pilateschick's review against another edition

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5.0

WOW! What an amazing story told by an excellent writer. The 500 pages flew by. I like how the narrater's voice can change from one paragraph to the next. I especially love the character Hadassah. I want to be like her.


As far as moral content, be warned that there is detailed, gory violence. There're also a lot of immoral issues such as harlotry, adultry, homosexualitiy etc.. Rivers handles the corruption of Rome tactfully, not going into descriptive depth it any scene. It's just enough to show what the struggling characters need to overcome to find true joy and peace.

mco123's review against another edition

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5.0

One of my favorites of all time!

zinokato's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

alexandraknaub's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

emmahdonnelly's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

melibooks's review against another edition

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dark inspiring tense medium-paced

4.25

loki728's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

makenarivers19's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The first 2 books in this series have really changed my outlook on what it means to live for Christ. I am super inspired and hope I can start to change my perspective and be more like Hadassah. 

emilytlittle's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

abbymac99's review against another edition

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5.0

I need a long time to recover from this one. I’m struggling to even write a review.

Francine girl - I don’t know how you do it. Historical fiction and Christian fiction truly in a league of your own.

Set in Rome years after Jesus’ resurrection, following a wealthy Roman family, a gladiator, and a slave who’s lives intersect and intertwine. A slow build and unfolding and a long book but a shocking and heart wrenching and devastating story and worth seeing through to the end.

A reminder of our sinful broken world, and the grip it holds on humanity. Hard to miss not a few similarities to what our world still looks like today. But the hope of the Gospel persists and pushes against the darkness!