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The Songs of a Warrior: Saul and David: A Retelling
This dramatic retelling of the accounts of the first two kings of Israel follows the intertwining stories of Jonathan, Saul, David and Michal documented in 1 and 2 Samuel.
In this imaginative yet biblically faithful book, readers will find themselves immersed in the hearts and minds of the key players as they experience battles, intrigue, plots, betrayal, love and friendship.
This resource is a great way to help kids aged 8-12 engage with God's word. They'll be left thinking about what it means to trust God and realizing that only Jesus can really be the king God's people need.
Makes a wonderful gift for children aged 8-12. Includes a Bible-reading plan for the life of David and notes that differentiate the known facts from the imaginative parts.
In this imaginative yet biblically faithful book, readers will find themselves immersed in the hearts and minds of the key players as they experience battles, intrigue, plots, betrayal, love and friendship.
This resource is a great way to help kids aged 8-12 engage with God's word. They'll be left thinking about what it means to trust God and realizing that only Jesus can really be the king God's people need.
Makes a wonderful gift for children aged 8-12. Includes a Bible-reading plan for the life of David and notes that differentiate the known facts from the imaginative parts.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2023
34 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Katy Morgan
13 books26 followersKaty Morgan is an Editor at The Good Book Company. She is a member of Chessington Evangelical Church in Surrey, UK, where she lives. She holds a master's degree in classical Greek literature, and previously worked in a ministry role as part of a school chaplaincy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 7, 2023
3 Stars ✨
Middle Grade Retelling
“The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’”
II Samuel 23:3-4
The Songs of a Warrior was a good middle grade book based on the rise of King David. It was well written and stuck to its original themes. While I enjoyed it, it was also exactly what it claims to be a “Saul and David retelling” nothing more and nothing less. I think the author did a great job adding bits to make the story come more alive and the characters sound modern for a younger audience. I just personally would have liked to see a little more character detail, inner dialogue and maybe a bit more action. Overall- I love David’s story so for what it was, I found it enjoyable.
Middle Grade Retelling
“The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.’”
II Samuel 23:3-4
The Songs of a Warrior was a good middle grade book based on the rise of King David. It was well written and stuck to its original themes. While I enjoyed it, it was also exactly what it claims to be a “Saul and David retelling” nothing more and nothing less. I think the author did a great job adding bits to make the story come more alive and the characters sound modern for a younger audience. I just personally would have liked to see a little more character detail, inner dialogue and maybe a bit more action. Overall- I love David’s story so for what it was, I found it enjoyable.
April 7, 2023
This was a really fun and exciting story, which has parts that can get you a bit worried about David and his friends when he's on the run. Katy Morgan did a great job telling the David story from the Bible in an adventurous way. It's worth reading.
February 3, 2023
Katy Morgan does such a great job at making Bible stories and characters you know well come alive and help you see them afresh! Her writing endears you to Jonathan, gives you compassion and frustration with Saul, and marvel at David! I love how closely she sticks to Scripture and that she includes a discussion guide, notes, and a reading plan to point you back to digging into the Word! I hope she writes many more of these books! They are great for readers young and old!
July 14, 2025
(3.75 stars rounded up)
Though this is the second installment in the Bible Retellings Collection, it was actually our third read in the series and one we were especially looking forward to. My girls are big fans of King David and were excited to dive into this Saul and David retelling, but unfortunately, it fell a bit short for us.
While Katy Morgan does a thoughtful job of weaving in a broad sweep of history, the six-part structure (with time jumps spanning three to eight years) made it feel a bit long and made it harder for us to connect deeply with the characters and their relationships. I think a few sections could have been trimmed to help the pacing feel more engaging, without losing the heart of the story.
That said, I deeply appreciated the thread of Psalm 46:1 running through it: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. That truth stood out clearly and offers a wonderful foundation for thoughtful conversations as you read.
I also appreciated the author’s notes at the end, helping readers understand which elements are factual and which come from her imagination. With so much happening throughout the story, it can be difficult to discern what is true to Scripture and what is part of the retelling, and I’m grateful for the guide at the back to help clarify that.
🍎 While I agree with the recommended age range of 8–12, the book does include several graphic war scenes, so I recommend pre-reading for more sensitive readers or listeners in your family.
⚠️ Content to consider includes: four uses of the word “stupid,” name-calling, and war violence (both on-page and implied), including graphic scenes and descriptions. There are also strong expressions of anger and violent thoughts, as well as characters wishing harm on others.
Overall, while we didn’t enjoy this one as much as others in the series, I still recommend it and I highly recommend the Bible Retellings Collection as a whole.
Though this is the second installment in the Bible Retellings Collection, it was actually our third read in the series and one we were especially looking forward to. My girls are big fans of King David and were excited to dive into this Saul and David retelling, but unfortunately, it fell a bit short for us.
While Katy Morgan does a thoughtful job of weaving in a broad sweep of history, the six-part structure (with time jumps spanning three to eight years) made it feel a bit long and made it harder for us to connect deeply with the characters and their relationships. I think a few sections could have been trimmed to help the pacing feel more engaging, without losing the heart of the story.
That said, I deeply appreciated the thread of Psalm 46:1 running through it: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. That truth stood out clearly and offers a wonderful foundation for thoughtful conversations as you read.
I also appreciated the author’s notes at the end, helping readers understand which elements are factual and which come from her imagination. With so much happening throughout the story, it can be difficult to discern what is true to Scripture and what is part of the retelling, and I’m grateful for the guide at the back to help clarify that.
🍎 While I agree with the recommended age range of 8–12, the book does include several graphic war scenes, so I recommend pre-reading for more sensitive readers or listeners in your family.
⚠️ Content to consider includes: four uses of the word “stupid,” name-calling, and war violence (both on-page and implied), including graphic scenes and descriptions. There are also strong expressions of anger and violent thoughts, as well as characters wishing harm on others.
Overall, while we didn’t enjoy this one as much as others in the series, I still recommend it and I highly recommend the Bible Retellings Collection as a whole.
May 13, 2024
It was pretty good, but it jumped around in time a lot (years and years) and made me feel quite disconnected from the characters.
February 9, 2023
Really enjoyed this Middle-grade read about David and Saul. I thought all the special fiction touches added to the characters in just the right ways. The content is mature but not so difficult that a 12 year old couldn’t follow along. I am so excited to pass this to down to my son when he is ready to read this.
March 27, 2025
I enjoyed this retelling of David's story! I thought it was entertaining and engaging!
January 29, 2023
The Good Book Company hit my radar several years ago with their excellent children’s books—Tales that Tell the Truth, in particular. They’ve recently expanded into middle grade/YA literature beginning with The Songs of a Warrior, a retelling of the story of Saul and David. The description of “retelling” is an important one. Katy Morgan’s primary goal isn’t to tell a sweeping epic of biblical fiction, but to provide a fleshing-out of the biblical narrative using the genre of biblical fiction. That’s an important distinction because, while the story necessarily expands on the biblical narrative, it does so in a way that creates length rather than depth. Morgan does a great job expanding on the historical/cultural background (aided by her Classics degree from Cambridge), but her characters feel modern in their actions and behaviors.
Her prose is also clunky at times. For example, when David rushes in toward Goliath after killing him, the Morgan writes: “David was still running; he reached the Philistine before the shield-bearer could. Goliath was dead. He was dead. His hand lay limp around his sword hilt.” I, for one, initially read “He was dead” as referring to David rather than Goliath. If the phrase would have been italicized to indicate they were David’s thoughts, as the emphasis seems to indicate, it would have provided clarity. If the sentence was more than just a repetition of the previous sentence, there would have been clarity. It’s a minor issue, but writing issues like this crop up occasionally throughout the text. The language wavers between stilted—common for biblical fiction—and simplistic. The length of the book gives off the impression that it’s meant to be YA. The language and plot structure are more akin to middle-grade. I think if The Songs of a Warrior was 200 pages shorter and more clearly a middle-grade book, it would have been a lot stronger of a novel.
In all, The Songs of a Warrior isn’t awful, but it seems to lack an identity of its own outside of the biblical narrative. The goal of teaching the narrative is evident throughout and distracts from the actual telling of the story. I like that there is biblical fiction directed at younger children. This isn’t the worst biblical fiction on the market, it’s an okay story, it’s just a genre that’s so difficult to get right.
Her prose is also clunky at times. For example, when David rushes in toward Goliath after killing him, the Morgan writes: “David was still running; he reached the Philistine before the shield-bearer could. Goliath was dead. He was dead. His hand lay limp around his sword hilt.” I, for one, initially read “He was dead” as referring to David rather than Goliath. If the phrase would have been italicized to indicate they were David’s thoughts, as the emphasis seems to indicate, it would have provided clarity. If the sentence was more than just a repetition of the previous sentence, there would have been clarity. It’s a minor issue, but writing issues like this crop up occasionally throughout the text. The language wavers between stilted—common for biblical fiction—and simplistic. The length of the book gives off the impression that it’s meant to be YA. The language and plot structure are more akin to middle-grade. I think if The Songs of a Warrior was 200 pages shorter and more clearly a middle-grade book, it would have been a lot stronger of a novel.
In all, The Songs of a Warrior isn’t awful, but it seems to lack an identity of its own outside of the biblical narrative. The goal of teaching the narrative is evident throughout and distracts from the actual telling of the story. I like that there is biblical fiction directed at younger children. This isn’t the worst biblical fiction on the market, it’s an okay story, it’s just a genre that’s so difficult to get right.
February 9, 2023
This novel retells the biblical narrative of Saul and David. I previously read Katy Morgan's Nativity retelling, The Promise and the Light: A Christmas Retelling, and this one takes a similar approach. Morgan stays true to the biblical record as much as possible, but fleshes out characterization and internal details to make the story come to life for younger readers. The book includes a reading plan for those who are also interested in delving into the source material in 1 and 2 Samuel, and there are notes at the end where Morgan specifies what she got from the Bible, versus made up or made an interpretive decision about
The publisher is marketing this for ages eight to twelve, and I see this age rating as a loose recommendation. Some eight-year-olds will find this book too dense for them, since it's about 275 pages long with fairly small text, but some teens may greatly enjoy this. The Songs of a Warrior is an engaging read, and although it sometimes includes graphic depictions of violence, this all reflects details from the Bible. Parents of younger, more sensitive readers may prefer to read this book along with their child to discuss some of the violence and Saul's abusive behaviors, but the content is age-appropriate overall.
The Songs of a Warrior is a great selection for kids who like historical fiction. The author fleshed out the characters in an engaging way, rotating through different viewpoints and exploring the human side of war and political tensions. The book has some pacing challenges, due to the broad time range it covers, and I found some of the transition points too rushed, but I enjoyed it overall. This engaging story will appeal to many kids, and I recommend this for individual use and book clubs.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The publisher is marketing this for ages eight to twelve, and I see this age rating as a loose recommendation. Some eight-year-olds will find this book too dense for them, since it's about 275 pages long with fairly small text, but some teens may greatly enjoy this. The Songs of a Warrior is an engaging read, and although it sometimes includes graphic depictions of violence, this all reflects details from the Bible. Parents of younger, more sensitive readers may prefer to read this book along with their child to discuss some of the violence and Saul's abusive behaviors, but the content is age-appropriate overall.
The Songs of a Warrior is a great selection for kids who like historical fiction. The author fleshed out the characters in an engaging way, rotating through different viewpoints and exploring the human side of war and political tensions. The book has some pacing challenges, due to the broad time range it covers, and I found some of the transition points too rushed, but I enjoyed it overall. This engaging story will appeal to many kids, and I recommend this for individual use and book clubs.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2023
I pre-read this before passing it off to my 7 year old, and while I think he's a bit young, I can see how older boys would love this gripping tale. I appreciated that it stayed so true to the Biblical account, while adding details that make it seem real and fresh.
There are a number of battle scenes that get a little bit gruesome - stories of decapitation and swords run through stomachs and hearts. At one point Saul kills his oxen and chops them into pieces, and is described as having blood running down his arms. Nothing gratuitous, only that which is necessary to the story.
I was a little thrown by the multiple points of view. At times they seemed to converge without warning, and I had trouble recognizing which point of view was being represented.
Overall, though, it's well done and I'm excited for my son to read it a few years down the road. I especially liked the facts at the end that outline what is true (and where to find it in the Bible) as opposed to what the author added.
I love Biblical fiction marketed to adults, and I'm excited to see more come onto the scene for kids. I'm looking forward to more from this author!
