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The Centurion
An ambitious Roman soldier. A stunning crucifixion. An unlikely romance. A long war and a chance reunion —the moving parts that make The Centurion a gripping story of love, duty, and sacrifice. Lucius has always dreamed of military conquest and Roman glory. Little does he know how a routine crucifixion will change him forever. Curious about this “King of the Jews,” Lucius seeks out His followers and falls for one named Mary Magdalene. But all is interrupted when Lucius is called to lead military campaigns. There the hardships of war, year after year, wear him down to nearly nothing. When Lucius finally returns to Rome, the city has lost its allure. A chance encounter tests his allegiances, and he must decide who he is, what is real, and what is worth dying for. This work of historical fiction includes an extensive annotated list of sources.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
4 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Ken Gire
83 books50 followersKen Gire is the author of more than 20 books, including "The Divine Embrace," "Windows of the Soul," "The Work of His Hands," the Moments with the Savior series, and the Reflective Life series. He has also co-authored "The Birthright" with John Sheasby. Two of his books have been awarded a Gold Medallion. A full-time writer and speaker, Ken is the founder of Reflective Living, a nonprofit ministry devoted to helping people learn how to slow down and live more reflective lives so they can experience life more deeply, especially life with God and other people. Ken is a graduate of Texas Christian University and Dallas Theological Seminary. He has four children and three grandchildren and lives near the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Monument, Colorado.
As a bestselling author, Ken speaks primarily on the subjects in the books he has written. In the past, he has spoken at such venues as Bill and Gloria Gaither's Praise Gathering, Billy Graham's Training Center---the Cove, Laity Lodge, Wind River Ranch, Young Life, as well as a variety of denominational and non-denominational churches. He has spoken in the church service itself but has mostly done church retreats. He is available to speak for large, public events as the keynote speaker or for smaller, more private events, such as leadership retreats. In all of his talks, Ken uses a variety of audio-visuals, such as film clips, and so the host would need to have the necessary equipment and someone to operate it. His messages can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the venue. Since most of his speaking topics are from the books Ken has written, you can get a greater feel for his talks by first getting the book from Amazon.com, which carries both his in-print and out-of-print books.
As a bestselling author, Ken speaks primarily on the subjects in the books he has written. In the past, he has spoken at such venues as Bill and Gloria Gaither's Praise Gathering, Billy Graham's Training Center---the Cove, Laity Lodge, Wind River Ranch, Young Life, as well as a variety of denominational and non-denominational churches. He has spoken in the church service itself but has mostly done church retreats. He is available to speak for large, public events as the keynote speaker or for smaller, more private events, such as leadership retreats. In all of his talks, Ken uses a variety of audio-visuals, such as film clips, and so the host would need to have the necessary equipment and someone to operate it. His messages can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the venue. Since most of his speaking topics are from the books Ken has written, you can get a greater feel for his talks by first getting the book from Amazon.com, which carries both his in-print and out-of-print books.
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December 4, 2015
This book was my introduction to author Ken Gire. As first impressions are critical in securing future readership, The Centurion put Ken Gire on my radar and earned any subsequent novels by him a place on my to-read pile.
I remember the myriad of emotions I felt the first time I viewed Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. I was a new believer at the time and the brutality of the crucifixion, juxtaposed with the audacity of Christ’s love, hit me like a sledgehammer. For me, Gire was able to dredge up the same emotions the movie had created years ago. Not to say his scenes were as graphic, but his writing re-engaged the same emotions. This forged an instant connection for me with the storyline.
A quick internet search revealed to me that Gire has authored both fiction and non-fiction books. Perhaps that is why his blend of fictional narrative with early Roman and church history comes across so effortlessly. In the past, I’ve often found that when authors skip large portions of time, something gets lost. However in The Centurion, the large lapses in time allow for the development of Lucius’ character, as well as highlights Rome’s world dominance, mentality, and methods. By concluding the story during the reign of Nero, Gire bookends his work with the theme of persecution. This is particularly applicable to the plight of believers today.
Despite a fair amount of brutality, the story still appealed to me as a female reader. The depiction of Christ’s impact in the life of Mary Magdalene, as well as the perseverance of the early church, softened the edges for me. If you only read one fiction title during the Easter season, let it be The Centurion. Pre-order now or pick up your copy when it releases from River North (a division of Moody Publishers) on February 2, 2016.
I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I remember the myriad of emotions I felt the first time I viewed Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. I was a new believer at the time and the brutality of the crucifixion, juxtaposed with the audacity of Christ’s love, hit me like a sledgehammer. For me, Gire was able to dredge up the same emotions the movie had created years ago. Not to say his scenes were as graphic, but his writing re-engaged the same emotions. This forged an instant connection for me with the storyline.
A quick internet search revealed to me that Gire has authored both fiction and non-fiction books. Perhaps that is why his blend of fictional narrative with early Roman and church history comes across so effortlessly. In the past, I’ve often found that when authors skip large portions of time, something gets lost. However in The Centurion, the large lapses in time allow for the development of Lucius’ character, as well as highlights Rome’s world dominance, mentality, and methods. By concluding the story during the reign of Nero, Gire bookends his work with the theme of persecution. This is particularly applicable to the plight of believers today.
Despite a fair amount of brutality, the story still appealed to me as a female reader. The depiction of Christ’s impact in the life of Mary Magdalene, as well as the perseverance of the early church, softened the edges for me. If you only read one fiction title during the Easter season, let it be The Centurion. Pre-order now or pick up your copy when it releases from River North (a division of Moody Publishers) on February 2, 2016.
I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 30, 2016
Gone was the innocence of his childhood. Gone were the ideals of his manhood. All that remained were scars of battle, ravages of war, and memories of a love torn from his embrace so many years ago he could hardly remember what she looked like.
It's true that I intentionally chose the days near Easter to read The Centurion by author Ken Gire. But it's important to know that, while the crucifixion of the "King of the Jews" is indeed an important early event with lasting influence through the novel, this isn't a story centered on that or the life and ministry of Christ. Rather, it's the story of the life and career of another man, a Roman centurion named Lucius; Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus; and equally about the history and conquests of Rome paralleled with the dangerous forging of the new Church.
And I found the telling of it all to be consummately amazing.
It's clear that the author is no novice with his pen, revealing compelling imagery and a depth of human emotion. Lucius's longing and growing cynicism come through as clearly as his passion for battle and for discipline and solidarity among the Roman Empire's soldiers. I thought for a moment that Mary's character might be depicted as too perfect, but she has her own longing and maybe even some disillusionment to deal with in her adversity.
I had a minor issue with a few appearances of double punctuation (?!), which I find to be more appropriate for casual text messages or social media statuses than for novels, and I thought italicization was way overused. When a book is well-written, as this one certainly is, I believe an author can trust the reader to catch the significance and power of the words most times without visually forcing it so frequently.
Nevertheless, it's a weighty story, as epic and violent as it is contemplative. Heartrending, while still leaving room for its measure of triumph. I'd recommend this novel to readers of biblical fiction as well as any military and historical fiction fans—readers of Christian fiction and otherwise.
_________________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers for an honest review.
It's true that I intentionally chose the days near Easter to read The Centurion by author Ken Gire. But it's important to know that, while the crucifixion of the "King of the Jews" is indeed an important early event with lasting influence through the novel, this isn't a story centered on that or the life and ministry of Christ. Rather, it's the story of the life and career of another man, a Roman centurion named Lucius; Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus; and equally about the history and conquests of Rome paralleled with the dangerous forging of the new Church.
And I found the telling of it all to be consummately amazing.
It's clear that the author is no novice with his pen, revealing compelling imagery and a depth of human emotion. Lucius's longing and growing cynicism come through as clearly as his passion for battle and for discipline and solidarity among the Roman Empire's soldiers. I thought for a moment that Mary's character might be depicted as too perfect, but she has her own longing and maybe even some disillusionment to deal with in her adversity.
I had a minor issue with a few appearances of double punctuation (?!), which I find to be more appropriate for casual text messages or social media statuses than for novels, and I thought italicization was way overused. When a book is well-written, as this one certainly is, I believe an author can trust the reader to catch the significance and power of the words most times without visually forcing it so frequently.
Nevertheless, it's a weighty story, as epic and violent as it is contemplative. Heartrending, while still leaving room for its measure of triumph. I'd recommend this novel to readers of biblical fiction as well as any military and historical fiction fans—readers of Christian fiction and otherwise.
_________________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers for an honest review.
October 31, 2016
The Centurion is a fast paced novel which juxtaposes the life and training of a Roman soldier (Lucius) with that of the burgeoning Christian church through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. The rapid pace comes from Gire's magnificent use of short scenes in order to depict only what is necessary. In the first part of the novel, this serves well to mimic the chaos soon after Jesus' crucifixion.
However, at times these short scenes became too intense, treating the drunken discussions of men as earth-shattering observations and Lucius' training speeches as though they came from Braveheart. The consistently epic tone could be wearing, especially since there were few reprieves.
Like many novels in this vein of fiction, Biblical fiction surrounding the crucifixion, The Centurion is told in omnipresent which allows for various character perspectives. Particularly in the beginning, some of these perspectives were muddled, with few of the secondary characters introduced in any way before they were suddenly acting.
The Centurion does offer some unique content. The writing style is almost cinematic in nature, making it similar in cut scene format to The Passion. As well, the story is told in a historic light, depicting an early church that fully expected the return of Christ in their lifetime. Not everyone will appreciate the make up of this novel, however there are those who will adore it.
I provided an honest review after having received a copy of this book from the publisher.
However, at times these short scenes became too intense, treating the drunken discussions of men as earth-shattering observations and Lucius' training speeches as though they came from Braveheart. The consistently epic tone could be wearing, especially since there were few reprieves.
Like many novels in this vein of fiction, Biblical fiction surrounding the crucifixion, The Centurion is told in omnipresent which allows for various character perspectives. Particularly in the beginning, some of these perspectives were muddled, with few of the secondary characters introduced in any way before they were suddenly acting.
The Centurion does offer some unique content. The writing style is almost cinematic in nature, making it similar in cut scene format to The Passion. As well, the story is told in a historic light, depicting an early church that fully expected the return of Christ in their lifetime. Not everyone will appreciate the make up of this novel, however there are those who will adore it.
I provided an honest review after having received a copy of this book from the publisher.
March 15, 2020
I usually avoid so-called "inspirational fiction" like the plague. It is often preachy and ham-handed. That was *not* the case with this book.
"The Centurion" is written from the perspective of a Roman centurion named Lucius. He is present at the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth ... and it turns out that he knows Mary Magdalene from another circumstance. He's pretty much in love with her, and he tries to develop a relationship ... but he's sent to Brittania to help conquer the people for the glory of Rome.
We see Lucius across a little more than 30 years, with occasional peeps into what's going on with Mary ... and it seems that the two of them are destined to never see one another again. They write letters they never send ... or if they do send them, they don't get answers. So, there's that challenge.
Another challenge is that, for a Roman soldier, the emperor is god. We see Lucius becoming increasingly disturbed by what he sees being done around him in the name of the emperor. His is a true hero's journey of change.
The end of the book was not at all what I expected, and it was perfect. I won't deliver spoilers.
The characters are believable, and the historical situations in which they find themselves are all true.
I really do recommend this book highly. It's an excellent work of historical fiction, and it's well-sourced. In fact, the bibliography is so extensive that I am planning to use it as a source for my own research.
"The Centurion" is written from the perspective of a Roman centurion named Lucius. He is present at the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth ... and it turns out that he knows Mary Magdalene from another circumstance. He's pretty much in love with her, and he tries to develop a relationship ... but he's sent to Brittania to help conquer the people for the glory of Rome.
We see Lucius across a little more than 30 years, with occasional peeps into what's going on with Mary ... and it seems that the two of them are destined to never see one another again. They write letters they never send ... or if they do send them, they don't get answers. So, there's that challenge.
Another challenge is that, for a Roman soldier, the emperor is god. We see Lucius becoming increasingly disturbed by what he sees being done around him in the name of the emperor. His is a true hero's journey of change.
The end of the book was not at all what I expected, and it was perfect. I won't deliver spoilers.
The characters are believable, and the historical situations in which they find themselves are all true.
I really do recommend this book highly. It's an excellent work of historical fiction, and it's well-sourced. In fact, the bibliography is so extensive that I am planning to use it as a source for my own research.
Want to read
January 13, 2020I'm adding cuz someone I don't like cuz she's supermean to authors and she's supposdsly an author herself says she didn't like it...which mean I WOULD PROBABLY LOVE IT!!!! I always try to find good things in the things she claim to hate *coughs she's just trolling coughs* and I always do.
People I don't know if this one is good or just okay yet just think by yourselves!
Isn't it true that you LOVE books others hate and HATE books other love? what's to say that this isn't good, plus that cover...is so hawt!!
I love hated books and hate loved books, so don't post bullshit like: "oh you didn't like it, then I won't read it" that's childish!!!
End of rant!!!
People I don't know if this one is good or just okay yet just think by yourselves!
Isn't it true that you LOVE books others hate and HATE books other love? what's to say that this isn't good, plus that cover...is so hawt!!
I love hated books and hate loved books, so don't post bullshit like: "oh you didn't like it, then I won't read it" that's childish!!!
End of rant!!!
June 24, 2017
Many point-of-views presented in this book, but through the mastery of the author, the transition was smooth and not confusing. The story laid on the day of the crucifixion of Jesus, the King of Jews, yet told from the Roman eyewitness. A great work of historical fiction.
One of the main characters was a centurion Lucius who witnessed the gruesome act of crucifixion- another day, another condemned man to die. But this time his heart put to rebellious thoughts that teared his mind into unsettling battle. What if the man on the cross was who he claimed to be? A Jew, a King, high deity. All Lucius knew that there were no such deities that would give, but only thirsty ones, demanding never-ending offerings and sacrifices for themselves. Who in the right mind would call the deity-Father, yet this Jesus was not like other victims of the cross. The last words He spoke was of forgiveness, and when He drew His last breath He simply said with a triumphant whisper: “IT IS FINISHED!” The land shook from the violent darkness, and suddenly the peace and light descend above the cross. For the rest, I bid you to read the story… His story, the centurion who was responsible for the crucifixion act to be done. He is the one who said: “Truly this man was Son of God”. What changed his mind to forget about the pantheon of the Roman gods and profess something like that in public?
The ending of the book has a source section, which I like. It describes a list of sources of book that I can look for, if I needed more information. In this section the author explained some passages and meaning behind the imagery through the story. He explained some Roman lifestyle and the important events that happened during the storytelling.
One of the main characters was a centurion Lucius who witnessed the gruesome act of crucifixion- another day, another condemned man to die. But this time his heart put to rebellious thoughts that teared his mind into unsettling battle. What if the man on the cross was who he claimed to be? A Jew, a King, high deity. All Lucius knew that there were no such deities that would give, but only thirsty ones, demanding never-ending offerings and sacrifices for themselves. Who in the right mind would call the deity-Father, yet this Jesus was not like other victims of the cross. The last words He spoke was of forgiveness, and when He drew His last breath He simply said with a triumphant whisper: “IT IS FINISHED!” The land shook from the violent darkness, and suddenly the peace and light descend above the cross. For the rest, I bid you to read the story… His story, the centurion who was responsible for the crucifixion act to be done. He is the one who said: “Truly this man was Son of God”. What changed his mind to forget about the pantheon of the Roman gods and profess something like that in public?
The ending of the book has a source section, which I like. It describes a list of sources of book that I can look for, if I needed more information. In this section the author explained some passages and meaning behind the imagery through the story. He explained some Roman lifestyle and the important events that happened during the storytelling.
May 10, 2018
This is a very enjoyable, yet informative, historical fiction novel. The story is a fictional account of the centurion whose charge it was to crucify Jesus. It follows his life as an ambitious Roman soldier through 65AD. I won't provide details to avoid being a spoiler, but it is intriguing and inspirational. Ken Gire has researched his topic well and the tale is told through the eyes of a Roman as well as a follower of Christ (Mary Magdalene). It is readable with ample explanation of that which is unfamiliar in our day and culture. A feature that I have not seen before in a historical novel is that the last section is called "Sources" and is after the fictional narrative is complete. It documents and explains his research and also his rationale for what he wrote in the narrative sequentially by topic, giving you a minds-eye view of the author's thought process as he wrote the novel and a more detailed view of the history and culture. It is very worthwhile reading through. My only criticism is that the sources are not linked to the relevant parts of the narrative by footnotes so you can read them at the same time. You would have to go back and forth to search if you wanted to read these notes as the story unfolds. I did a bit but read through them once I finished. I believe that is what the author probably wanted the reader to do since it was structured that way. All in all, it was a good novel and I highly recommend it.
October 27, 2019
A centurion present at Jesus' crucifixion gets faith in Jesus but through his life fighting in different parts of the Empire, loses it but finds it again. He falls in love with Mary Magdalene: a chaste love from afar; as his faith weakens, hers grows stronger. When he sees the strong faith of Christians being frozen to death on a frozen lake north of Rome, he regains his faith and joins them. Ending did seem a bit rushed and we weren't given his rich emotional life which filled most of the novel.
Written well, almost cinematographically, with scenes switching from Lucius the centurion to Mary and the early Christians back and forth. Maybe I'm too pedantic, but these things bothered me: Germans and other barbarians called Huns, the pejorative WWI term. And I wondered if the author had located the Danube and surrounding area in Germania instead of today's Austria. Or, could I have been mistaken and this was just another of Lucius' postings in a completely different area? The "romance" seemed unbelievable but I can see the purpose of its being used as contrast of how Jesus and his life affected different people. I did like the author's basing the ending on the 40 martyrs of Sebaste, 40 Roman soldiers who died such a horrible death under Emperor Licinius in the 300s AD. I did like the long section on source material.
Written well, almost cinematographically, with scenes switching from Lucius the centurion to Mary and the early Christians back and forth. Maybe I'm too pedantic, but these things bothered me: Germans and other barbarians called Huns, the pejorative WWI term. And I wondered if the author had located the Danube and surrounding area in Germania instead of today's Austria. Or, could I have been mistaken and this was just another of Lucius' postings in a completely different area? The "romance" seemed unbelievable but I can see the purpose of its being used as contrast of how Jesus and his life affected different people. I did like the author's basing the ending on the 40 martyrs of Sebaste, 40 Roman soldiers who died such a horrible death under Emperor Licinius in the 300s AD. I did like the long section on source material.
January 21, 2021
I have no doubt that author Ken Gire knows his 1st century Roman, Jewish, and Christian history from the descriptions and facts that populate this novel. As an ancient historian who is also a Christian, I can appreciate the training needed to understand the period between 33 and 65 bce.
As with much religious fiction, the faith is pushed forward over and over again, even when it felt out of place. Why would Pilate or the main character, Lucius, know so many things about Jews or Christians? When the focus is on Romans in the Roman venues, the focus and details about non-Roman religion didn't make a lot of sense.
I could forgive a bit of the religiou tone if the narration was more solid. It isn't. I barely felt anything for Lucius who is the main character. Part of this is the choice to present the story as third-person. However, even if the narration is third-person, a good storyteller will carefully pick which details to include and which emotions to reveal. A skilled storyteller will focus on one character at a time and spend enough time to make us care. This skips around from location and characters over and over again. That may be the popular and common way to write these days, but that doesn't make it a great way to tell a story. The resulting confusion from being pulled in multiple directions, made this story difficult to read and enjoy for me.
As with much religious fiction, the faith is pushed forward over and over again, even when it felt out of place. Why would Pilate or the main character, Lucius, know so many things about Jews or Christians? When the focus is on Romans in the Roman venues, the focus and details about non-Roman religion didn't make a lot of sense.
I could forgive a bit of the religiou tone if the narration was more solid. It isn't. I barely felt anything for Lucius who is the main character. Part of this is the choice to present the story as third-person. However, even if the narration is third-person, a good storyteller will carefully pick which details to include and which emotions to reveal. A skilled storyteller will focus on one character at a time and spend enough time to make us care. This skips around from location and characters over and over again. That may be the popular and common way to write these days, but that doesn't make it a great way to tell a story. The resulting confusion from being pulled in multiple directions, made this story difficult to read and enjoy for me.
May 9, 2020
This book is the first Ken Gire book I’ve read and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
Lucius childhood dream was to be in the military and work his way up the ranks. Carrying out his duty however grotesque, if it was ordered, he done it.
He was ordered to oversee crucifixions of three men. The one in the middle was different. He hadn’t committed a crime at all. He performed miracle and a group of people one day was celebrating Him and the next asking for him to be crucified, all because He was not willing to be who they thought he should be.
He saw Mary in the crowd but couldn’t place where he knew her from. When he realized who she was, he couldn’t believe it.
When he heard the Man in the center speak and once He said, “It was finished,” something changed in him for he now realized that this is man truly is the Son of God. He needed to know more about Him and the woman he could not stop thinking about, Mary.
Once the crucifixion was over he was summoned to the battlefield. Before he left he found himself spending time Mary, the disciples and those that believed Jesus was the Messiah.
Like many people who get saved, when things don’t go there way...God doesn’t hear me, he shows favoritisms, and he didn’t do it my way, so apparently he is not real.
Lucius heart grew darker and found himself in battle after battle, killing to survive and killing to forget. Not seeing God the way he thinks he should, he realizes that his vision was not as perfect as he thought.
—————
Be warned this is a book with a lot of fighting and battle related death!!! Do not read this book if you are looking for a Hallmark movie, just saying!
Lucius childhood dream was to be in the military and work his way up the ranks. Carrying out his duty however grotesque, if it was ordered, he done it.
He was ordered to oversee crucifixions of three men. The one in the middle was different. He hadn’t committed a crime at all. He performed miracle and a group of people one day was celebrating Him and the next asking for him to be crucified, all because He was not willing to be who they thought he should be.
He saw Mary in the crowd but couldn’t place where he knew her from. When he realized who she was, he couldn’t believe it.
When he heard the Man in the center speak and once He said, “It was finished,” something changed in him for he now realized that this is man truly is the Son of God. He needed to know more about Him and the woman he could not stop thinking about, Mary.
Once the crucifixion was over he was summoned to the battlefield. Before he left he found himself spending time Mary, the disciples and those that believed Jesus was the Messiah.
Like many people who get saved, when things don’t go there way...God doesn’t hear me, he shows favoritisms, and he didn’t do it my way, so apparently he is not real.
Lucius heart grew darker and found himself in battle after battle, killing to survive and killing to forget. Not seeing God the way he thinks he should, he realizes that his vision was not as perfect as he thought.
—————
Be warned this is a book with a lot of fighting and battle related death!!! Do not read this book if you are looking for a Hallmark movie, just saying!
February 26, 2020
Growing up, there was a movie called "The Robe" that I would, and still do, watch faithfully every year at Easter. This book has the same impact now as the movie had on me then. The author has a great many references from their research along the way. The book is well written and gives us a look at the long, arduous, and lonely life of a Roman soldier who has ambitions of becoming a general one day. Since it is a historical fiction, we also have a building romance that will pull you in and keep you entirely mesmerized. This is one I couldn't put down once I started. Yes, it was that good.
December 16, 2017
Well, researched story written from the perspective of the Centurion who had been assigned to the task of crucifying Jesus of Nazareth. Wonderful insight into the training, allegiance, mind set and personal goals of the Roman soldier, and the rise and spread of the power this mighty kingdom had. This is constantly held in juxtaposition with the spread of the Kingdom of God through the Good News Story that their crucified King had left behind for His followers to bear witness to.
May 19, 2017
Did not finish it.
August 8, 2017
A very dramatic opening. A very sad ending. Lots of excitement in between.
May 5, 2020
A well-researched and wonderfully written book that kept me captivated from the get-go. It’s the first time I’ve read this author I really love his writing style.
January 1, 2017
The Centurion is a Christian historical fiction novel by Ken Gire, taking place in Jerusalem and the expanding Roman Empire during AD 33 - AD 65. The book starts with the trial and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, as seen through the eyes of Lucius, a centurion in the Roman army. Intrigued by the unfolding of the day's events, Lucius inquires about this "King of the Jews" and one of his followers in particular, Mary of Magdala.
As they spend time together, Mary and Lucius fall in love. However, their budding romance is short-lived, as Lucius is called away to help Rome expand her empire. His years at battle are long and harsh, changing this young fierce warrior into a mostly cold leader. When he finally returns to Rome, he questions both his past and his convictions which have led to his present.
When I first started reading this book, I thought the romance between Lucius and Mary would play a major role, but it's mostly contained to the first and last sections of the novel. About the middle two-thirds of the book is focused on the Roman conquest, depicting Roman battles, military strategy, and cultural beliefs in immense detail. At times this detail seems overdone, leading one to want to gloss over a paragraph here and there, although it isn't frequent enough to really detract from the overall telling of the story.
I'm giving this book 4/5 stars. Overall, the book tells an interesting story and is well written. However, the last part of the book seemed rushed, as though trying to wrap up a tale that wasn't quite ready to end so abruptly. While we see a lot of character development during the major portion of the storyline, it isn't clearly depicted as to how or why Lucius comes to the conclusions that he does at the end. While most of his decisions at this point could simply be pawned off on an old and weary warrior, it would have been nice to see his line of thinking as we did for most of the rest of the story.
I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical fiction and Roman history/military strategy. While I originally thought this would be a romance novel, the portions of this book dedicated to the love story between Lucius and Mary are clearly geared for any audience, regardless as to whether or not you enjoy the romance genre.
*Disclaimer: I received a free print edition of this book from Moody Publishers for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
As they spend time together, Mary and Lucius fall in love. However, their budding romance is short-lived, as Lucius is called away to help Rome expand her empire. His years at battle are long and harsh, changing this young fierce warrior into a mostly cold leader. When he finally returns to Rome, he questions both his past and his convictions which have led to his present.
When I first started reading this book, I thought the romance between Lucius and Mary would play a major role, but it's mostly contained to the first and last sections of the novel. About the middle two-thirds of the book is focused on the Roman conquest, depicting Roman battles, military strategy, and cultural beliefs in immense detail. At times this detail seems overdone, leading one to want to gloss over a paragraph here and there, although it isn't frequent enough to really detract from the overall telling of the story.
I'm giving this book 4/5 stars. Overall, the book tells an interesting story and is well written. However, the last part of the book seemed rushed, as though trying to wrap up a tale that wasn't quite ready to end so abruptly. While we see a lot of character development during the major portion of the storyline, it isn't clearly depicted as to how or why Lucius comes to the conclusions that he does at the end. While most of his decisions at this point could simply be pawned off on an old and weary warrior, it would have been nice to see his line of thinking as we did for most of the rest of the story.
I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical fiction and Roman history/military strategy. While I originally thought this would be a romance novel, the portions of this book dedicated to the love story between Lucius and Mary are clearly geared for any audience, regardless as to whether or not you enjoy the romance genre.
*Disclaimer: I received a free print edition of this book from Moody Publishers for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
February 12, 2016
What happened with the Roman soldiers that participated in and witnessed Jesus crucifixion? The Bible does not address this, but we'd like to think that at least a few of them sought the truth and accepted Christ. Ken Gire's The Centurion tells of Lucius, who sees Mary Magdalene at the cross and pursues her. However, he finds more than he planned to.
Lucius falls for Mary, but she cannot surrender to her love for a man. He asks God to grant this relationship, but Lucius is instead sent to the Frontier. This loss, and the hardships of battle cause him to spurn belief in God. As we often try to do, he looks to fill the void with other things. This process leaves him empty and unfulfilled. His distaste for what has happened keeps him from seeing the truth about Jesus.
Lucius missed the point about putting selfish ways aside and thinks that God abandoned him. Throughout the story, Mary's life is shown, how she puts her own wants aside in order to serve Jesus by serving others.
The story was excellent and it held my attention from start to finish. Gire illustrated the two outlooks people have about Christ, He is worthy of worship or He is not. The two main characters show the difference each choice makes in a life.
In addition to the selflessness of the Christians, one other part that really stood out is how Gire shows the parallel between the crucifixion and Passover. I have not seen that done in many fiction books before.
I received a free copy of The Centurion from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
Lucius falls for Mary, but she cannot surrender to her love for a man. He asks God to grant this relationship, but Lucius is instead sent to the Frontier. This loss, and the hardships of battle cause him to spurn belief in God. As we often try to do, he looks to fill the void with other things. This process leaves him empty and unfulfilled. His distaste for what has happened keeps him from seeing the truth about Jesus.
Lucius missed the point about putting selfish ways aside and thinks that God abandoned him. Throughout the story, Mary's life is shown, how she puts her own wants aside in order to serve Jesus by serving others.
The story was excellent and it held my attention from start to finish. Gire illustrated the two outlooks people have about Christ, He is worthy of worship or He is not. The two main characters show the difference each choice makes in a life.
In addition to the selflessness of the Christians, one other part that really stood out is how Gire shows the parallel between the crucifixion and Passover. I have not seen that done in many fiction books before.
I received a free copy of The Centurion from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
May 20, 2016
My first read by this author. Lucius was a soldier who was involved with the death of Jesus. After his death he wants to find out more about the man. He begins to trail his followers. He is really following Mary Magdalene. She tells him how Jesus changed her life.
Some what brutal book but most stories in the Bible are brutal.
Some what brutal book but most stories in the Bible are brutal.
April 9, 2017
*Possible Spoilers*
It was a unique perspective. I have been planning a book about this time period and I found this book to be a tremendous resource. As far as the storyline, I found it a tad drawn out and the ending wasn't my first choice. Still finding this book was a blessing in countless ways.
It was a unique perspective. I have been planning a book about this time period and I found this book to be a tremendous resource. As far as the storyline, I found it a tad drawn out and the ending wasn't my first choice. Still finding this book was a blessing in countless ways.
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