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Secrets of the Lost Empires #12
Fallen from Babel
Peter Thornton doesn’t believe in God. Or rather, he doesn’t believe in one God. “All paths are valid,” he teaches his university students. One evening he ventures to the archaeology museum and touches an artifact recently discovered from ancient Babylon.
At the touch he is transported three thousand years back in time to Old Testament Babylon. Somehow he knows the language—and the people know him as Rim-Sin, sorcerer and high priest to the gods of Babylon. The moment he arrives he is accused of murder—a murder Rim-Sin committed—and he must run for his life.
Against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar’s court at its zenith, he and rival sorcerers vie with Beltshazzar, the Jewish upstart, for the king’s favor. As Peter scrambles to get back to the twenty-first century he encounters a lovely young woman who has some disturbingly powerful arguments about the God of the Bible.
Peter won’t get home until he has fallen from his pride. Fallen from his polytheism. Fallen from Babel.
At the touch he is transported three thousand years back in time to Old Testament Babylon. Somehow he knows the language—and the people know him as Rim-Sin, sorcerer and high priest to the gods of Babylon. The moment he arrives he is accused of murder—a murder Rim-Sin committed—and he must run for his life.
Against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar’s court at its zenith, he and rival sorcerers vie with Beltshazzar, the Jewish upstart, for the king’s favor. As Peter scrambles to get back to the twenty-first century he encounters a lovely young woman who has some disturbingly powerful arguments about the God of the Bible.
Peter won’t get home until he has fallen from his pride. Fallen from his polytheism. Fallen from Babel.
428 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
50 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Tracy L. Higley
46 books778 followersTracy Higley has been attempting to time travel through the pages of books since she was a child. She started her first story at the age of eight, and has since authored nearly twenty books, including the acclaimed Seven Wonders Series, and the Time Travel Journals of Sahara Aldridge. She earned a Master’s Degree in Ancient and Classical History, and has traveled to Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Italy, and Turkey, researching her books and falling into adventures. Peruse her travel journals and learn more fascinating history at www.tracyhigley.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 25, 2019
Beginning shortly after the fall of the Tower of Babel and continuing until the young prophet, Daniel, this time travel story brought to life the evil ways of this time period as well as the beginning of the 70 years of Jewish exile to Babylon. Peter is professor of archeology and religion and only believes in himself as the controller of his life. He is sure he is striving to be his own God. When he touches an ancient Babylonian lamp that one of his fellow archeologists has discovered, Peter is transported back to Babylonia shortly after the fall of the Tower of Babel. He finds that he is now Rin-Sin a priest of the temple Gods and a non-believer. His servant girl, Kaida, is one of the Jewish exiles and strongly believes in the one God, Yahweh. Will the time he spends during his travel to Babylon change his thinking regarding right versus wrong, one God or will he return the same man he was?
Fast moving with lots of action, this was a throughly enjoyable Biblical fiction read. If you are a fan of Biblical fiction, this is one to add to your TBR list.
Fast moving with lots of action, this was a throughly enjoyable Biblical fiction read. If you are a fan of Biblical fiction, this is one to add to your TBR list.
August 7, 2024
I wasn’t sure if I would even read this second book of the series. In the first book, the time travel was actually dreams, not real time travel. In the second book, there was in fact, a sort of magic that caused an individual to transport from one era to another through an artifact. But once you realize that the book can be considered fantasy of a sort, then the Christian fiction portions can be placed within.
That probably doesn’t make any sense, but if you’re willing to read it until the end, you’ll understand.
I rather liked it, I just wish it could have been at least 50 pages shorter. It seemed a bit long.
So many lessons to be learned. Such theological discussions between a Jewish slave and a Babylonian diviner, who turned out to be different people than it seems.
I don’t want to give any more away. But I loved how the slave challenged Peter to see the fallacy of his reasoning. So good.
That probably doesn’t make any sense, but if you’re willing to read it until the end, you’ll understand.
I rather liked it, I just wish it could have been at least 50 pages shorter. It seemed a bit long.
So many lessons to be learned. Such theological discussions between a Jewish slave and a Babylonian diviner, who turned out to be different people than it seems.
I don’t want to give any more away. But I loved how the slave challenged Peter to see the fallacy of his reasoning. So good.
October 23, 2010
Very good, although Petra by the same author is still better! :-) Review to come...
August 11, 2015
loved it! You don't want to put it down.
October 12, 2024
Such an interesting book. We really don’t think enough about the demonic world, and how that has morphed in our 21st century language. Obviously we can’t go looking for the demonic under every bush, but learning to see things as Jesus does is very revealing. I loved the growth of the characters, and the surprises at the end were super fun though a touch predictable.
April 28, 2025
This is an exciting, dynamic time travel -biblical historical fiction story. In Boston- the modern day professor mysteriously transports to Babylon at the time of King Nebuchadnezzar as well as Daniel. Crazy, fast paced intrigue & a big surprise late in the story makes this fun & exciting.
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August 11, 2023
This book presented an interesting take on time travel.
July 23, 2011
An ancient tower. A future evil. A skeptic trapped between.
At the touch of an ancient vase...he is sent back to Babylon.
Peter Thornton doesn't believe in God. Or rather, he doesn't believe in one God. " All paths are valid," he teaches his university students. One evening he ventures to the archaeology museum and touches an artifact recently unearthed from ancient Babylon.
At the touch he is transported three thousand years back in time to Old Testament Babylon. Somehow he knows the language - and the people know him as Rim-Sin, sorcerer and high priest to the gods of Babylon. The moment he arrives he is accused of murder - a murder Rim-Sin committed - and he must run for his life.
Against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar's court at its zenith, he and rival sorcerers vie with Belteshazzar, the Jewish upstart, for the King's favor. As Peter scrambles to get back to the twenty-first century, he encounters a lovely young woman who has some disturbingly powerful arguments about the God of the Bible.
Peter won't get home until he has fallen from his pride. Fallen from his polytheism. Fallen from Babel.
About the Author:
T.L. Higley earned a degree in English Literature at Rowan University in New Jersey. Higley, who has a lifelong interest in history and mythology seeks to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past. You can learn more about her at her website by clicking here.
My Review:
Being a huge history buff and child of the King, I was drawn to this story after Higley made me a fan of hers after reading Petra, City of Stone, and City of the Dead. Her uncanny ability to transport the reader back in time, is extraordinary. Her characters are well thought out and believable and her historical research is beyond measure. You are living in Ancient Babylon the first moment you grasp the pages. You are drawn into the story yourself and wonder how will Peter return.
Not only at the moment he is transported, he finds himself over the body of a dead Jewish man, but he himself has blood on his hands. Now he does what we all would do and runs! Hiding from the King as one of his diviners, he must find a way back home, back to the world he once knew. He tries to reason with himself that he is there for a reason, perhaps a way to convert people into accepting all beliefs, but when he comes face to face with Belteshazzar, otherwise known as Daniel by his Jewish name, who will interpret his dream and tell him why he is really here as a message from God himself.
I received this book compliments of T. L. Higley for my honest review and once more she has captivated me and drawn me back in time. Once again she did not disappoint me. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars for my virtual journey back to ancient Babylon and back into biblical history.
At the touch of an ancient vase...he is sent back to Babylon.
Peter Thornton doesn't believe in God. Or rather, he doesn't believe in one God. " All paths are valid," he teaches his university students. One evening he ventures to the archaeology museum and touches an artifact recently unearthed from ancient Babylon.
At the touch he is transported three thousand years back in time to Old Testament Babylon. Somehow he knows the language - and the people know him as Rim-Sin, sorcerer and high priest to the gods of Babylon. The moment he arrives he is accused of murder - a murder Rim-Sin committed - and he must run for his life.
Against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar's court at its zenith, he and rival sorcerers vie with Belteshazzar, the Jewish upstart, for the King's favor. As Peter scrambles to get back to the twenty-first century, he encounters a lovely young woman who has some disturbingly powerful arguments about the God of the Bible.
Peter won't get home until he has fallen from his pride. Fallen from his polytheism. Fallen from Babel.
About the Author:
T.L. Higley earned a degree in English Literature at Rowan University in New Jersey. Higley, who has a lifelong interest in history and mythology seeks to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past. You can learn more about her at her website by clicking here.
My Review:
Being a huge history buff and child of the King, I was drawn to this story after Higley made me a fan of hers after reading Petra, City of Stone, and City of the Dead. Her uncanny ability to transport the reader back in time, is extraordinary. Her characters are well thought out and believable and her historical research is beyond measure. You are living in Ancient Babylon the first moment you grasp the pages. You are drawn into the story yourself and wonder how will Peter return.
Not only at the moment he is transported, he finds himself over the body of a dead Jewish man, but he himself has blood on his hands. Now he does what we all would do and runs! Hiding from the King as one of his diviners, he must find a way back home, back to the world he once knew. He tries to reason with himself that he is there for a reason, perhaps a way to convert people into accepting all beliefs, but when he comes face to face with Belteshazzar, otherwise known as Daniel by his Jewish name, who will interpret his dream and tell him why he is really here as a message from God himself.
I received this book compliments of T. L. Higley for my honest review and once more she has captivated me and drawn me back in time. Once again she did not disappoint me. This book rates a 5 out of 5 stars for my virtual journey back to ancient Babylon and back into biblical history.
July 6, 2011
I have never seen apologetics woven so effectively throughout a novel, or in such an interesting fashion, as in this book. I never once felt like it was being said in a preachy or overdone fashion. The arguments fit right into the circumstances of the story. Besides that, the characters are well thought out, have depth, and I love the plot. Time travel is always fun to read about and this novel is no exception. I've read this book as least five times already in less than a year. Of the books I've read of T.L. Higley's so far, it's my personal favorite.
October 11, 2017
Easy to read and entertaining. The author did well with the first chapter hook, the plot kept me curious as to what would happen next. However, I did not care for the little half thought out, one sided philosophical spats between Peter and Kaida. It just felt like reading an over simplified argument between an indoctrinated Christian and a so called "intellectual/spiritualist" on Facebook. So make no mistake this book sees the world through a more traditional Christian perspective, which I'm sorry to say is full of bias and surface knowledge.
March 23, 2022
Time Travel
Peter finds himself in Babylon mistaken for a diviner by the name of Rim-Sin and accused of killing a man. As a professor Peter taught some balderdash belief that we are all gods and that their is no righti nor wrong. While in Babylon he faces many dangers. He learns of the power of Ishtar but he also learns of The One True God of Israel who is much powerful than all the forces of evil. It is in surrender that he comes to the knowledge of the Truth.
*Setting: Time of Daniel and his friends. *
Peter finds himself in Babylon mistaken for a diviner by the name of Rim-Sin and accused of killing a man. As a professor Peter taught some balderdash belief that we are all gods and that their is no righti nor wrong. While in Babylon he faces many dangers. He learns of the power of Ishtar but he also learns of The One True God of Israel who is much powerful than all the forces of evil. It is in surrender that he comes to the knowledge of the Truth.
*Setting: Time of Daniel and his friends. *
July 21, 2009
An enjoyable book, full of twist & turns, a touch of romance and a wonderful historical backdrop. I also enjoyed the links to the very well-known Bible story of Daniel (Beltshazzar), with a few embellishments obviously for the purpose of the story. A recommended read that deals with the ever present spiritual battle and a man's journey of belief in the one, true God.
February 5, 2017
This is a weird book.
I couldn't stop reading this book,
but I did not like this book.
Please don't read this book.
In spite of how it is Christian with a biblical background, the witchcraft, false-god worshipping, and sorcery in this book were creepy, slightly overwhelming, and were way magnified.
I did not find reading those to be glorifying God.
I couldn't stop reading this book,
but I did not like this book.
Please don't read this book.
In spite of how it is Christian with a biblical background, the witchcraft, false-god worshipping, and sorcery in this book were creepy, slightly overwhelming, and were way magnified.
I did not find reading those to be glorifying God.
January 21, 2018
This is an entertaining Christian time travel book. The main character, a middle-aged professor who has no religion, but sort of a new age, self-actualization philosophy, touches a vase and is transported to ancient Babylon in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and the prophet Daniel. That's as much as I'll say about the plot since I don't believe in telling too much.
January 29, 2020
Meh. Mostly, this is an explanation of why New Age thinking is incorrect. Although I agree with the author's position, I prefer my books to be less teach-y. (I don't think that's actually a word.) The story part I liked but I wasn't invested in the characters. There is an interesting twist towards the end.
July 16, 2012
I liked this one a lot. Love the settings in ancient times on so many of these Christian fiction books. This one was more entertaining than historical but a good fast paced, adventure filled story set in ancient Babylon. I'm a fan of T.L. Higley's books - they make great summer reads!
September 23, 2013
I loved this book. Tracy Higley brings the ancient past right into our present. Right from the beginnings of civilization to now, I experienced this story. It's pretty amazing how little has really changed through the centuries.
July 10, 2022
Enjoyable work of Historical/Theological fiction based upon real events
This was a very enjoyable book which included elements of time travel, swapped identities, historical biblical characters, archaeology, philosophical issues and ultimately the quest for the One-true GOD.
This was a very enjoyable book which included elements of time travel, swapped identities, historical biblical characters, archaeology, philosophical issues and ultimately the quest for the One-true GOD.
March 9, 2011
I really liked the idea of time-travel, but the characters just didn't capture me.
January 9, 2012
Loved this story, well developed and gripping! I couldn't put it down!!
April 7, 2012
An awesome book with a surprise I never would have predicted! You'll love this book!
May 23, 2012
Really enjoyed it! The time travel thing is most interesting. I enjoyed it a lot!
June 8, 2012
This is one of my favorite books of ALL times. Read it, read it, read it!!!
August 22, 2013
One of the best twists I've ever read!
January 8, 2014
A good story with time travel, intrigue and romance.
March 31, 2015
Not the best by this author -- the main character is not very likable at all, and the story drags on and on.
June 25, 2015
Well written time travel tale centered within the context of the Jewish exile and the Book of Daniel
January 28, 2016
I loved this book! .
It was brilliantly done how she so seamlessly entwined Historical details and Biblical truths throughout the novel .
Her historical fiction is absolutely sensational!
It was brilliantly done how she so seamlessly entwined Historical details and Biblical truths throughout the novel .
Her historical fiction is absolutely sensational!
April 28, 2017
This is one my favorite books by Tracy. The back and forth between the now and the then was really well done, and one did not get lost in the process. A really great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews