The dovekeepers / Hoffman, Alice

Four women, Yael--whose father, an expert assassin, has never forgiven her for her mother's death during childbirth--Revka--a local baker's wife who witnessed the murder or her daughter by Roman soldiers--Aziza--a warrior's daughter who was raised like a son--and Shirah--a woman born with uncanny insight and knowledge of ancient magic--are drawn to Masada, a mountain the Judean desert where, in 70 CE, nine hundred Jews withheld for months against armies of Romans.

A tale inspired by the tragic first-century massacre of hundreds of Jewish people at Masada presents the stories of a hated daughter, a baker's wife, a girl disgised as a warrior, and a medicine woman who keeps doves and secrets while Roman soldiers draw near.

Four women, Yael--whose father, an expert assassin, has never forgiven her for her mother's death during childbirth--Revka--a local baker's wife who witnessed the murder or her daughter by Roman soldiers--Aziza--a warrior's daughter who was raised like a son--and Shirah--a woman born with uncanny insight and knowledge of ancient magic--are drawn to Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert where, in 70 CE, nine hundred Jews withheld for months against armies of Romans.

Four women, Yael--whose father, an expert assassin, has never forgiven her for her mother's death during childbirth--Revka--a local baker's wife who witnessed the murder or her daughter by Roman soldiers--Aziza--a warrior's daughter who was raised like a son--and Shirah--a woman born with uncanny insight and knowledge of ancient magic--are drawn to Masada, a mountain the Judean desert where, in 70 CE, nine hundred Jews withheld for months against armies of Romans.