Every Knee Shall Bow (Constantine’s Empire Book #2)

Constantine's Empire #2

by Bryan M. Litfin

The year is AD 316. Imperial persecution has ended, but Christianity's future still hangs in the balance. Will churches rise in Rome where pagan temples once stood? Will the true Scriptures replace the myths of the gods? Will Jupiter finally bow the knee to the Lord Jesus?

For the first time in history, the Roman emperor supports the church. Bishop Sylvester sends Flavia from her convent to seek Emperor Constantine's permission to build great churches and determine the canon of Scripture. But the enemies of God are on the move. Joined by Rex, Flavia's beloved protector who has fought his way out of exile, the two friends cross the empire by land and sea on an epic quest to free the Roman people from the tyranny of the ancient gods.

Bristling with tension and undergirded by impeccable historical research, this tale of courage, defiance, and humble submission to God continues the captivating saga of two unlikely allies in the age of imperial Christianity.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian Historical Fiction, Christian

487 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Bryan Litfin received his PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. His undergraduate work was at the University of Tennessee in the field of Communications.

Bryan now works as Head of Strategy and Advancement at Clapham School, after serving for 16 years as Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and 3 years as an editor and writer at Moody Publishers. He is the author of The Conqueror (Revell, 2020), Every Knee Shall Bow (Revell 2021), the Chiveis Trilogy (Crossway, 2010, 2011, 2012), Early Christian Martyr Stories (Baker, 2014), After Acts (Moody, 2015), and Getting To Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007, 2nd ed. 2016), as well as numerous scholarly articles and essays. In early 2022, he will release Wisdom from the Ancients (Harvest House).

Bryan is married to Carolyn, and they have two adult children. He enjoys writing, traveling, teaching, reading, spending time with family, and being involved in his local church.

Reviews

[Jessica Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another well researched novel!

Flavia and her mother have taken up the life of nuns following the Bishop Ossius on a journey. They receive word that her uncle has passed and left his fortune to Flavia to be used for the young Christian church. On the journey back to Rome, the vessel that Flavia and her mom are aboard is taken captive by human traffickers who intend to hold the bishop hostage for ransom and sell off all the women to the highest bidder. Will Flavia manage to get out of this mess?

After being banished to the Roman navy, Rex has had enough of the harsh treatment of the sailors. He mutinies against the soldiers and those who side with him take over control of the ship. Now pirates on the open sea, Rex has been claiming cargo to keep his crew paid. When he hears of a skirmish where the Bishop has been kidnapped and nuns sold into slavery, Rex knows it is probably Flavia. He makes the decision to try to rescue her at any cost.

If you’ve read the first book in this series, then you will enjoy the continued adventures of Rex and Flavia. Two unlikely characters thrown together. Flavia, a devout Christian follower who somehow managers to find herself in life threatening situations, and Rex, a hardened soldier who gave up his country for love. And the story is set against the backdrop of the Emperor Constantine’s empire converting the state religion to Christianity.

This book will not be for everyone. Litfin dives deep into research to set up accurate portrayals of the time period as well as supporting historical characters. If you like this type of history (as I do), then you will enjoy sitting down and spending some time with this book. Both the story of Rex and Flavia is captivating while getting to explore more of this time period. Most ancient Roman novels are set during previous periods, so it is fun to learn more during this time and see it from the viewpoint of members of the early church.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this story was very good. Historical fiction is my favorite genre. That said, I found this story to be fairly realistic in it's description of things. It reminded me a bit of Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series minus the gladiators. Of course it had that special voice that is unique to Bryan Litfin. If you read any of his Chiveis trilogy books you'll know what I mean. I can still picture one of the heroes gouging out someone's eyes while underwater. Just sayin'... it was that descriptive in a previous that I can still see the scene in my mind's eye. Most of the books that I've read are no longer in my mind. But Bryan's writing is still there.

This novel was set in the earliest days of the church (300s AD) as it established itself in Rome. I found the mysticism interesting, especially the baptism ritual. Good thing for us it changed over time or we would have much fewer baptisms these days. Also, unlike many novels in Christian fiction, this was more realistic in regards to human struggles and sin. I found that especially intriguing and it showed how there are ripple effects to every decision we make.

