I received a free Advanced Reader’s Copy of “Isaiah’s Daughter” as part of the launch team and in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are included below. I may make a commission from purchases through those links, but there are no further costs to you.
Title: Isaiah’s Daughter: A Novel of Prophets & Kings
Author: Mesu Andrews
Publisher: WaterBrook (released January 16, 2018)
Synopsis from Amazon: “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.”
I’ve read the Bible’s accounts of Israel and Judah’s kings. Most of them did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but there were a few that did right. I read the short accounts of their triumphs and downfalls, their pride and repentance (or stubbornness), and statistics here and there (what age they became king, how long they ruled). Admittedly, I always end up with a feeling best described with, “Eh.” Another king. A few years of rule. Good king. Bad king. Stubborn Israelites. Stubborn Judeans. Looking at the big picture was like looking at a revolving door. Let’s skip to Jesus’ story already.
Isaiah’s Daughter plunged me into a world of love, family, political struggle, and nations at war. It pulled me into the life of Ishma (later Zibah) from when she was a little girl and into womanhood, from desolation to the delight of the Lord and those around her. Her journey is amazing to follow. The growth of character is one to champion. I cheered for her, cried with her, and held out hope for her.
But this book is more than just Ishma’s story. It’s the story of the prophet Isaiah. It’s the story of King Hezekiah. It’s the story of prophets and God’s intervening voice. It really boils down to a story of struggle. A struggle between love and duty. A struggle between desires and responsibilities. A struggle of faith.
That’s why I enjoyed this book so much. More than just being transported into a different time and place, I related with the themes Andrews brought up. I enjoyed the Biblical and cultural references, the apparent research that went into writing the book and their seamless integration into the story, and the plot that made me think twice of the Biblical characters I hadn’t given much thought of before. But through all those emerged my story – our story.
Have you ever been confused by love? Betrayed by family? Paralyzed by fear? Wondered how to hear the voice of God? How to be sure you really heard the voice of God? Balanced what you wanted to do with what you had to do? Did all the right things but lost anyway?
Yes? Then this book is for you. Isaiah’s Daughter is a great piece of religious historical fiction that can be a great starting point for self-reflection and personal growth.
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