Isaiah's Legacy by Mesu Andrews

Here is the book summary:

The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as Judah's most notorious king ascends to the throne in this gripping novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah's Daughter.

At eight years old, Shulle has known only 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 who displays the same peculiarities as her father, she's eager to experience the royal court. But Shulle soon realizes the limits of her father's strict adherence to Yahweh's Law when Uncle Shebna teaches her of the starry hosts and their power.

Convinced Judah must be freed from Yahweh's chains, she begins the subtle swaying of young Manasseh, using her charm and skills on the boy no one else understands. When King Hezekiah dies, twelve-year-old Manasseh is thrust onto Judah's throne, bitter at Yahweh and eager to marry the girl he adores. Assyria's crown prince favors Manasseh and twists his brilliant mind toward cruelty, beginning Shulle's long and harrowing journey to discover the Yahweh she'd never known, guided with loving wisdom by Manasseh's mother: Isaiah's daughter, the heartbroken Hephzibah. Amid Judah's dark days, a desperate remnant emerges, claiming the Lord's promise, "Though we're helpless now, we're never hopeless--because we serve El Shaddai." Shulle is among them, a girl who becomes a queen through Isaiah's legacy.

And now, my review:

I found Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews to be intense, intriguing, and disturbing to its core.  To see the change of kings, go from Hezekiah, which was a good, God-honoring king, to Manasseh, which was an evil king was so heart-wrenching.  The treatment Isaiah received had my heart breaking and the worldly customs taken on because of the leaving of Yahweh and His Ways was so distressing.  This author doesn’t mince words as she paints it in such a gripping and raw way.  Looking for historical fiction at its best, this is it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Isaiahs-Legacy-Novel-Prophets-Kings-ebook/dp/B07TRWFBPK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FPDJB7HH7PXU&keywords=isaiahs+legacy&qid=1582079835&sprefix=isaiahs%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1

https://www.christianbook.com/isaiahs-legacy-novel-prophets-and-kings/mesu-andrews/9780735291881/pd/291882?product_redirect=1&search_term=isaiah%27s%20lega&Ntt=291882&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/isaiahs-legacy-mesu-andrews/1132287801?ean=9780735291881#/

Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews

Here is the book summary:

The Old Testament book of Daniel comes to life in this novel for readers of Lynn Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series or Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series.

Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear--until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Belili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone?

Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.

And now, my review:

Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews was a fictional book based on the Daniel of the Old Testament.  I just love Daniel and God’s Word.  Because of this, I struggled at first with this book and was not understanding why she was bringing in a life mate (wife) into his story.  I was like, is this like watching a movie about Noah and having there be other boats in the water…  Then I flipped to the back of the book where she shares why she decided to add this element and that helped me to see this author has sought His Scripture and is a fellow-studier of His Word, doesn’t take His Word lightly, and she wasn’t just uneducated but she shares her possible findings, most importantly she included a Biblical example.  Whether that is where I’ll land or not, this helped me let go and get into the reading a bit deeper.  What I found when I did this was amazing writing of fiction. I related often with the wife and her struggles for forgiveness to King Neb and all the pain he had brought into her life.  Such pictures painted in words.  I would liken it to watching the movies "Passion of the Christ” and “The Nativity”.  Not everything is written down for us in Scripture but one example from “The Nativity” was when Joseph and Mary were leaving Nazareth to journey to Bethlehem, Joseph states that “the people were going to miss us”.  Knowing the cost involved in Mary’s decision of obedience to the Lord’s will cost them, many things.  To see in this book the costs involved in Daniel determining beforehand that he would not defile himself.  It’s powerful.  The three friends and their journey into the fire and all…  breathtakingly powerful.  Everything before that, after that, and in between.  Exceptional fiction.  I’m so blessed to have picked up this book and I’ll be reading it again and sharing it with others!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Lions-Novel-Mesu-Andrews/dp/0735291861/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=NKHNZY4LVQQG&keywords=of+fire+and+lions+mesu+andrews&qid=1553445406&s=gateway&sprefix=of+fire+and+lions%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

https://www.christianbook.com/of-fire-and-lions/mesu-andrews/9780735291867/pd/291867?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-fire-and-lions-mesu-andrews/1128904207?ean=9780735291867#/