I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Bloggers and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Series: The Silent Years #2
Published by Baker Books on January 2nd, 2018
Source: Bethany House Bloggers
Genres: Christian, Fiction, General, Historical, Romance
Pages: 384
Seeking peace and safety after a hard childhood, Leah marries Judah, a strong and gentle man, and for the first time in her life Leah believes she can rest easily. But the land is ruled by Antiochus IV, descended from one of Alexander the Great's generals, and when he issues a decree that all Jews are to conform to Syrian laws upon pain of death, devout Jews risk everything to follow the law of Moses.
Judah's father resists the decree, igniting a war that will cost him his life. But before dying, he commands his son to pick up his sword and continue the fight--or bear responsibility for the obliteration of the land of Judah. Leah, who wants nothing but peace, struggles with her husband's decision--what kind of God would destroy the peace she has sought for so long?
The miraculous story of the courageous Maccabees is told through the eyes of Judah's wife, who learns that love requires courage . . . and sacrifice.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Rating: Mild. Semi-detailed violence that may be upsetting to some readers
[expand title=”Full Content Review”]
Profanity: None
Sex & Violence: Non-descriptive sexual encounters. Semi-detailed domestic violence.
Trigger Warning: Some people may be triggered by instances of domestic violence as well as miscarriage.[/expand]
Judah’s Wife is book #2 in The Silent Years series by Angela Hunt. Other books in the series include Egypt’s Sister (#1) and Jerusalem’s Queen (#3) which is expected to release on November 6th, 2018.
If you read my review of Egypt’s Sister, you’d see that I didn’t care too much for that book. I was unsure if I would read Judah’s daughter but ultimately decided that I have loved other books by this author and that I would give this book a shot. I am so glad that I did!
I have read twenty-five books as of 2/16/18 and Judah’s Wife is one of the most moving and compelling books that I have read out of those.
I want to talk about the 4-star rating right fast (which is actually closer to 4.5 but Goodreads doesn’t allow half-stars).
When it comes to plot and characters, this book is 100% a five-star book. I was emotionally engaged with the story and there is a certain scene in Judah’s Daughter that is perhaps one of the most gripping scenes I’ve ever read in this genre. Without giving too much away; Leah is completely broken and begs Judah to do to her what she expects that he eventually will. Judah places his life in her hands and proves to her that he will not harm her—not matter what she chooses to do to him. My heart dropped at her response. I was shocked, sad and completely overwhelmed. Judah’s response won my respect and a piece of my heart.
So, as I was saying about this 4-star rating. It has absolutely nothing to do with the characters or the story. Although, the ending did leave me so melancholy that I wanted to cry out of frustration. In fact, I did. More on that in a bit…
I had only two issues with this book and they’re fairly minor.
- In a particular battle scene in this book, Judah and his brothers encounter men on elephants. Judah’s brother dives under the legs of the armored elephants and slashes at them. This felt too much like a particular battle scene in Lord of the Rings. It detracted from the story to me in a small way as that is all I could picture. This will not be an issue for readers who have not read the books or watched Lord of the Rings.
- Two characters deaths were mentioned in passing. After having been an integral part of the story for me; I wanted to know how they died. I needed closure for their deaths.
This book comes to a melancholy end. If you’re looking for a book that has a happy ending then this book is not the one for you. However, if you’re looking for a book that features a broken woman who learns to put her trust in God then I would definitely suggest this book. Leah’s life is one that many women live. She experiences abuse, love, and loss; realizing that God never promised that life would be easy. But that He would be there for her through all of life’s trials.
About Angela Hunt
Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly five million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her youth-pastor husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards–one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City. Afterward, the dog gave out paw-tographs at the airport.
When she’s not home writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.
We love hearing from you! Share your comments below