Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone

by D.A. Brittain

Princess Teia, daughter of Judah's last king, begins a harrowing journey after she’s rescued by the prophet Jeremiah from the burning city of Jerusalem. They flee to Egypt, where amid Teia’s efforts to cope with devastating loss comes an unexpected awakening of her heart when she meets Eochaid, a foreign prince. The two young nobles fall in love, but are soon forced to part and follow their preordained destinies of ruling separate nations.

Against the backdrop of daring escapes on land and sea, raging sword battles, and deadly sorcerers, an emotional journey ensues across multiple continents for both Teia and Eochaid as they contend with lost love, personal tragedy, and stirring spiritual transformation. All the while they’re unaware that God’s steady hand guides their paths as part of his plan to restore Judah’s everlasting throne—as symbolized by a sacred stone.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Romance, Historical, Biblical Fiction, Christian Fiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2016

About the author

D. A. Brittain writes adventure-filled stories that illustrate biblical truth through compelling and realistic characters. In addition to being a passionate student of the Bible and ancient history, she has traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East, giving her the opportunity to research and explore the land, historic sites, and larger-than-life heroes and heroines appearing in Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone, the first in a series of historical novels.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A romance about how the Stone of Scones came to be in the British Isles.

The daughter of the last king of Judah flees to Egypt with her little sister and a prophet. Eventually, she meets and falls in love with a Noble sea captain.

Not bad, but not for me.

[joyce g · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for providing the opportunity to read and review this bookI was pleasantly surprised, as I was enjoying the story I was learning historical details.

[Patti Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great read i was not able to put it down . the author D.A. Brittain was able to keep me engaged throught the whole book

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone, by D.A. Brittain, introduces the idea that during the fall of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar, two princesses escaped and were ultimately smuggled out of the kingdom, escaping certain death from the Babylonian King. Led by the Prophet Jeremiah, both girls struggle with accepting their destiny and God as they journey across the land from Egypt to places unknown.

What was interesting about this book was the idea that somehow these princesses were ultimately linked to the current British Monarchs. While certainly a unique perspective, I find a lot of the assumptions made in this book take a rather large leap of faith. What Brittain does best is weave an interesting love story during one of the most troublesome times in Jewish history, giving hope to the idea that maybe not every member of the royal family was destroyed. As Princess Teia continues her journey, you see her battling with accepting a God that her entire family rejected to their peril. Will Teia be able to find happiness?

If you enjoy Biblical Fiction you should enjoy this book. While a lot of the ideas presented have little factual bearing, the idea of a remnant remaining and continuing the line of King David is an interesting concept and Brittain does well to spin a love story that moves back and forth between the past and modern day. I am giving this book 4/5 stars for an enjoyable read.

I received this book for free from the Publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legend has it that when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians, King Zedekiah's daughter Teia escaped with the Prophet Jeremiah to Egypt and later to Ireland where she married and started a new dynasty. Whether or not this story is a myth, the author did an excellent job of research and storytelling. She depicted well the dangers of life at sea in ancient times. There were a few typos and spelling errors but they did little to distract me from the compelling events of the story. I have few arguments against the possible historical events as I have read a similar account from other sources.

[Emily]

Received today in a Goodreads giveaway. :) review to come when finished.

[***Book Lady *** · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful debut book that is a biblical fiction and romance! Really enjoyed reading this story about Jacob's pillow rock and it's travels from Jerusalem to becoming the Babel coronation stone for King's in Ireland, Scotland, and England. Loved the characters, especially the sweet romance between Princess Teia and Prince Eochaid.

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that JUDAH'S SCEPTER AND THE SACRED STONE by D.A. Brittain is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author D.A. Brittain's Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone is a tale of adventure and romance. Shining light on the story of Princess Teia Tamar, this novel offers a fascinating conclusion to what may have become of the little-known daughter to the last King of Judah. Some theorists believe the princess may have traveled with Jeremiah, the prophet, to Ireland following the overthrow of Judah by Babylon. This novel chronicles Princess Teia's desire to follow the will of Yahweh, and the struggles she endures as she travels with Jeremiah as they seek God's intended path for his people.

