Gods and Kings: A Novel: 1 (Chronicles of the Kings)

My eyes filled up with tears and not due to anything sorrowful, no, it was caused by one sentence in a scene that was full of God - It took me by surprise - I look forward to reading another Lynn Austin book.

The beginning of a series of five books. Lynn writes using Biblical history. She brought the story alive.

I have never read a biblical fiction before and it was different and did appear well researched, but unfortunately I didn’t find it very interesting. I think it was a little too factual and not enough emotional detail to make a firm connection with the characters. Why did the priest turn away from God so easily, was it just power? How was he corrupted? Was there something in his past that made him susceptible to the corrupting influence of the court?Hezekiah is more understandable as a character, as he is tutored by an Egyptian. His grandfather, Zechariah is kept away from him at an early age and was not allowed to teach him the ways of the Hebrew God. Hezekiah learns the ways of the court and military prowess. The role of his wife and his mother were interesting parts of the story and it would have been good if this had been given greater prominence.The writing is good, sophisticated and not simplistic and over written, but I would have liked a bit more detail and atmosphere.

I'd had this book sitting around on my Kindle for a long time, but I wish that I'd read it sooner as it's the best book I've read so far this year. I'm not usually a fan of novels retelling Bible stories, but this one gripped me right from the beginning. Lynn Austin has obviously done her research very well as the book really transports one back in time to the era of Hezekiah. There is actually not much written in the Bible to base a story on, but the author has done a fantastic job of imagining compelling characters and weaving a story around the bare bones she had to work with. I found it really hard to put the book down and the rest of the series is firmly on my wish list.

Gripping, fast moving, convicting and exciting. Lynn Austin is absolutely on par with Francine Rivers in her Christian fiction writing. These Chronicles based on King Hezekiah take you deep into the world of the Kings of Judah and exactly what idolatry and evil they were indulging in, and keep you on edge as the historically accurate and biblically real story unfolds. I absolutely loved these Chronicles and couldn't wait to get the next one. I was disappointed when the series came to an end, but fortunately, she has started another series on the return from Babylon - can't wait for the next book!