By Kelly Bridgewater
Survival. A Hebrew girl first
tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians
ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd
perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending
with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a
septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her
days in Babylon without fear--until the night Daniel is escorted to
Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian
Army invades, and Bellili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of
the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who
prays to Yahweh alone?
Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign
hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed
into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire
and lions.
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| From Amazon |
My Thoughts:
Filled with Biblical fantasy and historical reverence, Mesu
Andrews composed a story explaining what life might have been for Daniel and
Abigail as they lived in captivity in Babylon. The book of Daniel has always
been a favorite of mine right up there next to Revelation and Philippians, so
when I heard about the story Of Fire andLions, I was curious to read the story. The research is deep and
wonderfully done. I can't imagine the time and effort it takes to write a
Biblical fiction story based on something from the Bible. The plot does capture
my attention and makes me proud to be called a Christian. I find so many
parallels with the crazy world today that it scares me. There are instances
this novel made me want to pull out my Bible and read some more, which I'm sure
Andrews would be excited to hear. Overall, Of
Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews is a fascinating, deeply researched glance
into the world of Daniel and his wife, Abigail, as people. Yes, most students
of the Bible are familiar with Daniel and his story, but this was an
interesting twist on his life. Andrews brought these characters to life. Fans
of Connilynn Cossette and Tessa Afshar should pick up this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews from Waterbrook-Multnomah
Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
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| From Amazon |
About the Author:
Mesu grew up with a variegated Christian heritage. With
grandparents from the Pilgrim Holiness, Nazarene, and Wesleyan Churches, her
dad was a Quaker and mom charismatic. As you might imagine, God was a central
figure in most family discussions, but theology was a battlefield and Scripture
the weapon. As a rebellious teenager, Mesu rejected God and His Word, but
discovered Jesus as a life-transforming Savior through the changed life of an
old friend.
The desire for God's Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available--children's Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God's Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.
Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu's love for God's Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)--the story of Job and the women who loved him--won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love's Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon's Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.
The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses' life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends.
Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days. (Taken from Amazon.)
The desire for God's Word exploded with her new commitment, but devotional time was scarce due to the demands of a young wife and mother. So Mesu scoured the only two theology books available--children's Bible stories and her Bible. The stories she read to her daughters at night pointed her to the Bible passages she studied all day. She became an avid student of God's Word, searching historical and cultural settings as well as ancient texts and original languages.
Mesu and her husband Roy have raised those two daughters and now enjoy a tribe of grandkids, who get to hear those same Bible stories. Mesu's love for God's Word has never waned. She now writes biblical novels, rich with spiritual insight learned through fascinating discoveries in deep historical research.
Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell)--the story of Job and the women who loved him--won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year in the Debut Author Category. Her subsequent novels have released with high praise, shedding light on some of the shadowy women of Scripture. Love's Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) tells the story of the beloved shepherdess in King Solomon's Song of Solomon. Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013) tells the story of Hosea and Gomer and is the final stand-alone novel in the Treasures of His Love Series. Her fourth novel, In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) tells the fascinating story of Queen Athaliah and the courageous Princess Jehosheba.
The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015-16) included The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam and spanned Moses' life from birth to the Exodus. Her 2017 release, Isaiah's Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah), explores the life and ministry of the prophet Isaiah and the tumultuous days of Judah under the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah but focuses on the woman Hephzibah--a fascinating character in Jewish legends.
Mesu writes in their log cabin tucked away in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Her best friend is an American Staffordshire Terrier named Zeke, who keeps her company on long writing days. Zeke also enjoys watching movies, long walks in the woods, and sitting by the fireplace on rainy days. (Taken from Amazon.)
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