Brittain has woven a unique tale of romance that is altogether intriguing. The author's grasp of history and biblical scripture is apparent throughout this thoughtful and introspective novel. Her depiction of Jeremiah the prophet, as he yearns to share the truth of God's desire to be at the heart of one's life ambitions, offers a wonderfully uncommon perspective of this man's role during this pivotal time in history. A captivating and compelling work of historical fiction, based on biblical scripture and some historical conjecture, this book has many levels of depth and won't soon be forgotten by readers of any age. Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

[. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previously published on Purely by Faith Reviews.

This book had been on my tbr list for a while. The cover is just so gorgeous and eye-catching, and the synopsis sounded intriguing. When I got the opportunity to receive this book in exchange for a review, I jumped at it.

Princess Teia was an interesting sort. I have to admit I got extremely annoyed with the damsel-in-distress thing happening with her, and did find it harder to relate with her. But she went through so many tough situations in her life such as leaving the land she grew up in forever and her trust in God really was what made me like her more once I finished the book.

Prince Eochaid was someone I was interested in on and off. At times, I wanted to know what was going on with him, but at other times, I really didn’t care. I was fond enough of him overall, and really felt for him when an event occurred (especially when I consider how it could’ve happened to me). Love at first sight certainly applies to him and Teia, which probably could be super romantic for some.

My favorite parts of the story were when the characters traveled across the sea to new lands as well as reading about Jeremiah. I always find myself interested in historical figures that we don’t necessarily know much about, and I’ll have to look into him more from my Bible.

While I loved certain aspects of the story, I found myself not wanting to read this at first. It was very slow, and I found myself somewhat annoyed at certain circumstances. What really bugged me was how there was more telling than showing in this book. Many times when the characters went through a trial, I found myself having a harder time to connect with them since there was a lack of description in that area. It took me about 80 pages to actually start getting sucked into the story because of this. I also felt the modern elements at the beginning and the end were unnecessary. However, the writing was done pretty well and she was great at historical descriptions. I did find typos, but I believe that is pretty much inevitable in every book out there.

Overall, although some of this content below bothered me, I feel like I came out with some interesting information I wasn’t aware of before (such as where the Easter Bunny originated from as well as Halloween) and I’m glad I ended up finishing the book. I could really see myself reading some more of this author’s work in the future. If you enjoy realistic historical and biblical fiction, then this would be the book for you!

I wouldn’t recommend this book for younger readers because of inappropriate situations.

Content Warnings: Teia and her sister going into the wrong place and finding themselves in a very crude festival with ladies dressed in transparent clothes as well as men drinking; very evil and disturbing rituals happen, such as Druids sacrificing their own people for their false gods and performing sorcery; a few passionate kisses and hints at inappropriate actions; violence (battle, death, etc).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through BookCrash.com. A positive review was not required.

[Ceci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked

I really enjoyed the genre! I've never read anything that was Biblical fiction and I found that I liked it a lot. While I was not entirely familiar with the story from the Bible, I could still remember pieces from the Bible. Another sorta interesting thing was the prologue and the epilogue. I will have to say that I strongly disagree with the ending. No one knows when the end of the world is.

I liked some of the characters. Especially the main characters. But I think my favorite character was Eochaid. I think that his character arc was the best one. Teia also had a character arc, but her's wasn't as strong and not as believable.

*sigh*

I am a romance sucker and this romance was sooooo adorable. I wouldn't actually categorize this book as a romance since the hero and heroine weren't together for that much time. But still, adorable!

Disliked

Okay, so this may be just me, but this book was a little preachy. I don't mind books that give the message that this book was trying to give (trusting in God) but I don't think that Brittain did an amazing job of incorporating a great message. It just sounded really preachy in some parts :/

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh. basdihajlsadfes *huffs* So. Some of the characters were sorta whiny?? And yeah, I really can't stand it when a character complains for like no reason.

Aaand, I really didn't like some of the characters....THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS ACTED LIKE SECONDARY CHARACTERS NOO. Yeah. Pet peeve.

