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KING'S BLOOD: Raised a Shepherd, Born a King
King’s Blood is a fast-paced retelling of history’s greatest life-threatening journey ever taken to become king. It is the story of David and his unconventional rise to power, but this is not your Sunday-school tale. To those who know him, he is nothing more than a shepherd. To his family, he is a servant and the youngest of eight, but David has a secret. It is a secret that will propel him into the national spotlight with the slaying of the most notorious giant in history. Destined to become king, the warrior who once killed a lion, a bear, and a giant, finds himself the target of the kingdom he once served. Now hunted by his father figure, King Saul, David is forced to grow an army of outlaws, find the reason for which he was anointed, and wage war against his true adversary. Surprisingly, it may not be the king, but a man that history has long overlooked. Daniel J. Geisel is a former Marine Sgt. who has turned his combat and operational experience into a truly immersive writing style. He has spent years in research to accurately and vividly depict David’s culture and life as the Bible describes. Anyone who reads King’s Blood will not only see the story through the eyes of a warrior, but will also learn a wealth of knowledge about the ancient world and uncover hidden truths about a story so often told.
471 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 10, 2022
5 Stars ✨!!
“Every man doubts, but to remain faithful you must remind yourself that just because you can’t see clearly doesn’t mean it’s not unfolding perfectly.”
King’s Blood is a fast-paced retelling of history’s greatest life-threatening journey ever taken to become king. It is the story of David and his unconventional rise to power, but this is not your Sunday-school tale. To those who know him, he is nothing more than a shepherd. To his family, he is a servant and the youngest of eight, but David has a secret. It is a secret that will propel him into the national spotlight with the slaying of the most notorious giant in history. Destined to become king, the warrior who once killed a lion, a bear, and a giant, finds himself the target of the kingdom he once served. Now hunted by his father figure, King Saul, David is forced to grow an army of outlaws, find the reason for which he was anointed, and wage war against his true adversary. Surprisingly, it may not be the king, but a man that history has long overlooked. (Summary from book since it’s not included in description)
WOW! This will be one of my top reads of the year. This is The story of David told in a way that you’ve never heard it before. My goodness this book fired me right up, I can tell that this book was supposed to be written- and for such a time as this.
To me, it was incredible!! Written in a way that draws believers and non believers. I love biblical historical fiction but this one is in a world of it’s own- written by former Marine Sargent, Geisel did David justice. It’s such a powerful story told from a person who knows what real warfare is like. There were so many deep things spiritually that I found really hit home with me. The warriors heart, his faith, his absolute ability to turn off fear and just be led was amazing. I learned so much about David’s beginning that I never really thought on before. I’ve read the story of David’s rise to king a ton of times in the Bible but this really just hit me in a place I needed to be hit. It’s deep and very thought provoking and makes you really think about how many things people of faith worry about when they shouldn’t. If you truly believe you serve the most high and that you’re under his wing- there should be NO FEAR. We are more than conquerors. If we could all muster up the faith that David had - we would be unstoppable. I wanna be a David!
Reading Saul go crazy and being inside his head was intense. Seeing his thoughts and feelings as he watches David who he loves dearly , fill in the gaps where he fell short- filled him with so much jealousy it just was portrayed perfectly- it showed the decline of the human condition in a way I will never forget especially for a man with power. It brought a whole new light to the madness of kings, but ultimately what human emotions- (when we let them overtake us) can do to a person and how they can turn a heart black if not dealt with.
I’m so impressed with this author and his storytelling. I like reading fantasy and this kinda reads like one, but as a person of faith - believing this really happened made this such an amazing book! Epic fight scenes especially in the second half, I didn’t feel like I was reading a Bible story. I hope he writes more books! I will definitely be buying a copy of this and reading it over and over again!
Highly recommend to all ⚔️🛡
“Every man doubts, but to remain faithful you must remind yourself that just because you can’t see clearly doesn’t mean it’s not unfolding perfectly.”
King’s Blood is a fast-paced retelling of history’s greatest life-threatening journey ever taken to become king. It is the story of David and his unconventional rise to power, but this is not your Sunday-school tale. To those who know him, he is nothing more than a shepherd. To his family, he is a servant and the youngest of eight, but David has a secret. It is a secret that will propel him into the national spotlight with the slaying of the most notorious giant in history. Destined to become king, the warrior who once killed a lion, a bear, and a giant, finds himself the target of the kingdom he once served. Now hunted by his father figure, King Saul, David is forced to grow an army of outlaws, find the reason for which he was anointed, and wage war against his true adversary. Surprisingly, it may not be the king, but a man that history has long overlooked. (Summary from book since it’s not included in description)
WOW! This will be one of my top reads of the year. This is The story of David told in a way that you’ve never heard it before. My goodness this book fired me right up, I can tell that this book was supposed to be written- and for such a time as this.
To me, it was incredible!! Written in a way that draws believers and non believers. I love biblical historical fiction but this one is in a world of it’s own- written by former Marine Sargent, Geisel did David justice. It’s such a powerful story told from a person who knows what real warfare is like. There were so many deep things spiritually that I found really hit home with me. The warriors heart, his faith, his absolute ability to turn off fear and just be led was amazing. I learned so much about David’s beginning that I never really thought on before. I’ve read the story of David’s rise to king a ton of times in the Bible but this really just hit me in a place I needed to be hit. It’s deep and very thought provoking and makes you really think about how many things people of faith worry about when they shouldn’t. If you truly believe you serve the most high and that you’re under his wing- there should be NO FEAR. We are more than conquerors. If we could all muster up the faith that David had - we would be unstoppable. I wanna be a David!
Reading Saul go crazy and being inside his head was intense. Seeing his thoughts and feelings as he watches David who he loves dearly , fill in the gaps where he fell short- filled him with so much jealousy it just was portrayed perfectly- it showed the decline of the human condition in a way I will never forget especially for a man with power. It brought a whole new light to the madness of kings, but ultimately what human emotions- (when we let them overtake us) can do to a person and how they can turn a heart black if not dealt with.
I’m so impressed with this author and his storytelling. I like reading fantasy and this kinda reads like one, but as a person of faith - believing this really happened made this such an amazing book! Epic fight scenes especially in the second half, I didn’t feel like I was reading a Bible story. I hope he writes more books! I will definitely be buying a copy of this and reading it over and over again!
Highly recommend to all ⚔️🛡
October 8, 2020
Great book
This book tells the history of David and how he came to be king. The descriptions of the lands and different tribes of Israel was very good. The characters descriptions and their interactions with each other were spot on.
This book tells the history of David and how he came to be king. The descriptions of the lands and different tribes of Israel was very good. The characters descriptions and their interactions with each other were spot on.
August 6, 2020
I highly recommend this book - It is unlike any other that you have read about David's rise to the throne and the turmoil that ensued as the hand of The Lord is revealed in David's life vs the demise of Saul as he succumbs to self-doubt, disdain for David, and evil.
Quote - As David readies himself against Goliath - "The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them, . . . "
Often the story is told of a giant and small boy - with barely enough strength and fortitude to stand before the wicked giant. But Dan Geisel
tells it in the Biblical sense.
David, although a shepherd, is experienced with challenges from life that far exceed his size and age. Having killed predators that wanted his flock. David understood the need to rely on Yahweh and not on himself. Also, understanding that the giant (Goliath) taunts his fellow Hebrews and the nation of Israel and most important taunts his Lord - David stands in the gap when the others (including King Saul) hid as cowards under their own strength but David stood when the others bowed to the enemy, not with his strength but the power of his God - Jehovah -
The story is told through the eyes of a man that experienced battle, understands the Biblical account of David, and the love of a father/husband.
With all of this stated; - you will laugh, cry, and get chills as you experience life along with David - and laugh I did when David thought "Is this married life?" concerning a statement Michal (his wife and Saul's daughter) says on their wedding night.
The character development is excellent, detailed, and needed as David grows from a shepherd to the throne as king. Experience David, the shepherd to king through the eyes of a Biblical student, dad/husband, and former soldier.
Quote - As David readies himself against Goliath - "The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them, . . . "
Often the story is told of a giant and small boy - with barely enough strength and fortitude to stand before the wicked giant. But Dan Geisel
tells it in the Biblical sense.
David, although a shepherd, is experienced with challenges from life that far exceed his size and age. Having killed predators that wanted his flock. David understood the need to rely on Yahweh and not on himself. Also, understanding that the giant (Goliath) taunts his fellow Hebrews and the nation of Israel and most important taunts his Lord - David stands in the gap when the others (including King Saul) hid as cowards under their own strength but David stood when the others bowed to the enemy, not with his strength but the power of his God - Jehovah -
The story is told through the eyes of a man that experienced battle, understands the Biblical account of David, and the love of a father/husband.
With all of this stated; - you will laugh, cry, and get chills as you experience life along with David - and laugh I did when David thought "Is this married life?" concerning a statement Michal (his wife and Saul's daughter) says on their wedding night.
The character development is excellent, detailed, and needed as David grows from a shepherd to the throne as king. Experience David, the shepherd to king through the eyes of a Biblical student, dad/husband, and former soldier.
November 8, 2023
I don’t like to leave bad reviews bc I feel bad! I usually write about the ones I like and leave it at that but this was brutal. The writing was so dull, obvious and repetitive. I can’t tell you how many times the phrase “suddenly realized” was used, but it was enough to become irritating. There are SO many ways to say something else and mean the same thing, but it was all the same phrases, over and over. There were a handful of similar phrases the author used and never deviated from. And at times their usage didn’t even fit the situation.
Second, Holy Similies, Batman!! He applied and over-used them EVERYWHERE. It felt like half of the things he described were similies, and all similies that related to the ages, like “his heart pounded like a tent maker pounding in stakes” or the like. So they were all similies related to David’s time/culture but then when the author used a character to help David fight, the character told David it “becomes muscle memory”, wait what?? Why go into such elaborate historical similies but then have a character use the term “muscle memory”?? The term itself was used a lot, but almost always by the narrator, not a character which makes more sense. But that was also another repetitive phrase constantly repeated.
Then we get to the women in the book. Most people who know of David knows about Bathsheba and his issues with lust and of course for those who don’t, you’d want to make that clear, It’s a big flaw in his character. But the way that lust was portrayed was unbearably contrived. It starts off as a boy shepherd and of course Into adulthood but every single woman who crosses his path in this book was a “The most beautiful woman he had laid eyes on” and then went on to describe what he thought about her, fleeting eye contacts, flirting smiles, yadda yadda. Every woman who had a name in this book was placed there solely for David to be tempted by or to want and lust after. It was so way over the top obvious.
I could tell research went into the book and those historical aspects were well told and I appreciated how they were told but that’s where it ends for me. I wanted to love this so badly but I just couldn’t wait to finish it and be over it. The writing killed it for me.
Second, Holy Similies, Batman!! He applied and over-used them EVERYWHERE. It felt like half of the things he described were similies, and all similies that related to the ages, like “his heart pounded like a tent maker pounding in stakes” or the like. So they were all similies related to David’s time/culture but then when the author used a character to help David fight, the character told David it “becomes muscle memory”, wait what?? Why go into such elaborate historical similies but then have a character use the term “muscle memory”?? The term itself was used a lot, but almost always by the narrator, not a character which makes more sense. But that was also another repetitive phrase constantly repeated.
Then we get to the women in the book. Most people who know of David knows about Bathsheba and his issues with lust and of course for those who don’t, you’d want to make that clear, It’s a big flaw in his character. But the way that lust was portrayed was unbearably contrived. It starts off as a boy shepherd and of course Into adulthood but every single woman who crosses his path in this book was a “The most beautiful woman he had laid eyes on” and then went on to describe what he thought about her, fleeting eye contacts, flirting smiles, yadda yadda. Every woman who had a name in this book was placed there solely for David to be tempted by or to want and lust after. It was so way over the top obvious.
I could tell research went into the book and those historical aspects were well told and I appreciated how they were told but that’s where it ends for me. I wanted to love this so badly but I just couldn’t wait to finish it and be over it. The writing killed it for me.
April 6, 2023
Fictionalized story of King David, from his days as a shepherd to the day is declared king. Lots of battle descriptions.
December 15, 2022
This book was a wonderful retelling of the early life of David, his anointing and subsequent flight from Saul. It was a little slow in the beginning but picked up quickly and I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it!
November 24, 2020
David's Many Faces
I was touched by the complex personality the author uncovers in this new look at David's life before becoming king.
I was touched by the complex personality the author uncovers in this new look at David's life before becoming king.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews