Delilah by India Edghill
Title: Delilah
Author: India Edghill
Pages: 368
Genre: Romance
Conceived under a full moon, Delilah was a blessing upon Our Lady. Named for the darkness of the night, Delilah felt it ironic that she was a child of the day. Given away by her mother to the Great House of Atagatis in Ascalon, Delilah spent her life serving the Lady of Ascalon in return for her mother’s success. In the Temple, she studied reading and writing, the properties of essential herbs and the importance of learning of a true gem. Promises of learning the secrets of a young priestess of the temple were in Delilah’s future as she encountered womanhood.
The Court of the New Moons was the perfect place to grown up. Laughter and song filled the air. Lady Ascalon loved each child that came to her kingdom as her own and showered them with her affections. Smiles were in abundance in the Temple. Life was comfortable and very satisfying for each of the young girls as they trained to dance before the goddess even though they were forbidden to leave the grounds.
When curiosity gets the better of Delilah and she sneaks through the three courts almost reaching the outer walls of the compound, she is confronted by Chayyat, priestess of the New Moons. Chayyat introduces her to Aylah, a new girl entering the temple. Delilah has been assigned to take care of her new sister whose beauty, despite the dirt and grime that engulfs her right now, is breathtaking.
Delilah lives under the watchful eye of Derceto, high priestess of Our Lady’s Great House. Derceto had taken the Moonlight Path as a young girl. She was bright and ambitious as each of the New Moons were, but time had hardened her and beauty had faded. Now as she watches the promise of each of the young girls, especially Delilah, she has her personal agenda for their success.
As Delilah encounters the world around her she catches a glimpse of the golden Sampson while he leads a procession through the city. He too fancies Delilah’s beauty and is willing to sacrifice himself as well Israel’s rebellion from the Five Cities for her hand in marriage. Derceto jumps at the opportunity to weave a web of betrayal around the star-crossed lovers by testing their commitments. When the two are shockingly deceived, they are left heartbroken.
Delilah by India Edghill is a creative retelling of the historical tale of Sampson and Delilah and their struggles to prevail over the evils of greed. The sheer power of one’s man’s dedication and passion for his true love puts new perspective on this timeless classic.