It was also really rushed. Like, the ending???? I had to read it several times over to make sure I had read it right.

Content

There were Druid priests and mention of their rituals.

Some references. Actually, quite a few.

The princesses also stumble into something really disgusting in Eygpt. I think that I might have liked the book a bit better without the content.

Rating

I wish I could have rated this higher, but....

3 stars

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy on Goodreads.

Interesting blend of Hebrew and Irish history. I had not heard of the Jacob’s Pillow Stone Legend so this was a nice fictional account. I could have done without the modern elements at the beginning and end of the book as they seemed unnecessary. Overall, an enjoyable story.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have had this review sitting in my draft box for the last week. I really wasn't sure how to word it and I have had a really hard time putting my thoughts about this book out there. That being said, here goes...

I was intrigued by this book. I am a fan of Biblical fiction and am a fan of love stories, so I was looking forward to reading this book. What I found was a story based on the story of two princesses who escaped their kingdom during the fall to the Babylonians. The princesses were led by the prophet Jeremiah and chronicles their adventures both in love and in war and in finding their place in God's world.

What I also found was a story that was very heavy on the historical facts and not heavy enough on the romance aspect. For me this meant that it took me forever to get through the book and I found it hard to follow. This took a lot away from the story in my opinion.

The writing itself is not bad. The story of Teia and her journey and her interactions with Eochaid were very interesting and I wish that there was more of that story, rather than historical descriptions.

For these reasons, I wasn't sure how to write this review. Obviously this story was not my "cup of tea" but it also wasn't a horrible story with bad writing. Therefore, I personally did not enjoy the writing style but did enjoy the underlining story. Others have posted very positive reviews on different websites online so I would have to say that you would have to judge for yourself.



DISCLAIMER::
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookCrash in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title blends Scripture with fiction as you follow the journey of the Princess Teia from the destruction of Jerusalem to her ultimate home in the islands of Brittania. Her 'guide' is the prophet, Jeremiah. The telling of this story is 'wrapped' in modern times with the coronation of the new King of England.

Along the way, you get a glimpse into how life would have been as well as a sweet love story that develops. The only section of the story which did not keep my enraptured was the end when 2 characters start going on about the end of the world coming. All I could figure for that part is the author's attempt to set up future stories.

I could tell that the author did a fantastic job of research. The story did awaken a desire for me to read the Scripture which initiated the story and now I want to explore more of the documentation referenced.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book begins with the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and Jeremiah saving the lives of two princesses. From that point on, the story is largely a work of fiction that comes from the author's imagination.

This is an interesting book with well developed characters and details from the time in which they lived. I liked how the author added a lot of internal struggle for the main princess, Teia; D. A. Brittain did a very good job of letting the reader see how difficult it was for Teia to always follow God's leading through Jeremiah when she didn't always want to.

This is a good book for fans of Biblical fiction.

[Jackie Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Princess Teia and Eochaid. Takes place during the times of Jeremiah in the old Testament. Is also the search for the stone Jacob used for his head when wrestling with God. Has romance,war, and prophesy. Enjoyed the story and will read this author again. Thanks to Goodreads.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Note:  This book was provided free of charge by BookCrash.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Given my upbringing and the popularity of stories about the Israelite origin of the people of the British Isles, and the fact that I read the Lebor Gabala as a college student for research, it is perhaps little surprise that I would be intrigued by the history behind this pleasant piece of historical fiction.  While I am not sure that this is a book I would reread on a regular basis, it was certainly an enjoyable historical romance that takes the legends of Tea Tephi being taken from the ruins of Jerusalem to marry an Irish prince whose line through the Dal Raida would end up as part of the Scottish monarchy and eventually the British royal family.  Not being someone who tends to read a great deal when it comes to historical romance novels of a biblical nature [1], I was unsure about how the author would handle the material, but overall I have to say I was pleased, and though there were plenty of perilous moments, overall at least I can say that the novel was not an exploration of the horrors of PTSD as seems to be de rigeur for this sort of fiction, so that was a plus.

There are at least three different plots that the author manages to skillfully weave in this play.  Overall, the novel is a frame story with its beginning and end in the present day with a look at the importance of the stone of scone in the coronation ritual, where the author looks at the coronation of the (likely) future Charles III as king over the United Kingdom.  Meanwhile, the prophet Jeremiah and an entourage that includes Baruch and two daughters of Zedekiah seek to recover from the trauma of Jerusalem's destruction and find a place to fulfill the mysterious will of God.  Third, one of the princesses, here given the name of Teia Tamar (in most of the accounts I am familiar with she is known as Teia Tephi or something like that), has a meet cute with a prince Eochaid of Meath, one of the Irish kingdoms, who has his own struggles with the Druidic religion of his homeland and in ruling over the fractious and easily divided Irish kingdoms after he inherits the throne from his father.  In the end, the various plot lines are held together and the author shows a believable romance with plenty of intrigue and danger and even some messianic overtones.

How much you like this novel will depend on a few things.  The novel is written competently, but is not classics-level literature, and it has an appealing set of leads, but one where the prince is dashing and brave and the princess is rather in need of frequent protection and rescue.  Those who dislike the damsel frequently in distress aspect of this novel will probably be a bit irritated.  However, this novel will earn some points from those readers who believe that the British Isles are inhabited by various Israelite tribes, and especially who believe in the transferrence of the royal family of the House of David through Teia to a royal house of the Zarahite branch of the tribe of Judah.  Additionally, those readers with a premillennial worldview and a belief in the sooncoming return of Jesus Christ will probably appreciate the conclusion of the novel as well.  In the case of this reader, at least, I was mildly diverted by the plot, intrigued by the writing even if there were some anachronisms in terms of naming (at one point more than two centuries before the founding of Alexandria someone says they are from that city, to give one example).  All in all, it was a pleasant read.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerusalem is burning, destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian soldiers, but Yahweh’s prophet, Jeremiah, rescues Princess Teia Tamar, the daughter of Judah’s fallen, and last, king. A small group flees to Egypt where the refugees settle and Teia meets Prince Eochaid of Erin. Despite their feelings for each other, the two young people part, headed in separate directions and each with an inescapable calling they must fulfill.

What does the future hold for the prince and the princess? And how will the people react to Jeremiah’s prophecies?

Wrapped around the Stone of Scone and a present-day coronation in England, this fascinating story of possible events plays out against an ancient struggle between faith, love, duty, and power. The narrative, anchored by its strong sense of place, offers reader a meticulous weaving of Biblical prophecy and promise into a carefully-researched historical chronicle of romance and desire. Filled with well-defined, nuanced characters, the central story belongs to Eochaid and Teia both of whom struggle with discovering their places in the world and their responsibilities to their people. Although Teia tends toward being a damsel-in-distress in need of rescue, her character feels appropriate and well within keeping of the time in which the story is set.

Readers will find themselves caught up in the excitement as the unfolding story takes them from battles on land to danger on the seas, all playing out against the various cultures and political intrigues of the time. Unexpected plot twists offer some surprises but the various plot lines come together as the story concludes. While many readers are sure to be disappointed that the story doesn’t focus a bit more on the prophet Jeremiah, there is much to appreciate here.

Three appendices follow the story: the Hebrew religious calendar, Biblical references, and a selected bibliography.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the cover of this book is of quality and provides a charming intrigue with the courageous lion and romantic regal couple. I always love holding books with the slightly waxy thicker cover that holds its shape despite my face smashing the book when I fall asleep while reading it. Super big bonus points.

But the story itself - that's what you want to know about. Is it worth your time and $$??? Yah, sure, ya betcha! It's kind of a historical fiction based on biblical and lore and enough historical fact to keep you believing book. It's kind of a love story. It's kind of a religious story but not in your face and down your throat religion, but the characters' journey of beliefs (and not so much beliefs) at different levels.

