Chosen by Allison Wells
CHOSEN: A Retelling of the Story of Esther
Some stories stay with you long after you first read them. For me, the story of Esther in the Bible has been one of those stories. From the time I first read it, I was intrigued and wanted to read and study everything I could about her.
My new novel, Chosen: A Retelling of the Story of Esther, was born out of years of reading, studying, and reflecting on Esther’s story. While the book itself is a work of historical fiction set in 1500s Europe, its heart is rooted in a question that has followed me for a long time: what does it really mean to speak up when it would be easier—and safer—to stay silent?
Esther’s story has always struck me as one of quiet courage. She isn’t introduced as someone powerful or outspoken. She is a young woman placed in a situation she could have never prepared for, living in a palace where decisions are dangerous and speaking at the wrong moment could cost her everything. Yet when the moment comes, Esther realizes that staying silent could cost even more.
That realization changes everything.
Over the years, I spent a great deal of time researching the historical and cultural background surrounding the Book of Esther. I studied the customs of the Persian court, the risks involved in approaching the king, and the social realities Esther would have faced. The deeper I went, the more I saw how much courage her decision truly required. Speaking up was not dramatic or easy. It was terrifying.
And yet she did it anyway.
That idea—the courage to use your voice even when it shakes—became the foundation for Chosen.
Rather than writing a direct retelling of the biblical story, I imagined a new setting that could explore the same themes. The novel takes place in a fictional European country in the 1500s, a time filled with political tension, shifting loyalties, and religious uncertainty. It’s a world where power is carefully guarded and speaking the wrong truth at the wrong moment could change the course of a life—or or an entire population.
Within that world is Esme, a young woman who finds herself in a position she never expected, carrying a responsibility she never imagined. As the story unfolds, she must wrestle with the same question Esther once faced: when the moment comes, will she remain silent, or will she speak?
That tension—the pull between fear and courage—is something many of us understand. Most of us will never stand before a king to plead for a nation, but we all encounter moments when speaking up feels risky. Moments when our voice shakes, when we worry about the consequences, when silence feels far more comfortable.
But history, and Scripture, remind us that change often begins with someone choosing to speak anyway.
In writing Chosen, I wanted to explore that kind of courage. Not the loud, fearless kind we often imagine, but the quieter kind that grows slowly inside someone until the moment comes when they realize they can’t stay silent any longer.
Esther’s story has endured for thousands of years because it reminds us that ordinary people can be placed in extraordinary moments. And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do in those moments is simply this: find the courage to speak, even when it’s hard.
Chosen releases March 24, 2026 and is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.
Allison Wells is a wife, mother of four, and unapologetic sweet tea lover who has called South Carolina home for over thirty years. Known for her warm personality and infectious joy, Allison believes in embracing the little things in life. Her motto is, “Life is short. Eat the Oreos.”
As an author, Allison writes both historical and contemporary fiction that blends faith, love, and the charm of Southern living. Her work has earned recognition from the Firebird Book Awards and the Independent Author Network. After publishing four novels with small presses, she launched her own independent imprint, Well Versed Publications. Her stories always aim to offer hope and heart to readers who crave uplifting fiction.
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