Book Review - Noble: The Story of Maakah

The second book in the King David’s Brides series by Mesu Andrews is Noble: The Story of Maakah. This one focuses on the third wife the Bible lists during his reign in Hebron. The Geshurite princess sent as a treaty bride to David has been trained all her life in the ways of royalty. Her mind is sharp and calculating, always putting the good of the kingdom before herself, relying on the wisdom of her royal parents and the priestesses of her goddess. David ben Jesse, however, is in passionate pursuit of God’s own heart. He already has two wives, one more than he ever intended, and does not plan to take this opinionated heathen princess as his third. But circumstances bring out the protector in David, prompting Ahinoam and Abigail to embrace Maakah and all of them to seek God’s wisdom for her future.

Andrews has an incredible talent for taking the information given to us in the Bible and reputable historical documents, then using fiction as necessary to bring life to characters easily overlooked in the Old Testament writings. With remarkable skill for crafting fully immersive stories so rich that one can easily believe her characters’ thoughts and feelings are her own, she wrestles with some intense topics. In Noble, that means struggling with betrayal, clarifying the difference between royalty and nobility, exploring some of the challenges people would have faced in the process of letting go of their idols and embracing Yahweh, and the elephant in the room that is the fact of David taking multiple wives. While it was a common practice among royalty at the time, it is expressly forbidden in the Law, as we read in Deuteronomy 17. How then does one handle the fact that this God ordained king who so passionately pursued God’s heart did not only break the law, but did so repeatedly? It is a very charged issue, and rightly so. The fact remains that we do not really know the answer to that. Andrews handles it carefully and prayerfully, as is well expressed in her excellent Note to Reader and Author’s Note sections, both of which are treasure troves of information and insight. Though it is not a topic that should be glossed over, one should not miss the exquisitely addressed differences between thinking and acting royally as opposed to having a noble heart and mind. This is the gold in the purse of Noble, a treasure beyond jewels, and one that is timeless.

Noble: The Story of Maakah, the second book in the King David’s Brides series by Mesu Andrews, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Walmart

I received an ARC of this book. It did not influence my review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Review - Brave

As a reader of biblical fiction, I have a process that precedes actually reading a new novel. First, I look to the author to determine the original text from which they draw their work. Then I read the original text and sit with it for a time to digest God’s holy word before diving into the novel. I want to hold the fact separate from the fiction, but have grown to love the way the fiction fills in context and points toward God’s truth while helping us consider things we sometimes don’t want to stop to consider. One thing many of us hesitate to ponder for long is the relationship between David ben Jesse, God’s anointed king, and his wives. It makes sense that we do not want to linger on the polygamist relationship of a historical figure we tend to put on a pedestal as the icon of a man after God’s own heart. This is an incredibly sensitive subject to cover, but I have great respect for Mesu Andrews and her approach to it in her latest release, Brave. Because the fact of the matter is that even a man after God’s own heart is still a man. David did have multiple wives. And they are important enough that God inspired man to record them by name in the Old Testament.

Brave is the story of Ahinoam of Jezreel, who is interpreted by Andrews as a Kenite with exceptional dagger throwing skills and who works with her father to forge weapons for David’s ragtag army during the years of running from King Saul. She is spirited, fierce, and loyal. She is also not interested in marriage or being a silly woman, like the mother who abandoned her and her father so many years ago. Yet the Lord works in mysterious ways. In this instance, it is to bring Ahinoam and David together as husband and wife, to forge their relationship as the Lord gives and takes away. Giving and taking provision, giving and taking friendships, giving and taking family. Through it all, they must learn grace and forgiveness. They must learn to praise Him and seek His will. They must learn to keep their focus on Him instead of their human desires. Especially when Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel, also becomes David’s wife.

Andrews is a voracious researcher and I am always fascinated by the context provided in her novels. It is an honor to camp in the wilderness with Ahinoam, feeling the cool walls of the cave at my back, if only in my mind. It is hard to avoid building relationships with the characters she brings to life in text, particularly this strong dagger throwing, God seeking match for the future king. Brave’s narrative switches between Ahinoam’s point of view and David’s, and though I initially thought I just wanted her POV, it did not take long to see that his is essential for greater understanding. Brave is an enlightening read, if not an easy one, and I now wait as patiently as I can for the next installment of the King David’s Brides series.

Brave, book one of the King David’s Brides series from Mesu Andrews, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House    Christian Book    Amazon    Barnes & Noble

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - In Feast or Famine

In her latest addition to the Egyptian Chronicles series, Mesu Andrews picks up the story of Joseph ben Jacob in the depths of Potiphar’s prison, where we left him at the conclusion of the magnificent Potiphar’s Wife. Though we know Elohim used Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and therefore manage the great years of plenty and following years of famine to provide for nations, eventually reuniting Joseph with his long lost family, we do not know much about what actually happened in that time. With meticulous research and inspired imagination, Andrews takes us there to witness firsthand how political intrigue and the work of Elohim may have played out to heal the land, heal wounded hearts, and glorify the One God.

Layered eloquently within the known biblical story are elements of timeless themes that bring complex characters to relevance: the longing for a parent’s love, the turmoil of seething hate vs the balm of forgiveness, healing of hearts and of nations, a mother’s fierce drive to care for her children and balance those needs with the needs of the household or even a greater population. Asenath, locked away in a tower for fifteen years with only vague memories of the brutal attack that stole her mother and which she barely survived, chantress of On and destined to become Isis Incarnate, with a destiny determined and laid clearly before her must fulfill her purpose to heal the Two Lands. Joseph, restored from prison to become Egypt’s vizier, knows only Elohim can save and heal the nation’s wounds. Commanded to marry by a pharaoh who is wise beyond his years, the two may be committed to working together for the good of the Two Lands, but there are many obstacles to overcome.

Andrews writes with exceptional insight to captivate the reader, who is not merely an observer of one of the great stories in the lineage of Christ, but an active participant and part of the family of the One God. Come into In Feast or Famine prepared to feel the awesome works of Elohim in a soul deep way that, at least for me, often required stopping at the end of the chapter to digest and work through all that had been unpacked before me.

In Feast or Famine, the second book of the Egyptian Chronicles series, by Mesu Andrews is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Christian Book                Barnes & Noble            Amazon

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Potiphar’s Wife

Are you a fan of the bad girls of the Bible? Do you like to see how God’s purpose is fulfilled even though evil seems to triumph? Do you like to think about what might have gone on behind the scenes of the events you read about in your Bible? 

Mesu Andrews pries open the tale of Potiphar’s wife in her new release and makes us wonder if she was genuinely horrid or if her circumstances shaped the woman we blame for Joseph’s time in prison. Potiphar’s Wife centers around Princess Zuleika, a strong and capable young woman whose father is king of the Zakros district of Crete and whose beloved husband will become king. Her world is turned upside down by a tragedy which rips her husband and mother away at the same time as it cripples the districts of the island she loves. The only hope to save her home is for her father to offer his most beloved possession in marriage to Egypt’s king. To fulfill her duty to her homeland, Zully is also ripped from her homeland and carried to Egypt before she the chance to mourn her losses.

Adding insult to injury, the beautiful and talented princess is handed off to Pharoah Khyan’s second in command. Potiphar is a crusty old soldier with no desire for a wife, and yet that is exactly what Zully must become. Torn from her family, passed over by the Egyptian king, and scorned by the noblewomen of her new homeland, Zully finds herself spiraling into the depression and madness she fought to resist. If not for a small group of slaves who are especially kind to her, there’s no telling how far she might fall.

This is the woman who flings herself at Joseph in desperation and seizes upon the opportunity to shame him. Yet this story is actually filled with strong women who work together. Ahira is one of those women, a Hebrew slave who is maid to Zully, and a woman both in need of healing and whose care heals others. Ahira’s devotion to her mistress is an opportunity for both to grow through their circumstances. Her care for Joseph is a ministry to him and to those who witness it throughout his dark days.

Potiphar’s Wife by Mesu Andrews is absolutely a must-read and is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online.

Christian Book                Barnes & Noble                Amazon

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine. 

Book Review - Isaiah's Legacy

Book Review - Isaiah's Legacy

From the Cover:

Eight year old Shulle has only known life in a small village with her loving but peculiar father. When Uncle Shebna offers shelter in Jerusalem in exchange for Shulle's help tutoring King Manasseh, Judah's five-year-old co-regent, she's eager to experience the royal court. But Shulle is soon disillusioned with Yahweh, the God of her father, when she discovers He's given King Hezekiah only ten years to live. When Uncle Shebna threatens her father's safety and demonstrates the starry hosts' power, Shulle begins the subtle swaying of young Manasseh, using her charm and skill on the boy no one else understands. Will Shulle free Judah from Yahweh's chains? What role will she play in Isaiah's legacy?

Years later, tragedy thrusts an embittered and ambitious twelve-year-old Manasseh onto Judah's throne. When an even darker influence seeks to twist his brilliant mind toward cruelty, Shulle begins to wonder if the gods they've worshipped so freely have led their hearts into captivity... and if anyone can be too far gone to experience the sovereign love to the one true God.

Review:

Isaiah's Legacy, the third installment in the A Novel of Prophets and Kings series by Mesu Andrews, follows in a grand tradition of inspired biblical fiction that enlightens as it carries the reader to Judah for a turbulent ride through the reign of King Manasseh. A thoroughly researched and well crafted novel, but not an easy one to read, it examines a level of spiritual darkness and depravity that is often danced about, implied, but rarely addressed directly. However, these issues are very real and are critical to a true understanding of the evil that gripped King Manasseh's heart until Yahweh broke the chains that bound him and redeemed him in a glorious way.

This novel picks up after the conclusion of Isaiah's Daughter, at the end of King Hezekiah's life, as his son Manasseh prepares and eventually becomes king. We are subject to the conflict of loving certain characters while we hate the evil that works its way into their lives and shackles them apart from the loving God. Shulle had my heart from the very beginning, and my heart broke for her over and over again as she was tricked and manipulated into the sorcery that bound her while masquerading as power. Manasseh's reign of terror against the prophets and Yahwehists is a horror that was foretold, but not any easier to bear as it unfolded. Through it all, Queen Hephzibah can only pray and hope that her previous boy will someday see Truth and turn from darkness. And her abba, the prophet Isaiah, foretells his own demise at the hands of his grandson, knowing that it must be done as Yahweh says to ultimately give Him the glory.

Dear reader, know that Isaiah's Legacy is not a bit of fiction to be undertaken lightly. As Mesu Andrews toiled to bring it forth, so you will toil to digest it. And yet, it is certainly one of the most valuable and eye opening novels I have ever consumed. The understanding that comes from the scripture and the exploration of the spiritual, social, and political turmoil within reveals what is possibly the greatest prodigal story ever told. And if Shulle and Manasseh can be unchained by Yahweh, then nobody is beyond His redemptive love.

About the Author:

Mesu Andrews is the Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah's Daughter and numerous other novels, including The Pharaoh's Daughter, Miriam, Of Fire and Lions, and Love Amid the Ashes. Her deep understanding of and love for God's Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Mesu lives in North Carolina with her husband, Roy, and enjoys spending time with her growing tribe of grandchildren.

Links:

Find Mesu online at MesuAndrews.com

Follow Mesu on Goodreads * Instagram * Facebook

Purchase Isaiah's Legacy at Amazon (Release date February 18, 2020)

Disclaimer:

Woman By the Grace of God received a book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed here are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, part 255 Guidelines, concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in advertising.

Launch Party Info:

Join Mesu on Facebook Live for the Isaiah's Legacy launch party! Come prepared to hear about Isaiah's Legacy and to ask questions about the research and writing of this awesome novel! Click here to select GOING and receive reminders prior to the party, February 18 at 8pm EST. (I'm pretty sure a little birdie mentioned giveaways!)

Speaking of Freebies:

Did you know that Mesu has written FOUR short-story prequels that have been combined into a novella prequel to Isaiah's Legacy? It's called Adnah's Legacy, and it's FREE to Mesu's newsletter subscribers. Just go to any page on her website, and you'll find a sign-up widget in the right-hand column.

Book Review - Love Amid the Ashes

This, my dear friends, is a review I wrote in November 2011, after I read my first book by Mesu Andrews. In preparing for something pretty stinkin' exciting, I realized that I had never posted my Love Amid the Ashes review to Woman By the Grace of God. I am so sorry! Y'all, fix a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, a glass of tea... get comfy, and enjoy the book that kicked off a fierce admiration for all things written by Mesu.

It is not all that often that I give 5 star ratings. I firmly believe in giving credit where it is due, and that there is always something somewhere that can be improved. Having said that, Love Amid the Ashes gets a solid 5 stars from me.

Mesu Andrews uses the facts we have, weaves in fiction to fill in the blanks so skillfully that one must be careful to discern between the two, and gives us a story of love and redemption that left me wondering if I had read it or if I had truly been there. I expected this to be another love story, but what was delivered is so much more than that. The male/female relationships are balanced artfully with the friendships that are forged to withstand tragedy and triumph. The love story between the characters and El Elyon, God Most High, is so skillfully written that it whispers of the redemption and dedication and soothes the soul.

Mesu Andrews sacrifices neither plot nor description in this well balanced depiction of Job's trials. I wish I had purchased multiple copies of this book!

Book Review: Isaiah's Daughter by Mesu Andrews

"So gather near, friend,
to hear of a daughter beyond imagining.
She had the heart of a lion.
Braver than a soldier.
Wiser than a king.”

Mesu Andrews grabbed my attention with that line in the

beginning of this story and she held it through as we

walked with little Ishma, who toiled and grew to become

worthy of those words. The child introduced to us in the

beginning chapters, orphaned and hopeless,

had no idea of the plans Yahweh had for her.

But as He has promised us, His plans are greater than

ours and they are beyond our current circumstances.

Ms. Andrews is an excellent storyteller,
setting scenes for us that take us into
the lives and struggles of biblical characters
we only thought we knew. We are there
when Ishma is broken, when Hezekiah's
words are stolen, when Micah and his fellow
prophets are in hiding from the angry pagan
king. She gives us the whisper of the dove's
coo and terror that envelops our dear Ishma
at the sight of the sword. We feel the impishness,
the curiosity, and the innocence of the dear
girl's first encounter with the mourning Hezekiah.
We celebrate and we hurt for Hephzibah and
Hezekiah as they grow and grapple with Yahweh's
plan for them and all that entails. Our hearts soar
and tremble, celebrate and weep with the
characters we come to relate to so intimately
through the inspired words of an author who has
carefully researched and prayerfully crafted a story
that will both entertain and enlighten.

I have long been a fan of Mesu Andrews, thoroughly
appreciative of the insights that are revealed within
the pages of her every work. Isaiah's Daughter does
not disappoint, and is yet another excellent read from
an author I've come to trust for a well balanced blend
of novel and soul searching.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.
The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review
are my own.