Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Call number
F HUN
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2017), 384 pages
Description
Five decades before the birth of Christ, Chava, daughter of the royal tutor, grows up with Urbi, a princess in Alexandria's royal palace. When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what--but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery. Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life.
User reviews
LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
As the Jewish daughter of a royal tutor, Chava grows up close to palace life in Alexandria. She’s sure that she’ll not be parted from her girlhood friend, the princess Urbi, not even when Urbi ascends to the throne and becomes Queen Cleopatra. But when a crushing betrayal lands Chava in
I’ve enjoyed Biblical Fiction by this author before and was intrigued to hear that she’d be writing a series about the biblical “Silent Years.” My favorite aspect of this novel is the fact that Chava hears God during this period when He’s supposedly silent. (Yeah—I don’t believe God goes mute so much as we go deaf, but I won’t get into that.)
Now, there were some things in the novel that didn’t make complete sense to me. The process of Chava’s enslavement, for one, didn’t seem to make logical business sense. Aside from that, while this book is called A Novel of Cleopatra, the queen is off screen for most of it. She’s out there living her (now notorious) life, while Chava is left to pine and obsess over her. Eventually, Chava herself alludes to “obsessing over Urbi” for years.
I also found the extent of Chava’s naiveté to be unbelievable at times. Although she’s done some growing by the later chapters, it’s hard for me to be super-enthused about a story when I only feel so-so about the main character.
Still, the ending of the novel has put me in anticipation of the next one in The Silent Years series.
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Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
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slavery, she wonders what will become of her life and a promise God once spoke to her in Egypt’s Sister, a novel by author Angela Hunt.I’ve enjoyed Biblical Fiction by this author before and was intrigued to hear that she’d be writing a series about the biblical “Silent Years.” My favorite aspect of this novel is the fact that Chava hears God during this period when He’s supposedly silent. (Yeah—I don’t believe God goes mute so much as we go deaf, but I won’t get into that.)
Now, there were some things in the novel that didn’t make complete sense to me. The process of Chava’s enslavement, for one, didn’t seem to make logical business sense. Aside from that, while this book is called A Novel of Cleopatra, the queen is off screen for most of it. She’s out there living her (now notorious) life, while Chava is left to pine and obsess over her. Eventually, Chava herself alludes to “obsessing over Urbi” for years.
I also found the extent of Chava’s naiveté to be unbelievable at times. Although she’s done some growing by the later chapters, it’s hard for me to be super-enthused about a story when I only feel so-so about the main character.
Still, the ending of the novel has put me in anticipation of the next one in The Silent Years series.
___________
Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JboyzMom
First, I just have to say how gorgeous this cover is! If I hadn't been intrigued by the synopsis, I would have grabbed it up for the cover alone. Second, if you are not already a fan of Angela Hunt, then you will be after reading this amazingly chiseled novel. She is absolutely talented and truly
I am a lover of Historical fiction and this book fits the bill for best of 2017 so far! Reading about Cleopatra and Chava really moved me. I've heard of Cleopatra, of course, but never really read a book that centered around her time. So, getting to know Chava, the young woman waiting to take her place at the Queen's side and Cleopatra, and all that was Alexandra, was truly an event I don't want to forget. The detail that Ms. Hunt adds to this novel is breath taking and I won't soon forget the feel of being in the heart of the story.
If you want a novel that will whisk you away to a time in history that isn't often written about, then I suggest this book with high flying colors! If you want to be captivated and become the characters, then this 5 star novel is highly worth getting! This book kept me turning the pages long into the night and I am already anxiously awaiting another book by this author who knows just what her fans love!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
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captured my soul with this new novel. This is Biblical fiction at it's finest! I am a lover of Historical fiction and this book fits the bill for best of 2017 so far! Reading about Cleopatra and Chava really moved me. I've heard of Cleopatra, of course, but never really read a book that centered around her time. So, getting to know Chava, the young woman waiting to take her place at the Queen's side and Cleopatra, and all that was Alexandra, was truly an event I don't want to forget. The detail that Ms. Hunt adds to this novel is breath taking and I won't soon forget the feel of being in the heart of the story.
If you want a novel that will whisk you away to a time in history that isn't often written about, then I suggest this book with high flying colors! If you want to be captivated and become the characters, then this 5 star novel is highly worth getting! This book kept me turning the pages long into the night and I am already anxiously awaiting another book by this author who knows just what her fans love!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
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LibraryThing member janerawoof
Enjoyable novel concerning the years between the Old and New Testaments, preposterous in spots.
Chava, an Alexandrian Jewish girl, is best friends with Cleopatra and swears she will always remain so in a "blood sisterhood" pact. Through envy [?] on Cleopatra's part, Chava is sold into slavery and
Chava, an Alexandrian Jewish girl, is best friends with Cleopatra and swears she will always remain so in a "blood sisterhood" pact. Through envy [?] on Cleopatra's part, Chava is sold into slavery and
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ends up in Rome on the farm of the Octavii family. Through the years Chava is obsessed with Cleopatra. Because of her literacy and her beauty, she is moved to the family's house in Rome where she meets the future emperor Augustus [born Octavian] and his friend Agrippa. The latter treats her as a sister all through, although Roman men were known for their promiscuity. That seems hard to believe. She learns midwifery in too quick order it seemed to me, with successful results, even when a novice. In her reading, she mentions Pliny the Elder who lived nearly 100 years later. She does attribute her success to God's help, and she does invoke Him and put her trust in Him all through the novel. The novel does show the power of forgiveness, when she meets Cleopatra for the last time. Show Less
Language
Physical description
8.5 inches
ISBN
0764219324 / 9780764219320