop a plague in her city, she has no choice but to become Sarai's new handmaid. From Pharaoh's daughter to a Desert Queen's servant. As she struggles to overcome her resentment at the One-God's nomadic people and leader Abram, she forms a close friendship with Sarai, feeling pity for the barren wife of the Patriarch. Until Sarai gives up hope of bearing the One-God's promised child to Abram, destined by God to be an Exalted Father and a great nation. Sarai, in her hidden pain and bitterness, looks upon Hasina, young and fertile, and hatches a plan with Abram to use Hasina in her stead to carry an heir to term. Hasina is powerless as a servant to refuse and is relegated to become Abram's concubine. She conceives quickly and is pleased to see her station rise among the people who begin to defer to her as if she were a wife. Sarai, however grows in envy and jealousy as Hasina rises above her station and undermines Saria at every turn. The storm erupts when Sarai demands Abram put Hasina back in her place. Abram, however, choses to stay out of the women's quarrels and gives Sarai permission to deal with Hasina as she sees fit. Abuse follows and Sarai removes Hasina from her servants station to a slave and changes her name to Hagar - a stranger in a strange land. Depressed and despondent, a lonely Hagar plots to run away back to her home in Egypt where she can raise her child among her own people. The One-God has other plans for Hagar however, and meets her at a spring on the trade route to Shur. What He says to her changes her life and her destiny. Will her child be a boy? Will he grow to lead Abram's great nation of people? Will she become the next Matriarch if she returns? She carries the One-God's promise in her heart as she makes her decision - return to her people or return to the abuse? She knows what she must choose if she wants greatness for her child.
