🏛️🕍⛪📜 Daughter of Rome 📜⛪🕍🏛️ (2020) - Book Review

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MY REVIEW

Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (February 2, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1496428714

ISBN-13: 978-1496428714

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“A woman with a devastating secret. A man bent on proving his worth. A chance encounter that catapults them into the heart of history.

When the daughter of a prominent Roman general meets a disinherited Jewish immigrant, neither one can dream of God’s plan to transform them into the most influential couple of the early church. Nor can they anticipate the mountains that will threaten to bury them. Their courtship unwittingly shadowed by murder and betrayal, Priscilla and Aquila slowly work to build a community of believers, while their lives grow increasingly complicated thanks to a shaggy dog, a mysterious runaway, and a ruthless foe desperate for love. But when they’re banished from their home by a capricious emperor, they must join forces with an unusual rabbi named Paul and fight to turn treachery into redemption.”

Thank you in advance to the author, Tessa Afshar, and JustRead Publicity Tours for providing a complimentary advance review copy. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.

As many know I am not a historical fiction reader. I tend more to romance and suspense. For romance – think along the lines of the Love Inspired books from Harlequin or Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove Series.

On the suspense line – the Love Inspired Suspense line, Natalie Walters, Colleen Coble, Kathy Harris, or Lynnette Eason. Those are my type of reads. Occasionally I do tend toward other types. But, Historical Fiction is hit or miss.

“Daughter of Rome” is the FIRST Biblical Fiction novel I’ve EVER read, let alone owned. This is something my mother might be more interested in.

Yet, something in this novel drew me to it.

In World History, I was taught about the Roman Empire with only MINOR details on the Christian and Jewish parts.

[The bible that the book is pictured with was my Easter 1990 gift, and published by Tyndale]

This book highlights the impact the Jewish people felt from a Roman Emperor’s edict, along with the love story of Priscilla and Aquila. In addition, Afshar also depicts the division within the Jewish community – those who believe Yeshua (Jesus) was the promised Messiah, and those who do not. Without stating it directly in the novel, this story hints at the rise of Christianity as it does mention following “the Christ”. 

It is that belief that gets Aquila disowned by his family (even his betrothed) and he ends up in Rome with his uncle. And, it is in Rome where he meets Priscilla; a Gentile; when they are attending synagogue.  

I found it fascinating that it was often considered unclean for Jewish people to eat with Romans. Yet, some Jewish people didn’t mind. As they set aside their differences, they find they are VERY much alike.

This is a BEAUTIFUL love story; and a way for those unfamiliar with history to seek it out and learn from it. Afshar’s writing is beautiful. Publishers Weekly praises the author – “Afshar again shows her amazing talent for packing action and intrigue into the biblical setting for modern readers”.

That isn’t far from the truth, especially for someone like me who has NEVER read a biblical fiction novel. Anyone looking at my Goodreads or Bookbub profiles would know that.

While I got it last month as part of a social media takeover tour, I didn’t have time to read it until I caught up with a few “time-sensitive” obligations. But, I did intend to read it as soon as I possibly could.

While I was deeply interested in the story, I was hesitant at first to read it. After all, the notion of “Biblical Fiction” was, at first, intimidating. I didn’t quite know what to expect.

I was in for a surprise – a very good one. This was definitely a book I didn’t want to put down. Realistically I had to though.

It was intriguing, educational, heart-breaking, beautiful, and captivating. The characters were beautifully and realistically written.

This novel had attempted murder, a murder mystery, a love story, faith, forgiveness, and second chances. Also, redemption was a huge theme in this. All of this worked together so beautifully and believably.

As Debbie Macomber pointed out – “no one brings the Bible to life like Tessa Afshar”. And, this feels very life like with Afshar’s vivid and descriptive writing. I could visualize each scene. This was written as if it were a movie on television.

As it is a “Biblical” story, and “Biblical” fiction – there will be heavy talk of faith, talk about Jesus (Yeshua) and God (Yahweh). For those looking for only a “Roman”/Historical type read without the religion, it might be best to pass this by.  

For those who enjoy the story of the bible, Jesus, God, and history – I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Just a side note: Given the entire Roman Empire/Jewish/Christian dynamic of the time; it is fascinating that the Vatican is in Italy. Also, Christianity emerged in Roman Judea as a Jewish religious sect in the 1st century AD.

RATING:

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Goodreads

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Bookbub

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TESSA AFSHAR is the Christy award-winning author of several works of biblical fiction. She holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She served in ministry for nearly twenty years before becoming a full-time writer and speaker. Visit her online at https://tessaafshar.com/.

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessaAfshar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessaafshar/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tessaafshar