I wish one could hide only part of a review when there were spoilers. I would say this outside of the cut: I am so freaking disappointed. And the rating doesn't reflect some really good things about this book.Anyway, there will be a spoiler. I will warn you before it happens and you can stop reading there if you don't want to be "spoiled."My mom gave me this book and I've put off reading it for a long time. Some books, you just have to look at every once in a while and wait for the feeling that says, "Time to read it, now." This was such a book for me.I did not like it in the beginning. It starts with a page-and-a-half of exposition on the history of what you're getting into at the beginning of the story (which starts with the Romans obliterating Jerusalem over a decade after the Crucifixion of Jesus.) Translation: One Big Fat Info-dump. And to make it worse, it's all information that's in the story, relayed in so much better-absorbed ways. So it's pointless and it would have been responsible for me never reading this book---but this was a gift from my mother.Then, just as I'd get to feeling sympathy for a character, we'd flip away and be introduced to another character. Now, I realized this was all going to come together, but it still made it really hard for me to get into this book at first.And then, dude, the vocabulary lessons. So we’re in ancient times, mostly Rome. I understand there’re going to be a lot of terms that I wouldn’t know. I guess I’m just spoiled by good fantasy writers---you know, those who let you know what something is without doing something like, say, this:“He held the vafireir, or window-opening device.”Um. So, like, that’s not an example from the book, in case you were scared. But you see what I mean. It just comes off as lazy writing.Now, I haven’t looked this up, but Mom told me the author, or Francine Rivers, used to write “trashy romance novels,” and then found her calling here. That intrigued me. And you know what? If it’s not precisely true, I still believe it. And it was something I enjoyed about this book. That there was an ability to write romantic passion in here, which is not something I’ve ever seen in Christian fiction before. That is, it’s always something the writing itself shrinks away from. And Rivers does not. Rivers’ characters are human. Even her strong Christian protagonist.I was impressed with Hadassah, in that there were none of the usual writing ploys with such characters: she stayed strong, but she was still human.What really impressed me, though, was her love for others. Because I believed it. I believed her love for those who hurt and hated her. I believed that she completely embraced the Christian ideal of loving one’s enemy. It’s, of course, an ideal I’ve read a lot of, heard a lot of, but it’s always approached with this sort of arrogantly polite disdain. Like it’s nothing more than a way of putting one above the enemy.“Ha! Well I love you, and that makes me better! Thdddddpppp.”Okay, so make that outburst worded in a arrogantly polite, disdainful way and you’ll know what I mean. The point is, I never thought that’s what God meant. And I’ve heard sermons about how that moral superiority is not what God meant, but even the sermons teach the polite disdain in their tone and methods.This book doesn’t promote that polite disdain. It promotes the pure-hearted way of loving one’s enemy, and I love that.There were times I thought I’d be rating this Four Stars, no problem whatsoever, with a couple of dips up to Five, when I was reminded of the way Hadassah loved those around her, and the way it was completely believable. Five, in spite of the vocabulary lessons, the slow, jerky beginning, and the character history lesson via dialogue (in the beginning.)Oh, and some of the ideals did get on my nerves. And I just can’t make myself believe that people actually felt darkness when worshipping their Roman gods. And I’ve never been able to condemn homosexuality, and I’m really tired of homosexuals being the “bad guys.” I’ve read Chapter 18 of Leviticus. It doesn’t read right, to me. I feel like there’s gaps and things lost in translation, copying, and everything else. It frustrates me to no end that some Christians take it as a laundry list of who they’re “allowed” to hate. That sort of attitude is hypocritical nonsense; it’s the darkest kind of shame that it gets so many people hurt.See, I’m getting all worked up? And the book did do that, so...yeah. But I should go on while I can still get back to talking about the book. Only one thing left, really, though.SPOILERS. SKIP ITALICIZED BLOCKQUOTE TO AVOID.I have not felt so blatantly apathetic about an ending since City of Angels. I saw this coming and I thought, “Oh, but Rivers, you’ve impressed me, I’ve been into the Christian ideals in this book instead of curling my lip at them like I do with other Christian writers.” Like I said, the usual curling of my lip has to do with the close-minded ways they tend to relay Christian ideals.But I had hope. Surely, surely Rivers knows she doesn’t have to martyr anyone to prove a point. And I understand completely why she did. I understood it completely with City of Angels, too. And I just don’t...feel anything about it. And I realize a lot of Christians would say this proves I don’t understand.After a book of feeling truth, it didn’t feel true. I’m tired of the story where someone has to die for others to see the light. And of course that’s the turning point! Yeah, and God gives us suffering to light the path to him and all that, but you know what? I got that drill. And I had thought this story above the rote. And it was just very disappointing to find out it wasn’t.BACK TO NO SPOILERS:But, well, I do love Marcus and I do love Atretes. And the second book looks to be about Marcus, the third about Atretes. So I will read them. Just not yet, not yet.Oh yeah, that was another high mark: I did totally fall in love with the characters. I even love Julia, though I admit it’s all Hadassah’s doing. It’s like I love her on Hadassah’s behalf or something.
Nothing less than 5 Stars for this beauty!This is such a breathtaking story--so honest and hopeful and humbling. A Voice in The Wind is a Christian Fiction with religious themes that are heavily pronounced. There's no way around them. Religious beliefs, customs, biblical analysis, and Christian theories saturate this story from top to bottom and every crevice in-between. If that's not your idea of fun, than this one may not work for you. This story is long, over 500 pages, and is slowly paced. Each character represents very specific elements of Christian faith--stemming from its humbled servants, to the self-righteous, to the non-believers, to the down-right evil. The setting is historical, taking place after Jesus' death, right before the rise of Christianity. The plot narrows in on the lives of four characters who will eventually connect. There are brutal moments--slavery, abuse, fight-to-the-death gladiator battles--and there are tender, peaceful moments that are every bit as powerful. Maybe even more so. The writing is beautiful and aids this story to life. There's truly so much depth and meaning to dive into, I couldn't help becoming inspired. There is a romance, a very powerful one, but its progression is quite slow. In fact, every bit of this story moves at a believable speed. When people change and/or recognize the error of their ways, it's a slow process. It's never an instant turnaround--and I loved how this author remains true to that. If you'd like to read a more in-depth recount of this story, check out Amy (Foxy)'s beautiful review! She really does this story justice! --->https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...*Thanks of much for reading this with me, Foxy Girl! Our discussions were just as epic as the read itself ♥* Book Stats:▪t Genre/Category:Christian Fiction/Romance▪t Steam Caliber: Fairly clean▪ Romance: Powerful, but slowly paced▪t Characters: Expertly drawn out and life-like▪t Plot: Centers heavily on religion. Historical setting. After Jesus, before the rise of Christianity. ▪ Writing: Breathtaking and polished▪ POV: Third Person. Alternates focus▪t Cliffhanger:YESS! You will want to move forward.▪t Next Installment: A continuing story▪ HEA? (view spoiler)[Not yet... (hide spoiler)]
Do You like book A Voice In The Wind (1998)?
This is the first book in a series of three. I read this one and the second one, but not the third. The storyline/characters change in the third and those characters didn't intrigue me like the characters/main theme in books one and two.This is Christian fiction. Francine Rivers came highly recommended and I tried to read a couple of her books on several occassions but just couldn't get into them. That was not the case with this one. It started with a bang and was a page turner until the end. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second one either.This is a story of faith and love. It will lift you up and break your heart and make you strive to find a faith that is as strong as that of the heroine of this story. Hadassa, is a shining light in a dark Roman world.
—Bambi
A Voice in the Wind provides excellent insight into the suffering experienced by those who endured the misfortune of Roman conquest. Ms. Rivers deposits her readers spot in the middle of the action. I could feel Hadassah's terror as she waited while Roman soldiers went from house to house in Jerusalem, murdering the inhabitants. I could picture myself next to Atretes in battle. I could smell the stench in the pit of the ship and in the catacombs under the arenas. I could feel the warmth of the sun in a Roman garden. I could feel the blindness caused by the gleaming sand while the roar of the Roman mob deafened me. For me, Ms. Rivers superior writing backfired and caused me to have a negative reaction to this book. It is an assault on the senses and is not for those who are squeamish or sensitive. I had to bypass several pages because the gore of battle was more than I could handle. Deaths are described in painstaking detail. We read about arteries being cut, blood splattering, innocent children being torn apart by lions, etc. If you cannot handle this type of material, this is not the book for you. A Voice in the Wind will cover any gaps you may have missed about the Roman Empire in your World History classes. I had a vague understanding of what went on the Colisseum and similar places. The details shared in this book have squelched any desire I've ever had to visit such a place. The pleasures taken by viewing the shedding of innocent blood sicken me. Another reviewer wondered how Hadassah's faith could survive the hardships she endured. I have a hard time believing a malnourished young girl could PHYSICALLY survive these ordeals. The ending will further shock you. If you do not read the second novel in the series, you will be unsatisfied with how a Voice in the Wind ends. Had it not been for the "sneak peak" at the second book in the series, I would have been very frustrated. The first two novels of the series are really one novel and should be read as a unit.To sum up my ramblings, the strengths of this book are its weaknesses. The well-researched, well-penned details which make the story so educational and so moving may be more than the average sheltered American can handle.
—Jenn
Francine Rivers has done it again. This is my third from the author. Her books show us God through the characters, their faith and their lives instead of the other way around. Ultimately, it's a story about God, shown through characters that you fall in love with and care deeply for. Just like any other of her books, no words can describe it, God's love is very present and overwhelming!So many write this, but it's true, no review I could write would give justice to how great this book is.The characters are written so well and the way they changed was masterfully done - subtle changes to a personality, yet over time you notice big differences, just as it so often happens in real life. Both in characters who are turning to good and those who are going in the opposite direction. The storytelling flows naturally and is never too slow or too fast. Reading the New Testament after the gospels, especially all the letters, will be quite different now, because this book really puts you in that time, shows you how people lived in a very real way. Though I knew Christians were being persecuted and the idea of those times, this book really gives an in depth look into how it was and makes me want to reread all of the letters of the New Testament right now. I really admire the author for writing about such things that are hard to write about and not shying away from making it real, even when reality is brutal and harsh. It had been a long time since I read a book that kept me hooked all the way through and kept me thinking about it and wanting to get back to the story even when I wasn't able to. Usually I listen to music when I'm reading and sometimes I multitask, but with this, I sat in silence and just read.I think it goes without saying that this is my favorite author and has been since I first picked up one of her books. :) God has blessed Mrs. Rivers with a gift of writing the truth, and I pray that she is able to continue putting out stories that point readers to God and His Word in such a strong way.
—Lieniitte
