Bread of Angels- Audiobook Review

Title: Bread of Angels

Author: Tessa Afshar

Narrator: Rendah Heywood

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Audio Release: Jul 14, 2017 by Recorded Books

Length: 9hrs 31min

About the Book:

Purple. The foundation of an influential trade in a Roman world dominated by men. One woman rises up to take the reins of success in an incredible journey of courage, grit, and friendship. And along the way, she changes the world.

But before she was Lydia, the seller of purple, she was simply a merchant’s daughter who loved three things: her father, her ancestral home, and making dye. Then unbearable betrayal robs her of nearly everything.

With only her father’s secret formulas left, Lydia flees to Philippi and struggles to establish her business on her own. Determination and serendipitous acquaintances–along with her father’s precious dye–help her become one of the city’s preeminent merchants. But fear lingers in every shadow, until Lydia meets the apostle Paul and hears his message of hope, becoming his first European convert. Still, Lydia can’t outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide, she must either stand firm and trust in her fledgling faith or succumb to the fear that has ruled her life.

My Review:

No one makes the biblical times come to life quite like Tessa Afshar! I always enjoy reading her stories and imagining what the world looked like during the times that Jesus and his disciples walked the streets. Bread of Angels was one such adventure.

This story was impeccably written and developed. The characters and setting felt completely real. I was captivated by the world I entered into and imagined standing in. I know almost nothing about dyes yet it was clear to see how much research into the art that was done. Not only did I enjoy reading about the fictional life of Lydia, but I was able to take away some non-fictional knowledge as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story and loved the narrator’s voice. Call me odd, but I love listening to people talk with an English accent. I know some people struggle with an accents, but it wasn’t too thick to follow. She had a light and pleasant voice. Her energy and enthusiasm matched the content well and easily draws the reader into the setting. I’d love to hear her in other narrations as well.

One thing that I found unique was the development of Lydia’s character before she became a Christian. Since I listened to it instead of reading a hard copy I can’t go back and find the exact line, but there was a moment where Lydia considers her reputation and how it was as if Jesus had orchestrated her life before she even knew him in her heart. Being raised by a man with honesty and integrity, it was ingrained in her very being. It was an important element to a moment that occurred closer to the end. I also appreciated how it altered the pieces of her heart that needed to be examined after Christ. She had to search deeper into her being for the areas that she needed to grow in. I have had conversations with girls in the youth group who were raised in the church and have been deemed “good girls” so that they didn’t feel like they had a real testimony to share. While Jesus has the ability to come in and radically change a person, those specific changes are different for each individual. I really appreciate how this was fleshed out in Lydia’s life.

Bread of Angels was an incredible story and one I highly recommend to biblical and Christian fiction fans. I have loved every book that I’ve read by Tessa Afshar so far. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

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