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    A Voice in the Wind
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    A Voice in the Wind
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    A Voice in the Wind
    Ebook767 pages13 hours

    A Voice in the Wind

    By Francine Rivers

    4.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

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    About this ebook

    Book 1 in the 3-book historical Christian fiction series by the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and The Masterpiece.

    The first book in the beloved Mark of the Lion series, A Voice in the Wind brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a character they will never forget—Hadassah.

    While wealthy Roman citizens indulge their every whim, Jews and barbarians are bought and sold as slaves and gladiators in the bloodthirsty arena. Amid the depravity around her, a young Jewish slave girl becomes a light in the darkness. Even as she’s torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, Hadassah clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of a decadent empire.

    Includes discussion questions suitable for individual use or group discussions

    “Francine unlocks the longing in each one of us to connect to God in a deeper, life-changing way. No one reading her books will ever be the same again.”
    —Debbie Macomber

    “As we ‘watch’ Hadassah and Atretes struggle through first-century trials, we learn how to handle similar situations in the twenty-first century. The ‘costumes’ may vary, but our Lord does not change.”
    —Angela Hunt

    “Francine redefined Christian fiction—honest, unflinching, powerful, life-changing—demonstrating why storytelling is the most effective way to communicate God’s truth. Every Christian novelist writing today owes a debt of gratitude to Francine Rivers for lighting the way.”
    —Liz Curtis Higgs

    “Francine Rivers writes from her heart to touch the hearts of her readers. Her books are essential reading for all who love Christian fiction.”
    —Bodie Thoene

    “Francine Rivers puts readers right into the history of the moment.”
    —Romantic Times
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTyndale House Publishers
    Release dateSep 21, 2012
    ISBN9781414383378
    Author

    Francine Rivers

    New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers is one of the leading authors of women's Christian fiction. With nearly thirty published novels with Christian themes to her credit, she continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her numerous bestsellers, including Redeeming Love, have been translated into more than thirty different languages.  Shortly after becoming a born-again Christian in 1986, Francine wrote Redeeming Love as her statement of faith. This retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction. Redeeming Love continues to be one of the Christian Booksellers Association’s top-selling titles, and it has held a spot on the Christian bestsellers list for nearly a decade. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America's coveted Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Visit Francine online at www.francinerivers.com and connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers) and Twitter (@FrancineRivers).

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    Reviews for A Voice in the Wind

    4.5/5

    72 ratings25 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Have read this book multiple times, and it's still a favorite. Hadassah is a fictional character I find truly inspiring and unforgettable.
    • 4/5
      January 2010 - Review by Alina Oselio (daughter of Tim & Cheryl Walker): All of Francine Rivers' books are excellent. They are recommended for older teen to adult. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      By: Francine RiversPublished By: Tyndale House PublishersAge Recommended: AdultReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 5Blog For: GMTASeries: Mark of the Lion #1Review:"A Voice in the Wind" by Francine Rivers was a mighty good read. I found it was historical, inspirational, romantic as well as christian fiction read. It seemed a little slow in the beginning but as I read on I found this to be a very compelling and dramatic novel. This author really knows who to keep our attention with all of the descriptions of what was going on at that particular time. The characters were simply off the chart...well developed, portrayed, colorful and very believable making this a excellent read. This author really did a wonderful job with the research that was put into the historical period of time giving the reader a good intriguing read. If you are looking for a book with a powerful story line and characters with depth, you have come to the right place for "A Voice in the Wind" would be for you and Yes, I would recommend this novel.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book in a trilogy called The Mark of the Lion. A Christian fiction novel, it takes place shortly after the crucifixion, after the destruction of Jerusalem. Hadassah, a Jew raised as a Christian, is sold as a slave to a family with interests in Rome and Ephesus. Her faith is tried repeatedly, but she perseveres and shares her faith during the hard times. The book is good - I like the historic aspects, a time period I've not read much about - but Hadassah is just too good to be true. The main characters are extreme, one way or the other, either extremely nasty or extremely good. Not many people in life are truly that way, so I found that a bit unrealistic. I will continue to read the trilogy, however, hoping to get something from the overall message.
    • 5/5
      Intriguing characters and rich historical detail made this novel set in ancient Rome one that I savored--and that I would love to read over and over again. Hadassah is a young Christian of Jewish background who is taken to Rome after the conquest on Jerusalem in 70 AD. There she is bought by a Roman family and, though she is just a slave, her life becomes intertwined with theirs. She becomes Julia's maid--and Julia is a young woman bent on experiencing all the pleasures that Rome has to offer to her, although her father, Demetrius, would rather see her settled down into the life of a dutiful Roman wife. Hadassah does her best to bring a godly influence into their household, but despite their love for her songs and stories about the Old Testament heroes she witnesses several atrocities that have her heartbroken over the state of her mistresses soul. For abortion, wife abuse, murder, homosexuality, and even the blood baths offered up by gladiators all play a part in this story full of family drama. As I read this story I felt like I was actually there, experiencing the sights and sounds of the times, and the emotional ups and downs of the characters. The fact that Rivers does not shy away from the seamier side of Roman life made it all the more real, and although some readers may squirm a bit she never goes to an extreme in her descriptions of the violent or sexual escapades her characters indulge in. However, she does realistically portray some of the heart wrenching consequences of those escapades, which adds to the emotional punch of this novel. I have also had the chance to discuss it with a book discussion group and it lead to a very engaging and meaningful discussion as we talked about the characters and their choices, Hadassah's faith, and how much ancient Rome seemed a lot like our modern day U.S. society. Fans of historical fiction, faith based fiction, or just plain good writing should give this book a read!
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book and the others in the series. This book especially was hard to read in some parts because of the descriptions of the life styles of some of the main characters. From Biblical accounts of this time period and the places mentioned, I believe the descriptions are probably pretty accurate. The young Jewish Christian slave girl's life and example through some extreme evils done by her master are an encouragement to me that living godly does have an influence on those around us. LKC
    • 5/5
      Excellent book. Each character was unique, from the Saint to the Sinner. Very graphic in detail. Couldn't put the book down. Can't wait to read the next one.
    • 5/5
      The characters and events detailed in this amazing novel are so real to life that I felt as if I could feel the Roman breeze on my skin, and hear the cheers of the Roman mob as they shouted for the blood of Christians and gladiators. Hadassah was a truly remarkable character, in that she let her light shine in the evil, and touched those around her so deeply. Julia was truly evil personifed, and Marcus such a confused and tortured soul. Atretes caught my attention because of his resolute hatred of all things Roman, and yet he was touched by a small slave girl's faith. A phenomenal read.
    • 5/5
      Very violent, but sets the scene for ancient Rome. Some heavy-handed references clearly intended for present-day (ie. "choice"), but I've never sobbed at any book like I did at the end of this book. It was so incredibly powerful.
    • 5/5
      Love this series. Francine Rivers is an amazing christian author. It's pretty mind blowing how close our modern culture is to Rome's. What's old is new. This book opened my mind & heart in so many ways. So heartbreaking at times yet so joyous in others. Thanks Kawai for the recommendation..Can't wait to read more from her.
    • 5/5
      A.D. 70 Rome comes alive in this tale of the Jewish Christian slave girl Hadassah. Torn between a desire to witness and her fear of persecution, she encourages readers to represent Christ in their world.
    • 5/5
      I was kind of wary when I began reading this... It didn't sound very interesting, and not at all the type of book I would like. But I was horribly wrong!! This book was phenomenal!! Francine Rivers is an extremely talented writer, she has a way of drawing you in and making you sympathize with the characters. I felt like I was there with them. The character of Hadassah was particularly inspiring... I found myself wishing I could be as unselfish and loving as her. All in all, this book was amazing. The beginning is kind of confusing, since it keeps jumping back and forth between Hadassah, Atretes, and the Valerians, but once you get past that, it's a GREAT book.
    • 5/5
      I loved, loved, loved this book. It was written beautifully. I love historical fiction, and this was an era I had never really read about that much, so I was really cool. My favorite character is Marcus, even though he has the Playboy vibe, I can't help but like him. Julia, on the other hand, is just a mess. I can't believe she **SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON** poisened Caius! I understand why but wow. Another thing, Julia is a complete ditz! How could she not understand about Octavia hating her? How can she not see Calabah is playing her? Ugh. Stupid, selfish girl. I am amazing at Hadassah's (and Marcus's as well) patience with her. I was bored with Atretes's chapters sometimes, though. I'm not great at comprehending action sequences. Overall, great! I can't wait to read the sequels!!
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel set in the first century AD. The story follows a Jewish girl (Hadassah) who is taken captive by the Romans when they sacked Jerusalem and a German tribal warrior (Atretes) captured in the forests. Hadassah, a Christian, is sold as a slave to a wealthy family in Rome. Atretes, a very large and attractive blond German, is sold to a Roman who supplies gladiators for the arena.Although Roman is tolerant of many forms of religion, Christianity is illegal. Hadassah struggles to serve her mistress while obeying her own conscious. Hadassah's mistress is an insufferable hedonist who is a poor judge of character. Following her life has the makings of a Roman soap opera, amusing, sad and at times, annoying.Atretes trains for the arena. He is strong-bodied and strong-willed. His exploits provide a sense of the minimum value Romans of that era placed on human life. The trappings and activities of the arena are described with sufficient detail to be rated PG-13 or even a light R.At least one reviewer faults Hadassah's character as being too morally correct and unromantic. I disagree. I found Hadassah's character simple like her unencumbered and un-institutionalized Christian beliefs - simply refreshing.This is a very entertaining historical novel written from the perspective of a Christian author.
    • 5/5
      Awesome series with amazing historical accuracy!
    • 5/5
      Amazing! !! nicely written. truly gifted writer... I loved and enjoyed the read.
    • 5/5
      what an emotional rollercoaster. Very vivid writing from the passion to the sad and dramatic ending.
    • 5/5
      When your wife says that you must read this book, it's best to listen. It's finally nice to read a Christian fiction book that isn't Amish girl centered. Nor is this book strictly a Christian romance novel - although there are parts that are. Rivers does a good job of knowing the terminology, the culture, and setting of 1st century Rome. The book is well written and the characters are very interesting and different. People act like people which is sadly rare in the Christian fiction genre. The main character, Hadassah, is such an amazing character who goes through a good character arc. She isn't unwavering and super pious without flaw. She's relatable and interesting. And that's true for the other characters as well. The other characters aren't all bad or all good. Again, these are qualities lacking in the Christian fiction realm. The story does have some good apologetics and showing of Christian character especially at such a rare time than what we are used to. Christians in the Roman world who are the minority. The romance is good but the love story doesn't really hit a good slope and ascend, it mostly starts at 40% and then grows from there - an extra step at the start would have been nice.

      A few small qualms is that the book really jumps quickly from character to character. It would have been better to stay with a character for just a little bit longer. Also, the motivation of Calabah isn't really there and she tends to be a rather straight forward villain for the sake of being the villain. I get that she is in love with Julia but her steps of getting there just seem to to push Julia's plot along.

      Even still, I picked up the 2nd book in the series immediately after finishing this one and I'm excited to see where the story goes. Final Grade - A
    • 5/5
      I first read "A Voice in the Wind" nearly fifteen years ago and loved it. Having just re-read it, I think I loved it even more this time. Despite knowing how the book ends, I was still in tears by the last page. A powerful and compelling read.
    • 5/5
      Amazing.
    • 5/5
      Oh, this book…it’s torn me apart and put me back together again so many times I couldn’t even count them. I’ve wanted to rage at Rivers…why, oh WHY must she make her characters go through some things? But then when I come to my senses again, I realize that it’s very realistic, and that’s when the gravity strikes me—again—that there are lessons here that would hold true in my own life as well. Wow.Historically speaking, this book is spot-on from everything else I’ve read. Rome was an evil, evil place, and though Rivers doesn’t go into the sordid detail of it all, you know that wrong things are happening (so yes, content warning there—it almost, but didn’t quite, cross my comfortable line, but just be warned in case prostitution and things like that bother you). But seeing the good parts come to life—wow. God really does preserve His church through all kinds of things, and for that, I’m grateful!Characters, setting, theme…all were well-done, immersing me in the story and making it quite difficult to get things done some days because I just wanted to read more! Rivers is a talented author.Prepare to be challenged and encouraged. This is, in the end, a hopeful, deeply redemptive story…or at least, I trust it will be that way by the time I get to the end of the series. ;) I’m still mulling over several themes from this story, and expect that will continue for quite a while.Recommended for adults: I don’t believe some content would be suitable for teenagers.
    • 5/5
      A beautiful story that took me to a different time, a different place with incredible characters and an amazing storyline. Hadassah is an unforgettable character. This is one of three books in the series. Francine Rivers is a fantastic author.
    • 5/5
      Loved it.
    • 1/5
      This is one of the most violent, gory books I have ever read. It starts in Jerusalem, during its destruction in the first century. A horrific background, and unfortunately the author decided to let us in on scenes of carnage and destruction, with gruesomely sickening detail.

      The story is actually about a Jewish girl amongst the horrors, and it's a nice idea. However the main plot is predictable, and the sub-plots contain yet more appalling violence in arenas, and detailed descriptions of other corruptions of the times.

      Perhaps I'm too much an idealist/romantic, but I really don't like reading a book where my mind is filled constantly with scenes of lust, anger, violence and corruption. The only way I could get to the end of the book was by serious skimming. There are two sequels to this but I couldn't face the thought of reading either of them.
    • 3/5
      I liked all the history about that time period, but it got REALLY sappy in the last third of the book.