There were battle scenes in this book written to show the power struggle between the two Caesars. Of course, I was rooting for Constantine despite knowing the ins and outs of his policies. I finished this story and found myself talking about it with others. That's the sign of a good book, to me anyway. Plus, I enjoyed learning a bit more about how the early church kept things moving forward (and protected from destruction) and how they guarded the early writings of the apostles that later became the New Testament. If you love fiction from that era, you will enjoy this book.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

I did enjoy this book. But I think the first one is my favorite so far. I love that we follow the same characters throughout the storyline.

The love story woven in this trilogy I really enjoyed. Some of the war scenes still went over my head in the second book. But I love the Roman era storyline, and seeing how people lived during this time period.

Trigger warnings: for a miscarriage.

[Marguerite (Margot) Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting historic review but far too romantic novelish for my taste. Good perspectives on how churches define themselves and their rules over time.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested to read and review this book through Netgalley.com. This review is my honest opinion.

This book was not what I was expecting. I do not like to leave negative reviews but my honest opinion was this is not the book for me. The book was hard to get started and then it was hard to keep going. I have to admit to skim reading in parts.

Another thing that bothered me was his use of the term Holy for people was bothersome, only God is Holy, we are called to be holy as He is.

The book overall was a long read and too jumpy for me, jumping from one place to another, one speaker/character to another. It did not flow well for me. It seemed that a lot could have been cut and the book would have been more enjoyable to me.

I give this book a 2-star rating.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second novel in the series. Overall, it moves at a fairly fast pace. It held my interesting throughout. I thought most of the character development was well-done. There were some "weak" moments in the book, though; however, they did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I also thought Rex's salvation towards the end was well done and believable; it was not an "easy salvation" for Rex and he had to work through his thoughts, doubts, and concerns before "counting the costs" and making a decision to submit to Christ.

Regarding the "weak points" in the book for me: I was glad that the "Asp tattoo guy" was killed in this novel. Guy was getting on my nerves; it felt like he was practically omniscient in this book. I don't know how much I believed he was capable of doing what he did, personally, but there were moments I felt his character was a little too over-the-top and less believable as a result. I don't know if the author was trying to write him as having some kind of "spiritual protection" or not, but he definitely seemed to have powers and abilities that were greater than even a highly trained, highly skilled person might have.

I felt like some of the characters acted out-of-character at times. Flavia felt out-of-character; sometimes she came across as less intelligent than I felt she was presented as in the prior novel. Other times she felt less-than-capable in some of her "moments." And then there was a time or two it felt like the pendulum swung the other way and she had "stepped up her game" as it were and achieved some new skill level she had not previously had. I don't really know how to describe it any "better" that that; she just felt "off."

I was also really shocked at the arrogance and demands of the Bishop who sent Flavia on her mission. Flavia had come into a massive inheritance after her uncle died; he named her as his only heir. Instead of allowing Flavia to volunteer whatever sum of money from this inheritance she felt led to give to the church as a gift, she was expected to practically give it all away to the church and pay for the mission out of her own money the mission she was given regarding getting Constantine's blessing and funding regarding new Christian buildings/churches in Rome. On the one hand, I am sure "stuff" like that happened; it still seems to even happen today, where certain ministers expect the members of their church to give minimum amounts (I actually received a letter from the finance committee of a former church I used to attend demanding to see my financial records because they felt I was not giving enough to the church; the funny thing is, we had already left the church a year ago when we received this letter, so it was a pretty crazy moment). I was still shocked at the way the guy came across and even more shocked that Flavia accepted it like she did.

I think the thing that "bugged me the most," though, had to be when the reader is told that Rex, Flavia, and their party are returning to Rome with a large amount of silver as well as signed authorization from Constantine giving Christians permission to build their new churches and other structures in Rome and promising to use some of the royal coffers to assist in building these edifices. Rex and his party of six are not returning alone; they are supposed to be in the company of a large unit soldiers on their way back to Rome and providing protection for Rex and his group. Considering the amount of wealth they are transporting back as well as the important document from Constantine, one would have expected Rex to not only be on his guard but to have armed guards posted to protect the wealth and the document (the document being more important than the wealth). But, no. This does not happen. Perhaps the author explained somewhere that this legion split off and left Rex and Co. to fend for themselves (which, again, makes zero sense), and I missed that explanation. As it is, the "Asp-Man" sneaks into Rex's room while he is in Flavia's room and makes off with the document and some of the silver. It was really irksome. On the one hand, people make extremely stupid mistakes today, so it should come as no surprise if it happens in a novel. It just felt extremely forced in the novel, though, and not a natural part of the flow of the story to me.

I was pretty meh regarding Lady Sophia discussing marriage with Bishop Ossius. They have this huge discussion about marriage and whatnot and agree to be "good friends" involved in a "spiritual marriage." I guess that is supposed to become the point of "strong non-sexual relationships" between "nuns" and the "fathers/bishops" in the R.C. Church? In any case, that conversation truly was a huge drag on the story. I mean, I kinda "got it" regarding how marriage can be a distraction, on the one hand, because the married couple now has to focus on each other's needs as well as serving Christ, but, still. And the "good" Bishop Ossius turned out to be a bit of a jerk, too, regarding his legalism and how he treated Rex and Flavia. Perhaps we are "too liberal" in the modern world when it comes to things, but the guy really rubbed me the wrong way, hahahah!

There were moments in the book that I especially liked, though. I loved that Rex was able to meet back up with his father after such a long absence away serving Rome as a spy and then a galley slave. He encourages his father to fight for to regain his throne, and then he encourages his father to send a solid unit from their tribe to aid Constantine in battle against a usurper trying to steal the Imperial throne. That was pretty cool that Rex was able to inspire his father like that.

I also liked that Constantine was finally able to forgive Rex for abandoning Constantine in battle to chase down and kill another potential threat to his throne in the first book. It was somewhat amusing; Rex is put back into slavery to serve on a Roman barge after helping Constantine win another battle, but Flavia purchases his freedom by selling herself as a slave. Flavia has an important epiphany while serving as a slave, and this helps change the relational dynamics between herself and her owner which then allows Flavia to leave as a free woman. She meets back up with Rex; Rex returns to his father's side and discovers that Constantine's mother has been taken captive. He, his father, and his father's second-in-command free Constantine's mother from being held as a hostage, and this successful mission is what helps garner Constantine's final forgiveness (as Constantine's priest had been working on him about forgiveness) and blessing regarding Rex.

Constantine also makes some funny comments. At one point, he makes a comment that he is having a hard time keeping Rex aboard his naval vessels. When his priest is instructing him in the ways of grace and forgiveness, he makes a true statement that Christianity can be hard at times, but the way it comes across still made me chuckle.

It was interesting that Rex incited a successful mutiny and then began raiding as much shipping as he could. It was a crazy part of the book and might have been interesting if the author had delved a bit deeper into it. As it was, he tended to jump whatever was happening with Flavia and broke up the story in that regard.

I also liked that the book ended with the Bishop in Rome (I can't remember his name and am not going to find it; suffice to say, he's the Head of the Church and based in Rome) marrying Rex and Flavia because of the new mission he has for them. He sends them to Alexandria, Egypt, and shows them more grace, compassion, and mercy than Bishop Ossius seems capable of showing anybody. So it was an interesting snub of Ossius and I was probably happier than I should have been about it. Ah, well.

It was a good book. It actually was a fast read; I just read it during breaks at work, so it took me longer than if I had actually sat down to read it straight through as much as possible. I am looking forward to the third and final book in the series and hope it ends on a strong note. As it is, I am glad I revisited this series and read the second book.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Further exciting adventures of Flavia and Rex. It was hard to put the book down. She accompanies Bishop Ossius of Hispana as part of an entourage on a mission to Constantine. Constantine's approval is sought for the building of churches and an official copy of the scriptures. [I would assume that it was not the final canonic version, which I thought came at the end of the 4th century as a decision of one of the church councils.]
Rex leads a mutiny aboard ship and somehow Flavia and Rex meet up. Through trials and tribulations they save each other and care for each other. Will Constantine give his approval? I liked how the author's explanations of N.T. passages were worked into the story and his thoughts on how the early church might have functioned. The romance aspect could have been abbreviated, especially so many of the couple's thoughts.

Highly recommended. I thank LibraryThing for an ARC.

[Rebecca O’Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thick book set in the 4th century that reads like an Indiana Jones adventure.

[English · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

This series is a big commitment and not for the faint-hearted, since each book comes in at 400-500 pages apiece, and cover a lot, but they’re well worth it in my opinion. I requested this title via the Publisher on Netgalley and I’m finally getting around to the series after reading the first book a few months ago.

Most Christian books set in ancient Rome cover the First Century at the time of the Apostles, this covers the reign of Constantine and sees the return of Branduph “Rex” and Flavia, a former Germanic soldier in the service of Constantine and the daughter of a Roman Senator who is now a nun.
Flavia and Rex go through various adventures and misadventures together in the service this time of the Pope, Sylvester although Rex is still trying to reconcile with the emperor Constantine. Their adventures carry them from Rome to Rex’s homeland of Germania and back again: and this time they have a deadly assassin and a heretical Bishop on their tail.

The one issue I have…. is although I like both Rex and Flavia both are suffering from a severe case of Mary Sue-itis. They seem to be invincible: Rex survives being a galley slave, being poisoned, shot (twice) and stabbed as I recall: Flavia is sold into slavery twice, taken as a sex slave by a German King, survives a fall from a considerable height (again) and both seem to have an uncanny knack for everything going their way and turning out the way they want. A few more flaws and genuine struggles or difficulties which aren’t resolved might be in order, perhaps?

Aside from that I did find the historical and cultural backdrop was interesting: this book actually challenges some of the misconceptions people might have about the 4th century “Catholic” church: especially modern protestants: nuns, priests and even the Pope were not like we know them today. Priests could be married, and clerical celibacy was still a matter of debate, nuns did not make lifetime commitments and the canonicity of certain parts of the New Testament was still questioned by some, with various extraneous texts floating around including the so-called gnostic Gospels.

It also sheds an interesting light on some of the conflicts within the state and the church at the time: mostly between Gnostics and heretics. Some might object to the rather binary portrayal of “Catholics good; everyone else bad” but I think there is more nuance in it than that: the author’s depiction of some debates within the church and the finding of St Peter’s relics is also interesting. The details about buildings, places and military tactics are probably the strongest feature of this series- the language? Not so much: its quite modern and Americanised. It’s not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the novel, but just enough to kind of grate on me.

I was provided with an ARC of this title via Netgalley. This did not impact my opinions which are freely given and wholly my own. Content warning for some violence, non-graphic sexual references and miscarriage.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every Knee Shall Bow is a look at the events surrounding the Constantine Empire in the 4th century, specifically as it relates to the spread of Christianity and the early church. We meet Flavia, a young Christian woman who is serving as a nun in a convent. (Be sure to read the introduction which explains how the ancient Christian offices such as nun, priest, and pope differs from today.) The other main character is Rex, a German and former officer under Constantine who has been sentenced to row on a navy ship as punishment for cowardice. The how and why of where Flavia and Rex got to be where they are come from book one, but background is given throughout this book. I have not read book one, and there is quite a bit in this book that stems from it which makes it a little hard to follow at times.

I enjoyed this book overall. The book is told from multiple perspectives, including some non-Christian ones, and the author does a good job of having the characters speak, think, and react based on what they believe. This is a complicated story set in several different cities with a large cast. It is well-researched, but it occasionally has clunky dialog and exposition on why a character would say/do something instead of letting it flow naturally or letting the reader infer. The story could be tightened up a bit and trimmed to focus the plot. I didn't feel like I really got to know the characters since there was so much going on and the point of view moved.

There is a lot here on what it means to become a Christian and how various groups believe a person should live as a Christ follower. Much of it is good and true, but some is not. Do not use this as a basis of theology. If you want to understand how to become a Christian or to live as one, read the bible. This is a work of fiction from various viewpoints and belief systems.

