Book Review: Keepers of the Covenant {Bethany House Publishers}

Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

ISBN: 9780764208997

Paperback, 480 pages

Publisher: Bethany House

Retail: $15.99

About the book: In their darkest hour, where would hope be found?

In on life-changing moment, the lives of the exiles in Babylon are thrown into despair when a decree from the king's palace calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire in less than one year.

Ezra, a quiet but brilliant scholar, soon finds himself called upon to become the leader of his people. Forced to rally an army when all his training has been in the Torah, he struggles to bring hope in a time of utter despair, when dreams of the future- of family and love- seem impossible.

In Keepers of the Covenant, acclaimed novelist Lynn Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss. Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God's unwavering love for His people.

About the author: Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and convention. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live in Michigan. Learn more at www.lynnaustin.org

My thoughts:
Another great novel by Austin. I purposely waited to read this until I had the time available to do nothing else. When I start a novel by Austin, it is the only thing I want to do!

Austin develops the characters of her stories in such a way that the reader comes to know them. They might not be able to pick them out if they were given a picture in real-life, but nonetheless, they can tell their personalities. The reader begins to become friends, or enemies, with these characters because they are presented so well. 

I especially appreciate Austin's ability to create scenes in the story. She doesn't dwell overly much on the details but one can get a sense of what it is like in the scene. Also, because she has chosen to write from history, she weaves her fiction into what we know from the Bible. Reading through this particular novel, although the Scriptures are all in New International Version translation, I can recall reading it in the Bible. It brings it more to life. These were real events! Austin's inclusion of other characters that are not mentioned in the Bible does not detract at all from the story; it only builds it more and makes it feel real.

I have only one complaint that I don't know if I had never noticed in her other books or are simply not present in the others. Some times the words she uses do not fit the time or circumstance. They are words that are overused {imho} in Christian circles today but they would not have been used in the past, in the part of the world that she writes about. Surprisingly, it doesn't make the writing jagged or halting, but it was just a little thing I caught this time.

So far I have not read an Austin novel I didn't like. This is no exception. Very good book.

Read an excerpt- you'll get hooked! Click here.

***Disclaimer: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.