What do you think?
Rate this book
The End of the Magi
Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel creates a select group of men who will count down the calendar to the arrival of Israel’s promised king. Centuries later, as the day nears, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are put to death by a ruthless Parthian queen.
Having grabbed only a few possessions, Myrad escapes the city, and searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, he tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is hiding secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable traveler, an epic journey filled with peril, close escapes, and dangerous battles begins.
With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can’t forget and the promise that the world will never be the same.
Having grabbed only a few possessions, Myrad escapes the city, and searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, he tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is hiding secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable traveler, an epic journey filled with peril, close escapes, and dangerous battles begins.
With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can’t forget and the promise that the world will never be the same.
384 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2019
65 people are currently reading
1479 people want to read
About the author
Patrick W. Carr
15 books659 followersPatrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last eighteen years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary. Patrick and Mary have four sons who are living their own adventures all across the country. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
December 11, 2021
Why I chose to read this book...
I was drawn to this book when I saw it on my local library's bookshelf a few years ago. With the Christmas season approaching, and this book now available as an audiobook, I thought it was time to take a listen.
Hits
1. This is a great plot-driven adventure story! Main character, Myrad, a Persian Magi acolyte, escapes a massacre where his father is brutally murdered, joins a merchant's caravan and outruns/outwits various antagonists along the way, all in order to follow a vision made by the prophet Daniel 500 years earlier to see the coming Messiah.
2. The last quarter of the story was the most satisfying to me with its ties to the life and death of Jesus.
3. An interesting historical fiction story which focused on the political upheavals in ancient Parthia and Israel during Jesus's lifetime.
4. As someone with mobility issues, I felt empathy for Myrad having to contend with his club foot.
Misses
1. I was very disappointed that the portion where the Magi finally pay homage to Baby Jesus was only a few minutes long! With all the action leading up to this moment, I was hoping for something much more substantial.
2. For a reader who prefers character-driven stories, I felt that the main characters were not fleshed out very well. Also, so many characters with similar sounding names were introduced throughout the story that I had difficulty keeping track of who was who!
I do recommend this book for fans of adventure stories, but overall, this wasn't the "Christmasy" story that I was hoping for.
I was drawn to this book when I saw it on my local library's bookshelf a few years ago. With the Christmas season approaching, and this book now available as an audiobook, I thought it was time to take a listen.
Hits
1. This is a great plot-driven adventure story! Main character, Myrad, a Persian Magi acolyte, escapes a massacre where his father is brutally murdered, joins a merchant's caravan and outruns/outwits various antagonists along the way, all in order to follow a vision made by the prophet Daniel 500 years earlier to see the coming Messiah.
2. The last quarter of the story was the most satisfying to me with its ties to the life and death of Jesus.
3. An interesting historical fiction story which focused on the political upheavals in ancient Parthia and Israel during Jesus's lifetime.
4. As someone with mobility issues, I felt empathy for Myrad having to contend with his club foot.
Misses
1. I was very disappointed that the portion where the Magi finally pay homage to Baby Jesus was only a few minutes long! With all the action leading up to this moment, I was hoping for something much more substantial.
2. For a reader who prefers character-driven stories, I felt that the main characters were not fleshed out very well. Also, so many characters with similar sounding names were introduced throughout the story that I had difficulty keeping track of who was who!
I do recommend this book for fans of adventure stories, but overall, this wasn't the "Christmasy" story that I was hoping for.
December 2, 2019
Patrick Carr’s first foray into biblical fiction is a fabulous tale for the Christmas season and one that can be enjoyed by the whole family. As I listened on Audible, my grandkids (ages 7 and 5) were drawn into the story, and though they couldn’t absorb the fantastic historical details Carr includes, they were enthralled with the adventure and qualities of the main character, Myrad.
I love Carr’s skillful weaving of the prophet Daniel’s story as his opening chapter—someone most everyone is familiar with—with our teenaged hero 400+ years later. Right away, the reader understands the urgency and importance of Daniel’s connection with this boy who has a club-foot and was adopted by a Magi. Myrad is a bit quirky and a little bumbling but incredibly bright and devoted. He’s a young hero I cheered for throughout the story—and I was a little amazed that a beautiful girl would give him a second look! But I loved it! The author even makes this unlikely pair a believable love story.
This book seemed written to the young-adult audience, which is another plus in my opinion. Though it makes for a somewhat linear adult read, it could be a fantastic family read-aloud novel for the Christmas season. It contains fabulous historical information on biblical events, deftly told through a teenaged boy’s quest to change the world for the father he adored. It’s what I’ll be reading to my grandkids this December!
I love Carr’s skillful weaving of the prophet Daniel’s story as his opening chapter—someone most everyone is familiar with—with our teenaged hero 400+ years later. Right away, the reader understands the urgency and importance of Daniel’s connection with this boy who has a club-foot and was adopted by a Magi. Myrad is a bit quirky and a little bumbling but incredibly bright and devoted. He’s a young hero I cheered for throughout the story—and I was a little amazed that a beautiful girl would give him a second look! But I loved it! The author even makes this unlikely pair a believable love story.
This book seemed written to the young-adult audience, which is another plus in my opinion. Though it makes for a somewhat linear adult read, it could be a fantastic family read-aloud novel for the Christmas season. It contains fabulous historical information on biblical events, deftly told through a teenaged boy’s quest to change the world for the father he adored. It’s what I’ll be reading to my grandkids this December!
December 26, 2019
Loved the view of the journey of the Magi from the perspective of Myrad -- a young proselyte who becomes caught up in the messy politics of the region and is perplexed by his vision of the star. Why was he chosen? How will he know what to do next? The placement of Myrad in the narrative of Jesus was well done. I fell in love with Myrad and his faithful wife Rashon. What I found difficult about the book was all the Persion, Parthian, and Roman politics. So many names and places without a good resource to put them in context.
November 20, 2019
Thank you Prism and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The End Of The Magi
By: Patrick W. Carr
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I bet most of you are familiar with the story of the three wise men bearing gifts to baby Jesus. Have you ever wondered about these men? Who were they? Where did they come from originally? Where did they go after events happened? I have thought about this from time to time, so I was intrigued to read a story about the wise men. It begins with Daniel as he gives the task of counting down the days until the arrival of the Messiah to a group of men known as the magi. Fast forward 530 years to Persia and a magi named Gershom. He adopts an orphan named Myrad who has a club foot. One day, tragedy strikes, and Myrad flees for his life. This handicap orphan/magi has inherited the countdown calendar task. Myrad is taken into a merchant caravan where he travels and meets other magi. Although the countdown is about thirty years too early, the group of magi decide to set out after the star. This story is fascinating because it is a look at a journey most never consider. Myrad had limitations, doubts, fears and grief weighing heavy on him, yet he took up the magi journey without concern for himself. The author shows, in various ways, the miraculous hand of God guiding and protecting Myrad as he faced adversity, danger, doubt and his own handicap. The magi made an amazing journey through places unimaginable, and I wish I could see what they saw then. They were in constant danger with the political climate of the day in upheaval, but the magi carried on in faith. Myrad was authentic, relatable and admirable, and the other magi were realistic and engaging. Although a fictional account, the author grounded this story in biblical facts with obviously well researched material. I loved reading this new spin on an ancient story. I'm not well versed in biblical history, but I did not have trouble understanding the story. If you love historical fiction, The End Of The Magi is certainly a unique perspective to consider reading, and I recommend giving this book a try.