This is Christian fiction and as such is family friendly. However, due to the nature of the story, there is a smattering of violence and one "off-screen" scene of non-consensual sex.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for a copy of the book. My opinion is my own.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grand Adventure!

PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: http://bookreadingtic.com/2021/08/31/... THANK YOU!

The beautiful Flavia, a devout Christian who grew up with a life of privilege is thrown together with Rex, a tough soldier who believes there is no difference between Christianity, and the worship of the old gods.

The Roman church wants the two of them to journey to Emperor Constantine and get his permission, along with financing, to build churches and have an official book of scripture printed. While trying to do that, they will face many dangers and hardships including beatings, kidnapping, death attempts, jail time and take part in a war.

This epic, sweeping tale takes place in the early 300’s just as the old Roman empire is about to become Christian. Constantine’s rule is challenged by those who want to replace him. It is a dangerous time with much unrest in both the government and the church.

The Gnostics want their heretical teachings of Christianity, along with their books and worship practices to be the norm. They will stop at nothing to achieve it--including paying spies, influencing priests to take their side, and hiring a murderous mercenary who has a vicious snake tattoo on his forehead.

This exciting story has Flavia and Rex in one dire situation after another, but their biggest downfall may be each other. Although this is the second installment in a series, this story stands on its own. Be aware that although clean, there are some adult situations so recommend this for older teens and adults. Fans of action or historical tales will enjoy this five-star book.

The Library Thing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, Every Knee Shall Bow, for the purpose of review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flavia is a nun during the time of the Emperor Constantine. Constantine became a Christian and started spreading Christianity in Rome and all his Kingdom. Pope Sylvester used Flavia, an heiress, and her mother and a priest to travel to Constantine to get funding for building Catholic edifices in Rome and creating a Bible for his use after having a council determine which manuscripts should be included for the New Testament. Flavia and her party get hijacked along the way and pressed into slavery. Rex, a former soldier for Constantine, who has fallen into disfavor and who was in love with Flavia before all the drama started (see book 1 of this series), has problems of his own but manages to come through and rescue Flavia. Their adventure continues as we learn some of the problems of the early church and learn about the culture and religious thought. The Gnostics are part of the "bad guys" and their view is well explained. I love all the research that went into this book and the author's grasp of this history. This series is worth having on your bookshelf. It will help you learn more about early Christianity in a non-boring and very entertaining way.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Knee Shall Bow
by Bryan Litfin
Pub Date 12 Oct 2021
Revell
Christian



I am reviewing a copy of Every Knee Shall Bow through Revell and Netgalley:


This book takes us back to AD 316, where an Imperial persecution has ended, but Christianity's future still hangs in the balance. Will churches rise in Rome where pagan temples once stood? Will the true Scriptures replace the myths of the gods? Will Jupiter finally bow the knee to the Lord Jesus?





For the first time in history the Roman emperor supports the church. Bishop Sylvester sends Flavia from her convent to seek Emperor Constantine's permission to build great churches and determine the canon of Scripture. The enemies of God are on the move though and they are joined by Rex, Flavia's beloved protector who has fought his way out of exile, the two friends cross the empire by land and sea on an epic quest to free the Roman people from the tyranny of the ancient gods.



Bristling with tension and undergirded by impeccable historical research, this tale of courage, defiance, and humble submission to God continues the captivating saga of two unlikely allies in the age of imperial Christianity.



I give Every Knee Shall Bow four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com

Every Knee Shall Bow, written by Bryan Litfin, follows main characters Rex and Flavia on an epic journey throughout the Roman Empire. Set in AD 316, this Christian historical fiction includes a liturgy of real — and fictitious — characters. The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of adventure and intrigue in its nearly 500 pages. Although Every Knee is the second book in the Constantine’s Empire trilogy, it can still be read as a stand-alone novel. Litfin includes maps, a historical note, and glossary to help readers orient themselves. Every Knee Shall Bow is incredibly detailed and delves deep into Christian history and theology. While some of the dialogue feels unnatural for the time period, the story will fascinate fans of drama and history.

Review of Advanced Reading Copy from the Publisher

For full content analysis, go to www.compassbookratings.com

[Joanna Bair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a time period I know little about, so there was tons of history in it. I feel like this gives an excellent description of the time period. I can visualize so much of the cities and culture. I wonder though if the author got so caught up in the history that perhaps some of the plot was lacking. I had a hard time staying focused and remembering the plot and what was going on. It's a great way to learn about Ancient Roman culture if you don't want to read a history book. But if you're looking for a typical novel it's a little different. In my opinion.

Thank you netgalley for the book. All opinions are my own.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful work of historical fiction that centers around Emperor Constantine's rule. The author has created a great cast of characters who will keep your attention throughout the story. The plot revolves around the emerging church looking to begin a vast building plan and making copies of the scriptures available to some churches. There is a lot of action and adventure involved as all this takes place. I throughly enjoyed this story. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.

[Caryl]

BRILLIANT! Litfin has created an engaging masterpiece. I was immediately drawn into the drama. Epic battles and espionage kept me turning the pages. This novel is hard to put down. I'm looking forward to reading the final installment in this series.

Recommend to readers who enjoy historical fiction.

I borrowed a copy from the library. I've expressed my honest opinion.

[Kenny]

will jupiter finally bow the knee to lord jesus? Bro stop lying to peopel jesus is a flawed version of jupiter and is evil. Like bro all these authors done enough research to know this. Constantine a dumb bitch who fucked up ishtar and flipped all this shit bitch.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings:

Slavery
Rape
Alcohol consumption
Miscarriage
Murder
Kidnapping
War themes

[Jamila De vry · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I am going to say is that it was about time ... also this book took me by surprise comparing to the first one !!!can't wait for the third 📖

[Esther Bouchillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC (Advanded Reading Copy) from the author and LibraryThing. The comments are my own.
The date is AD 316 and druing the reign of Constantine the Great, a Roman emperor and the first to accept Christianity.
The main charcaters of the book are Flavia, a Christian maiden, and Rex, a pagan warrior.
The book has a map of ancient places, historical notes, the dynasty of Constantine, ancient historical names, a glossary and progogue. The characters in the book are ficion and non-fiction. many non-fiction.
This is the second book of the series and I plan to read the first book.
Not a fast read with so many historical events and names but a great read espcially for readers interested in ancient Roman history and Christian history.
The author, Brian Litfin is a former professor of theology at the Moody Bible Institute. He has written nonfiction and fiction books.
I have bookmarked (with slips of paper) and I plan to re-read.
A 5 star rating.

[Lynn's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Period: AD 316
Setting: Rome, Germania, Gual

This is the type of book that could be made into a mini tv series. There’s actual history, adventure and travels to many lands all wrapped into an intense drama. If you read the first book in the Constantine Series, “The Conqueror,” then “Every Knee Shall Bow” should immediately be added to your TBR. It will answer some very important questions you had at the end of the last book, but most importantly, will add some new ones as Rex and Flavia continue their epic journey through the ancient world.

“Every Knee Shall Bow” picks up five years after the first book. (I will admit, that was a bit of a surprise for me!) Yet, from the very first page, events tossed all of our favorite characters from book one back together for a church sponsored mission. The goal? Get Constantine to fund a building program and commission a published all of the codexes together in what we now call, the Bible. Sound simple? Think again!

As Rex and Flavia’s story took them to different places and put them in new challenges, the dynamic definitely shifts. Not just for Rex and Flavia, but for other characters in the book who have become dear to us from book one. Litfin wove in an incredible amount of church history research into this book and I learned so much! Yet, it wasn’t too much. I thought the author did a good job of balancing the adventure with history and romance.

Conclusion: I gotta say, this book really dug deep and ripped my heart out in places. While the adventure was right up my alley, Rex and Flavia did make a decision that really, really disappointed me. I get that the author was using that to teach about forgiveness, responsibility and that people are not perfect, but man, that one chapter just left me groaning, “why?” But, personal opinion aside, I would still recommend this story and can’t wait for the third book to come out this fall!