Book review of Egypt's Sister by Angela Hunt

 

 Book review of Egypt's Sister by Angela Hunt. 

 

From goodreads.com:

 

Egypt's Sister (The Silent Years #1)

 

by Angela Elwell Hunt (Goodreads Author)

 

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 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.

 

Paperback, 379 pages

Published July 4th 2017 by Bethany House

ISBN

0764219324 (ISBN13: 9780764219320)

Series

The Silent Years #1

 

From the back of the book:

 

Raised together in the Alexandrian palace, Chava, the Hebrew daughter of the royal tutor, and Urbi, an Egyptian princess, become as close as sisters- and rivals with their dreams of greatness. When Urbi unexpectedly ascends the throne as Queen Cleopatra, Chava believes their bond is strong enough to survive, But absolute power has a way of changing everything.

The ultimate betrayal rips Chava from everything she's ever known and sends her to the lowest rung of Roman society where she must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life, if she hopes to rise again.

 

Leona's Review:

 

This book will take the reader into the historical time of Queen Cleopatra, the Romans and Egypt. 

This is the first book I have read by Angela Hunt and was very impressed. The book is in the first person spoken by Chava.

 

The book begins with a close friendship of Chava and Urbi, the future Queen Cleopatra. Their bond is so close that Urbi cuts the palm of Chava and herself and says "Forever friends" and also says "you are blood of my blood, and heart of my heart" which is repeated by Chava.

 

Chava has been told by HaShem, God, she will be with the queen when she is happiest and at the end.

The friendship does not last after Chava angers the queen and she and her father are put into prison. They are separated and Chava is sold as a slave.

 

Chava begins a new life as a slave and the reader follows her and how she matures. Chava says at one point in her life "Now, older and wiser, I understood how life could change in a moment."

 

This book is full of historical names and places even though it is historical fiction. It is one of the few I have read that has written of the twins and other son Cleopatra had besides Caesarion.

 

The reader will find some historical names that include Cleopatra, Antony, Caesar, Achillas, King Auletes, Octavian, Octavia and Herod.

 

Historical places such as Egypt, Alexandria, the Library of Alexandria, Cyprus, Rome and Africa. I wish there had been a map of the areas. I know most readers are familiar but in historical books like this one, I personally like a map.

 

Languages Chava spoke are Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin and Greek.

 

Some portions describe the harsh lives of slaves but the author does not dwell on it. No bad language.

 

There are discussions at the end of the story. One question is " How much did you know about Cleopatra before reading this story? Did anything surprise you?"

 

I received a complimentary copy of Egypt's Sister by Angela Hunt from the author and Bethany House Publishers. The opinions are my own.

 

Egypt's Sister will get a 5 star rating from me and I look forward to the future books of the series.

 

Angela Hunt may be found at angelahuntbooks.com

 

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Roman Mask by Thomas M. D. Brooke

   

 

Review of Roman Mask by Thomas M. D. Brooke
 

From goodreads.com:

It is Rome AD 9 and Augustus Caesar rules Imperial Rome at the height of its power, as the Roman Empire stretches across the known world. Cassius, son of one of her most powerful families, is the personification of Rome's imperial strength: wealthy, popular, a war hero with a decorated military career - none of Rome's fashionable parties are complete without him - except, he hides a secret. After his nerve is broken in Germany, the thought of genuine armed combat is enough to send him into a cold sweat of fear and shame. But this doesn't dissuade him from living off a false reputation so he can continue a life of casual affairs, wine, and parties, as he is seduced by the many vices of Rome. However his scandalous life is soon upset by a summons from the Emperor's wife. It ends his happy decadent life and returns him to Germany to assist the Roman legions in their greatest ever trial, and the events that will resound down in history, in the dark forests of the Teutoburg.

Leona's Review:

A book about Cassius Aprilis, a son of a wealthy and powerful family. He is considered a war hero with a military career but he holds a secret that bothers him. His life has been one of leisure but it changes when he is summoned by Livia, wife of Princeps Augustus to go back to Germany to assist the Roman legions.

I found this book somewhat slow at the beginning but stayed with it.  A lot of Latin words, names of the characters, battle names and names of places. As a reader, I found myself taking notes and searched for more information.

Roman Mask begins in Rome AD 9 and Augustus Caesar is the emperor at this time. The author also had historical names such as Julius Arminius, Someone who was a German Prince who lived in Rome and was a friend of Cassius, Angrivaril tribesmen who were Germanic of the early Roman Empire, Quintus Varus who was the governor of the new Roman province of Germany and the Teutoburg Forest which was the place of the battle.

There is a historical note at the end of the book. There is a map in the front of the book which is always helpful. I do wish there had been a list of characters in the book.

Thomas M. D. Brooke may be reached at www.thomasmdbrooke.com. There is an interview with him about the book, Roman Mask for one.


For those interested in Roman history or historical places, this is a good read. I won a copy of Roman Mask by Thomas M. D. Brooke from goodreads. The opinions are my own.

I give this book a 5 star rating because of the research and I learned some historical facts.

I also found some good information on  www.historyworld.net:

A Voice in the Wind

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

A historical novel set after the the death of Jesus Christ and most of the book is based in Rome. A graphic book with the details of the Gladiators, brutal treatments of the Christian people and also of the Jewish. Rome is the ruler at this time period. The reader is taken into the lives of the people.

An interesting book to read. The research of the time period is very complete. Some historical characters but most are fictional. The details of the Christians, the Romans, the Coliseum, people, dress, food and even the cemeteries are good. For one that has studied Roman history and knows a lot of the customs, it helps the reader.

Hadassah, the main character, is a Jewish slave that has become a Christian. She is the slave of Julia, sister of Marcus who falls in love with Hadassah. The parents of Marcus and Julia is Phoebe and Decimus Valerian. She is very devout to God. Sometimes, I think I wished she could bend a little. A faithful slave and such an understanding of people.

This is the first book of the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers. Francine Rivers is a New York Times Best Seller Author.

I would not recommend this book for younger readers, I suggest at least High School. Good for a Christian book club. There is a discussion Guide on page 521. There is a color Roman Empire Map- C. 117 AD. The book is 524 pages including the guide.

Contents:

Forward by Mark D. Taylor ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgements xiii

Part l: Jerusalem page 1

Part ll: Germania page 23

Part lll: Rome page 41

Part lV: Ephesus page 349

Francine Rivers has dedicated this book to her mother, Frieda King.

I look forward to reading the other two books of this series, Echo in the Darkness and As Sure of the Dawn

I give A Voice in the Wind a 5 star.

The author may be reached at www.francinerivers.com

I wish to thank Tyndale Publishers and Francine Rivers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Leona Olson

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Cleopatra's Daughter

This was a good historical fiction book that starts with the deaths of Marc Antony and Cleopatra on August 12,30 BC.

The three children of Cleopatra, Kleopatra, and Marc Antony are taken to Rome after the death of their parents. Cleopatra's Daughter is Kleopatra Serene and Serene is the narrator of the book. Her twin brother is Alexander Helios and the youngest of the children is Ptolemy. Serena and Alexander are ten years old and Ptolemy is six years old. They are taken to Rome and paraded before the Romans wearing golden chains. The children go to live with the sister of Octavian, Octavia, who was the former wife of Marc Antony.

I do want to give more details because I did not know that Cleopatra and Marc Antony had children even though I have read a lot about history and watch the archaeology programs. (Learn something new every day). The details in the book are close to history, even though this is fiction and the author has taken some liberties in her writings.

This is my first read by Michelle Moran and I am really impressed in her knowledge and research. She has many tidbits that bring the reader into the era. I was a volunteer at a Pompeii exhibit and I appreciated the descriptions of the people, clothing and living areas as they were so simlar.

Maps are in the beginning of the book and always an added bonus for me as a reader. There is List of Characters and a Timeline front of the book and a Glossary, Afterword, Historical Notes and Acknowledgements in the back.

I give this a five star. It is certainly a re-read for me because of so much history.

I am now reading Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran.

You can find her on www.michellemoran.com

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com