Isaiah’s Daughter (Prophets and Kings #1)

Title: Isaiah’s Daughter (Prophets and Kings #1)

Author: Mesu Andrews

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Publishing Date: Jan 16, 2018

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Length: 384 Pages

About the Book:

In this epic Biblical narrative, ideal for fans of The Bible miniseries, a young woman taken into the prophet Isaiah’s household rises to capture the heart of the future king.

Isaiah adopts Ishma, giving her a new name–Zibah, delight of the Lord–thereby ensuring her royal pedigree. Ishma came to the prophet’s home, devastated after watching her family destroyed and living as a captive. But as the years pass, Zibah’s lively spirit wins Prince Hezekiah’s favor, a boy determined to rebuild the kingdom his father has nearly destroyed. But loving this man will awake in her all the fears and pain of her past and she must turn to the only One who can give life, calm her fears, and deliver a nation.

My Review:

Oh, how I love to see the history of the Bible come to life through story, and no one quite does that like Mesu Andrews. From the very first page I was held captive by Hephzibah’s (Ishma’s) journey and felt as if I’d been transported right into her world. I honestly don’t feel that I have the right words to do this story justice. It was truly remarkable.

I don’t know if I have the words to express how deeply I love Zibah’s character and how masterful of a job Mesu Andrews did in developing her. From the very beginning as a tiny orphaned girl named Ishma, my heart broke for her and I clung tightly to her future happiness as Zibah. I cherished how even though Ishma and Hezekiah initially formed their friendship through childhood trauma, over time their bond had grown so fully that it was truly as if they’d become one. Their choices and actions proved their unwavering love and devotion for the one true God, Yahweh.

One thing that I love about Biblical fiction is that it gives us a glimpse of what life may have been like in the Old Testament times. It can help us as readers to see the humanity of the biblical characters by seeing their lives through story. While never intended to take the place of reading God’s actual Word, it can also help us glean a deeper understanding and appreciation for it. The amount of research that went into the creation of this novel was highly evident. Although creative licenses were taken to help make the story what it was, it’s evident the amount of respect the author has for the authority of the Bible. I appreciated that she shared some of the details of her research in a note to the readers at the end. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. I know that this one will be on my favorites list for the year.

*I reviewed my own personal copy of this book that I purchased.

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