The End Of The Magi
By: Patrick W. Carr
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I bet most of you are familiar with the story of the three wise men bearing gifts to baby Jesus. Have you ever wondered about these men? Who were they? Where did they come from originally? Where did they go after events happened? I have thought about this from time to time, so I was intrigued to read a story about the wise men. It begins with Daniel as he gives the task of counting down the days until the arrival of the Messiah to a group of men known as the magi. Fast forward 530 years to Persia and a magi named Gershom. He adopts an orphan named Myrad who has a club foot. One day, tragedy strikes, and Myrad flees for his life. This handicap orphan/magi has inherited the countdown calendar task. Myrad is taken into a merchant caravan where he travels and meets other magi. Although the countdown is about thirty years too early, the group of magi decide to set out after the star. This story is fascinating because it is a look at a journey most never consider. Myrad had limitations, doubts, fears and grief weighing heavy on him, yet he took up the magi journey without concern for himself. The author shows, in various ways, the miraculous hand of God guiding and protecting Myrad as he faced adversity, danger, doubt and his own handicap. The magi made an amazing journey through places unimaginable, and I wish I could see what they saw then. They were in constant danger with the political climate of the day in upheaval, but the magi carried on in faith. Myrad was authentic, relatable and admirable, and the other magi were realistic and engaging. Although a fictional account, the author grounded this story in biblical facts with obviously well researched material. I loved reading this new spin on an ancient story. I'm not well versed in biblical history, but I did not have trouble understanding the story. If you love historical fiction, The End Of The Magi is certainly a unique perspective to consider reading, and I recommend giving this book a try.
December 15, 2025
I had no idea what to expect from a story inspired by the Magi who followed the Star to the Christ Child. Actually, to be completely honest, I didn’t expect much from it. I didn’t really see how such a tale could make for an interesting full-length novel, even in the hands of an author whose work I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in the past. But I was thrilled to be proven wrong. The End of the Magi was fun, tense, surprising adventure with lovely strand of romance, none of which I expected.
Our main character is Myrad, a young Persian man who was adopted by one of the Hebrew Magi, of the order founded by the prophet Daniel, still living in Prithia. Myrad is a Magi-in-training himself, having now had a true dream shared by another: a dream of a Star, proclaiming the prophesied Jewish Messiah. On the eve of his induction into the order, betrayal and tragedy strike, killing off many of the faithful Magi. Including Myrad’s adoptive father. Myrad barely escapes, taking with him his father’s calendar—marking the weeks of Daniel’s prophesy regarding the coming Messiah. He sets off to follow the Star, finding unanticipated adventure, unforeseen threats, and an a new, unlooked-for family along the way.
I expected this to end with the Magi reaching the Christ Child. I was pleasantly surprised when the story jumped forward 30 years instead, bringing us back to Jerusalem with the Magi as Jesus’ crucifixion approaches. They arrive ahead of His triumphal entry and stay through the day of Pentecost. It was wonderful witnessing the Gospel unfold through such a unique perspective. And while this is largely an original, speculative story, every element that corresponded to the biblical narrative was wholly faithful.
The End of the Magi was an unexpected delight from start to finish. I had a wonderful time with this story. From the lovable characters to the lush settings, from the tight plotting and effortless prose to the beautiful presentation of the story of Christ from an interesting new perspective, I enjoyed every aspect of Myrad’s story. If you’re looking for a unique historical novel set amidst a Biblical landscape, whether during the Christmas season or any other time of year, The End of the Magi is a wonderful choice.
Our main character is Myrad, a young Persian man who was adopted by one of the Hebrew Magi, of the order founded by the prophet Daniel, still living in Prithia. Myrad is a Magi-in-training himself, having now had a true dream shared by another: a dream of a Star, proclaiming the prophesied Jewish Messiah. On the eve of his induction into the order, betrayal and tragedy strike, killing off many of the faithful Magi. Including Myrad’s adoptive father. Myrad barely escapes, taking with him his father’s calendar—marking the weeks of Daniel’s prophesy regarding the coming Messiah. He sets off to follow the Star, finding unanticipated adventure, unforeseen threats, and an a new, unlooked-for family along the way.
I expected this to end with the Magi reaching the Christ Child. I was pleasantly surprised when the story jumped forward 30 years instead, bringing us back to Jerusalem with the Magi as Jesus’ crucifixion approaches. They arrive ahead of His triumphal entry and stay through the day of Pentecost. It was wonderful witnessing the Gospel unfold through such a unique perspective. And while this is largely an original, speculative story, every element that corresponded to the biblical narrative was wholly faithful.
The End of the Magi was an unexpected delight from start to finish. I had a wonderful time with this story. From the lovable characters to the lush settings, from the tight plotting and effortless prose to the beautiful presentation of the story of Christ from an interesting new perspective, I enjoyed every aspect of Myrad’s story. If you’re looking for a unique historical novel set amidst a Biblical landscape, whether during the Christmas season or any other time of year, The End of the Magi is a wonderful choice.
November 26, 2019
The story of the three wise men is familiar to Christians. They are briefly mentioned in the New Testament. This story explores who and what the wise men could have been.
The book begins with Daniel in Babylon 537 BC. He creates a group of people called the Magi who count down the days until the Messiah would be born. The Magi over the years become corrupted with the political power that they have been given. Tragedy strikes the Magi and Myrad escaped with the calendar and other political documents. He was hunted and took measures to make sure his task was successful. Myrad had a disability, he was born with a clubbed foot that made him easily recognizable and slowed down his flight from Persia.
This book is fascinating. The thought of "what if" and "what could have happened" during the time period propelled me to keep reading. I loved following Myrad on the trade routes through the desert. He faced life-threatening situations and was sustained by his God and belief.
This book is perfect for this season. But it is so much more. It is an adventure. It is about faith and prophetic dreams. It is about a young man learning and growing. It also has quite a bit of the time periods of culture.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The book begins with Daniel in Babylon 537 BC. He creates a group of people called the Magi who count down the days until the Messiah would be born. The Magi over the years become corrupted with the political power that they have been given. Tragedy strikes the Magi and Myrad escaped with the calendar and other political documents. He was hunted and took measures to make sure his task was successful. Myrad had a disability, he was born with a clubbed foot that made him easily recognizable and slowed down his flight from Persia.
This book is fascinating. The thought of "what if" and "what could have happened" during the time period propelled me to keep reading. I loved following Myrad on the trade routes through the desert. He faced life-threatening situations and was sustained by his God and belief.
This book is perfect for this season. But it is so much more. It is an adventure. It is about faith and prophetic dreams. It is about a young man learning and growing. It also has quite a bit of the time periods of culture.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 8, 2019
The story begins in Babylon in 537 BC with Daniel at the end of his life and continues in 5 BC with the story of Myrad, the adopted son of one of the Magi that serves the King. Quickly embroiled in the politics of the day, Myrad takes what he has left of his father’s papers and coin and flees the palace. He finds other Magi that his father had known and they band together to follow the clues that Daniel left for them. The story goes to Nazareth where they find the baby Jesus where the star led them and then eventually to Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion.
This is a delightful look at the Magi (what we call the Wise Men) and an interesting look at the politics and life of the times. This is one of those books you don’t want to put down to do the mundane tasks of your life (eat, sleep, work).
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This is a delightful look at the Magi (what we call the Wise Men) and an interesting look at the politics and life of the times. This is one of those books you don’t want to put down to do the mundane tasks of your life (eat, sleep, work).
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
December 14, 2019
The End of the Magi is like a dramatic first century road trip! It follows a Magi apprentice called Myrad who was adopted by his Hebrew father. He has a dream of a strange star in the night sky. This is same dream that his father Gershom has had and proves that he has been chosen to become a Magi.
When his father is killed by the Queen, Myrad runs for his life.
This book follows Myrad on his journey to escape death and to follow the dream of a new star and the coming Messiah.
I enjoyed the dramatic narrative (it’s a bit gory to start with but that settles down after the first few chapters). There was plenty of action throughout the book.
I was going to give it 4.5/5 stars as I felt the characters weren’t really developing but the ending rectified that for me and bumped up the rating.
I thought it was interesting to see how the characters related to God through dreams and prophecy as this is something I can relate to in my own life.
I felt like I learned a lot more about the empires surrounding Rome at the time of Jesus’ birth. I think I should probably go and research more about it myself, so I can see what is known through ancient texts and archaeology and what the author added in himself.
All in all, it was definitely worth reading and it got me to think more deeply about certain aspects of the Christmas story and just how difficult it would have been for the Magi to get to Jesus.
If you want to read a book connected to Christmas but not a contemporary romance then this might be for you.
When his father is killed by the Queen, Myrad runs for his life.
This book follows Myrad on his journey to escape death and to follow the dream of a new star and the coming Messiah.
I enjoyed the dramatic narrative (it’s a bit gory to start with but that settles down after the first few chapters). There was plenty of action throughout the book.
I was going to give it 4.5/5 stars as I felt the characters weren’t really developing but the ending rectified that for me and bumped up the rating.
I thought it was interesting to see how the characters related to God through dreams and prophecy as this is something I can relate to in my own life.
I felt like I learned a lot more about the empires surrounding Rome at the time of Jesus’ birth. I think I should probably go and research more about it myself, so I can see what is known through ancient texts and archaeology and what the author added in himself.
All in all, it was definitely worth reading and it got me to think more deeply about certain aspects of the Christmas story and just how difficult it would have been for the Magi to get to Jesus.
If you want to read a book connected to Christmas but not a contemporary romance then this might be for you.
December 2, 2019
Follow the star this holiday season in Patrick W. Carr’s The End of the Magi. It is a story of prophecies and politics, an epic journey of secrets, peril, courage, and the coming Messiah. History springs to life with clarity and imagination and will forever alter your understanding of the beloved Christmas story.
I have long known the wisemen as an element of Jesus’ birth story, but never gave much thought to their experience. As Carr fleshes out their humanity and purpose, especially through the character of Myrad, I could not help but be captivated by the story that he pens.
If you love Christmas reading, like I do, and need a break from feel-good romances, The End of the Magi is a book you should read.
This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
I have long known the wisemen as an element of Jesus’ birth story, but never gave much thought to their experience. As Carr fleshes out their humanity and purpose, especially through the character of Myrad, I could not help but be captivated by the story that he pens.
If you love Christmas reading, like I do, and need a break from feel-good romances, The End of the Magi is a book you should read.
This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
November 9, 2019
I took a chance on this book because it was endorsed by a couple of authors that I enjoy reading and the concept absolutely fascinated me..... what if Daniel remained in Babylon to prepare the Magi for the coming of the Messiah? It put such a cool spin on the story of the wise men who came to visit the Christ Child. I really enjoyed this take on some familiar Bible passages and had me digging into Daniel for the prophecies as well. It also gave me pause to consider just how far the magi travelled when following the star. I will never read their story quite the same again!
This book follows Myrad, one of those who followed the star. I loved how God came through for him miraculously time and again, providing for him when he thought he was done for. Myrad was a rather likable character, very clever and very relatable. As a person born with a club foot, he understood persecution as well as the need to overcome more than the average person. His curiosity was his gift and brought him to the places that he found himself. The amount of adversity he overcame in this novel in order to seek out the Messiah was immense, but sometimes we are called to do similar things in our quest to be Christ-like as well.
I had a bit of a struggle at first in this book as Mr. Carr's writing style is different than I typically read, but once I got settled in to this book, it took on its own cadence and that became a non-issue. I would recommend this one to fans of biblical historical fiction. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was not required to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
This book follows Myrad, one of those who followed the star. I loved how God came through for him miraculously time and again, providing for him when he thought he was done for. Myrad was a rather likable character, very clever and very relatable. As a person born with a club foot, he understood persecution as well as the need to overcome more than the average person. His curiosity was his gift and brought him to the places that he found himself. The amount of adversity he overcame in this novel in order to seek out the Messiah was immense, but sometimes we are called to do similar things in our quest to be Christ-like as well.
I had a bit of a struggle at first in this book as Mr. Carr's writing style is different than I typically read, but once I got settled in to this book, it took on its own cadence and that became a non-issue. I would recommend this one to fans of biblical historical fiction. Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was not required to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
December 5, 2019
The End of the Magi brings to life an unfamiliar aspect of the familiar Christmas story – in such a way that you’ll never view the magi or their gifts the same way.
I confess that the magi are usually sort of an afterthought for me as I reflect on Advent & the Nativity. But in Carr’s new historical fiction, the magi become men with hearts and souls and dreams. Particularly dreams. The author’s imagining of what could have happened in the magi’s journey feels rooted in solid research, giving it plausibility and imploring the history geek in me to learn more about what transpires over the course of Myrad’s determination to follow the star & find the King.
Myrad is a wonderful protagonist, the perfect one for this story. He is authentically flawed but stronger than he thinks he is, yet – at first glance with his weak form & club foot – he seems the least likely to do great things. But, isn’t that just like God? “It’s almost as if God takes delight in accomplishing His end in the most unlikely way possible…”
Bottom Line: The End of the Magi is captivating and soul-stirring. While it gets a bit long in the middle, you still won’t be able to put it down because you are fully engaged with the characters. A fascinating creative look at men who only get a few sentences to their name in Scripture yet undoubtedly endured a long journey to find the King. Love the dual meaning of the title as well (hint: I quoted one meaning above.) Not your average Christmas read – and that’s a good thing!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
I confess that the magi are usually sort of an afterthought for me as I reflect on Advent & the Nativity. But in Carr’s new historical fiction, the magi become men with hearts and souls and dreams. Particularly dreams. The author’s imagining of what could have happened in the magi’s journey feels rooted in solid research, giving it plausibility and imploring the history geek in me to learn more about what transpires over the course of Myrad’s determination to follow the star & find the King.
Myrad is a wonderful protagonist, the perfect one for this story. He is authentically flawed but stronger than he thinks he is, yet – at first glance with his weak form & club foot – he seems the least likely to do great things. But, isn’t that just like God? “It’s almost as if God takes delight in accomplishing His end in the most unlikely way possible…”
Bottom Line: The End of the Magi is captivating and soul-stirring. While it gets a bit long in the middle, you still won’t be able to put it down because you are fully engaged with the characters. A fascinating creative look at men who only get a few sentences to their name in Scripture yet undoubtedly endured a long journey to find the King. Love the dual meaning of the title as well (hint: I quoted one meaning above.) Not your average Christmas read – and that’s a good thing!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
December 2, 2019
I really wanted to read a story about the magi. I believe they knew of Daniel’s writings before they set out to follow the star. Unlike most of the reviews this was not my favorite book. I struggled to get through the first three quarters of the book. I was not interested in the political turmoil and the long caravan sequences. It would have been helpful for me to have a map that showed the routes they were traveling. The map at the beginning was way too small on my Kindle. The last quarter of the book was excellent and I’m glad I forced myself to read on until the end.
January 27, 2020
I really loved the premise of this book. The prologue was my favorite part. (weird) I did like the story and the main character, but most of the other characters were fairly flat. I also thought the story took some odd turns. It seemed a little too contrived to get where the author wanted it. I do like his writing, so I liked the book overall.
November 20, 2019
Received a copy from the publisher for review.
Such a whirlwind of a read. Full review to come soon.
---------------------------------
This gets a solid 4 star rating from me. I truly enjoyed the writing of this story from start to finish. It was very captivating and pulled me in from the very first page. I loved the characters and how dynamic they were. I also enjoyed going on the journey within this book. Seeing different places, people and kings was quiet intriguing.
Myrad is the main character of the story who happens to be a semi-magi apprentice. He is the adopted son of Gershom. He's Persian, but he's very interested in the ways of God. Myrad was such a dynamic character from beginning to end. He was a magi, but also not. He was raised Hebrew, but was Persian. He believed, but had his doubts. He sought vengeance then had a change of heart. Seeing him in every aspect as a human was amazing. Myrad had a great mind as well. They way he did negotiations was amazing to me and his heart was PERFECT. The fact that he also had a "disability" and kept going was so encouraging, inspiring and heartbreaking!
Walagash was such an amazing man! I loved the way he cared for and loved on Myrad from the very beginning. He gives such wisdom and knowledge at times. He helps Myrad out in the best ways possible. I will say...that scene with the punch!!! I died. Great father figure!
Roshan was such an interesting character -- especially when that plot twist came in. I was NOT expecting it! Roshan is a strong will character. Very assertive, hands-on and do it myself type of person. Loved the way Roshan handled things.
I also loved Aban -- he reminded me of a cool grandpa and Storana was kickbutt!!! A warrior through and through. She was always on guard to protect Myrad in battle.
Masistas and Musa can BOTH go to a pit and drown...no seriously. Masistas is a terrible magi who's out for self and wealth. Musa was a black widow. She was evil, money hungry, power obsessed and downright pure evil.
The romance in this book was of course surprising! Totally unexpected, but well enjoyed. Myrad makes for a fine husband and his wife -- let's just say I'm basis.
Though I enjoyed this story, I didn't care for the final portion of this book because it felt rushed and "thrown together" with how much scripture was squeezed into the last 5-10 chapters.
Overall, I totally enjoyed this book and definitely recommend this book to all!!
Such a whirlwind of a read. Full review to come soon.
---------------------------------
This gets a solid 4 star rating from me. I truly enjoyed the writing of this story from start to finish. It was very captivating and pulled me in from the very first page. I loved the characters and how dynamic they were. I also enjoyed going on the journey within this book. Seeing different places, people and kings was quiet intriguing.
Myrad is the main character of the story who happens to be a semi-magi apprentice. He is the adopted son of Gershom. He's Persian, but he's very interested in the ways of God. Myrad was such a dynamic character from beginning to end. He was a magi, but also not. He was raised Hebrew, but was Persian. He believed, but had his doubts. He sought vengeance then had a change of heart. Seeing him in every aspect as a human was amazing. Myrad had a great mind as well. They way he did negotiations was amazing to me and his heart was PERFECT. The fact that he also had a "disability" and kept going was so encouraging, inspiring and heartbreaking!
Walagash was such an amazing man! I loved the way he cared for and loved on Myrad from the very beginning. He gives such wisdom and knowledge at times. He helps Myrad out in the best ways possible. I will say...that scene with the punch!!! I died. Great father figure!
Roshan was such an interesting character -- especially when that plot twist came in. I was NOT expecting it! Roshan is a strong will character. Very assertive, hands-on and do it myself type of person. Loved the way Roshan handled things.
I also loved Aban -- he reminded me of a cool grandpa and Storana was kickbutt!!! A warrior through and through. She was always on guard to protect Myrad in battle.
Masistas and Musa can BOTH go to a pit and drown...no seriously. Masistas is a terrible magi who's out for self and wealth. Musa was a black widow. She was evil, money hungry, power obsessed and downright pure evil.
The romance in this book was of course surprising! Totally unexpected, but well enjoyed. Myrad makes for a fine husband and his wife -- let's just say I'm basis.
Though I enjoyed this story, I didn't care for the final portion of this book because it felt rushed and "thrown together" with how much scripture was squeezed into the last 5-10 chapters.
Overall, I totally enjoyed this book and definitely recommend this book to all!!
November 14, 2019
"The End of the Magi" is a Christian historical novel set in Babylon in 537 BC and then around the birth of Christ (5 BC) and his death. The prophet Daniel tasks a group of Hebrews among the magi with accurately counting down the days to the appearance of the Messiah-King. Myrad was adopted by one of these magi and taught about the Hebrew beliefs and the prophecy. When his adoptive father and many other magi are killed at the command of a Roman concubine determined to rule as queen, he gathers his father's money and papers and flees. His clubfoot makes it difficult to travel quickly or hide his identity. He bargains what he has for what people want most and gains their help. In the process, he travels with several magi to witness the birth of Christ. However, the count won't be complete for another 30 years, and the Hebrew magi are determined to be there at the announcement of their Messiah-King.
The characters were complex, likable people who reacted realistically to events. The story was very suspenseful from start to finish due to the danger to Myrad and the people with him. God's hand was seen subtly working events so that Myrad and his companions not only survived but affected the major political and military events happening around them. Their lives were changed by the events they witnessed and participated in. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this exciting biblical adventure.
I received an e-book review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The characters were complex, likable people who reacted realistically to events. The story was very suspenseful from start to finish due to the danger to Myrad and the people with him. God's hand was seen subtly working events so that Myrad and his companions not only survived but affected the major political and military events happening around them. Their lives were changed by the events they witnessed and participated in. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this exciting biblical adventure.
I received an e-book review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 28, 2019
When the King's favor turns against his Magi, killing Myrad's father, it unleashes a chain of events that send Myrad on a journey that will leave him forever changed.
A step in a slightly different direction for author, Patrick Carr, who I am familiar with as an epic fantasy writer, in The End of the Magi, he delves into the time before Christ was born, showing the political tensions and unrest of a world in need of a Saviour.
Myrad is a newly appointed Magi, who has been dreaming of a luminous star that calls to him. After his father's death he finds himself at a loss, not knowing who to trust or where to turn, with the wrath of the Queen's soldiers after him. On the journey he faces attacks, betrayal, and also finds friends that become like family. Myrad shows a keen mind with a wisdom beyond his years, I admired his devotion to his mission, and determination to not let physical obstacles get in his way, as well as his honesty about his weaknesses.
Overall a well written high stakes journey, that imagines what it might have been like to follow the star, risking it all in a explosive political atmosphere, for the promise of the King. A story of courage, faith, and hope, just in time for Christmas. Multiple colorful characters, well researched, and daring. Great for fans of Biblical fiction and of Mr. Carr's worldbuilding skills!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A step in a slightly different direction for author, Patrick Carr, who I am familiar with as an epic fantasy writer, in The End of the Magi, he delves into the time before Christ was born, showing the political tensions and unrest of a world in need of a Saviour.
Myrad is a newly appointed Magi, who has been dreaming of a luminous star that calls to him. After his father's death he finds himself at a loss, not knowing who to trust or where to turn, with the wrath of the Queen's soldiers after him. On the journey he faces attacks, betrayal, and also finds friends that become like family. Myrad shows a keen mind with a wisdom beyond his years, I admired his devotion to his mission, and determination to not let physical obstacles get in his way, as well as his honesty about his weaknesses.
Overall a well written high stakes journey, that imagines what it might have been like to follow the star, risking it all in a explosive political atmosphere, for the promise of the King. A story of courage, faith, and hope, just in time for Christmas. Multiple colorful characters, well researched, and daring. Great for fans of Biblical fiction and of Mr. Carr's worldbuilding skills!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 6, 2020
Patrick Carr gives an interesting outlook on the mysterious Magi that visited Jesus at his birth. Myrad is a magus by adoption. With his club foot and lowly upbringing, being adopted by a prestigious nobleman is a blessing. When the new queen kills most of the Magi, Myrad flees for his life. But what is he supposed to do with the calendar counting the days to the Messiah's arrival. And why does he have a dream about a star? Myrad will meet the baby Jesus and see him die and rise from the dead.
I enjoyed this book, but was unfamiliar with the history and regional conflicts of the day. How much of this story was based on fiction and Scripture was unclear to me as well. I will certainly re-read the book of Daniel and contemplate the Magi's role in history.
I enjoyed this book, but was unfamiliar with the history and regional conflicts of the day. How much of this story was based on fiction and Scripture was unclear to me as well. I will certainly re-read the book of Daniel and contemplate the Magi's role in history.
November 3, 2019
As the holidays speed closer, Patrick Carr presents a take on the story of Jesus’s birth that I have never considered before.
Yes, I know about the wisemen, the star, the gifts, even that they found Jesus a year after his birth. But I’ve never given much consideration to their journey or what happened to them after they visited the Savior.
Carr puts readers right there in the politics, danger, travels, and daily life of this group of travelers. Using Scripture and prophecies, wonderful settings, sacrifice, and courage through the eyes of one of the Magi enhance the story built around the star that leads to the Savior.
This holiday season, turn off the Hallmark channel for a night or two and immerse yourself in this imagining of one piece of the greatest story ever told.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Yes, I know about the wisemen, the star, the gifts, even that they found Jesus a year after his birth. But I’ve never given much consideration to their journey or what happened to them after they visited the Savior.
Carr puts readers right there in the politics, danger, travels, and daily life of this group of travelers. Using Scripture and prophecies, wonderful settings, sacrifice, and courage through the eyes of one of the Magi enhance the story built around the star that leads to the Savior.
This holiday season, turn off the Hallmark channel for a night or two and immerse yourself in this imagining of one piece of the greatest story ever told.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
January 22, 2022
Myad had a dream of an unusual star. As the adopted son of one of the magi he knew that it foretold the coming of a Messiah-King. He decided that whatever it took he would join the rest of the magi to wherever the star led them.
July 30, 2020
I enjoyed the author's imagination of how the Magi from the Bible might have come to bring gifts to Christ. It seems part biblical fiction, part historical, and a little fantasy type novel.
November 5, 2019
A fascinating story!
The adventure Myrad embarked on as he fled from the wicked queen who killed the magi to gain her throne was thought-provoking and insightful. I have participated in decades' of Bible studies and read a multitude of fictional works surrounding the life of Jesus. Yet it seemed that every other page I read in The End of the Magi, I was saying "I didn't know that" or "I hadn't thought about that". The approach Patrick W. Carr took to tell the story of the magi and how and why they journeyed is different from any I've seen before and yet completely true to scripture.
I love when I learn from the novels I read! Especially when the information integrates cleanly into the story so it is almost not like learning at all. The End of the Magi was filled with historical information that was new to me and was not forced at all.
The historical facts I learned as I read were fascinating. Yes, I did look up some things because I wanted to know how much was fact and how much was fiction. I now know far more about the Parthians than I had before! And I have a beautiful sense of the terrain the magi would have traveled through and what the journey could have been like. I enjoyed the depictions of the activity of the merchants at the oasis. It was quite a different picture than the image I had in my head and seems to make much more sense.
One of the most touching scenes was where Elias, the merchant, found it possible to obtain a copy of the Torah. The deep emotion he experienced and the reverence he showed for God's word was both tender and convicting! With many versions of the Bible in my house and several more on my phone, it is easy to forget what an incredible gift God's word to us is!
Those familiar with the prophecies in Daniel about the 69 weeks from the time the declaration to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah may be fascinated by the concept of the magi keeping a calendar to watch for these events as I was. I was especially intrigued by the way they were so confused when the star appeared 30 years too early based on their tracking!
The End of the Magi has the best of Biblical fiction. Adventure, history, oodles of research, and a deep reverence for God's word that flows off the pages. If you enjoy reading stories that make the events of the Bible come alive and touch your heart, be sure to pick up a copy.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
The adventure Myrad embarked on as he fled from the wicked queen who killed the magi to gain her throne was thought-provoking and insightful. I have participated in decades' of Bible studies and read a multitude of fictional works surrounding the life of Jesus. Yet it seemed that every other page I read in The End of the Magi, I was saying "I didn't know that" or "I hadn't thought about that". The approach Patrick W. Carr took to tell the story of the magi and how and why they journeyed is different from any I've seen before and yet completely true to scripture.
I love when I learn from the novels I read! Especially when the information integrates cleanly into the story so it is almost not like learning at all. The End of the Magi was filled with historical information that was new to me and was not forced at all.
The historical facts I learned as I read were fascinating. Yes, I did look up some things because I wanted to know how much was fact and how much was fiction. I now know far more about the Parthians than I had before! And I have a beautiful sense of the terrain the magi would have traveled through and what the journey could have been like. I enjoyed the depictions of the activity of the merchants at the oasis. It was quite a different picture than the image I had in my head and seems to make much more sense.
One of the most touching scenes was where Elias, the merchant, found it possible to obtain a copy of the Torah. The deep emotion he experienced and the reverence he showed for God's word was both tender and convicting! With many versions of the Bible in my house and several more on my phone, it is easy to forget what an incredible gift God's word to us is!
Those familiar with the prophecies in Daniel about the 69 weeks from the time the declaration to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah may be fascinated by the concept of the magi keeping a calendar to watch for these events as I was. I was especially intrigued by the way they were so confused when the star appeared 30 years too early based on their tracking!
The End of the Magi has the best of Biblical fiction. Adventure, history, oodles of research, and a deep reverence for God's word that flows off the pages. If you enjoy reading stories that make the events of the Bible come alive and touch your heart, be sure to pick up a copy.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
January 2, 2020
WHY I CHOOSE THIS BOOK
The cover is cool, the synopsis is intriguing, and we were approaching the Christmas season, so I thought Why Not?
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BOOK
Sadly, I found why not; it's because Biblical fiction is a big hit or miss for me, and so, therefore, I shouldn't have ventured into the land of a new Biblical fiction author while getting a book for review.
First off, let me clarify, it's not as if there's anything wrong with this book. It didn't appear to disregard the truth of the Bible at all, nor was the plot silly. The details were well written, and it's clear the author excels at his craft.
Just, this book wasn't for me.
If I hadn't gotten it for review, I wouldn't have continued reading, simply because it's not the style I like. It's more about the adventure and less about the plot or character development. We follow the main character as he escapes danger and joins a trade caravan, then most of the book takes place traveling across the desert.
Plenty of action happens along the way - although not with an excessive amount of gory details, so that's a plus. There were a few places where the characters were fleshed out, but by the end of the book, I still didn't feel like I knew any of them very well - although I could tell you how to become an expert archer while riding a galloping horse.
There were a few slight things I had issues with, but mostly that's because they took all the things I always imagined about the magi, and totally flipped them around and totally changed them. But, the keyword here is that they did that with the things I imagined, not the things that were clearly spelled out in the Bible, so that's not actually a problem.
One thing that I didn't like is mentioned down below but is a spoiler, so read at your own risk.
(SPOILER: The way the magi got the gifts they gave to Jesus was by stealing gold from the royal treasuries. Now nowhere are we told in the Bible that this didn't happen, but it doesn't seem likely to me, and seemed to make the gift less special.)
CONCLUSION
This seems like it would be a great book for a teenage boy looking for an adventure story. Obviously, girls can read it too, but it seems like it's aimed more at guys, especially since there are only three female characters in the whole story (I think), and one of them is a bloodthirsty queen.
I don't plan on reading more by this author, but I'm sure a lot of people would really enjoy his writing style.
RATING
I’m giving The End of the Magi 2 out of 5 stars, although Amazon and Goodreads I'll be rating it 3 Stars, because there really isn't anything wrong with it. I’m thankful to Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy so I could review it for y’all.
The cover is cool, the synopsis is intriguing, and we were approaching the Christmas season, so I thought Why Not?
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BOOK
Sadly, I found why not; it's because Biblical fiction is a big hit or miss for me, and so, therefore, I shouldn't have ventured into the land of a new Biblical fiction author while getting a book for review.
First off, let me clarify, it's not as if there's anything wrong with this book. It didn't appear to disregard the truth of the Bible at all, nor was the plot silly. The details were well written, and it's clear the author excels at his craft.
Just, this book wasn't for me.
If I hadn't gotten it for review, I wouldn't have continued reading, simply because it's not the style I like. It's more about the adventure and less about the plot or character development. We follow the main character as he escapes danger and joins a trade caravan, then most of the book takes place traveling across the desert.
Plenty of action happens along the way - although not with an excessive amount of gory details, so that's a plus. There were a few places where the characters were fleshed out, but by the end of the book, I still didn't feel like I knew any of them very well - although I could tell you how to become an expert archer while riding a galloping horse.
There were a few slight things I had issues with, but mostly that's because they took all the things I always imagined about the magi, and totally flipped them around and totally changed them. But, the keyword here is that they did that with the things I imagined, not the things that were clearly spelled out in the Bible, so that's not actually a problem.
One thing that I didn't like is mentioned down below but is a spoiler, so read at your own risk.
(SPOILER: The way the magi got the gifts they gave to Jesus was by stealing gold from the royal treasuries. Now nowhere are we told in the Bible that this didn't happen, but it doesn't seem likely to me, and seemed to make the gift less special.)
CONCLUSION
This seems like it would be a great book for a teenage boy looking for an adventure story. Obviously, girls can read it too, but it seems like it's aimed more at guys, especially since there are only three female characters in the whole story (I think), and one of them is a bloodthirsty queen.
I don't plan on reading more by this author, but I'm sure a lot of people would really enjoy his writing style.
RATING
I’m giving The End of the Magi 2 out of 5 stars, although Amazon and Goodreads I'll be rating it 3 Stars, because there really isn't anything wrong with it. I’m thankful to Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy so I could review it for y’all.
November 19, 2019
3.5 stars
"From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens'." Daniel 9:25
Counting the years. Counting the months. Magis meticulously counted the days until the promised Messiah would come, according to the prophet Daniel. When a magnificent star appears in the sky, a young magi acolyte dreams of such a star, with a voice calling out to him saying, "I am". Then tragedy strikes and Myrad is forced to run for his life following the death of his adoptive father; his physical handicap making the journey all the more difficult as he trudges across the Parthian desert. Miraculously, he gains favor with a wealthy merchant, thus launching the beginning of the "end of the magi".
Intriguing barely scratches the suface of this story, for the author's imagination takes over much of what we don't know about the famed biblical visitors, and skillfully weaves in the known; resulting in a tale that is not only believable, but fascinating. Readers well versed in ancient history will find the story much easier to understand, but those who are not will feel sufficiently schooled.
Rising above it all is the reassuring truth that God can even use a "club footed Persian boy"to accomplish His purposes; for "it's almost as if God takes delight in accomplishing His ends in the most unlikely way possible. . . . . . (His) promises are sure, whether they come sooner or later." In spite of this being a more difficult than average book to read, its impact will remain unforgettable.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
"From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens'." Daniel 9:25
Counting the years. Counting the months. Magis meticulously counted the days until the promised Messiah would come, according to the prophet Daniel. When a magnificent star appears in the sky, a young magi acolyte dreams of such a star, with a voice calling out to him saying, "I am". Then tragedy strikes and Myrad is forced to run for his life following the death of his adoptive father; his physical handicap making the journey all the more difficult as he trudges across the Parthian desert. Miraculously, he gains favor with a wealthy merchant, thus launching the beginning of the "end of the magi".
Intriguing barely scratches the suface of this story, for the author's imagination takes over much of what we don't know about the famed biblical visitors, and skillfully weaves in the known; resulting in a tale that is not only believable, but fascinating. Readers well versed in ancient history will find the story much easier to understand, but those who are not will feel sufficiently schooled.
Rising above it all is the reassuring truth that God can even use a "club footed Persian boy"to accomplish His purposes; for "it's almost as if God takes delight in accomplishing His ends in the most unlikely way possible. . . . . . (His) promises are sure, whether they come sooner or later." In spite of this being a more difficult than average book to read, its impact will remain unforgettable.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
November 28, 2019
The End of the Magi is the story of the wise men as you have never heard it before. Political upheaval, a perilous journey, and a prophecy that is as confusing as it is promising form the barest outline of what you will encounter in these pages as Myrad makes his way to Jerusalem among a caravan of merchants, magi, and soldiers. Surprisingly (at least, to me), the story does not end with the visit to the Christ-child, but skips forward thirty years to the week leading up to the crucifixion, as Myrad and the remaining magi watch the fulfilment of all that has been prophesied about the Messiah.
For readers who enjoy a rollicking good adventure, this book will tick a lot of boxes. Also, readers who are interested to know how the prophecies concerning the Messiah were interpreted (and argued over) prior to their fulfilment, the conclusion of the story will be of particular interest. Personally, I felt the one thing that could have made the story more engaging for me was a stronger character arc for Myrad. I’m a very character-centric reader, and while Myrad was well written, the challenges he faced throughout this novel were largely external, leaving him much the same character at the end of the novel as he had been at the beginning.
For readers who aren’t as character focused, however, and interested in Biblical fiction or adventure-based historical fiction, this would be an ideal Christmas read. And while it’s not written specifically for a young-adult audience, I can see this appealing to male young-adult readers in particular.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
For readers who enjoy a rollicking good adventure, this book will tick a lot of boxes. Also, readers who are interested to know how the prophecies concerning the Messiah were interpreted (and argued over) prior to their fulfilment, the conclusion of the story will be of particular interest. Personally, I felt the one thing that could have made the story more engaging for me was a stronger character arc for Myrad. I’m a very character-centric reader, and while Myrad was well written, the challenges he faced throughout this novel were largely external, leaving him much the same character at the end of the novel as he had been at the beginning.
For readers who aren’t as character focused, however, and interested in Biblical fiction or adventure-based historical fiction, this would be an ideal Christmas read. And while it’s not written specifically for a young-adult audience, I can see this appealing to male young-adult readers in particular.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 27, 2019
I did like the story and the premise and Carr does a good job of weaving together a prophecy of Daniel with the birth, death and resurrection of the Messiah 5 centuries later. The fictional novel focuses on the magi who come to visit Christ - it turns out they were messianic Jews from Persia. But the story deals with God's miraculous intervention through prophecy and fulfillment in rather ordinary events, and those who waited for the fulfillment of prophecy, and what does one do when the fulfillment happens and life goes on as before? People's hearts and minds might be altered by miracles, but the world tends to keep moving along largely untouched by the miracle. The only thing I struggled with were scenes that he described which made no sense to me or seemed impossible - especially while riding horses, or even cramming people into a room. He also at times jumps from a real time description (second by second) of some minor event to months later which didn't always flow for me. But as a retiree I found the book captivating enough.
December 2, 2019
The magi acolyte Myrad has seen the star, but he needs to save his life before he can follow that star.
If you're anything like me, when you read the Christmas Story, you focus on the baby in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and taxes. Somewhere after the angels singing to the shepherds, there come the magi. Who are they? They're magicians or astrologers or something for some foreign court. They brings gifts that signify kingship, death, and sacrifice. There might be three of them. They come from "somewhere" east of Jerusalem. Following a star, they visit Herod, then the baby, and then go home by a different route. And that's what I know about the magi, which is to say, basically nothing.
I forget there is an entire world beyond the borders of Israel and Rome, an entire world filled with peoples, kings, politics, empires, trade routes, and history that have direct bearing on the events in Israel. It's as though while reading about the American war for independence, we neglect to note there is an England or an ocean.
Not so Patrick Carr. In this historical novel we are introduced to the peoples, kings, politics, empires and trade routes of that time. I was so glad for the map he included in the book. I consulted it often.
The End of the Magi is no dry history because it is filled with people being people. The main character, Myrad, is a young man with a bright future despite having a club foot. After his mother had died and he was left alone in the market, a wealthy, Jewish magi adopted him and introduced him to the order established by Daniel. Hundreds of years after Daniel wrote his last prophecies, magi are still counting the days until a messiah king arises.
On the very day that Myrad is to become an acolyte in the ranks of the Magi, a disagreement in the court leads to the slaughter of the Magi. The young man barely escapes and must run for his life, something that is hard to do with a club foot that causes agony with each step. However, Myrad is intelligent and inventive. He must use every ounce of those traits as he navigates conspiracies, betrayals, soldiers, and wars between countries as he is guided by the star in the west.
The author's theory about the Christmas star is one I had not heard before and is interesting. All the characters are interesting and highly varied from each other.
Although the writing isn't as scintillating as that in Patrick Carr's Darkwater Saga, it it more than adequate in this rollicking tale of searching for the messiah king. I was at first a little disappointed when the prose turned out to be, well, prosaic at times, but then I became caught up in the story and did not even notice the writing style.
I appreciated the three main themes of the book. When what is prophesied comes to pass, it doesn't always look like what one would think. God uses unlikely people to accomplish his purposes. And lastly, let women do what they want to do. I also liked that Myrad did not instantly learn how to do a certain style of archery. He demonstrated that when someone tries to learn how to do something hard, that someone is going to be bad at the hard thing for a long time. I wish I had learned that last one a long time ago.
If you're anything like me, when you read the Christmas Story, you focus on the baby in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and taxes. Somewhere after the angels singing to the shepherds, there come the magi. Who are they? They're magicians or astrologers or something for some foreign court. They brings gifts that signify kingship, death, and sacrifice. There might be three of them. They come from "somewhere" east of Jerusalem. Following a star, they visit Herod, then the baby, and then go home by a different route. And that's what I know about the magi, which is to say, basically nothing.
I forget there is an entire world beyond the borders of Israel and Rome, an entire world filled with peoples, kings, politics, empires, trade routes, and history that have direct bearing on the events in Israel. It's as though while reading about the American war for independence, we neglect to note there is an England or an ocean.