In a nutshell, Jerusalem falls, the prophet Jeremiah rescue Princess Teia and her sister Hannah and others. Teia and Prince Eochaid briefly meet and are joyously smitten with each other but are parted by life circumstances. Eochaid returns home to Brittania. The rescued party travels with groups splintering off. Eochaid's father dies making Eochaid king and needing a wife for those all important heirs. The rescue party narrows down to Jeremiah, Teia, and Baruch (scribe and all 'round dependable servant/friend/protector). God tells Jeremiah to go around spreading the word which lands them in Brittania. But, ya know, Eochaid has been busy choosing a bride and is about to announce to the country who she is and doesn't even realize that Teia is anywhere nearby. Teia doesn't realize that the king is her Eochaid because he goes by a different name. The bride who Eochaid thinks of announcing (as well as his own brother) and the Druid Priests are plotting Eochaid's death - ya know, because, they're the ones who actually secretly killed the dad-king in the first place. And the rest is up to you to discover.

Super fun book to read - 5 stars!

[Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

D.A. Brittain’s debut novel features her romanticized version of the Scottish folklore behind British Israelism, which identifies the Stone of Scone, used for the coronations of Scottish kings as the Stone of Jacob. I was expecting more hard history but, perhaps I shouldn’t have expected that considering when I looked up Brittain’s own biography page on her website she writes, “Fairy tales that ended with the words ‘…happily ever after’ were her favorites as a young girl.” Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone is exactly that, a quick and easy read written with a YA historical romance feel following the “happily ever after” journey and romance of Princess Teia and Prince Eochaid. In the backdrop of the romance plays out the prophet Jeremiah’s journey of faith in believing that God is faithful to His promises while carefully listening and obeying the word of the Lord in order to bring about the fulfillment of those very promises for his people. I loved Brittain’s depiction of Jeremiah and would have loved to have gotten to know even more of “the weeping prophet.” My favorite scene in the book was when Jeremiah delivered an unexpected difficult prophetic word to the remnant of Israel with tears in his eyes and depiction of the aftermath of his emotional turmoil as he realized what he had said and delivered to his people. I would have enjoyed more of Jeremiah’s story and more historical details but, I’m not necessarily the target audience and I could definitely imagine the target audience that would absolutely adore this story in the way Brittain has chosen to tell it. In all honesty, at moments I felt my attention drifting but, other will be gripped by an all in all enjoyable read into a bit of fun fairly forgotten history.

*I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway and thank the author for the signed copy.

[Janet Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone" by D.A. Brittain

This is an amazing book by a very talented author. There are a few novels that touch your heart, soul, and mind. This is one of those books.

Princess Teia is surveying the destruction of the land surrounding her home when her life and the lives of her family are threatened in an instant. During the chaos, the royal family is separated. Teia's tutor, Ebed, finds a hiding place for her, but it isn't perfect. Teia nearly burns to death! Fortunately, she is rescued by the prophet Jeremiah. With Ebed and Baruch's help, Jeremiah whisks Teia to the shores of Egypt, where she meets an attractive prince named Eochaid. But right after love takes root, they must go their separate ways. Both Teia and Eochaid's journeys are fraught with danger, making it unlikely they will survive, let alone see each other again.

This gripping novel lures the reader in and never lets go. The suspenseful plot and well-rounded characters had me rushing to pick up the book every chance I got. I was glad Teia and Eochaid didn't meet right away, so I could anticipate that moment in the story. There were so many scenes that stood out for me, too many to list. It's not easy for a writer to keep two story lines equally riveting, but D.A. Brittain does a masterful job. I never dreaded switching viewpoints because both Teia and Eochaid's stories were filled with excitement and danger.

I highly recommend this incredible novel.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookCrash.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brittain clearly knows her biblical history; it shows through on every page. Judah's Scepter wasn't quite what I was expecting, as I thought this was going to be mostly focused on the couple. There's a good deal of background about the religious happenings and political maneuvering of the day, some of them bloody. I struggled with some of the detailed explanations because I wasn't familiar with the players and I did do some skimming here and there because of that. Some story threads never felt quite tied off, for instance, a definite answer to whether Teia's mother survived (unless I missed it).

Likely to appeal to: fans of ancient history, Christian fiction readers.

The writing was very high quality, and I was cheering for Teia and Eochaid to get their HEA right up until the final pages.