There are a number of battle scenes that get a little bit gruesome - stories of decapitation and swords run through stomachs and hearts. At one point Saul kills his oxen and chops them into pieces, and is described as having blood running down his arms. Nothing gratuitous, only that which is necessary to the story.
I was a little thrown by the multiple points of view. At times they seemed to converge without warning, and I had trouble recognizing which point of view was being represented.
Overall, though, it's well done and I'm excited for my son to read it a few years down the road. I especially liked the facts at the end that outline what is true (and where to find it in the Bible) as opposed to what the author added.
I love Biblical fiction marketed to adults, and I'm excited to see more come onto the scene for kids. I'm looking forward to more from this author!
November 23, 2024
**Review of *The Songs of a Warrior* by Katy Morgan**
*The Songs of a Warrior* by Katy Morgan is a charming and accessible retelling of the story of David, beautifully tailored for middle-grade readers. Morgan has a gift for taking the complex customs and concepts of the Bible and explaining them in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand for younger audiences.
The book is steeped in scripture, with references carefully pointed out for each chapter, making it an excellent companion for readers who want to delve deeper into the biblical text. While this is unmistakably a retelling and doesn't introduce new elements to the story, Morgan's strength lies in her ability to bring the characters to life. David, Saul, Jonathan, and others feel vivid and relatable, making their struggles and triumphs resonate with readers.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-crafted book that makes a foundational biblical story accessible and enjoyable for middle-grade readers. A great resource for families, homeschoolers, or young readers exploring scripture for the first time.
*The Songs of a Warrior* by Katy Morgan is a charming and accessible retelling of the story of David, beautifully tailored for middle-grade readers. Morgan has a gift for taking the complex customs and concepts of the Bible and explaining them in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand for younger audiences.
The book is steeped in scripture, with references carefully pointed out for each chapter, making it an excellent companion for readers who want to delve deeper into the biblical text. While this is unmistakably a retelling and doesn't introduce new elements to the story, Morgan's strength lies in her ability to bring the characters to life. David, Saul, Jonathan, and others feel vivid and relatable, making their struggles and triumphs resonate with readers.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-crafted book that makes a foundational biblical story accessible and enjoyable for middle-grade readers. A great resource for families, homeschoolers, or young readers exploring scripture for the first time.
September 18, 2024
Really good. Maybe for age 11 and up? Great imaginative storytelling. I was happy that no Biblical details were changed. But a lot of details were omitted (especially to sanitize the story for children, e.g. no mention of David’s other wives besides Michal, nor any mention of of his children, perhaps to keep him seeming young for an audience of young readers) and some additions were not great (invention of a miracle; mention of David hunting unclean animals without so much as a twinge of guilt, so the author must have forgotten those laws…). I would have appreciated more cultural details.
But overall, really good! I will probably buy it for my kids. Yet I’m not sure that I’m interested in reading more of her books myself. This book was so good that I really wanted it to be great. It made me hungry to read more biblical fiction for adults—where the problematic parts aren’t swept under the rug but wrestled with!
But overall, really good! I will probably buy it for my kids. Yet I’m not sure that I’m interested in reading more of her books myself. This book was so good that I really wanted it to be great. It made me hungry to read more biblical fiction for adults—where the problematic parts aren’t swept under the rug but wrestled with!
March 2, 2023
Knowing this book was a middle grade read, I wasn't expecting to get so caught up in the story! This book brings the Biblical story of David to life in a new way - and not just the same parts we hear all the time (aka Bathsheba.) I loved following the story of David, Jonathan, and Saul all before David became king. It was honestly insightful and encouraging in my walk with the Lord as well a bit hard to read in points already knowing the Biblical narrative (Saul's downfall & Johnathan's death.) I especially loved the chapter by chapter explanation in the back with Biblical and historical references for the story as well as the included Bible reading plan to point readers back to the word of God! This would be a great read aloud to my preschool/ early elementary kids and I would feel confident giving it to any reader! It was like Francine Rivers without all the romance! (4.5 stars)
June 23, 2024
This book is so well done. At 261 pages, it's a for your older kids, & yet the author kept this complicated heroes story G-rated. No mention is made of multiple wives, or calling a dead prophet back from the grave.
The story begins with Saul being crowned king and ends with David established as king over both kingdoms & dreaming of building a temple for God.
There is an epilogue of people talking about Jesus, from the line of David.
There is also an extensive section where the author discusses truth from fiction & gives reasoning behind her choices. She really did an excellent job of telling the story. She captures David's humility & love for God. Those are qualities to encourage in our kids, so I highly recommend this book.
The story begins with Saul being crowned king and ends with David established as king over both kingdoms & dreaming of building a temple for God.
There is an epilogue of people talking about Jesus, from the line of David.
There is also an extensive section where the author discusses truth from fiction & gives reasoning behind her choices. She really did an excellent job of telling the story. She captures David's humility & love for God. Those are qualities to encourage in our kids, so I highly recommend this book.
October 20, 2025
This is a fine retelling of the rise of kings in Israel. It’s suitable for the young audience for which it was written, with the possible exception of some bloody violence, which is admittedly unavoidable in a story that includes the slaughter of Philistines.
I have two reasons for being generally unexcited by this book: 1) historical fictions tend to conflate fiction with history. There is really no way around this flaw. 2) obvious theological themes from the Bible are omitted or glossed over in this retelling, possibly causing the audience to falsely feel like they’ve learned everything God intends to teach and miss the major points that are clearly present in the Bible.
I have two reasons for being generally unexcited by this book: 1) historical fictions tend to conflate fiction with history. There is really no way around this flaw. 2) obvious theological themes from the Bible are omitted or glossed over in this retelling, possibly causing the audience to falsely feel like they’ve learned everything God intends to teach and miss the major points that are clearly present in the Bible.
July 28, 2024
Obviously creative liberties were taken but my kids and I listened to the audiobook of this together and my son loved it. He would ask if we could listen to it every time we got in the car. I loved he was getting filled with Bible stories and I have to admit, I found myself laughing, crying, and grinning over the story as well. I think it was really well done and a great idea to get kids interested in the Bible.
March 8, 2023
A very creative retelling of Saul and Jonathan and David. I often felt like I was right there, watching them prepare to fight or being humbled by Gods words through the prophets. Every now and then, the text sounded too modern and clunky, but for the readers in this age group, I’m sure it won’t phase them! A beautiful story that ended just as it should…giving glory to the King.
May 18, 2025
This sweeping, decades-spanning epic highlights David’s early life and provides a nuanced study of the failures, triumphs, and humanity of two often-overlooked biblical characters—Saul and Jonathan. It is a beautifully made resource that accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do: to inspire a hunger for more of God’s Word.
August 4, 2023
Read this out loud to my kids during our family devotional time. We had recently read 1 Samuel together, and we started reading psalms along with this. It was a great retelling of the Biblical story that held their attention (for the most part)
January 3, 2024
While this book didn't go into too much extra depth about the events of the Biblical narrative, it was still interesting and an enjoyable read. The author did a good job of fleshing out and depicting the Biblical characters.
July 4, 2024
This book would interest readers in 2nd grade to probably 6th grade. The author did a really good job retelling the conflict of David and Saul while keeping it age appropriate. I look forward to reading it with my son eventually.
November 5, 2025
I read this aloud with my son who enjoyed it. He asked to read it constantly. I knocked a couple of stars because it was too graphic for his age but I should have done more research myself prior to reading.
April 23, 2023
3.5* I would give this to the kids to read but not own it. I did appreciate the section at the end where she discusses some of the omissions or additions she made.
July 6, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ the boys and I loved this book. We’d like to read more Bible stories brought to fictional life by Katy Morgan!
November 24, 2023
A retelling of two people who became rulers of Israel. Though it is for young adults, it is well-told giving the audience an in depth look of well-known Bible heroes.
January 1, 2024
Such a good retelling and great conversation starter with kids! We read aloud and both girls were really into it
March 20, 2024
Loved this book. David is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. Would def recommend to younger readers for an easy read with quicker pacing. ❤️
September 18, 2024
This was a fantastic retelling of Saul and David and it brought great perspectives from other characters.
May 17, 2025
My kids enjoyed this retelling of the stories of David...I was hoping for it to be a bit more than it was, but it wasn't bad. The author also ties it all back to the sources in Scripture.
July 9, 2025
My young sons loved it. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews