Land of Silence

This tale is incredibly raw and, in the first half, difficult to get through but I encourage you to persist.

Tessa Afshar weaves many plot lines together with complexity and colour, you can almost feel the texture of the fabric and see the dust on the streets of Jerusalem and Tiberius.

This book was my introduction to the novels of Tessa Afshar. From the very first page, I was drawn into the story and couldn't put the book down. This is Tessa's interpretation of the story of the woman with the issue of blood. It was a very creative, imaginative and entertaining book that was also full of Jewish history and customs that helped me to better understand other events in the Bible as well as this one. I highly recommend this book and it would be suitable for teens as well as adults.

A wonderful story that spoke so much. Pain, love, guilt, self condemnation, family and forgiveness. It was beautiful, unfolding with so many layers. I must say at times Elianna did frustrate me, she could come off a little bratty and selfish in regards to her relationship with Ethan, in the beginning at least. Afshar's storytelling is first class and really transported me to another time and place.

This was the first Tessa Afshar book that I had read and it is excellently written. Since then I have read almost all her books. Tessa has an exceptional art to bring to life a story that is only mentioned in a few lines in the Bible and does it in such a flawless way bringing such beauty and deep meaning of the story. I could not put it down. It left me captivated, moved and also empowered my faith. Definitely one of my favourite books

The story of the woman in Matthew 9:20-22 is very brief and is told in the middle of another scenario of healing in the Bible. In Tessa Afshar's """"Land of Silence"""", the author has done a wonderful job in giving a fictional insight into who this woman could have been in her day and what her condition could have meant to her. The story and struggles of the woman needing healing are told pleasantly. I love the part where Tessa starts to describe the woman's interaction and encounter with Jesus. Tessa has indeed made this a story of hope. This is a great book to read, for those studying Biblical studies, as Tessa's approach is creative story-telling.