Won on a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to the author and the publisher.

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I won in the Goodreads Giveaway.

I enjoyed this book and following the journey from Jerusalem to what sounded like Ireland with the prophet Jeremiah and Princess Teia to fulfill her destiny. The descriptions of the towns they stopped in, the people they met and the methods they traveled enhanced the story line.

However at Chapter 44 it seemed like the story "sped up" and I thought I had lost part of the book. Things moved so much faster than the rest of the book and the mood was lost. A lot of "bad" happened in those 3 pages that could have been written in a way that didn't seem like a disconnect from the rest of the story. It's almost like the author just wanted to get through the bad stuff really fast--even though it had to be said to complete the story.

Most of the book, though, was quite enjoyable.

[Maree Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to win this book on Goodreads but that has in no way influenced my review.

What an amazing tale this is. I was hooked right from the start and would think about the chapters I had just read for hours to come. The story moves along at a good pace, with descriptions so vivid that I felt like I was there with the characters throughout their travels and ordeals.

Being a Catholic myself I found drawn to the characters and was familiar with with many of them. Of course Teia and Eochaid are fictional characters but their story is so well told by this author, and who's to say there isn't any truth to the myth of the princess and the sacred stone?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking out for others by this author.

[Stefania Pezzato · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER:
I received a copy of this book for free as a winner of a giveaway promoted by the author here on Goodreads.

I don't read many historical novels, and I'm an atheist so I was a little skeptical about this book, but I have to admit that I came to like it. The characters are well described and not flat, and the story has many plot twists. The descriptions of places and gestures are accurate, almost like a screenplay.
The language is simple, maybe even too simple, since I understood every single word even if I'm not an english antive speaker.
I definetely suggest to read it if you're curious about the foundation of religions and want to dream about princesses and travel adventures.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was captivating and thought provoking as to idol worship practices in the Old Testament. Jeremiah, the prophet is a main character and artistic license taken did not harm the story, but provides humanity to him. He was caretaker to two young sisters for a couple of years as they had to flee their homeland because Jerusalem was under siege. The story takes the reader sailing, sometimes across very stormy seas, to different lands. It is here you learn different cultures and pagan worship which forced them to move on. Jeremiah listened to God and not to the wisdom of men. Feel good ending.

[Victoria Terrinoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had my attention almost to the end. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen when Teia and Eochaid finally saw each other again. It was anticlimactic. They see each other and then they are happy and in love again. There should have been more tension like Eochaid already announced his marriage to someone else. The ending of the story moves much too quickly. Teia is kidnapped, poisoned and rescued in about two pages. That could have been developed much more. I felt cheated. The epilogue was completely unnecessary. Suddenly the story is all about the stone when the main story all along was about Teia and Eochaid. I was very disappointed by the ending of the book.

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judah's Scepter and the Sacred Stone is a richly woven historical and biblical fiction novel that blends epic adventure, spiritual depth, and heartfelt romance. D.A. Brittain masterfully captures the journey of Princess Teia and Eochaid as they navigate loss, love, and destiny across lands scarred by conflict and faith. With vivid depictions of ancient Jerusalem, daring escapes, and sword wielding action, the novel immerses readers in a world where divine providence and human courage intersect. Brittain’s storytelling is both emotionally resonant and spiritually uplifting, offering a tale of love, sacrifice, and the enduring power of faith.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank D.A. Brittain & Goodreads for giving me a copy of this book, along with personalize note to me from the author. I loved it! The descriptions and the settings were amazing: the landscapes, temples, foods, and smells. There were plenty of surprising twists that I didn't see coming. I loved seeing how God's hand was with Teia even when she felt like He wasn't there. What seemed to her like set backs was really just God at work, making sure that she was where she needed to be at the right time. A fun historical fiction read!

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
(4 stars for the story - alas 2 for the incorrect historical research)

"What a pity Ms Brittain did not extend her obvious love of Biblical research to the factual research of the period. However, this was a story I enjoyed... It is a novel that will have appeal to readers who relish the retelling of Biblical tales."