Not so Patrick Carr. In this historical novel we are introduced to the peoples, kings, politics, empires and trade routes of that time. I was so glad for the map he included in the book. I consulted it often.
The End of the Magi is no dry history because it is filled with people being people. The main character, Myrad, is a young man with a bright future despite having a club foot. After his mother had died and he was left alone in the market, a wealthy, Jewish magi adopted him and introduced him to the order established by Daniel. Hundreds of years after Daniel wrote his last prophecies, magi are still counting the days until a messiah king arises.
On the very day that Myrad is to become an acolyte in the ranks of the Magi, a disagreement in the court leads to the slaughter of the Magi. The young man barely escapes and must run for his life, something that is hard to do with a club foot that causes agony with each step. However, Myrad is intelligent and inventive. He must use every ounce of those traits as he navigates conspiracies, betrayals, soldiers, and wars between countries as he is guided by the star in the west.
The author's theory about the Christmas star is one I had not heard before and is interesting. All the characters are interesting and highly varied from each other.
Although the writing isn't as scintillating as that in Patrick Carr's Darkwater Saga, it it more than adequate in this rollicking tale of searching for the messiah king. I was at first a little disappointed when the prose turned out to be, well, prosaic at times, but then I became caught up in the story and did not even notice the writing style.
I appreciated the three main themes of the book. When what is prophesied comes to pass, it doesn't always look like what one would think. God uses unlikely people to accomplish his purposes. And lastly, let women do what they want to do. I also liked that Myrad did not instantly learn how to do a certain style of archery. He demonstrated that when someone tries to learn how to do something hard, that someone is going to be bad at the hard thing for a long time. I wish I had learned that last one a long time ago.
December 3, 2019
I've often wondered about the three Wisemen who journeyed from afar to see Jesus their king. Have you?This book will have you journeying with them.
However; this book starts out with Daniels prophecy from Babylon first. All of this reverts back to the calendar predicting the Messiah's birth which comes 30 years later from which Daniel wrote from a vision given to him by God.
It's certainly a very powerful book with lots of exciting scenes. The most powerful scene comes at the end and may leave you in tears so please have a box of tissues around.
I've read a book by this author before and his writing style draws you into his books immediately. I like how he does extensive research and then turns it into a story and it's believable. He takes you into the magical world of the Magi. It's from this read that I really enjoyed a true tale from the Bible.
I could vividly "see" some of the scenes in the book especially in the beginning at Musa's court and feel the characters' feelings coming through the book is how well this author writes.
"Everything in the New Testament reverts back to Daniel" Yehudah said to Myrad. I sort of liked Yehudah because he answered Myrad's questions as best as he could and was honest about it. " Every time we read of a prophet interpreting prophecy, the words are read literally with events taking place exactly as it was spoken."
Herod was an evil man. I"m so glad that the Magi didn't go back to him. If they had of, history certainly could have been so much different.
I feel that Herod kind of reminds me of King Henry the 8th. If everything didn't go his way, he would throw a temper tantrum and start killing everyone. Even Hitler who had all the Jews murdered in World War 2 which is such a shame.
I wished I lived thousands of years ago. How wonderful it would've been to see that star shinning brightly on our Lord Jesus. I'm so glad that we have these reenactments of Jesus' birth. This is also where our Faith comes in. Even though we missed that event, we don't really have to see Him in order to believe. The Bible is the Word.
The other thing that hasn't really changed over the years is politics. I couldn't fathom on how dangerous those times would've been. Seems like every time someone turned around they found themselves in danger.
Myrad is my favorite character along with a few others. Why you ask? time.
I love Myrad because he is like the rest of us flawed, full of doubts and well he was just a hot mess all the way around. In other words, human. I felt connected to him because he was adopted just like I am and I'm sure there are others out there as well.
I can also relate to him as he was born with a club foot just like my son was. But my son's wasn't as severe as Myrad's was.
I consider Myrad a very lucky man to be put in a life event like this one and an exciting one at that. He is truly a blessed man even though sometimes I felt that he couldn't really see it at the time.
Along with his skills we see that he can make trades fairly with the other caravans and marketplaces or wherever they are at the time.
Walagash is another man whom I truly admired. It was his trust and faith that I admired.
I can't stress enough that this story is wonderful!! I highly recommend reading this book at Christmas or any other time of the year.
Especially since we really don't know when Jesus was born because he was born in Bethlehem in the middle of the desert.
Either way, I felt that I got to know our Lord and our three Wisemen a little better thanks to the magical pen of Patrick Carr.
The cover of the book is absolutely gorgeous!! I like how the figure is shadowed to make you guess who the person on the from of the book is about. I was pleased that story in the book matches what the picture and the title says on the front of the book.
However; this book starts out with Daniels prophecy from Babylon first. All of this reverts back to the calendar predicting the Messiah's birth which comes 30 years later from which Daniel wrote from a vision given to him by God.
It's certainly a very powerful book with lots of exciting scenes. The most powerful scene comes at the end and may leave you in tears so please have a box of tissues around.
I've read a book by this author before and his writing style draws you into his books immediately. I like how he does extensive research and then turns it into a story and it's believable. He takes you into the magical world of the Magi. It's from this read that I really enjoyed a true tale from the Bible.
I could vividly "see" some of the scenes in the book especially in the beginning at Musa's court and feel the characters' feelings coming through the book is how well this author writes.
"Everything in the New Testament reverts back to Daniel" Yehudah said to Myrad. I sort of liked Yehudah because he answered Myrad's questions as best as he could and was honest about it. " Every time we read of a prophet interpreting prophecy, the words are read literally with events taking place exactly as it was spoken."
Herod was an evil man. I"m so glad that the Magi didn't go back to him. If they had of, history certainly could have been so much different.
I feel that Herod kind of reminds me of King Henry the 8th. If everything didn't go his way, he would throw a temper tantrum and start killing everyone. Even Hitler who had all the Jews murdered in World War 2 which is such a shame.
I wished I lived thousands of years ago. How wonderful it would've been to see that star shinning brightly on our Lord Jesus. I'm so glad that we have these reenactments of Jesus' birth. This is also where our Faith comes in. Even though we missed that event, we don't really have to see Him in order to believe. The Bible is the Word.
The other thing that hasn't really changed over the years is politics. I couldn't fathom on how dangerous those times would've been. Seems like every time someone turned around they found themselves in danger.
Myrad is my favorite character along with a few others. Why you ask? time.
I love Myrad because he is like the rest of us flawed, full of doubts and well he was just a hot mess all the way around. In other words, human. I felt connected to him because he was adopted just like I am and I'm sure there are others out there as well.
I can also relate to him as he was born with a club foot just like my son was. But my son's wasn't as severe as Myrad's was.
I consider Myrad a very lucky man to be put in a life event like this one and an exciting one at that. He is truly a blessed man even though sometimes I felt that he couldn't really see it at the time.
Along with his skills we see that he can make trades fairly with the other caravans and marketplaces or wherever they are at the time.
Walagash is another man whom I truly admired. It was his trust and faith that I admired.
I can't stress enough that this story is wonderful!! I highly recommend reading this book at Christmas or any other time of the year.
Especially since we really don't know when Jesus was born because he was born in Bethlehem in the middle of the desert.
Either way, I felt that I got to know our Lord and our three Wisemen a little better thanks to the magical pen of Patrick Carr.
The cover of the book is absolutely gorgeous!! I like how the figure is shadowed to make you guess who the person on the from of the book is about. I was pleased that story in the book matches what the picture and the title says on the front of the book.
November 29, 2019
Patrick Carr weaves a beautiful story in The End of the Magi. I appreciated the way the story took its time, allowing us to experience each doubt, disappointment, and hope-filled moment along with Myrad as he follows a dream he does not understand.
Myrad has only just begun his training as a magus when his world is turned upside down and he finds himself running for his life. He does not understand his dream of the star, barely understands the importance of keeping the calendar marking the coming of the Messiah, and is torn between carrying on his father’s mission and avenging his death. Several times he wants to give up, but the thing that always brings him back to his path is his ultimate desire to understand his dream and why it came to him.
That drive to understand allows him to see things in people that others would overlook.
The political subplot of this book was very interesting. I had never thought about where the magi had come from and what was happening in the political arena of their home country and how that tied in with the rest of the Roman empire before. Additionally, I never made the connection between the book of Daniel and the magi before. That part was fascinating and it definitely made me want to do some additional research. I wish there had been a historical note at the end that included some of the author’s research and inspiration behind the story.
I loved the theme of being chosen by God regardless of heritage, physical ability, and education. Myrad is an outsider in all three categories: Adopted from a Persian background, crippled, and has only just begun his education. He is keenly aware of his inadequacies, and yet he continues to offer what little he sees in himself for the sake of completing his task, and is blessed for it.
Another thing I liked was that the story didn’t end where you would expect it to, with the Magi presenting their gifts to baby Jesus. It continues years later and allows us to see what happened to the characters after their journey had ended.
Most biblical fiction is told from the perspective of someone living within the Judeo-Christian worldview. Even if they do not start out as the most devout of characters, they are familiar with the language and the background of the faith. This is the first biblical fiction story I have read that was written solely from the perspective of an outsider which added a whole new level of depth to the story. This would be a fabulous addition to any high school Kingdom History curriculum.
If you enjoy biblical fiction, stories told from a different perspective, and characters who inspire you even in their insecurities, then you will love this book.
Myrad has only just begun his training as a magus when his world is turned upside down and he finds himself running for his life. He does not understand his dream of the star, barely understands the importance of keeping the calendar marking the coming of the Messiah, and is torn between carrying on his father’s mission and avenging his death. Several times he wants to give up, but the thing that always brings him back to his path is his ultimate desire to understand his dream and why it came to him.
That drive to understand allows him to see things in people that others would overlook.
The political subplot of this book was very interesting. I had never thought about where the magi had come from and what was happening in the political arena of their home country and how that tied in with the rest of the Roman empire before. Additionally, I never made the connection between the book of Daniel and the magi before. That part was fascinating and it definitely made me want to do some additional research. I wish there had been a historical note at the end that included some of the author’s research and inspiration behind the story.
I loved the theme of being chosen by God regardless of heritage, physical ability, and education. Myrad is an outsider in all three categories: Adopted from a Persian background, crippled, and has only just begun his education. He is keenly aware of his inadequacies, and yet he continues to offer what little he sees in himself for the sake of completing his task, and is blessed for it.
Another thing I liked was that the story didn’t end where you would expect it to, with the Magi presenting their gifts to baby Jesus. It continues years later and allows us to see what happened to the characters after their journey had ended.
Most biblical fiction is told from the perspective of someone living within the Judeo-Christian worldview. Even if they do not start out as the most devout of characters, they are familiar with the language and the background of the faith. This is the first biblical fiction story I have read that was written solely from the perspective of an outsider which added a whole new level of depth to the story. This would be a fabulous addition to any high school Kingdom History curriculum.
If you enjoy biblical fiction, stories told from a different perspective, and characters who inspire you even in their insecurities, then you will love this book.
November 18, 2019
Myrad was a cripple, yet when his mother died, the magus, Gershon, took him in and adopted him. He raided him as his son, and taught him in the ways and knowledge as a magi acolyte.. Their close relationship ended in the terrible day at the palace, where the newly pronounced queen had him and others slaughtered.
Myrad fled to this fathers house to grab a few important and sacred belongings, barely fleeing from there with hos life. He had to obtain the shelter of a caravan in order to avoid being caught and slayed. many regarded his crippled body as a curse and refused his plea to join them. However after endlessly searching, and through his persistence, the merchant Walagash allowed him to join them.
Little did any of them realize what events would take place in the upcoming months and years.... Would Myrad be able to honor his father and fulfill his dreams?
This is an excellent story in honor, integrity, greed, perseverance, and in overcoming obstacles.
It is a well-written tale, using creative imagination concerning an event in history which is vaguely addressed.
The characters are well portrayed and feel very real. The events and scenes are well defined and visualized with relative ease.
The Book Cover is too dark to effectively attract "the browser's eye". However the Title is very interesting and fitting to the book content.
I did find it disconcerting that some important parts were left out of a well-known biblical event. A couple of other places in the story is not in accordance to most individuals understanding, yet is left open to interpretation. The author used that to create his own, interesting, scenario.
I offer a solid Sour Stars rating and recommend this book, especially for holiday reading.
*This book was gifted to me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
Myrad fled to this fathers house to grab a few important and sacred belongings, barely fleeing from there with hos life. He had to obtain the shelter of a caravan in order to avoid being caught and slayed. many regarded his crippled body as a curse and refused his plea to join them. However after endlessly searching, and through his persistence, the merchant Walagash allowed him to join them.
Little did any of them realize what events would take place in the upcoming months and years.... Would Myrad be able to honor his father and fulfill his dreams?
This is an excellent story in honor, integrity, greed, perseverance, and in overcoming obstacles.
It is a well-written tale, using creative imagination concerning an event in history which is vaguely addressed.
The characters are well portrayed and feel very real. The events and scenes are well defined and visualized with relative ease.
The Book Cover is too dark to effectively attract "the browser's eye". However the Title is very interesting and fitting to the book content.
I did find it disconcerting that some important parts were left out of a well-known biblical event. A couple of other places in the story is not in accordance to most individuals understanding, yet is left open to interpretation. The author used that to create his own, interesting, scenario.
I offer a solid Sour Stars rating and recommend this book, especially for holiday reading.
*This book was gifted to me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
November 18, 2019
"God's leading isn't always as obvious as having His messenger show up in the middle of your afternoon prayers. Sometimes He whispers so softly to your heart, you scarcely know He's spoken."
This is actually the first book by Patrick W. Carr that I have read and I am completely mesmerized. This book is a bit different from the speculative novels that the author is known for; it's a well-researched and captivating Biblical fiction centered around prophecies of Jesus' birth and the magi eagerly awaiting the Messiah's triumph, also foretold by the faithful prophets of old. The writing is intense and splendid, and it draws you into the heart of the political and religious unrest in the Persian Empire, as well as the Roman Empire. The protagonist is an unlikely hero, a club-footed Persian apprentice adopted by a Hebrew magus in the capital of the Persian Empire. Myrad, despite his physical handicap, is intelligent, truthful, humble, loving, and loyal. As he reluctantly inherits his adoptive Hebrew father's lifelong task to keep the calendar according to the old prophecies, Myrad encounters danger, betrayal, adventure, true friendship and kinship and acceptance, hope and even love. Even in the midst of his doubts and uncertainty, Myrad works to spread the word of the One True God in a pagan and pluralistic world. The story spans majority of Myrad's adult life and it will bring fresh insight into God's plan of salvation finally unfurling with the birth of Jesus and exploding across the nations with His death and resurrection.
All fans of Biblical fiction will absolutely love this book. It's a must read, especially as we approach the season of Christmas. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
This is actually the first book by Patrick W. Carr that I have read and I am completely mesmerized. This book is a bit different from the speculative novels that the author is known for; it's a well-researched and captivating Biblical fiction centered around prophecies of Jesus' birth and the magi eagerly awaiting the Messiah's triumph, also foretold by the faithful prophets of old. The writing is intense and splendid, and it draws you into the heart of the political and religious unrest in the Persian Empire, as well as the Roman Empire. The protagonist is an unlikely hero, a club-footed Persian apprentice adopted by a Hebrew magus in the capital of the Persian Empire. Myrad, despite his physical handicap, is intelligent, truthful, humble, loving, and loyal. As he reluctantly inherits his adoptive Hebrew father's lifelong task to keep the calendar according to the old prophecies, Myrad encounters danger, betrayal, adventure, true friendship and kinship and acceptance, hope and even love. Even in the midst of his doubts and uncertainty, Myrad works to spread the word of the One True God in a pagan and pluralistic world. The story spans majority of Myrad's adult life and it will bring fresh insight into God's plan of salvation finally unfurling with the birth of Jesus and exploding across the nations with His death and resurrection.
All fans of Biblical fiction will absolutely love this book. It's a must read, especially as we approach the season of Christmas. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews