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A.D. Chronicles
by Bodie
and Brock Thoene
First
Light
Tyndale House Publishers;
2003
Click on image to buy from
Amazon.com
 Click
here
to buy from Amazon.ca
I haven't yet read this first
book in the series, but after reading the second book, I am
anxious to read this one as well.
Second
Touch
Tyndale House Publishers;
2004
Click on image to buy from
Amazon.com
Click
here
to buy from Amazon.ca
It has been a while since
I have read a novel by Bodie and Brock Thoene. I credit them
for being the ones to introduce me to Christian Historical
Fiction over 12 years ago now when I first dived into their
Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant Series. Once again the Thoenes
roped me in - albeit somewhat unwillingly as I was wary of
what I deemed their more recent trend toward "darker"
novels - BUT I was a willing captive until the very last page!
It should fail to surprise
me after all these years that they have the ability to tug
on the heart strings and embrace the reader's soul throughout
the novel while interweaving a very strong historical thread
that lends the novel weight and an ancient feel. I was very
simply captivated.
The subject throughout this
novel is not an easy one. It is weighty and serious and often
very ugly in the telling. It is not a topic that many authors
attempt to engage but the Thoenes have done it superbly here.
The subject is what? Leprosy.
They give a vivid recounting
of a leper's life of disfigurement, banishment, separation
from family and friends, emotional pain. However, they also
tell the story of humanity and how these despised and banished
people were able to find a way to love and to have hope again.
It tells the story of the
desperate longing for freedom from despair and hopelessness
and how a few will face the society that despises them in
order to bring hope and healing to their loves ones back in
the "valley".
It tells the story of the
desperate measures one will go through to avoid the scurrilous
disease. It shows how the disease does not show a preference
for a certain social class or ethnicity, but will and can
afflict anyone. Even the innocents like a newborn baby and
a young child who knows no life except that of the valley
of lepers.
This novel left me desiring
to know more - who was healed in the valley? Was Baruch saved?
What of Deborah? What of Jekuthiel? Was he reunited with his
wife? Did Lilly return for the baby? I felt there were too
many questions and not enough joy at the end. After all the
sorrow and pain, I wanted the story wrapped up neatly and
nicely at the end but it wasn't to be.
Above all I felt a deep love
and compassion for my Christ who healed these people when
he walked the earth and who will come again and show love
and kindness to the forsaken ones, the despised ones. Until
that day, I am completely moved to show kindness and love
for those who are hopeless. I want to be the hands and feet
of Jesus.
Thank you, Thoenes, for moving
me to a greater love and knowledge of Jesus Christ once again.
What more can great novelists desire than to bring one closer
to Jesus?
Go out and read this novel!
It just might change your life!
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