First published in 1978, this was Small’s first novel and by her own words, she spent 5 years researching it. I love that her stories reflect deep historical research. It shows in the many details and the vivid descriptions. This is a saga covering more than fifty years. It’s divided into 5 parts, named for the heroine’s roles: the Ambassador’s Daughter, Cyra, The Kadin, Hafise and Janet. And the beginning and end, which take place in Scotland, provide perspective on her life.

This is the ...

First published in 1978, this was Small’s first novel and by her own words, she spent 5 years researching it. I love that her stories reflect deep historical research. It shows in the many details and the vivid descriptions. This is a saga covering more than fifty years. It’s divided into 5 parts, named for the heroine’s roles: the Ambassador’s Daughter, Cyra, The Kadin, Hafise and Janet. And the beginning and end, which take place in Scotland, provide perspective on her life.

This is the story of Lady Janet Leslie, the only daughter of a Scottish earl, Lord Glenkirk, King James’ ambassador to the tiny Mediterranean country of San Lorenzo. At 14, she is happily betrothed to the San Lorenzo’s heir, but then she is betrayed by a servant, abducted and sold on the auction block in Crete. The highest bidder was Hadji Bey, chief eunuch for the Sultan of Turkey. Even Janet’s father could not find the gold to outbid him.

Taken to the Sultan’s harem, Janet’s name is changed to Cyra (meaning “flame” for her vivid red gold hair) and there she is taught all she needs to serve the Sultan (which conjured images of Esther and Daniel from the Old Testament). She also makes two friends bought by Hadji Bey around the same time, one from China and one from the Caucus mountains. These two women become her closest friends. When the 25th birthday of the Sultan’s youngest son, Salim, arrives, he is given the choice of six women from the Sultan’s harem to form his own. Unbeknownst to the Sultan, Hadji Bey has been hiding the three virgins he wants Salim to choose. Salim chooses Janet (Cyra) and her two companions, to be among the six, as he was encouraged to do by Hadji Bey.

A wonderful cast of secondary characters surrounds Cyra as she takes up her role as Salim’s favorite. And Small’s research is evident in the many details of harem life and the eastern culture that pervades the story. That Cyra, a strong-willed, high-spirited young teenager could easily accept her fate was a bit hard to swallow. But as the story continues, it is consistent with her character and her decisions to pursue the path of diplomacy and wisdom.

Many things happen in this saga. There is intrigue, treachery (including murder) and jealousy among the women—exactly what happened historically. Cyra takes her place among the Kadins (the women of the harem who give Salim children) and becomes the bas Kadin, the mother of Salim’s heir, Suleiman (a real historic figure and the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire). Cyra’s wisdom and leadership rise to the fore and she is respected and loved by all but her rivals.

Great storytelling, wonderful characters and real history deftly woven make this a well-loved classic. However, the end is bittersweet, which will disappoint some romance readers who prefer to be left happy. And, with the events in the Middle East today, romances that feature a Muslim sultan acquiring an European Christian woman to add her to his harem, have lost much of their former appeal. It would not be the fantasy of many women today.

The sequel is LOVE WILD AND FAIR, the story of Catriona, one of Janet’s descendants.

Read this many years ago & loved it. Well written to keep you constantly wanting To get back to the life of a Scottish lady kidnapped at 13 , bought by a powerful man to become the first kadin of a prince of Turkey. She lived & loved as few women ever have. Well worth the late nights staying up reading. Beatrice Small was one of a kind amount many good authors. Her books are well worth reading if reading takes you to another time & place you'll not be disappointed with her storylines.

Read this many years ago & loved it. Well written to keep you constantly wanting To get back to the life of a Scottish lady kidnapped at 13 , bought by a powerful man to become the first kadin of a prince of Turkey. She lived & loved as few women ever have. Well worth the late nights staying up reading. Beatrice Small was one of a kind amount many good authors. Her books are well worth reading if reading takes you to another time & place you'll not be disappointed with her storylines.

The Kadin was the very first book by Bertrice Small that I ever read. This is the book that got me hooked.
When Lady Janet is kidnapped and sold into a harem she has a choice to make. She chooses to live and to work toward gathering power in a land that few women have any say in. She chooses love and friendships that will last a lifetime.
This journey will shock you, thrill you, and inspire you. Yes, there is explicit sex. Yes, there are losses and grief as well as intrigue and murder. Thro...

The Kadin was the very first book by Bertrice Small that I ever read. This is the book that got me hooked.
When Lady Janet is kidnapped and sold into a harem she has a choice to make. She chooses to live and to work toward gathering power in a land that few women have any say in. She chooses love and friendships that will last a lifetime.
This journey will shock you, thrill you, and inspire you. Yes, there is explicit sex. Yes, there are losses and grief as well as intrigue and murder. Throughout the journey you will see amazing courage, love and loyalty. The characters come to life as Bertrice Small keeps true to the time period in her descriptions of people, places and social morals.
This book is sexual and at times demeaning for women. This book is about a woman's triumph over fate and her courage to deal with whatever life sends her way. This book is about Power and how one woman gathered it and used it. This book is about a true love and all the wonders that true love entails. This book is about life!

This is an old favorite that I bought for my Kindle so I can start clearing my physical bookshelf off. Tired of moving books. :D

I read this book years ago. Loved it then. Loved it now.

Yes, some of the themes are not popular. Still, I love the harem intrigue, the love, the friendship and the struggle to find self after the loss of a great love.

Janet Leslie is the rather spoiled daughter of a Highland chieftan. She gets what she wants which makes her a brat in the beginning. She is ...

This is an old favorite that I bought for my Kindle so I can start clearing my physical bookshelf off. Tired of moving books. :D

I read this book years ago. Loved it then. Loved it now.

Yes, some of the themes are not popular. Still, I love the harem intrigue, the love, the friendship and the struggle to find self after the loss of a great love.

Janet Leslie is the rather spoiled daughter of a Highland chieftan. She gets what she wants which makes her a brat in the beginning. She is betrayed by a servant who sells her to pirates for his own freedom. Her life as a harem captive takes her on a very intriguing journey. I loved how she and the other three women create a bond that is only broken by death.

Her life as the wife to an Ottoman ruler is not easy. Small doesn't shy away from the harsher aspects of how the Turks maintained the rule of the heir by killing off any potential rivals to the throne--including their male siblings. She doesn't make the heroine of the book perfect. Janet has flaws--one of those nearly ends her life.

From Scotland to the harem and back to Scotland, I love the story of Janet Cyra Hafise Leslie. It's a book I can (and do) read again and again.