This series of books was a gift from Alex and Erin for Christmas. Erin has read and enjoyed them and she knew I would love them as well - and I did! Thank you both - I buzzed through all three books in no time! Francine Rivers is a well know Christian fiction author that appeals to a bit more to a female audience... a little romance involved!
Book One - "A Voice in the Wind"
This book takes you back to the first century in Jerusalem, Rome and Ephesus. The story begins with the destruction of Jerusalem where the main character Hadassah, a young Jewish girl, is captured by the Roman army and sold into slavery. Even though Hadassah is the main character, the author goes to great lengths developing the whole "cast" - mainly the rich merchant family, the Valeriens who are Hadassah's owners as well as a German gladiator named Atretus. The dark side of the Roman Empire is explored and the gladiator scenes make you sick. Hadassah ends up having tremendous influence on the Valeriens as she begins to reveal that she is one of the new followers of Jesus - a Christian. There is a tragic end to the book though and you can't wait to get to Book Two!
Book Two - "Echo in the Darkness"
The story starts right up where book one left off but with the adult Valerian children Marcus and Julia, being more involved in the plot. Where the first book focused mainly on Hadassah and her struggle to stand for her faith, the second book deals mainly with conflicts surrounding the Valerian family and their responses to the sacrificial price that Hadassah paid. Fortunately, God has not given up on them. When Julia falls ill, there is a strange woman hidden in veils who assists the young doctor at his shop in the poor part of town. Hmm... who could it be? There are marriages gone wrong, murder, sexual tension, mystery, and secret identities...everything that makes for a good read is in book two!
Book Three - "As Sure as the Dawn"
This book picks up the thread of Atretes again and now the story is exclusively from his perspective. The other characters Hadassah and the Valerians are referred to only in passing. The story starts in Ephesus and then follows Atretes and a woman named Rizpah (who was briefly mentioned in Book One) as they journey north to Germania in search of Atretes' family. Again, more turns and twists that are sometimes obvious and then others that leave you totally guessing the outcome. This story is a real battle between good and evil - but proving the power of God prevails in all things.
The whole series reflects God's love, persistent calling of His children, forgiveness and redemption. I totally enjoyed the series and highly recommend all three books. Each book is long - nearly 500 pages, but they are fast reads and I was sad when they were done.
Book One - "A Voice in the Wind"
This book takes you back to the first century in Jerusalem, Rome and Ephesus. The story begins with the destruction of Jerusalem where the main character Hadassah, a young Jewish girl, is captured by the Roman army and sold into slavery. Even though Hadassah is the main character, the author goes to great lengths developing the whole "cast" - mainly the rich merchant family, the Valeriens who are Hadassah's owners as well as a German gladiator named Atretus. The dark side of the Roman Empire is explored and the gladiator scenes make you sick. Hadassah ends up having tremendous influence on the Valeriens as she begins to reveal that she is one of the new followers of Jesus - a Christian. There is a tragic end to the book though and you can't wait to get to Book Two!
Book Two - "Echo in the Darkness"
The story starts right up where book one left off but with the adult Valerian children Marcus and Julia, being more involved in the plot. Where the first book focused mainly on Hadassah and her struggle to stand for her faith, the second book deals mainly with conflicts surrounding the Valerian family and their responses to the sacrificial price that Hadassah paid. Fortunately, God has not given up on them. When Julia falls ill, there is a strange woman hidden in veils who assists the young doctor at his shop in the poor part of town. Hmm... who could it be? There are marriages gone wrong, murder, sexual tension, mystery, and secret identities...everything that makes for a good read is in book two!
Book Three - "As Sure as the Dawn"
This book picks up the thread of Atretes again and now the story is exclusively from his perspective. The other characters Hadassah and the Valerians are referred to only in passing. The story starts in Ephesus and then follows Atretes and a woman named Rizpah (who was briefly mentioned in Book One) as they journey north to Germania in search of Atretes' family. Again, more turns and twists that are sometimes obvious and then others that leave you totally guessing the outcome. This story is a real battle between good and evil - but proving the power of God prevails in all things.
The whole series reflects God's love, persistent calling of His children, forgiveness and redemption. I totally enjoyed the series and highly recommend all three books. Each book is long - nearly 500 pages, but they are fast reads and I was sad when they were done.
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