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Masada: Thou Shalt Not Kill
When 18-year-old Daniel is abducted by Sicarii assassins and taken to their walled fortress of Masada, he's forced to let go of the Jewish Law he's learned from his parents and to adopt his kidnappers' code of violence and thievery, simply to stay alive.
Wracked with guilt but determined to survive, Daniel becomes part of the Sicarii culture, even marrying one of their soldier's sisters. Between violent raids against neighboring settlements to prevent starvation and being called upon to commit suicide along with all the other Sicarii residents rather than be enslaved by invading Roman forces, Daniel is faced with choice after choice that test his character, strength, and resolve and push him to discover the kind of man he wants to be.
Set against the backdrop of the last confrontation between the Jews and Romans during the Second Temple period, author Shimon Avish masterfully weaves together history and his real-life experiences in the army and as a kibbutznik, bringing to life a painful chapter in Jewish history through the eyes of young Daniel.
Wracked with guilt but determined to survive, Daniel becomes part of the Sicarii culture, even marrying one of their soldier's sisters. Between violent raids against neighboring settlements to prevent starvation and being called upon to commit suicide along with all the other Sicarii residents rather than be enslaved by invading Roman forces, Daniel is faced with choice after choice that test his character, strength, and resolve and push him to discover the kind of man he wants to be.
Set against the backdrop of the last confrontation between the Jews and Romans during the Second Temple period, author Shimon Avish masterfully weaves together history and his real-life experiences in the army and as a kibbutznik, bringing to life a painful chapter in Jewish history through the eyes of young Daniel.
290 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2022
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1304 people want to read
About the author
Shimon Avish
3 books17 followersWinner of the 2023 Historical Fiction Company's Award of Excellence, SHIMON AVISH writes about significant events in ancient Jewish history. His work draws on his adventures in soldiering, farming, product design, cabinet making, political science, international business consulting, and living in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. He completed his doctoral degree in political science at Columbia University in the City of New York and was a Fulbright-Hays Fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 2, 2022
This book was an excellent way to feel like you are part of the history of Masada. Daniel is kidnapped by the Sicarii and taken to Masada as the Sicarii fled Jerusalem. Through the central character of Daniel, you see how the scholars were viewed by the Sicarii. You see how Daniel struggles with his beliefs in Torah and the life of the Sicarii. I am always interested in reading historical fiction and this book was no exception. From the perspective of Daniel, I felt like I understood how life was at Masada. I would describe the book as history lesson using a fictional character rather than a fictional story which happens to take place at Masada. I enjoyed learning about the history of Masada through Daniel’s eyes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 7, 2022
"Every little boy in Israel has heard of the mighty stonghold, and I often played Invade the Fortress with my friends as a youngster. King Herod the Great, a convert to Judaism, built the Masada fort close to one hundred years earlier as a place of retreat if the Jewish population ever turned against him."
Readers will be swept away in this epic struggle of the survivors of the devastation of Jerusalem. The years are 65 to 70 C.E., and the Roman Emperor Nero is wielding a strong hand against Jerusalem. Many Jews collaborate with the Roman armies or hide in the tunnels beneath the Mount, yet all find themselves in dire straits. Eighteen-year-old Daniel, the son of a Temple Priest, and his twin brother, Jonathan, live what seems to be a normal affluent life due to the fact that his father is one of the collaborators. At least, he is in the eyes of the rebels hiding in the caves, the ones known as the Sicarii. These assassins are determined to rid Jerusalem of the Roman soldiers, as well as eliminate all Jews who are prospering by bending to Rome’s authority.
In the midst of this turmoil, Daniel and Jonathan’s father attempts to continue training them in the ways of priesthood, teaching them the laws as set forth in the Tanakh to pass on the traditions of the Jewish people despite being under Roman rule. Daniel is always questioning the commandments, to his father’s dismay, wanting to know how far one should go to abide by them and if there is ever a reason to bend them.
Quickly, Daniel’s life changes and his training is put to the test when his entire family is killed by the Sicarii and he is taken captive by the assassins, first to the desert and, eventually, to the walled fortress of Masada. It is here that Daniel’s faith is tested, and his adherence to Jewish Law that he learned from his father is abandoned as he adopts the Sicarii way of life, that of thievery and violence, just to survive.
"I stood and threw wood on the campfire, causing hundreds of insect-like orange sparks to fly into the sky. I had never experienced this before, and it became an aspect of living in the desert I came to love. We were so far from the city, the sky was black, and we could hear the absolute silence surrounding us. The stillness reminded me of being outside in Jerusalem during a heavy snowfall when the absence of people and the muffling effects of snow amplify the silence."
Before long, this fierce culture becomes his new way of life and he marries Judith, a strong willed young Jewish woman whose beauty and courage builds a desire in Daniel to stand up for his faith.
For a long while in the narrative, a reader is swept into the day-to-day drudgery of living atop this desolate flat plateau as nine hundred Jews fight boredom and starvation, as well as the threat that any day the Roman armies will find and kill them all. There is a intensifying rift between the regular civilians and the fierce Sicarii soldiers, especially between Daniel and Eleazar Ben Yair, the Sicarii leader whose murderous ideals set the stage for a confrontation between the civilians, the soldiers, and the Roman legions.
Daniel is faced with extreme choices in this extreme environment, and the disobedience of the commandment of ‘thou shalt not kill’ comes to the forefront, testing his character, faith, and his own survival, as well as his wife and children.
"Why couldn’t I learn to keep my mouth shut? Did I have a need to always be right, or was it because I genuinely believed in the obligation to follow the Ten Commandments and the other six-hundred-thirteen rules in the Tanakh? I could obey the laws myself and not insist others do so, but not confronting others condones their actions, which is the same as me choosing to disobey God’s laws."
For the most part, this tale about Masada is quite interesting and for those familiar (or not familiar) with the account relayed in history by Jospehus, this gives a reader a rare glimpse into the living conditions for those Jews starting with the revolt in 66 C.E.. When Cestius Gallus first assembled the twelfth legion of the Roman army against the Holy City in 66 C.E., the tension and fear mounted, so when they suddenly departed, this gave an opening for most of the Jewish population to flee, dispersing to other safer areas; however, for many who did not heed the warning or sense the danger, the Romans returned in 70 C.E. with the intent of devastating Jerusalem at the behest of Vespasian. The tribulation that ensued was nightmarish. Thousands upon thousands died in the onslaught by the sword or starvation.
During this revolt came the rise of rebels like the Sicarii who wanted to stand their ground and fight the invaders, capturing the garrison at Masada and establishing a base there; and came the rise of those Jews who sought to yield to Roman rule just to save their lives and to protect the only way of life they had ever known. But Rome’s policy of violence was clear, and the protagonist, Daniel, is faced with seeing the difference between obeying God’s laws and succumbing to man’s laws... and the narrative’s message and theme plays out not only for the characters in the novel, but also for the reader. Masada's clear message of the difference in obeying God's laws versus man's laws resonates in the characters lives - a powerful narrative for 2022!
Even in the more lumbering parts of the story, you come to understand that this pace is a necessity to understand the dilemma these Jews who seek refuge atop this mountain are facing. Pangs of hunger, the search for finding ways to fill up their endless tiring days and not being able to leave this refuge, separation from a life they knew before, and families separated by death or distance... somewhat a reminder of how we live today during this pandemic. Daniel’s quest for discovering his own faith and loyalty to his beliefs is a lesson for any reader who reads this book. This is an intriguing tale of one young man's inner need to do what is right, opposing those of his own faith... and that of Rome. Lastly, by reading the author notes and hearing about his history with Masada helps you to truly connect with his reasons for writing the story. The author's knowledge of the area from first-hand experience truly draws the reader into the storyline. A striking narrative interwoven with biblical history and appealing characters - if you loved "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman, then don't miss this one!
*****
“Masada: Thou Shalt Not Kill” by Shimon Avish receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
Readers will be swept away in this epic struggle of the survivors of the devastation of Jerusalem. The years are 65 to 70 C.E., and the Roman Emperor Nero is wielding a strong hand against Jerusalem. Many Jews collaborate with the Roman armies or hide in the tunnels beneath the Mount, yet all find themselves in dire straits. Eighteen-year-old Daniel, the son of a Temple Priest, and his twin brother, Jonathan, live what seems to be a normal affluent life due to the fact that his father is one of the collaborators. At least, he is in the eyes of the rebels hiding in the caves, the ones known as the Sicarii. These assassins are determined to rid Jerusalem of the Roman soldiers, as well as eliminate all Jews who are prospering by bending to Rome’s authority.
In the midst of this turmoil, Daniel and Jonathan’s father attempts to continue training them in the ways of priesthood, teaching them the laws as set forth in the Tanakh to pass on the traditions of the Jewish people despite being under Roman rule. Daniel is always questioning the commandments, to his father’s dismay, wanting to know how far one should go to abide by them and if there is ever a reason to bend them.
Quickly, Daniel’s life changes and his training is put to the test when his entire family is killed by the Sicarii and he is taken captive by the assassins, first to the desert and, eventually, to the walled fortress of Masada. It is here that Daniel’s faith is tested, and his adherence to Jewish Law that he learned from his father is abandoned as he adopts the Sicarii way of life, that of thievery and violence, just to survive.
"I stood and threw wood on the campfire, causing hundreds of insect-like orange sparks to fly into the sky. I had never experienced this before, and it became an aspect of living in the desert I came to love. We were so far from the city, the sky was black, and we could hear the absolute silence surrounding us. The stillness reminded me of being outside in Jerusalem during a heavy snowfall when the absence of people and the muffling effects of snow amplify the silence."
Before long, this fierce culture becomes his new way of life and he marries Judith, a strong willed young Jewish woman whose beauty and courage builds a desire in Daniel to stand up for his faith.
For a long while in the narrative, a reader is swept into the day-to-day drudgery of living atop this desolate flat plateau as nine hundred Jews fight boredom and starvation, as well as the threat that any day the Roman armies will find and kill them all. There is a intensifying rift between the regular civilians and the fierce Sicarii soldiers, especially between Daniel and Eleazar Ben Yair, the Sicarii leader whose murderous ideals set the stage for a confrontation between the civilians, the soldiers, and the Roman legions.
Daniel is faced with extreme choices in this extreme environment, and the disobedience of the commandment of ‘thou shalt not kill’ comes to the forefront, testing his character, faith, and his own survival, as well as his wife and children.
"Why couldn’t I learn to keep my mouth shut? Did I have a need to always be right, or was it because I genuinely believed in the obligation to follow the Ten Commandments and the other six-hundred-thirteen rules in the Tanakh? I could obey the laws myself and not insist others do so, but not confronting others condones their actions, which is the same as me choosing to disobey God’s laws."
For the most part, this tale about Masada is quite interesting and for those familiar (or not familiar) with the account relayed in history by Jospehus, this gives a reader a rare glimpse into the living conditions for those Jews starting with the revolt in 66 C.E.. When Cestius Gallus first assembled the twelfth legion of the Roman army against the Holy City in 66 C.E., the tension and fear mounted, so when they suddenly departed, this gave an opening for most of the Jewish population to flee, dispersing to other safer areas; however, for many who did not heed the warning or sense the danger, the Romans returned in 70 C.E. with the intent of devastating Jerusalem at the behest of Vespasian. The tribulation that ensued was nightmarish. Thousands upon thousands died in the onslaught by the sword or starvation.
During this revolt came the rise of rebels like the Sicarii who wanted to stand their ground and fight the invaders, capturing the garrison at Masada and establishing a base there; and came the rise of those Jews who sought to yield to Roman rule just to save their lives and to protect the only way of life they had ever known. But Rome’s policy of violence was clear, and the protagonist, Daniel, is faced with seeing the difference between obeying God’s laws and succumbing to man’s laws... and the narrative’s message and theme plays out not only for the characters in the novel, but also for the reader. Masada's clear message of the difference in obeying God's laws versus man's laws resonates in the characters lives - a powerful narrative for 2022!
Even in the more lumbering parts of the story, you come to understand that this pace is a necessity to understand the dilemma these Jews who seek refuge atop this mountain are facing. Pangs of hunger, the search for finding ways to fill up their endless tiring days and not being able to leave this refuge, separation from a life they knew before, and families separated by death or distance... somewhat a reminder of how we live today during this pandemic. Daniel’s quest for discovering his own faith and loyalty to his beliefs is a lesson for any reader who reads this book. This is an intriguing tale of one young man's inner need to do what is right, opposing those of his own faith... and that of Rome. Lastly, by reading the author notes and hearing about his history with Masada helps you to truly connect with his reasons for writing the story. The author's knowledge of the area from first-hand experience truly draws the reader into the storyline. A striking narrative interwoven with biblical history and appealing characters - if you loved "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman, then don't miss this one!
*****
“Masada: Thou Shalt Not Kill” by Shimon Avish receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
March 2, 2022
Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous second Temple period, we meet Daniel. At the age of 18, Daniel is abducted by Sicarii assassins. Determined to survive, Daniel finds himself forced to abandon Jewish law and to follow the ways of his captors. Daniel finds himself encountering choice after choice, shaping him as a person and determining his destiny.
This novel is very well researched, creating an interesting narrative around a tragic period in Jewish history. I found the tie-in of the subtitle, Thou Shalt Not Kill, very interesting as the key protagonists struggle with choices between following the laws of the Jewish faith and doing what is necessary to survive. The author brings to life a very vivid depiction of the Jewish law Pikuach Nefesh – translated as ‘watching over a soul’; the law that states that preserving life supersedes practically all other laws.
Avish presents an action-packed narrative. I found this story unique as so much of the historical fiction I’ve encountered from this time period is told from a female protagonist’s perspective. This book has a different appeal given the military focus told from a male perspective. I enjoyed the contrasting point of view in this book.
I’d like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
This novel is very well researched, creating an interesting narrative around a tragic period in Jewish history. I found the tie-in of the subtitle, Thou Shalt Not Kill, very interesting as the key protagonists struggle with choices between following the laws of the Jewish faith and doing what is necessary to survive. The author brings to life a very vivid depiction of the Jewish law Pikuach Nefesh – translated as ‘watching over a soul’; the law that states that preserving life supersedes practically all other laws.
Avish presents an action-packed narrative. I found this story unique as so much of the historical fiction I’ve encountered from this time period is told from a female protagonist’s perspective. This book has a different appeal given the military focus told from a male perspective. I enjoyed the contrasting point of view in this book.
I’d like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
February 10, 2022
Many moons ago I watched 'Masada' the powerful movie starring Peter O'Toole as the Roman General Cornelius Clavius and Peter Strauss in the role of Eleazar. I was deeply impressed at the time, so much so, that I jumped at the opportunity of reviewing a book titled Masada. Maybe this lasting impression influenced my expectations of the book and they were too high. In short, I have very mixed feelings about this novel.
The book starts most thrillingly with the assassination of the High Priest Mattathias, witnessed by the 18 year-old Daniel, himself the son of a priest. The author deftly weaves information about the political situation in Israel during the latter half of the 1st century C.E. in a manner that kept me not only informed, but interested. The leitmotiv of the novel 'thou shalt not kill' was thus elegantly placed right at the beginning with Mattathias' murder, and cleverly continued by making the 6th commandment also Daniel's topic of study for the day, set by his priestly father. In the following, and throughout the book, 'Thou Shalt Not kill' becomes almost impersonated in Daniel, who not only opposes direct, but also indirect killings by robbing others of their sustenance. As Daniel is taken captive by the Sicarii, a group of assassins in rebellion to Rome and those that collaborate with it, he has to chose between death and life with the rebels.
After a disastrous attempt to free Jerusalem, the surviving Sicarii flee to safety in Masada, the fortress in the desert established a century before by King Herod.
Up to this point, I had found the story interesting, but it seems that from here on, the author became increasingly stuck in overly detailed descriptions, repetitive altercations between the civilians with Daniel as their speaker and the military group with Eleazar as their irrational leader and Nathan his cruel and vindictive right-hand officer. Character development suffered, and the drudgery of the Masada community translated into a tiresome read. What a pity! Daniel the main protagonist appeared too morally steadfast, too lucky, too bland; Eleazar and Nathan were too singularly cruel and despotic; people and issues appeared black and white to me, with neither any grey nuances nor any deeper emotions. Even the courtship between Daniel and Judith appears sterile and matter-of-fact. I also struggled with the rushed happy ending, which I found an unnecessary appendage and in its happy contentment detracting from this historical period of hardship and cruelty.
Even though the novel did not entertain me as expected, I found ample cause to be interested in the author's thorough historical and archeological research as well as his first-hand knowledge of the terrain.
Overall, this debut novel has much to recommend it, and offers an alternate 'could have been' to the traditional explanations of the siege of Masada.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are voluntary and my own.
The book starts most thrillingly with the assassination of the High Priest Mattathias, witnessed by the 18 year-old Daniel, himself the son of a priest. The author deftly weaves information about the political situation in Israel during the latter half of the 1st century C.E. in a manner that kept me not only informed, but interested. The leitmotiv of the novel 'thou shalt not kill' was thus elegantly placed right at the beginning with Mattathias' murder, and cleverly continued by making the 6th commandment also Daniel's topic of study for the day, set by his priestly father. In the following, and throughout the book, 'Thou Shalt Not kill' becomes almost impersonated in Daniel, who not only opposes direct, but also indirect killings by robbing others of their sustenance. As Daniel is taken captive by the Sicarii, a group of assassins in rebellion to Rome and those that collaborate with it, he has to chose between death and life with the rebels.
After a disastrous attempt to free Jerusalem, the surviving Sicarii flee to safety in Masada, the fortress in the desert established a century before by King Herod.
Up to this point, I had found the story interesting, but it seems that from here on, the author became increasingly stuck in overly detailed descriptions, repetitive altercations between the civilians with Daniel as their speaker and the military group with Eleazar as their irrational leader and Nathan his cruel and vindictive right-hand officer. Character development suffered, and the drudgery of the Masada community translated into a tiresome read. What a pity! Daniel the main protagonist appeared too morally steadfast, too lucky, too bland; Eleazar and Nathan were too singularly cruel and despotic; people and issues appeared black and white to me, with neither any grey nuances nor any deeper emotions. Even the courtship between Daniel and Judith appears sterile and matter-of-fact. I also struggled with the rushed happy ending, which I found an unnecessary appendage and in its happy contentment detracting from this historical period of hardship and cruelty.
Even though the novel did not entertain me as expected, I found ample cause to be interested in the author's thorough historical and archeological research as well as his first-hand knowledge of the terrain.
Overall, this debut novel has much to recommend it, and offers an alternate 'could have been' to the traditional explanations of the siege of Masada.
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are voluntary and my own.
February 7, 2022
Masada is a place of secrets. What happened to the nearly 1000 Jews in that massive fortress far out in the desert when the Romans attacked? This book offers a very plausible and compelling story of how events may have unfolded. At first, I wasn’t clear about the subtitle “Thou shalt not kill”. However, that commandment is at the heart of the conflict between the two protagonists. Eleazar, the Sicarii commander, has chosen to resist the invading Romans using assassination. He and his men use their military might to dispense with collaborators as well as eventually to provide for the refugee community in Masada. Daniel, in training as a priest, questions whether killing can ever be justified. Over the course of his experiences with Eleazar, he finds the answer to his query. The resulting conflict builds to a dramatic conclusion. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.
This work is very well researched and beautifully written. Avish spent years in the area and had time to explore Masada, contemplating what happened there and how events could have unfolded. It is difficult to stop reading as one gets caught up in the well-developed characters and the fascinating story. While scenes of violence are described, the author has refrained from gory detail, for which I was thankful. There is greater focus on the psychological effects on the diametrically opposed life choices. This is a MUST read for anyone interested in the mystery of Masada.
This work is very well researched and beautifully written. Avish spent years in the area and had time to explore Masada, contemplating what happened there and how events could have unfolded. It is difficult to stop reading as one gets caught up in the well-developed characters and the fascinating story. While scenes of violence are described, the author has refrained from gory detail, for which I was thankful. There is greater focus on the psychological effects on the diametrically opposed life choices. This is a MUST read for anyone interested in the mystery of Masada.
March 4, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I feel like the author wanted to include so much information that it didn't all get flushed out, so the flow of the piece suffered.
It maybe seems like Eleazar should be the main character of this book. I can see ways that almost all of the moments, big and small, could have been told through his eyes. Since the story of Masada is that of a Tyrant rule, we should follow the Tyrant. Although we followed Daniel, he had very little character development.
