Given the response to my last post, I think we can all agree I was the last person to know the Christian fiction genre existed.� The other three books I read (and loved) in February was the Mark of the Lion series, also by Francine Rivers. And, since almost every person who commented or emailed me after Friday’s post recommended the series, a post on the books would be a bit like preaching to the choir, wouldn’t you agree?
Well, for those of you who have been living under the rock next door to mine, I’ll give you a brief synopsis of the series everyone else (but you and I) read and loved.�
Mark of the Lion is a historical fiction series set in the Roman Empire, roughly 79 AD, during and after the fall of Jerusalem.� Hadassah, a young Christian, and her family are trapped within the crumbling walls of Jerusalem as Titus and the legionnaires gain control and ultimately annihilate the city.� She is sold into slavery.� Books 1 and 2 of the series (A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness) center around the relationships Hadassah forms with her owners, the Valerian family, and how she clings to her faith (albeit secretly) while immersed in the decadence of ancient Rome.
There are many reasons I loved the first two books in the series (more on the third book in a bit).
The characters are unforgettable.� I was especially drawn to Hadassah, who berated herself for her weak faith and ultimately became Christ-like in her purity and obedience.� The character is, simply, kind.� I can’t think of another way to better describe my attraction to her, except to say that she is everything I am not but wish I was.� I am bossy and opinionated and impatient and judgmental and skeptical and selfish and arrogant and faithless beyond measure.� I found in Hadassah a character I could emulate.
Rarely do I allow myself to become so engrossed in a character that I forget I am reading a work of fiction (I’m far too adept at controlling my emotions like a dial on a radio) but to this day I will think back on scenes from the book and pull from it lessons on how I can improve in my role as a wife/mother/daughter/sister/friend.
Like on Easter, when I watched the girl in the turquoise tank top with the GINORMOUS breasts walking up the church steps.� She had to hitch her pants around her slim hips, which made her RIDONKULOUS breasts jut forward even more.� Melons.� They were just melons and in between internal eye rolls and less than charitable thoughts I was trying to decide whether or not she paid for those behemoths when she turned to me and said, “You have the most beautiful boys.”
So of course I felt like a steaming piece of turd in a field of daisies.� I swear the first thing I thought (after the guilt and mortification wore off) was, Well, I’ll bet Hadassah never walked up CHURCH STEPS on her way to EASTER MASS and took the time to think ill thoughts of a woman with insanely huge breasts.
Of course, there was no plastic surgery in AD 79 so you never know.� Maybe would have at least done a double take.
See what I mean?
I’m a work in progress.
Back to the issue at hand.
The use of Ancient Rome as an allegory for today’s societal dysfunction was obvious, but still thought provoking. In fact, I’m pretty sure the only things that separate the 21st century from the violence and hedonism of Ancient Rome is a plate of hummingbird tongues and an iPad.
The most important relationship in this novel is the one between Hadassah and Marcus Valerian, the son of her owner.� The story of Marcus, who is Rome incarnate, and Hadassah is tragic and heart wrenching.� Book 1 concludes how I expected (somewhat) but book 2 evolved in a way I did not anticipate.� I was expecting a pat “romance novel” approach and was pleased, in retrospect, to see things take a different turn.� This isn’t to say I wasn’t gnashing my teeth and reading at the speed of light to see how things ended, of course.
On to book 3, As Sure as the Dawn.� The third book in the series wraps up a dangling plot line surrounding a secondary character from the first book.� I liked it; it was good.� Really!� This book just has a completely different tone, and the difference can be jarring if you are reading them all furiously over a long weekend.� (Hypothetically.)
The first two books were filled to overflowing with drama, intensity, history, and a thought provoking commentary on society as a whole. � The third one…not as much.� It read more like a romance novel than the first two and some elements to the story were predictable.� Other elements were convenient.� I don’t want to say it’s lighter or frothier than the first two books, but the love story between the main characters, and the story overall, wasn’t as compelling for me.� Put it this way: A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness are tough acts to follow.� If you look at this series as a three course meal, As Sure as the Dawn is rightfully positioned as the third course dessert.
Oh, dear.� I’ve gone off at the mouth again.� I imagine those of you at work have either signed off or will have to read this post over the course of three days worth of coffee breaks.� Oops.
Let’s continue this conversation in the comments section, shall we?
p.s.� For those who asked: right now I am reading A Girl Named Zippy, recommended to me by Jenny.� Next on my list is Love Walked In and Belong to Me, which Meredith recommended.
I’m so glad you posted this. Again my mom gave me the first two books to read and I loved them. I wanted to finish the series but life conveniently got in the way and I forgot to pick up the last book. Fast forward to a few years later. I still think about this unfinished story but had long forgotten the titles of the books so I had no way of finishing, and trust me I am one of those people who would remain uneasy about this for the rest of her life. Then I come here and it’s an answer to my prayer! If you hadn’t given a description of these books I would have not made the connection, but as soon as I saw the name Hadassah it all came back to me. Thank you so much! Now I must run out and get As Sure As the Dawn.
Aha! High praise coming from you, Jacqueline, who prefers her books gritty. :) Of course, these books were pretty gritty in many respects. Wasn’t the Julia storyline heart wrenching?
p.s. I would have absolutely remained uneasy about an unfinished series as well. I say that Meredith recommended to me both of the above de los Santos books, but she really only recommended Belong to Me. When I saw it was a sequel, I knew I couldn’t read it without first reading part one.
Thanks for the other 3 recommendations. Will try to get to the library today. Like I said before, I seriously need to read a book…quite embarrassed to admit it’s been about 6 months since I read a novel. Over the weekend I was in Borders and saw the memoir This Is Not the Story You Think It Is and was sort of intrigued. Great topic, about a man who is going through a midlife crisis and debates leaving his loving family. Ah, the perfect book a wife with a husband approaching 40 should be reading don’t you think?
Oh, definitely. That should really help you sleep at night.
So, I loved Redeeming Love, but (gasp) I had a hard time getting into the Mark of the Lion series. I’m a big reader of all types of books, but I just haven’t been able to sit down and tackle a Voice in the Wind. It’s been a few weeks… should I try again? And, more importantly, is this normal? Because Mark of the Lion comes highly recommended by many. What’s my problem??
Have you gone past the first 40 pages? It picks up after that, and a lot of the reviews say as much on Amazon. It’s not a beach read so I guess that might be the problem if you compare it to Redeeming Love, which is a much lighter read overall. I read the reviews on Amazon first so I knew to expect a much darker book. The ending of Voice in the Wind is gripping and much of An Echo in the Darkness is sad.
I would try again, this time knowing it won’t have the ooey-gooey fun of a Lifetime Channel movie. I felt the same way about book 2 in the Outlander series, and in the end I was glad to have plowed through it.
From one rock to another … thank you. I’ve been searching for some new material and I think I’ve found it.
I’ve NEVER read any Christian fiction, but your synopsis has me intrigued. I’ll be sure to check it out. You know me, I love a good series!
PS- How dare you start this on a Friday and not finish it until the following Monday. I could have choked on a jelly bean and never got to read part 2.
I LOVE that you’ve been posting book reviews. I’m a new(er) reader of your blog, but added it to my Reader after reading just one post. And I’m glad I did.
I’m always looking for new books to read, but had never heard of BookSwim until I read your post last week (My house is the rock two down from yours, I believe). I signed up immediately.
My Fiance and I have agreed that this coming summer we will need to spend many a weekend at the beach, and some new reading material is just what I need! Thanks so much for sharing.
Touch� ;) I might have to rephrase grittier to “more realistic” although that’s not exactly what I mean. My sister, who starts law school in Sept., is currently living in Nepal working with anti-trafficking organizations to help stop the sale of women and children for sexual exploitation so I have seen and read things that make me cringe/sick/cry for the state of humanity and sometimes it’s too much to read. I guess I’m just drawn to stories that deal with the state of man’s struggle with life and himself. Yet, the exact opposite appeals to me as well and I have read many pieces of fluff and have loved them. It’s just hard to be into these stories and then at the end become disconnected because of the perfectness that becomes the characters’ lives as they travel off into the sunset.
(My house is the rock two down from yours, I believe) HILARIOUS.
@ Jacqueline–I completely understand. I’m just teasing you. :) I’m the same way–sometimes I like fluff, other times I want to read something more realistic. It’s one of the reasons I never do book reviews or tell people what I am reading. I’m so all over the place that I don’t have a particular style or genre that I stick with. I decided to step out on a limb since so many people were asking me.
I LOVED ” A Girl Named Zippy”! I read it quite a few years ago. I read it outside while my children played around me. I just could not put it down. I remember laughing out loud and then having to read that passage to my daughter (she was probably 14 or 15 at the time). And I remember having a lot of “that is so true” or “she said that perfectly” moments as well.
A Girl Named Zippy is my kind of writing. She conveys a lot of emotion, but humorously. She’s a great writer.
I just looked up A Girl Named Zippy … this is one of those fabulous books I can buy for my mum (she prefers memoirs don’t-ya-know) and then read it before I hand it off. Oooh! Did I say that out loud?
The tank top story slayed me. Hilarious. Just when I’ve whittled somebody down to size in my head, they go and say something perfectly lovely to me and I feel like a steaming pile of dog crap.
I’ll have to check out A Girl Named Zippy. I love anything hilarious and descriptive (hence why I check your blog constantly) and I’d highly recommend anything Eudora Welty or Bailey White. And T.R. Pearson. And Ferrol Sams.
Aw, thanks for the shout out. I think Melissa de los Santos has the most beautiful covers. Please do report how you liked Zippy!