Carole Towriss

Nearly forty years after their mass exodus from Egypt, Israel's time of wilderness wandering is drawing to a close. But they'll soon have to combat the attack of a city in Canaan in The Walls of Arad by author Carole Towriss.

I'm sure it's a challenge for Biblical Fiction to deliver an age-old story to a contemporary audience. You don't want stiff caricatures of ancient figures, but you also don't want a story so updated that it feels like watching a modern stage play with nothing "ancient" about it but the actors' costumes.

The author meets that challenge nicely in this third novel of her Journey to Canaan series, bringing together a seamless mix of biblical and fictional characters who think, feel, and act with believable motives. The story unfolds at an unhurried pace, more contemplative than eventful for much of the book. But it doesn't drag, and the eventual move into violent war is a natural shift. I did have some difficulty connecting with the emotion and keeping track of all the characters mentioned in the secondary storyline, but that happens sometimes when you jump into the middle of a series as I did.

Arisha and Zadok's love story at the heart of the novel is sweet as it gradually matures. It took me a while to fully buy into it, since Zadok started to seem too perfect, and Arisha didn't seem to have much to her besides her vulnerability. But a vital message on inward strength does develop through their relationship.

I enjoyed every chapter of this novel of faith, war, love, and purpose, and I'm quite sure it'll appeal to many other fans of Biblical Fiction.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.… (mehr)

One of the biggest stories in the Bible is that of the Exodus. Everything about the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea just seems larger than life. I always envision Charlton Heston, who plays Moses in the 1956 classic movie "The Ten Commandments", with his rod stretched over the Red Sea and the multitude surrounding him. Something about this particular story seems to invite imaginative retellings, and many a Sunday School teacher has played on the active imaginations of children as they describe the amazing adventures of Moses and the Israelites. Illustrators and movie makers have a field day with this tale, and rightly so.

In all of the stories, retellings and adaptations I have seen (on screen and otherwise), I had never come across the particular angle explored by Carole Towriss in her new novel "In the Shadow of Sinai." She follows the tale of Bezalel, the skilled craftsman appointed by Moses to work with the gold and precious stones. He is the artist who made Moses' vision of the ark of the covenant come to life. And while no picture exists of the actual ark, countless recreations and depictions abound, testifying to the lasting beauty and allure surrounding this particular sacred artifact.

Towriss imagines Bezalel learning his skill in service to the Pharaoh, and follows his personal struggles that come with being plucked from the Egyptian mud-brick fields to the relative luxury of the palace. Towriss throws in a love story, of course, but what was most intriguing to me was her realistic portrayal of life in ancient Egypt.

Crafting the story around Bezalel allows Towriss to tell the tale of the ten plagues through an onlooker's eyes. Bezalel doesn't see everything take place, and doesn't know what Moses is planning. And the plagues' devastation doesn't always make him happy. Just what is Yahweh up to, anyway?

Towriss takes us from the Egyptian palace to the deserts of Sinai, following the journey of the Israelites across the Red Sea, to the golden calf and the making of the Tabernacle. She introduces us to other biblical characters along the way, but packs enough tension and life into the plot to keep the attention of her readers.

For a first novel, the book is quite good. Even though Bible readers familiar with Moses' written account will know the basic contours of the story, the specific details of Bezalel's life and those around him unfold in unexpected ways. "In the Shadow of Sinai" is a satisfying romp through vaguely familiar territory and by the end, you'll be longing for more. And like me, you'll be pleased to learn that Towriss has two additional novels in this series planned.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.… (mehr)