After reading the historical afterword I felt like I understood the purpose of this book a bit more, but I'm not sure it stood alone without prior knowledge of this particular time in history or without a little more info about what the author was trying to accomplish. Because there was a base historical story that was trying to be followed, I think it guided this book too much.
I do think that with some more revising this book could be better, having a better flow and less choppy timing.
I feel like the author wanted to include so much information that it didn't all get flushed out, so the flow of the piece suffered.
It maybe seems like Eleazar should be the main character of this book. I can see ways that almost all of the moments, big and small, could have been told through his eyes. Since the story of Masada is that of a Tyrant rule, we should follow the Tyrant. Although we followed Daniel, he had very little character development.
After reading the historical afterword I felt like I understood the purpose of this book a bit more, but I'm not sure it stood alone without prior knowledge of this particular time in history or without a little more info about what the author was trying to accomplish. Because there was a base historical story that was trying to be followed, I think it guided this book too much.
I do think that with some more revising this book could be better, having a better flow and less choppy timing.
February 17, 2022
I only knew the basics about Masada so reading this book was very interesting for me. I thought the author did an excellent job interweaving the history into his story. His enthusiasm for the topic shone through.
The storyline was good but sadly the characters didn’t really come alive for me. They seemed rather one-dimensional. I think this might have been, in part, because their conversations seemed quite stilted. (Writing realistic dialogue is very hard.)
I’d like to congratulate the author for a very creditable debut and look forward to seeing him hone his craft in future stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The storyline was good but sadly the characters didn’t really come alive for me. They seemed rather one-dimensional. I think this might have been, in part, because their conversations seemed quite stilted. (Writing realistic dialogue is very hard.)
I’d like to congratulate the author for a very creditable debut and look forward to seeing him hone his craft in future stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 21, 2022
I am proud to give this magnificent piece of historical fiction a 5-star review. In the author's own words, "I offer this novel as one of many plausible explanations for what transpired at Masada during that very turbulent time in Jewish history…Based on my military experience and time spent living in an isolated desert agricultural community, I have added my thoughts to the postulations of the scholars who have come before me. I hope you have enjoyed my imaginations.” I certainly have. I loved it. And I can't wait for the release of the next novel by Shimon Avish!
February 27, 2025
Terifying! Fast moving and historically accurate at least it works with the little we actually know. Well researched and well written. The story of the fortress at Masada is well known but Shimon offers us an alternative back story to the eventual outcome. This book has everything- a kidnapping; a leadership challenge and a hero. If you choose to read this, you will not be disappointed. Thank you to the author and to booksirens for the opportunity to read this wonderful story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 25, 2022
An interesting fictional look at its history, Masada:Thou Shalt Not Kill is a fascinating retelling of the story of Masada that does not adhere to the presumed historical events as told by Josephus. Meticulously researched with well drawn characters, especially Daniel, the protagonist, the novel drew me into the story, even though I knew the ending. Well done.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 14, 2022
The story sucked me in and I enjoyed it. I love learning history with fictional characters.
The story follows Daniel's struggle between following Jewish law and living with his Sicarii kidnappers. He grows as the book progresses. The pacing is strong, and it's packed with constant conflict.
The story follows Daniel's struggle between following Jewish law and living with his Sicarii kidnappers. He grows as the book progresses. The pacing is strong, and it's packed with constant conflict.
January 30, 2022
WOW - WHAT A GREAT STORY. Loved, loved this book -- such a great story about what it could have been like!!!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2022
I read a lot about this time period during my seminary studies and enjoyed it immensely. I thought the story was tightly woven and true to the period.
The story was told convincingly, and the conflicts, emotions, and thought processes of the characters were well told.
I did have some issues with the timing of the story. Daniel and Nathan would erupt into a major conflict and I would expect further escalation, but often we got a return to regular life or in one case, two years passed before further escalation occurred. There may have been some historical time constraints involved, but it did seem a little far fetched.
Overall, a great read and highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story was told convincingly, and the conflicts, emotions, and thought processes of the characters were well told.
I did have some issues with the timing of the story. Daniel and Nathan would erupt into a major conflict and I would expect further escalation, but often we got a return to regular life or in one case, two years passed before further escalation occurred. There may have been some historical time constraints involved, but it did seem a little far fetched.
Overall, a great read and highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews