Book Description
Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria’s royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what–but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery.
Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor. Between her own desires and God’s will for her life.
My Review
– 4 Smiles
Angela Hunt’s biblical fiction has captured me since I read her Legacies of the Ancient River series back in 2001 (three books on Joseph’s story). She’s an amazing author, and I try to read at least one book from every series she writes. Her research is amazing. Her facts are spot on. And she teaches writing craft to advanced writers all over the world. So you can be assured when picking up one of her books, you’ll get a well-written novel.
I was immediately invested in Chava. She is a Jewish girl whose friendship with the Egyptian princess (who we later know as Cleopatra) goes terribly wrong. As with all Angie’s books, I love the history and fabulous details. This one, however, felt a little too detailed at times, getting a bit bogged down in a few conversations that felt more like teaching than natural interchanges.
The story itself has a powerful resolution and a golden thread of faith throughout. The struggle of Jewish life in Egypt, the Roman occupation and domination, and moving some of those ancient struggles into contemporary concepts was well fleshed out. I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves history.
