Recent Reads - Obedient Unto Death

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Obedient Unto Death by Liisa Eyerly - In ancient Ephesus the first generation of the Christian church is growing, but it is considered an outlawed religion in the Roman Empire. Sabina is a devoted Christian, but as a young woman living in her father's household, she must be especially careful that her movements don't draw attention and put the church at risk, because her father is a Roman magistrate.

During a church meeting, a young scribe dies suddenly, the victim of poisoning, and the church bishop is arrested for murder. Sabina knows that Apollos is not guilty, but confessed in order to protect the rest of the church, so she is determined to find the true killer so Apollos can be set free. Her father reluctantly allows her a few days to find the murderer before Apollos is executed.

Sabina begins tracking down information about the dead scribe and his contacts, and eventually enters into a tense partnership with his brother to find the answers. They uncover several possible suspects, and realize that not everyone is telling the truth about their interactions with the scribe, or even about their religion and loyalties. Sabina's pursuit of the truth puts her in danger of being exposed as a member of an outlawed religion, and puts her very life in danger.

This was an interesting mystery, because without reliable eyewitnesses or a confession, how could murders be investigated in a time before DNA evidence or time-stamped surveillance videos? Sabina must be creative and use logic and intuition to figure out who might have motive and opportunity, and how to prove it. The contentious interactions with her father, the scribe's brother, and others complicate her search. She also finds out that Apollos has some information related to her mother's death, and must decide whether to press him to reveal what he knows about that; and there's a suitor likely to propose to her, so she must navigate through those expectations and her own feelings about it. There are a lot of threads to weave together for the story to work, and overall I felt that it worked well and kept me interested in all facets of her journey of discovery. The answer to the murder mystery made sense but I wasn't completely convinced about the proof, and although the wrap-up didn't neatly tie up every loose end with appropriate justice, it was believable because rarely does a real tragedy get wrapped up in a neat and perfect ending. I also appreciated the elements of faith and the history of the early Christian church that were woven into the narrative and figured in the mystery itself.

From the publisher:

Murder, intrigue, and treachery in ancient Ephesus.

Sinister forces are at work to destroy the fledgling Christian faith in Ephesus, and Sabina is in their way.

A young scribe is murdered during a covert Christian worship service. Sabina, a member of this outlawed religion, can't believe a member of this new faith could be the killer. But when her Roman magistrate father arrests the church bishop for murder, she reluctantly admits all is not brotherly love and harmony among the faithful.

Racing to stop the bishop's imminent execution, Sabina plunges into the private world of the dead scribe, searching for proof of the bishop's innocence. Mystery, intrigue, and treachery meet her at every turn. Will she discover the truth in time, or will she be thrown in prison herself for her faith in Christ?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a book I meant to read last year (#35) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

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Recent Reads - Egypt's Sister

This post contains affiliate links.

Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra by Angela Hunt - Chava's father is the tutor to the royal children in Alexandria, so she has been brought up as the dearest friend of the princess Urbi. The two share a close bond, and vow to always be together, but when Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne and becomes Queen Cleopatra, their friendship is tested. Tumultuous events force them apart, but Chava believes their bond will endure. And it does, at least until Chava must politely decline Cleopatra's offer of Roman citizenship for herself and her family. Chava and her family are Hebrews and will not agree to worship other gods, which is Cleopatra's condition of citizenship. To Chava's horror, she and her father are imprisoned because of this, and seemingly forgotten and dismissed by Cleopatra. Eventually they are sold into slavery, and Chava's last hope of being reunited with her family is shattered when she is put on a slave ship bound for Rome.

Chava endures the cruelty of the slave ship, and finds herself sold as a laborer on a farm estate in the country. She is determined to find a way to escape or earn her freedom so she can find her father and brother, and to confront Cleopatra. It turns out that she is on the estate of Octavian's mother, and after Octavian is named Caesar Chava is moved to Rome where she works hard to become a skilled midwife. She finds an unexpected friend among the powerful advisors to Caesar, and at long last has a way to return to Alexandria. After fifteen years away, will she be able to find her father, or her brother who escaped to Jerusalem? What has happened to the young scholar who once wanted to marry her? And will she have the chance to meet Urbi again face to face, and fulfill the promise that God had given her?

This was such a powerful story, weaving the imaginary character of Chava into the history of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and other real figures. Chava's belief that God had spoken to her about her friendship with Urbi, and her maturing and growth in her faith was very real and compelling. It certainly isn't a feel-good "happy ever after" story in the sense that we know that Marc Antony and Cleopatra had a tragic ending, but with the focus on Chava and her experience, there is an underlying message of hope and of God's faithfulness.

From the publisher:

You Don't Know Her Name. The World Remembers Only Her Greatest Friend: Cleopatra.

Raised together in the Alexandrian palace, Chava, the Hebrew daughter of the royal tutor, and Urbi, and Egyptian princess, become as close as sisters--and rivals with their dreams of greatness. When Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne as Queen Cleopatra, Chava believes their bond is strong enough to survive. But absolute power has a way of changing everything.

The ultimate betrayal rips Chava from everything she's ever known and sends her to the lowest rung of Roman society where she must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life, if she hopes to rise again.

By the same author: Bathesheba: Reluctant Beauty

Visit the Baker Publishing Group for info on where to buy.

©2008-2017 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Teaser Tuesdays - March 18, 2014

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. It says anyone can play along, so I am going to try it! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

The Frenchman's death troubled me greatly, but not in the manner I suspected. I spent little time worrying over whether Girolamo would strike again, unexpectedly, by poisoning Caterina now that he no longer suspected her of infidelity.

~The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis, page 235

I had kept my hand under the pillow, and as the figure moved, I curled my fingers around the grip of the tiny mother-of-pearl pistol Aunt Dove had given me in Italy. With one smooth gesture, I leaped up to a sitting position, opening the lantern and levelling the pistol at Mr. Rowan.
~City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn, page 79

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Tuesday's Treasures {The Seven Wonders of the World}

This post is copied from my main blog, Homeschool Coffee Break, but because this link-up is about books, my contributions will appear here too!

The Seven Wonders of the World by Ron Tagliapietra - A long time ago (but not in a galaxy far away) I picked up this book because I thought it might be helpful in our study of the ancient world, and give us more information about the seven wonders of the ancient world. It met those expectations, but there's a lot more to this book. It's sort of a combination of a travel brochure, a history lesson, and a Bible lesson. The seven wonders of the ancient world are discussed and described, but there is also great information about other lists of wonders - technical, archaeological, architectural, and natural. Of course, these lists change from time to time and vary depending on who compiles them. Kennady and I recently completed a lapbook project about the seven natural wonders of the world, and only three of them are the same as the ones listed in this book, which was published in 1999. I haven't checked, but I imagine a few of the technological wonders listed have been eclipsed by structures that are bigger or more amazing. For each of the ancient wonders, the author describes them and puts them in context of Biblical history. By comparing and contrasting the religious beliefs of the builders of the ancient wonders to the God of the Bible, there are some interesting lessons as well. The wonders from the other lists are also well described along with some historical context. This book has proved to be a great resource for studying history and geography, and has come in handy for science as well. It's probably best suited as a reference, and some of the Bible lessons are a tiny bit forced, but I'm glad it's in our homeschool library.

I found it available through Amazon and through Christian Book Distributors. I'm sure it's available through other vendors as well.

(I originally wrote about The Seven Wonders of the World a couple of years ago for this blog.)

The original post is linked at Every Bed of Roses for Tuesday's Treasures. Blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading, or one you found at the library.

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {Patrick: Son of Ireland}

Patrick: Son of Ireland by Stephen R Lawhead - This is at least the fifth time I've read this book. At least. But Lawhead is one of my favorite authors, and I haven't yet grown weary of re-reading his work. As should be obvious from the title, this is a novel based on the life of St Patrick of Ireland. Lawhead takes the details known about Patrick's life and weaves a rich and adventurous storyline around them, adding cultural and historical detail and some more mythical elements as well. The story begins with Succat as a rather dissolute young man in Britain, and his capture by Irish raiders. He spends his years in Ireland as a slave, always scheming how he can escape, even after he has made a commitment to studying with the druids and to marry an Irish woman he cares deeply about. He finally makes good his escape, but his return to his homeland is full of disappointment. He eventually heads to Gaul as a soldier, and from there goes to Rome as the guest of an influential politician. While in Rome, Patrick finds some happiness with a wife and child, and is building his own political career, when plague comes to the city and he is struck by tragedy once again. Finally, he receives his calling to return to Ireland.

Lawhead blends fantasy, mysticism, and history into a fascinating novel. While it definitely presents St Patrick as more human than saintly, it also glosses over some of the distinctly Christian influence and teaching associated with Patrick's bringing the gospel to Ireland. This story effectively ends with Patrick's arrival back in Ireland and the beginning of his ministry there, but the "Christianity" presented in this novel is still a bit ambiguous, and some readers may not appreciate the treatment of ancient druidism or mystical practices as being completely compatible with Christian beliefs. 

My comments from a previous read: Patrick

By the same author: The Skin Map; The Pendragon Cycle: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail

©2008-2013 Just A Second. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://justasecondblog.blogspot.com/

Recent Reads {The Blessed}

 

The Blessed (A Novel of the Gifted) by Lisa T. Bergren - In the final installment of this epic story of the Gifted, the group comes to Provence in France and comes under the protection of a powerful noble family there as they await an audience with the Pope in Avignon.  Meanwhile, the enemy forces, led by Lord Amidei, are strengthening their position and making their own alliances.  Very soon after their arrival in Provence, the Gifted find themselves with opportunities to use their gifts for God's glory, by miraculous healing and by preaching the Gospel to nobles and commoners in the area.  Sir Gianni and Lady Daria are finally wed, but their happiness and safety continues to be threatened by the powerful Lord Amidei, seeking vengeance and greater power and control.  He even gains influence with some of the Cardinals and hopes to control the Pope himself.   Cardinal Boeri has declared himself an ally and supporter of the Gifted, but can he be trusted?  The Gifted are still seeking the last member of their group, a prophetess, and are hoping to reunite with Hasani if he is still alive.  When all are together, they must continue to follow where God directs them, trusting Him in the face of great danger.  This powerful conclusion to the trilogy is full of suspense and action that kept me eagerly turning pages.  Bergren weaves a great story, full of drama and surprises, combining authentic history with compelling fiction.  And she does it in a way that doesn't compromise on the Gospel or demean the Church.  I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy historical fiction of all kinds, as it includes suspense and mystery, and a little bit of romance as well.

By the same author: The Begotten, The Betrayed

Recent Reads{The Begotten}

The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren - This book was recommended to me by a friend at least two years ago, and has been on my to-read list ever since.  I finally got around to reading it this past week, and I'm so glad I did!  This is historical fiction that deals with the Church of the middle ages and spiritual gifts and calling.  The setting is fourteenth century Italy, and the main characters are a noblewoman with the gift of healing, an unusual priest with the gift of wisdom, and a knight of the Church with the gift of faith.  They are brought together by divine circumstances with an ancient prophetic writing and its illumination that challenges them and encourages them to use their gifts as God directs them and to trust Him alone.  The story is definitely a page-turner, something of a mystery and a thriller, because these main characters are being pursued by a powerful enemy that they don't identify until very late in the book, and there is danger and intrigue all around.  I found it to be inspirational as well as entertaining.

Although I do wish my friend had told me it's the first part of a trilogy! Now I have to track down the next two in the series so I can find out what happens next!

 

Recent Reads {Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt}

Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt by Joyce Tyldesley - I decided to read this biography because I'd recently read a couple of novels set in Cleopatra's Egypt and was curious as to how accurate some of the fictional portrayals of the queen, her court, and her city were.  While the book was definitely interesting and went into great detail separating the myth from the facts about Cleopatra, it is not exactly light reading and is probably more "scholarly" than would appeal to the casual reader.  Much of what most of us think we know about Cleopatra has been influenced by the popular movie portrayals so our concepts of what she looked like and how she behaved have been modernized and shaped by Hollywood to a greater extent than we are aware of!  Tyldesley gives a great deal of background on Egypt under the Ptolomaic dynasty, and explains the culture and politics and many other details exceptionally well.  One thing I found confusing at times was that the book was arranged more topically than chronologically.  However, I learned much that was new to me and very interesting.

Recent Reads {Guardian of the Flame}

Guardian of the Flame by T.L. Higley - This is the third in Higley's Seven Wonders series, and is set in Alexandria, Egypt in 48BC.  If you're sketchy on your ancient history, that was when Julius Caesar and the Romans entered Egypt and the battle for power between the Romans and the Ptolomaic heirs to the Egyptian throne, including Cleopatra.  The main character is Sophia, a reclusive and embittered widow who is the Keeper of the lighthouse at Alexandria.  She faces many difficult decisions in the uncertain times - how to protect the scholars from the Museum and their work, how to support her former student Cleopatra, and how to respond to the Roman centurion who is invading her lighthouse and possibly her heart.  One of the scholars is an elderly Jewish man that has been Sophia's friend through many years, and who gently but persistently reminds her that the One God loves her and she doesn't need to prove herself worthy of His love. The story explores the time from the viewpoints of Greek Egyptians and Romans, and is a great read for anyone interested in historical fiction.

By the same author: City of the Dead, Pompeii: City on Fire, In the Shadow of Colossus

Recent Reads {City of the Dead}

City of the Dead by T.L. Higley - This novel in Higley's Seven Wonders series was not what I expected, but I mean that in a good way.  Obviously it is based in ancient Egypt, during the building of the Great Pyramid, but I thought it would probably be a romance.  Although there is a love story winding through it, it is actually a murder mystery, and a fairly good one!  The story is told in first person by Hemiunu, the Grand Vizier and the architect of the Great Pyramid.  He references a tragedy that occurred in the past that still haunts him, and as events unfold he realizes that it is linked to the murders happening in his present.  Hemi is also cousin to Pharoah Khufu, and their royal circle includes Khufu's wife, Merit, and a couple of other high-ranking Egyptians.  One of their number, Hemi's closest friend, is murdered and Hemi is determined to find the killer and restore ma'at (the Egyptian concept of order) without losing any time on the ongoing construction of the pyramid.  When Merit is also murdered, the search for the killer is intensified, but Hemi begins to meet resistance and to see the possible connections between the murders and what happened in his youth.  During this time he also befriends his new foreman and his daughter, who happen to be People of the One - worshippers of the One God of the Jews - and accepts their help in his quest for answers, and a relationship between himself and the daughter blossoms.  Hemi is himself accused of the murders and spends time in prison and on the run before the mystery is solved.

