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An attempt to use pseudo-history of Christ's final weeks as an persuader. No idea how this might work with the unsure or unconverted but I'd think not. Quite readable but plot extremely unlikely! ( )

I kept hearing about the A.D. Chronicles from several different people in different circles I was in. It seemed like lots of people were raving about them, so I thought I’d give the first book a shot.

Honestly, it took a little while for me to get into this one. I would read a chapter and put the book down (not a usual occurrence for me). This went on for about a week or so before I finally got into the book enough to read larger chunks at once. Once I did, I enjoyed it, it was just a little confusing for me at the beginning switching between characters/stories and keeping up with who was whom. I did enjoy the first century setting and having the book relate to Bible stories I am familiar with. It’s interesting to see an author’s fictitious take on characters who were mentioned in the Bible and were around during the time of Jesus.

Would I recommend this to my BFF? Yes.
Would I recommend this to my teen daughter? Yes.

I did enjoy the book, once I finally got into it, but it is not one that made me feel I must immediately rush out and read the next one. So, a solid 4 of 5 stars. ( )

NO OF PAGES: 395 SUB CAT I: Historic Fiction SUB CAT II: SUB CAT III: DESCRIPTION: Although Jerusalem's Hope, book six in the Zion Legacy series with Viking, was supposedly the conclusion, this new offering from Tyndale picks up the same basic story line and many familiar characters. It's now 2002, and Moshe Sachar takes his youngest son, Shimon, through a secret passage to an underground library chamber. There, Shimon is shown a cache of 70 scrolls and told to begin studying the fourth (other scrolls were the premise of earlier books in the series). The words of the document begin, "Those who lived in darkness have seen a great light..." Several pages later, the novel's time period changes to that of the document-New Testament times-where the story revolves around a young blind beggar named Peniel. Other familiar characters from the earlier series, including Zadok, Miryam, Nakdimon and Marcus Longinus, make appearances throughout. The text, which is a retelling of New Testament events and history at the time of Christ, is heavily padded (Peniel is repeatedly visited by Old Testament characters, and their stories retold), and the pacing drags. Although the Thoenes are veterans of historical fiction, this plot sags under the weight of choppy dialogue and one-dimensional characters. CBA readers may recoil at some fairly gruesome incidents, as when Susanna bat Maccabee carries what she believes is her lover's heart around with her in a jar, or when another character is viciously blinded with a hot dagger. While hardcore Thoene fans will add this to their collections, many readers' patience will be sorely tested by this too-long rehash of scriptural stories.NOTES: Purchased from the Amazon Marketplace. SUBTITLE: A.D. Chronicles

Once introduced to the main character, Peniel, and given his family background, anyone familiar with the New Testament will know where the story is going. However, the journey the Thoenes craft is engaging and enjoyable. Definitely recommended! ( )