The Caliph's Favorite by Naava Mashiah

In The Caliph's Favorite, author Naava Mashiah sets her work of historical fiction in Andalusia, Spain, during the Muslim Caliphate of Abd al Rahman III at Medina al Zahra. The Caliph ruled with his vizier, Hasdai Ibn Shaprut, a devout Jew, by his side. In Cordoba's atmosphere of peaceful-coexistence, Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived, worked, and worshipped in a climate of mutual respect. Sadly, human nature is not perfect, and such harmony is not sustainable. Still, precious lessons can be learned from both its ascent and its demise. The Caliph's Favorite provides a lyrically-framed window on a halcyon place during a halcyon time. As with all things human, greed, lust, and suspicion insinuate themselves into the careful balance. Still, in Andalusia, for one golden moment, the best in humanity came to the fore. Mashiah's extensively researched, emotionally resonant novel offers insights into the glorious possibility of societal, cultural, and religious co-existence, while also revealing the dark, secret histories that unravel the best of human intentions.