Esther is a kyra, member of a caste of Jewish women authorized to act as intermediaries between the Ottoman Sultan's harem and the wider world. Forced to flee the Spanish Inquisition, Esther's family has lost everything, but she rebuilds their fortunes in Istanbul as a confidante of the powerful and isolated women of the court. But this is the crux of the Ottoman Empire, and such proximity to power comes at a cost, challenging even the resourcefulness of someone like Esther... This dramatic historical novel is based on real people and events.