Journey

Legacies of the Ancient River #3

by Angela Elwell Hunt

His younger brother will be greater than he . . . With those words, Menashe's dreams collapse. As Yosef's eldest son, his position had seemed secure. But now Efrayim—bold, charming Efrayim, who's everything Menashe is not—is taking his place. With their people. With the pharaoh. With Jendayi, the slave Menashe loves.Efrayim, meanwhile, sees his dreams confirmed. Surely it's his destiny to unite the Egyptians and Hebrews. To marry a princess and achieve splendor surpassing that of his brother.Then Menashe's dreams take a dangerous twist as he becomes obsessed with returning the Hebrews to their homeland. If he succeeds, he'll restore their heritage. If he fails . . . he could destroy them all.

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

430 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.

Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.

Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.

Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.

In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Reviews

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the Legacies of the Ancient River (the Nile) series focuses on Joseph's two son: Manassseh, the older, and Ephraim, the younger. Once again when a blessing is given the younger son receives it. Jacob asks to bless his grandsons as he lay dying, and he crosses his hands and gives the blessing to Ephraim. Jealousy and competition once again raise their heads just as happened with their father, Joseph, and his brothers.

Hunt's amazing descriptions of life in Egypt as well as at Pharaoh and the Queen's palaces brought this Biblical era to life. I felt sorry for both of Joseph's sons as he was so focused on being an advisor to Pharaoh that he delegated his responsibilities to servants and tutors. Now they are grown and asserting their independence. Ephraim is so like his father, focused on life in and around the court, that they at least have some connection. But Manasseh is more introverted. Once he hears the stories of God's past with the Hebrews during Jacob's mourning period and funeral, which Joseph has not had time to share, Manasseh draws nearer to God and begins to hear God's voice. Joseph can't handle this as he feels he is the only one who can hear God. The interplay within the family and those connected to the family was so well written.

A very good read that gave me more of a feeling for what that Biblical era was like and what might have been happening. This 3 book series is well written and expands the history of the Bible making it come to life.

[m a e g a n ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous trilogy! Each 5 stars. Highly recommend!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book in the series as well as I liked the others. The others were based on the Biblical accounts, with some fanciful explanations of what else might have been happenins. This one seemed to be mostly fanciful. At the end the author gives her rason for thingking that this might have taken place, but I wasn't thrulled

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT conclusion to the series by Angela Elwell Hunt.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

Author Angela Hunt brings her exquisite talent to Journey, Book 3 in the Legacies of the Ancient River Series. This novel tells her version of the story of Joseph’s two sons. It is biblical based and captivating.
The sights and sounds of Egypt came alive within the pages of this beautiful story. I loved that it had me grabbing my Bible to see what scripture said. It is written in an easy to understand way and taught me so much.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. While it could be read as a stand-alone, it would benefit readers to pick up the entire series. I give this book a 5 star rating.

[Alissa Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, well written, a must read.

This is a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction as well as those who enjoy reading books set back in the time of the pharaohs. It has quite a bit of accuracy in it as well. This author does an amazing job portraying the way things might have been back in this time. While you are reading this it is almost as if you our right with these characters or perhaps even one of their descendants and Innoway, perhaps we are

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books have great story lines, Biblically accurate and nice dialogue. But why oh why does she spell every Biblical name oddly? It’s so annoying,having to pause and think, Who is she talking about?. It would be fine if other words were on a different language, but why just the names of the characters. It’s distracting and aggravating to say the least. Other than that, the books are enjoyable. Three stars because of the strange spellings of characters. We all know you’re writing about OT characters. Just use the English names.

[Shaylene Hubbard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first two books which were carefully based on the events of scripture. This one went way outside of the context of scripture even to potentially historically significant events that I've never heard of, especially not in the Biblical account. It also makes Joseph (a man who is shown to be strong in faith throughout the Biblical account) kind of weak and floundering at the end of his life. I did not like that aspect.

[Trahlyta Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey

All three books made me re-read Joseph 's story in the bible. And then I decided to read more. These stories are very close to the true story in Genesis. I enjoyed reading the fiction that seemed like it could have happened. Well written and very inspiring.

[Ivyalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling story about the life of Joseph and his family.

I recommend this story to anyone who loves reading Christian fiction stories. This story is so well written that you will feel as if you are living in this historic time period.

[Gwen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never fails to take me to exciting places

I love her books & this one, the last I'm the Ancient River Books, was really good. I can get lost in the scenery & the characters. She is a great writer. Great books!!

[Kathleen M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

This book 3, of the Legacies of the Ancient River teaches us so much about the life of Joseph. It has inspired my faith: but first, read books 1 and 2 so that it all makes sense.

[Rosevine Cottage Girls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

I really loved this book. It made me see this time period in a whole new light. I enjoyed the characters and it made me really think.

[Linda]

It was interesting.

[Sue Fellows · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great 3 book series. I totally enjoyed reading all 3 and recommend to others that enjoy reading historical Christian Fiction books!

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ancient rivers book 3

Loved the story about the sons of Joseph, the unsuccessful attempt to go to Canaan and the intrigue of Egypt's court

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5.

[Jessica Brayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all three books of the Ancient River series, I think this one was my favorite. The whole series was wonderful and I truly enjoy Angela Hunt 's writing and the Biblical history woven through .

[Lois DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!

Wonderful book. I have yet to read a book by Angela Hunt that was not true to history and well written.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Musings

A great finish to this amazing series. Again, another powerful message of God's power. A am so pleased I found this series. A grateful reader.!

[larry l. jerke · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is not a light read but worth the thought-provoking time. Can we apply God's will to our life without too many selfish thoughts?

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

well written

Always thought provoking - author is careful to never contradict scripture in her biblical novels.
Don't start it if you need to go to bed early. It's hard to put down- I wish she would continue the series !!!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspicion and jealousy cause a rift between Yosef's sons Efrayim and Menashe when grandfather Yakov speaks a firstborn blessing over second-born Efrayim in Angela Hunt's biblical fiction Journey. This schism is magnified by their dissimilar personalities. Menashe is serious, brooding, and intense while Efrayim is charismatic, fun-loving, and ambitious.

But sibling rivalry is not the only thing that separates these handsome, twenty-something brothers. When Menashe stays in Goshen with his relatives to mourn Grandfather Yakov's death, he hears stories of his ancestors, the patriarchs, for the first time—stories his busy vizier father Zaphenath-paneah (Yosef) never told him. With these stories the dream is birthed in him of his people again living in their own land. Efrayim, meanwhile, in love with all things Egyptian, oversees the embalming of Yakov.

A trip to Canaan to bury Yakov, close encounters with Pharaoh and his powerful wife Tiy, Menashe's obsession with the lovely but sightless slave harpist Jandayi, together with his growing conviction that it is his destiny to lead his countrymen back to Canaan make Journey a spell-binding read.

I especially liked the way Hunt brought Egypt to life in her well-researched setting. Here, for example, is the scene that meets Zaphenath-paneah and his sons as they enter the banquet room of the feast Pharaoh's holds to honor them:

"In the centre of the vast hall an Egyptian drummer held his instrument at a jaunty angle and thumped out a steady beat. A line of trumpeters blew their instruments; one main lifted his horn toward the painted ceiling in a vain attempt to make his instrument heard about the others. A group of Libyans, recognizable by their ornate feathered headdresses, beat their clappers in a staccato rhythm, while in another corner a band of priestesses played their sacred sister, the delicate thumping sounds echoing through the room. The chamber seemed alive with noise, the sound rising from the musicians and dancers and then spiralling down again from the tall ceiling" - Kindle Location 2322.

For those interested in Bible themes, the story also delves into who God-Shaddai was to the Hebrews at this time through Menashe's growing understanding of the history and destiny of his people.

Characters are complex and believable. I was especially fascinated by Tiy, Pharaoh's scheming and powerful first wife.

For anyone wanting a rich, thoughtful, sometimes suspenseful experience of the Israelites in Egypt at the time of Joseph, Journey (Legacies of the Ancient River) is an excellent choice.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 2 out of 5]

**Update** The below review does not apply to this book. I'm not sure why I added that review since at the time I wrote that review, I had not read this book, the third in the series. Hunt lost her way with this book. So much of the narrative occurred during a time that is not described in the Bible. She created a narrative to suit her purposes and it simply did not work for this book. This book did not survive round two of the purge of my personal collection.

A review from my old blog (of the whole series) ...

I have loved every Angela Hunt book I have ever read. Thus it was with great delight that I embarked on reading this series and another to be reviewed next. Both of these series were published years before I become introduced to Hunt and her writing. I definitely enjoy playing catch up because other than that I would have to wait for her new books to be published.

Hunt has mentioned on her blog how writing for her is a process continually improved upon. She often comments on how she will go back and reread some of her older books and find all sorts of things that she would change and never write now.

I could tell with these two books, two out of the three in the series (I don't own the third and have yet to read it), that these are some of Hunt's first books. Her characteristic style has yet to develop.

Don't take that to mean that I didn't enjoy the books. I most certainly did. I have an affinity for well-written books that explore the stories of the Bible. Hunt has written several of my favorites.

I definitely recommend these books, based on the lives of Joseph and a few other Biblical characters from the time period.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first half of the novel was very confusing as the character's names seemed to constantly change. There are several plots occuring one of which is a Harlequin story set during this time period. The challenges between the two brothers is a bit more realistic. I wish the historical information regarding Egypt at this time was more predominant.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story, supposedly an extension based on the biblical context of Manasseh and Ephraim, sons of Jacob, and what may have transpired after their grandfather Isaac granted the greater blessing to the younger of the brothers. It was interesting historically, about Egypt and Joseph's role with the Pharoah and the court.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 of Legacies of the Ancient River. Historical fiction of the life of Joseph.

[Cami · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the engaging third in a series of biblically-based novels about the patriarchs of Christianity.

[Ti-Leigh Telford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely end to a lovely trilogy.

[Barbara Reese]

Judy