The Vale of Cedars; Or, The Martyr

"The Vale of Cedars; Or, The Martyr" by Grace Aguilar is a historical fiction tale from the 1800s that looks at love, giving up things for others, and the problems that come when different religions and cultures clash. The story follows Marie Henriquez, a young Jewish woman in Spain in the late 1400s, who is caught between her feelings for Arthur Stanley, an Englishman, and her duty to her religion and her family. Early on, we see the exciting but troubled world of old Spain, where Marie is pulled in two directions: her love for Arthur and what her Jewish community expects of her. Her first meeting with Arthur starts a secret romance full of stress and sadness. As her father gets sicker and society puts pressure on her, Marie struggles with her feelings, leading to a sad understanding of her love for Arthur and what her decisions will mean, setting up a dramatic story of love, persecution, and giving up everything.