by Angela Hunt
Publisher: Bethany House
Series: Jerusalem Road
ISBN: 9780764233876
Always a fan of this author's Biblical fiction, when I saw it come up for review, I requested it right away! The publisher sent me the book for review.
Summary:
She's always longed for more, but what if the path she's chosen requires more than she's willing to give?
Aya, daughter of Zebulun of Tarsus, does not want a traditional life. After years of being overshadowed by her brilliant brother Sha'ul, she wants a chance to use her own gifts beyond being a wife and mother. When her father insists that she marry a Torah student, she reluctantly agrees.
A dedicated scholar, Sha'ul, or Paul, returns to Tarsus to follow the instructions of the Law and wed the woman his father has chosen to raise his profile and help him earn a seat on the Great Sanhedrin--the highest religious court in the land. But when the Nazarene, Yeshua, and his followers bring trouble to the Holy City, Sha'ul will stop at nothing to silence them.
After moving to Jerusalem with her husband, Aya expects to be bored in her role as wife to a Torah student. Instead, she finds herself fascinated by his studies. Then her brother makes a life-altering decision, and she must face a troubling question: Can she remain true to her beliefs and still love her blasphemous brother?
My Review:
I'm always ready for a good Biblical fiction story by this author! I think my rating is more of a 3.5 stars, but leaned more towards 4 than a full 3 which is why I'm giving it the 4 stars.
When we first meet Aya in
The Apostle's Sister, I really liked her. She was young and had a gift for singing. It was easy to see that the home she grew up in leant to her being given privileges most girls could only dream about. So, I think that was part of her angst in doing her parents will in marrying at 16. We have to keep in mind the time period and that women did the will of men, especially their parents. This story really covers almost her entire lifespan. What we see is her journey HaShem. There was a point in this story that was incredibly powerful and I really loved "seeing" it through Aya's eyes and mind.
As for Sha'ul it was an interesting, fictional insight into who he might've been as a Pharisee. He lived and died by the law. I could easily imagine his arrogance at being so well versed in the Torah and oral laws. There was a LOT to absorb through his storyline as well as Aya's husband. It is clear that the author really did a lot of research, but also relied on the Spirit to guide her in bringing Aya & Sha'ul's story to life.
Sometimes it was overwhelming trying to understand the laws, what they were celebrating and why, and a few other pieces. While this is a fictional piece of work, what the author shared in the story is all Biblical. I honestly can't even imagine having to learn all of the laws and to live by them to the T at every given moment of my life. You see that with these characters!
The ending for me was a bit abrupt. I turned the page and it was done. It took me a moment to realize that was the end. Do I wish there would've been a tidier ending, but the reality was, Aya's life never seemed to have that luxury.
Now, I'll have to go back and read the first three books in this series. I'm forever reading out of order, but thankfully they're standalone!
About the Author:
The author of more than 100 published books and with nearly 5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Note, The Nativity Story, and Esther: Royal Beauty. Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, Angela completed her PhD in biblical studies in theology. She and her husband live in Florida with their mastiffs. She can be found online at www.angelahuntbooks.com.
