The Bronze Door

The Cyrenian Trilogy #2

by Karin Ciholas

THE BRONZE DOOR

A Story of Courage, Faith, and Love in the Shadow of the Roman Empire

In a world ruled by emperors and threatened by rebellion, The Bronze Door delivers a gripping tale of power, faith, and deliverance—set against one of the most turbulent eras of the Roman Empire.

When Caligula’s growing obsession with his own deification threatens to ignite a catastrophic war, lives across Judea and Syria hang in the balance. Simon of Cyrene—a fighter for justice for his fellow Jews—is torn between protecting his people and navigating profound change within his own family when his wife Aurelia and his sons embrace the new faith of Christianity.

Aurelia’s brother Valerius, newly appointed Roman governor of Syria, is ordered to carry out a command that could destroy thousands of install Caligula’s statue in the sacred Temple in Jerusalem. Obedience to Caligula means mass slaughter. Disobedience means death to himself and his family. At the heart of this impossible choice is Rachel—Simon’s courageous sister—whose rekindled bond with Valerius shapes the emotional core of his struggle for peace.

Sweeping across Alexandria, Syria, and Jerusalem, The Bronze Door captures a pivotal moment in history—when Roman military strategy, Jewish resistance, early Christianity, and the voices of strong women collide. With richly researched detail, Karin Ciholas brings to life the political tension, human courage, and spiritual awakening of the first century.

To learn more about The Cyrenian Trilogy, go to Karin Ciholas's thecyreninatrilogy.com

Awards

International Impact Award Winner
Coffee Pot Book Club Award Gold Medal Book of the Year 2025

Critical Acclaim

"A well-spun historical tale with a host of fully realized characters."

- Kirkus Reviews

"A stunningly imagined and expertly executed historical narrative with real characters and conflict that moves the story in unexpected directions."

- James Farlow, The Book Commentary

"There is so much history uncluded in this story, and it is explained flawlessly and in an interesting and attention-grabbing manner that will keep you on the edge of your seat."

- Kathy Sickles, The Feathered Quill

"This novel is what a historical novel should be. Readers of I Claudius and Claudius the God, will find The Bronze Door to be a rich addition to an understanding of the age."

- Elaine Palencia, Author of Brier Country, On Rising Ground, Small Caucasian Woman

"The novel speaks to matters of enduring religious and political significance."

- Eric Mount, Author of Conscience and Responsibility, The Feminine Factor, Community and the Common Good

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Feathered Quill Book Reviews]

About two years ago I reviewed The Lighthouse, which was book one in The Cyrenian Trilogy, and it was one of the most riveting, well-written novels that I have had the privilege to read. Since then, I have been waiting very anxiously for the second book in the series and finally, it is here. I sat down and read the story in one day and I can honestly say that Karin Ciholas has outdone herself with this second book in the series, The Bronze Door. These books are historical fiction at its absolute best and should not be missed by any fan of the genre.

In The Bronze Door, all of our favorite characters are back. Simon is, as always, fighting for the Jews against the Roman Empire but with a new twist as his wife, Aurelia, and his children begin to drift toward Christianity. This new religion is just beginning and so many are fascinated by it, although Simon sees it as a danger to his family. Caligula, the new Emperor of Rome, is still trying to get revenge on Simon and his family for defying him in the previous book and decides to make Aurelia’s brother Valerius the governor of Syria. After he appoints him, Caligula sends Valerius and his troops to Jerusalem where he wants a statue of himself put into the temple as he feels he should be the God that everyone worships. If Valerius does as he is being ordered to do the result would be the death of thousands of Jewish people who refuse to follow Caligula and do not want their temple destroyed by his image. If Valerius refuses the emperor’s order then it will mean the death of him and his entire family. While not a member of the Jewish faith and therefore not a person who can really understand it, Valerius does know that following Caligula’s orders will bring about huge devastation and death, which is what he wants to avoid at all costs in order to save the lives of thousands, as well as those that he loves the most.

The Bronze Door is a story of faith and bravery and, above all else, love, which is set in a time period in history that was full of many cruel people and horrifying beliefs. Every character in this story, whether a fictional or a real one, is written with such depth and every one of them is someone you believe in and really care about. The characters are each struggling with so many different things at one time, such as their personal religious beliefs and a wicked and insane leader, and their choices really do come down to what matters the most: the life of one or the lives of many.

Karin Ciholas is a fabulous writer. This series is so well-researched and the time period and locations just leap out from the pages of the novel. There is so much history included in the story and it is explained flawlessly and in an interesting and attention-grabbing manner that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read. While you could certainly read The Bronze Door on its own, I think you would be doing yourself and the author a large injustice to not read the stories in order. To follow the story from the beginning just makes it even better, if that is even possible.

I really do not have the words to do justice to The Bronze Door or to Karin Ciholas’ extraordinary writing. I highly recommend this book and this series to any historical fiction fan out there. To say I am excited about the next book in the series would be a huge understatement. This is a definitely a must-read. Do not miss it!

Quill says: Historical fiction can be a genre that is often over-the-top in terms of the fiction aspect as well as the combination of the history and fiction. With The Bronze Door, Karin Ciholas has proved that she is a master of the genre, combining the facts with the fiction in a seamless and mesmerizing way that will thrill any reader.

[Eric Mount]

Readers of the Cyrenian Trilogy by Karin Ciholas are not surprised to learn that the ten volumes of First Century philosopher and theologian Philo of Alexandria and the four volumes of Jewish warrior turned Roman historian Josephus have been her constant companions for decades—through a long career teaching courses on modern languages and serving as a college administrator and now in productive retirement. The sweep and depth of her grasp of First Century Greco-Roman culture and early Jewish-Christian interactions are that impressive. Her sweep spans the time of Roman Emperor Augustus and cross-bearer Simon of Cyrene to the disastrous aftermath of the Roman-Jewish War (66-74), but hers is a fascinating fictional probe rather than an historical narrative.

In THE BRONZE DOOR, the newly published second volume in the trilogy, the author uses what she calls “the mortar of imagination” to dramatize the crisis of conscience experienced by Valerius, the brother-in-law of Simon of Cyrene who is documented by both Philo and Josephus. Caught up in the determination of the Emperor Caligula to deify himself and desecrate the Temple in Jerusalem in the process, Valerius maneuvers to avoid the slaughter of thousands of Jews who are equally determined to thwart Caligula. With Simon’s family embracing the nascent Christian movement, Ciholas explores the stresses of a time when Jewish and Christian allegiances were separating. Beyond these weightier political and theological tensions, readers are exposed to such cultural facets as children’s playtime and toys, engineers’ inventions, and domestic relations between the sexes. The Ciholas imagination reaches into all the corners of First Century culture as she enhances the reader’s pleasure as well as speaks to matters of enduring religious and political significance.

[Jeanne]

The story is again focused on Simon and his childhood friend (and brother in-law) Valerius. Simon is determined to protect his family and the Jews as events swirl out of control around him. Valerius is appointed by Emperor Caligula (who you may remember from history, was quite insane) to be Governor of Syria and orders him to erect Caligula's statue in the Temple of Jerusalem which would result in certain war. Valerius is desperately slow walking the project at the foundry where the statue is being created while his Roman troops become disgruntled and vengeful. Meanwhile, Simon's wife (who is Roman and unwelcome in the Jewish Temple) turns to emerging Christianity along with their son's Rufus and Alexander. Simon fears for them all as religious persecution spreads through the empire. This portion of the trilogy further develops the characters as the differences between the rigid and inflexible Simon and the more diplomatic Valerius are fleshed out. I did discover that all the books in the series have a historical character listing in the back so I was much better able to keep track of the Roman families. It is very well done historical fiction.

[Patricia A]

A THRILLING READ.
After reading THE LIGHTHOUSE by Karin Ciholas, I couldn't wait to read THE BRONZE DOOR, her next book in the series. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters I had come to love--the two sets of brothers and sisters. One Jewish and one Roman. This book kept me up at night and was full of wonderful surprises. I was especially intrigued by Sosias who has grown up to become a gifted engineer. I was immersed in the characters and their struggles and emotions. Valerius, the real hero of this story, has the courage to defy Caligula to save the temple. And then I discovered in her Author's Note that this conflict between the power-crazy emperor and his general was based on historical facts! The author's blend of history with the revelation of true courage is riveting and added depth to my understanding of the rise of Christianity and the Christian interaction with the Jews. Her deep respect and reverence for both Christianity and Judaism shine though.
*** Awaiting the third book in The Cyrenian Trilogy!

[Beverley Howard]

After reading Karin Ciholas' The Lighthouse I anxiously awaited the second book in the trilogy. The Bronze Door did not disappoint! In fact, I was intrigued and can honestly say that it is my favorite Historical Fiction ever read. From the first chapter I began marking places that I would reread. That continued throughout the book. I felt as if I were a relative of the characters in Biblical times! I laughed and cried and was upset when there was no more to read. I can't wait to see where Ciholas takes me(us) in Beyond the Horizon!

[Barbara Sontheimer]

This is a magnificent novel about a character we all read about as children, the man who helped Jesus carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene. The novel puts flesh and bones on a historical character like no other writer I have ever seen. The novel is rich with history, but it is warm and engaging. The writers brings to life these ancient characters in a way that I was either rooting for them or crying with fear! Excellent read. Highly recommend.

[Phil C.]

The Bronze Door is a page turner even more riveting than The Lighthouse!

History pushes these unlikely childhood friends down very different paths in life. Simon is hard to like, but worthy of much empathy and understanding, even as you cringe at his behavior. Valerius becomes a true Roman noble man, even as nobility has become scarce in Rome. Everything is absolute to Simon; everything is nuance to Valerius.

To see how each plays out, read the book!

[Helen Emmitt]

Karin Ciholas's The Bronze Door is a terrific read. She is masterly at interweaving history and fiction seamlessly. She writes about a moment in time at the beginning of the Christian era when Romans and Jews lived together and worked together in ways that have been buried in history. Her vibrant characters and intriguing plot bring it all to life in a way that is moving and elegant.

[John Svarlien]

Karin Ciholas knows how to tell a great story. The second volume of The Cyrenian Triology is a fast-paced narrative of how conflicts within individuals and their families get tangled up in conflicts of cultural identities on the big stage of history.

[Teri M Brown]

The Bronze Door by Karin Ciholas is book #2 in The Cyrenian Trilogy. You may remember that I LOVED The Lighthouse, and Karin did not disappoint me with this installment.

Valerius is a Roman tasked to put his ruler's statue in the Jewish temple. However, Valerius' sister married his best friend, Simon, a Jew. And to complicate matters even further, he is in love with his best friend's sister, Rachel. Although Valerius doesn't understand the Jewish faith, he does understand that putting the statue in the temple will cause widespread death and destruction - something he wants to avoid at all costs.

The Bronze Door is an excellently researched historical fiction set in Alexandria and Jerusalem during the time of early Christianity. I instantly fell in love with the characters as they grappled with religious change, immoral leaders, and the struggle to determine which matters more, one person's life or the lives of many. Every character is rich and deep. The emotions run strong. The action is riveting. I can't say enough.

Without a doubt, Karin Ciholas is an author to watch.