So is this book a "Christian romance" novel?  Not exactly.  It's unusual in a few ways, and a very enjoyable read, one I highly recommend.  By the way, you can also visit Higley's website, No Passport Required, for more information about her books and what is fact and what is fiction in each of them.

By the same author:  Pompeii: City on Fire, In the Shadow of Colossus

Recent Reads {The Seven Wonders of the World}

The Seven Wonders of the World by Ron Tagliapietra - This book is kind of like a combination of a travel brochure, a history lesson, and a Bible tract.  It presents a short description of each of the accepted wonders of the ancient world, and then lists and describes the seven wonders of some other categories - technological, archaelogical, architectural, and natural.  In each Tagliapietra carefully explains the criteria and why some 'wonders' were chosen over others.  When describing the wonders of the ancient world, he puts them in context of Biblical history and draws some contrasts between the religious beliefs of the builders of these wonders and the truth of God.  The descriptions of all the wonders are fairly short - about three to five pages - and most include historical background and some brief information about visiting the sites.  I've found this book to be a good "extra" when studying history and geography in our homeschool.  When we studied Egypt, we read the section on the Great Pyramid.  When we studied Australia, we read about the Great Barrier Reef (a natural wonder).   The narrative lacks continuity in some places, and a few of the Biblical lessons seem a bit contrived, but overall it's a unique study of various wonders of the world suitable for readers from middle school up.

Recent Reads {Pompeii: City on Fire}

Pompeii: City on Fire by T.L. Higley - It's the intriguing setting of this novel that captured my attention - Pompeii, shortly before the catastrophic eruption of Mt Vesuvius.  I don't think I've ever seen a Christian 'romance' novel set in Pompeii before.  The main characters are Cato, a rich patrician Roman who has left an unfulfilling career as a politician in Rome and wants to build a new life in Pompeii; and Ariella, a Jewish slave who has disguised herself as a young boy sold into a gladiator troupe.  Pompeii's local government is corrupt and despite Cato's attempts to sidestep the issue, he is finally drawn into the upcoming election after his own business and family are threatened.  In the meantime, Ariella must prove herself in the gladiator ring while keeping her secret.  Cato and Ariella cross paths and, predictably, find themselves drawn together.  They also come in contact with the Christians in Pompeii and must make their own decisions regarding the faith.  All while Vesuvius is giving the first warning signs of the disaster to come.  The story itself was interesting, with new perspectives on the setting and the daily life of Roman citizens and slaves at that time.  However, every few chapters there was a short excerpt that was from the mountain's 'point of view' that I didn't care for.  It set the tone for the chapters to come, and revealed that the eruption was coming ever closer, but it also gave a little nod to the earth goddess belief system, suggesting that the mountain viewed itself as a 'mother' to the city and was making her own decision to punish and destroy.  This is only partially debunked at the end.  I found it slightly off-putting to read a page of the thoughts of the 'volcano goddess-mother' while chapters before and after featured Christians claiming that there is only One God and rejecting the Roman belief in many gods.

By the same author:  In the Shadow of Colossus (which I read awhile ago, but failed to write about...)

Recent Reads {Cleopatra's Daughter}

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran - I didn't know much, if anything, about the children of Cleopatra and Marc Antony before reading this historical novel, so it came as a bit of a surprise to me that the daughter, Kleopatra Selene, and her husband were known for their great love story as well. Moran's well-researched novel tells the story, from Selene's viewpoint, of the defeat of Marc Antony and the death of Cleopatra, followed by the exile of the three youngest children to Rome under Caesar Augustus (as he would be later known). Selene and her twin brother Alexander must cope with the sudden deaths of both parents, followed by their captivity and the death of their younger brother.  They are treated as honored guests in Rome, brought up in the Caesar's household, with his sister Octavia (who was Marc Antony's former wife! - this is where soap operas get some of their ideas, I think!) as their guardian.  Friendships grow and are threatened, especially as they all grow older and closer to marriageable age.  At the same time, someone calling himself the Red Eagle is challenging the system of slavery in Rome and stirring up possible rebellion, and Alexander and Selene have their own speculations about the Red Eagle's identity.  Selene faces tragedy, fear and injustice with determination and hope, and there is a happy ending for her when she is given in marriage to Juba, the heir to the kingdom of Mauretania who has been serving Caesar for most of his life.  This is a great read for anyone interested in this historical time period!