The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (#02 in Daughters Of The Promised Land Series)

I found this book very catchy and it was hard to put it down when the words kept sucking me in. The story was soo clear and interesting at the start that I almost felt like I was Deborah and I was judging all the people of Israel under a palm tree, or smashing a stone to break an idol and getting lost in the woods like Tayla, or fighting in battle like Barak. I would suggest this book for people who love the story of Deborah

This novel is exactly what Biblical fiction should be - or any kind of historical fiction for that matter: History brought to life on the page; names given flesh, muscle, bones, and a beating heart; and a story that is completely authentic to its setting. I really cannot recommend this novel highly enough, especially for lovers of Biblical fiction. It is emotionally and historically rich, and hooked me from the first page right up until the last. Deborah is portrayed as having a strong personality, and yet the author never colours her with modern egalitarian notions. Deborah embraces her role as a wife and mother, even struggles against her disappointment at her husband's eternal amiability and willingness to compromise for her sake, and her growth in these roles form as much a part of the story as her roles as a judge and prophetess. Barak and Jael (Heber's wife) are also very well drawn characters, as is the fictional character, Talya. I actually paused in my reading at one point to go back and read the two chapters from Judges because I was sure there must have been details there that I had forgotten about. There were not. I sincerely admire the thought and study that must have gone into not only conceiving such a realistic picture of these characters from the scant details available to us, but then also portraying them to the reader so convincingly.