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Cry for Jerusalem - Book 4 69-70 CE: Final Siege
“An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction” --Kirkus Reviews
The events and characters of this novel series are based on the writings of the first-century, Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.
The First Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and to the rise of Christianity and modern Judaism. Now for the first time, ancient eyewitness accounts have been transformed into a series of suspense-laden novels, letting you enter the lives of the men and women involved on both sides. You get to experience their fears and hopes and dreams as they are forced to confront life and death and the meaning of their lives on a daily basis. This is an epic story you that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more!
In Book 1—Resisting Tyranny, you meet the cast of main characters as they struggle to survive when their ship is capsized in a storm in the middle of the Adriatic. On arrival in Rome, they must face the whims of an emperor and the great fire that almost consumes the city. Once in Jerusalem, evil forces seek to ignite a rebellion as our friends try to hold together a fragile status quo. As open warfare erupts, the Romans realize they have greatly underestimated their foe.
In Book 2—Against All Odds, the enthusiasm following a Jewish victory quickly erodes as they see the empire planning to strike back. Returning with a more experienced leader and in much greater numbers, the Romans first attack Galilee. There at the siege of the fortified headquarters, our friends find themselves on opposite sides. Visions and an escape from certain death lead to capture and imprisonment, while in Judea an escape from evil leads to an uncertain future.
In Book 3—Growing Anarchy, Jerusalem begins to unravel with fear as competing rebel leaders vie for control of the city. Romance compels a trip to the far reaches of the Empire, where aide is sought from a politician with rising ambitions for the imperial throne. His favor may be the only hope of an escape from behind enemy lines in Jerusalem. Meanwhile our heroine, turned assassin, has found that killing enemy spies can mean killing friends, yielding a vengeance more bitter than sweet.
In Book 4—Final Siege, Rome finds itself in its own civil war with emperors lasting for months, not decades. Jerusalem continues to suffer under rival factions whose self-serving leaders refuse to unite. Their failure suddenly comes into sharp focus when the Romans arrive to a city with empty food stores. Fierce battles accompany a long siege, and starvation leads to acts of desperation. A last-minute plea for peace fails, and friends must look for meaning to what fate has delivered.
For more details and background visit us at www.cryforjerusalem.com.
“The story sweeps across a first-century world that’s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. . . . Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed… there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward.”
--Historical Novels Review February 2020
“The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book’s sequel. An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction.”
--Kirkus Reviews June 2020
Amazon Reviewer
★★★★★ The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, hope for them; in some cases you hate them, in others you love them! I especially appreciate the variety of main character
The events and characters of this novel series are based on the writings of the first-century, Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.
The First Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and to the rise of Christianity and modern Judaism. Now for the first time, ancient eyewitness accounts have been transformed into a series of suspense-laden novels, letting you enter the lives of the men and women involved on both sides. You get to experience their fears and hopes and dreams as they are forced to confront life and death and the meaning of their lives on a daily basis. This is an epic story you that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more!
In Book 1—Resisting Tyranny, you meet the cast of main characters as they struggle to survive when their ship is capsized in a storm in the middle of the Adriatic. On arrival in Rome, they must face the whims of an emperor and the great fire that almost consumes the city. Once in Jerusalem, evil forces seek to ignite a rebellion as our friends try to hold together a fragile status quo. As open warfare erupts, the Romans realize they have greatly underestimated their foe.
In Book 2—Against All Odds, the enthusiasm following a Jewish victory quickly erodes as they see the empire planning to strike back. Returning with a more experienced leader and in much greater numbers, the Romans first attack Galilee. There at the siege of the fortified headquarters, our friends find themselves on opposite sides. Visions and an escape from certain death lead to capture and imprisonment, while in Judea an escape from evil leads to an uncertain future.
In Book 3—Growing Anarchy, Jerusalem begins to unravel with fear as competing rebel leaders vie for control of the city. Romance compels a trip to the far reaches of the Empire, where aide is sought from a politician with rising ambitions for the imperial throne. His favor may be the only hope of an escape from behind enemy lines in Jerusalem. Meanwhile our heroine, turned assassin, has found that killing enemy spies can mean killing friends, yielding a vengeance more bitter than sweet.
In Book 4—Final Siege, Rome finds itself in its own civil war with emperors lasting for months, not decades. Jerusalem continues to suffer under rival factions whose self-serving leaders refuse to unite. Their failure suddenly comes into sharp focus when the Romans arrive to a city with empty food stores. Fierce battles accompany a long siege, and starvation leads to acts of desperation. A last-minute plea for peace fails, and friends must look for meaning to what fate has delivered.
For more details and background visit us at www.cryforjerusalem.com.
“The story sweeps across a first-century world that’s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. . . . Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed… there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward.”
--Historical Novels Review February 2020
“The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book’s sequel. An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction.”
--Kirkus Reviews June 2020
Amazon Reviewer
★★★★★ The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, hope for them; in some cases you hate them, in others you love them! I especially appreciate the variety of main character
708 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2023
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Ward Sanford
6 books16 followersDr. Ward Sanford is an internationally renowned hydrogeologist who has spent over thirty years studying and writing journal articles on the availability and sustainability of groundwater around the United States and the world. He has given professional advice on sites in Texas, Virginia, New Mexico, Hungary, Central America, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as undertaken missions with the International Atomic Energy Agency to Thailand and the U. S. State Department to Libya.
More recently he has developed a keen interest in the first-century history of Israel through the writings of the contemporary historian Flavius Josephus. His desire is now to bring those recorded events to life through dramatization in a series of novels entitled Cry for Jerusalem. He and his wife and two sons and daughter-in-law live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.
More recently he has developed a keen interest in the first-century history of Israel through the writings of the contemporary historian Flavius Josephus. His desire is now to bring those recorded events to life through dramatization in a series of novels entitled Cry for Jerusalem. He and his wife and two sons and daughter-in-law live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 20, 2024
History is remembered by those who write the history books.
It was my summer project to read Ward Sanford's series. I did not realize how little I knew about this time period, about Jerusalem or Rome.
This is an incredible series. And history does repeat itself.
Thank you, Mr. Sanford, for making me think.
I supplemented my reading with online maps of the ancient world as well as a Facebook ancient architecture list. I know those walls, I know those tunnels.
I also used Wikipedia for depth on some of the people but I had never heard of Yotapa. The Wikipedia entry corrected my spelling and gave me the information in a few lines but the rest of the entry was an attack on Josephus.
Could a credible scholar please correct this to stick with the subject and keep the woke opinions to himself? Pretty good idea what 'best selling New York Times author' corrupted this entry!
Again, thank you Ward Sanford. This is a wonderful work.
It was my summer project to read Ward Sanford's series. I did not realize how little I knew about this time period, about Jerusalem or Rome.
This is an incredible series. And history does repeat itself.
Thank you, Mr. Sanford, for making me think.
I supplemented my reading with online maps of the ancient world as well as a Facebook ancient architecture list. I know those walls, I know those tunnels.
I also used Wikipedia for depth on some of the people but I had never heard of Yotapa. The Wikipedia entry corrected my spelling and gave me the information in a few lines but the rest of the entry was an attack on Josephus.
Could a credible scholar please correct this to stick with the subject and keep the woke opinions to himself? Pretty good idea what 'best selling New York Times author' corrupted this entry!
Again, thank you Ward Sanford. This is a wonderful work.
August 30, 2023
These four books are very good. I read them in order. They are engaging for the reader. The historical angle is well done and character development is good. This is a rather remarkable accomplishment for what appears to be the authors first books. I love history and also search out good historical fiction. This series was a pleasant surprise. Not necessarily the time in history that most interests me but these books are very well done.
December 6, 2023
My Musings
A heartbreaking novel of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. The author has woven the historical event using compelling characters and a family most affected by the loss of the holy city. I grew to love these characters and wanted all of them to survive, but alas a few are lost along the way. I am so glad I found this amazing series. A very happy reader!
A heartbreaking novel of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. The author has woven the historical event using compelling characters and a family most affected by the loss of the holy city. I grew to love these characters and wanted all of them to survive, but alas a few are lost along the way. I am so glad I found this amazing series. A very happy reader!
October 22, 2023
Excellent Close to the Series
I have really enjoyed each of the books in Cry for Jerusalem. The characters have grown to be familiar to me and I cheered them on as the story line played out.
I have really enjoyed each of the books in Cry for Jerusalem. The characters have grown to be familiar to me and I cheered them on as the story line played out.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews