This is one very beautiful story. My spirit soared like an eagle reading this novel. This is the third novel of Michael J Webb I have read and the third where he exhibits his flair for a well-constructed plot and well written prose. This particular novel is written beautifully, it is elegant, simple yet complicated, romantic yet full of drama. Webb’s writing style immediately engages you and transports you to this era. Every day when I picked up where I left off previously, I was transported to the time of Christ’s death and resurrection with all the social, political, and religious upheaval that existed between the Jews and Roman occupied Israel, specifically Jersualem in this novel. Webb has a flair for not just constructing well his plot but also his characters. These are well defined and you find yourself getting to know them well and due to his well constructed plot lines, you feel you are there sharing their experiences and not just as an observer or reader. This enabled me to grow fond of the main characters, be wary of others, or to despise and dare I say hate the main antagonists!! His characters are very real and relational. I have stated that in other reviews of Webb’s books. I liken the main character of Deucalion Quinctus Cincinnatus in this novel to Gallus Sergius Vitas who is the main character in The Last Disciple trilogy by Brouwer/Hanegraaff which is also set in the same time period as this but also extends to the reign of Nero and also deals with similar issues in Webb’s story. However, Webb’s account in this novel is far superior and easier to read, appreciate and understand. I agree with Randy K, a reviewer who states on the Amazon book page for this novel, “For some who love to get lost in a great novel, there are just not enough great writers working in Christian Fiction . . . The really good news is that I have found an author you probably don't know anything about . . . Michael Webb brings so much more than just nail-biting action to the stage. He has an amazing knowledge of history and the inter-relationships of the major players during 1st Century AD. He weaves tales of deceit and manipulation that provide us one view of what might have been going on behind the scenes as Pilate, Saul of Tarsus, Herod Antipas, Caiaphas and others battled for power.There is seemingly never ending stream of specific anthropological, cultural, and religious insights that help us to see more clearly what the struggle between Rome, the Jews, and the new Christians was really all about. Add the spiritual realm to the equation to complete a tapestry that keeps you guessing throughout the work . . .Above, I compared Michael Webb to some huge authors. He is actually a better writer than Young or Dekker. His story lines are equal to any of the three. His research is as good as Alcorn. I'll give Alcorn an edge on writing, but not by much.”I could not have expressed this any better myself and I totally support and reinforce here Randy’s findings. I highly recommend this novel. It has left a lasting impression on me and I look back with fondness and joy on this novel.
Every Sunday at church I say the Creed and know that it was under Pontius Pilate that Jesus was killed. This book's character Deucalion was very interesting to me. It was also interesting to read about some of the Bible stories, that I know so well, told in a different way. There are so many people in the Bible that this author wrote about that I know he did a lot of research. He brings up Moses and others, and he includes them in his story line. In the beginning of the book there are a lot of character introductions, and I was briefly confused. However as the characters played their part I was reminded of their role in the Bible. It is interesting to read about the man that stabbed Jesus, and not wonder how and why he did what he did. Was he just doing what he was told? How does he react to being at the resurrection site? With all that I loved about this book it was hard to remember that this is fiction, because it could have happened this way. That is what makes a great historical fiction read! This is also the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait for more from the author. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review from CWA, however all opinions are my own!
Do You like book The Master's Quilt (2013)?
The Master's Quilt by Michael J Webb is an excellent historical novel dealing with the life of several players in the drama of Jesus' crucifixion and the immediate years that followed.The author did a great job of storytelling, developing a story that is both intriguing and sticks to what few historical truths are known of this period. The story was both realistic and easy to follow. I found it hard to put this book down once I started reading it.Michael J Webb did an excellent job of developing his main characters, building on the known history and adding fiction to tell a story. It was easy to identify with them and feel the internal struggle they were going through.I really enjoyed The Master's Quilt by Michael J Webb and I highly recommend this book to all reader.
—Larry B Gray
In this book the author tells a fictional story about the man who pierced the side of Jesus at the crucifixion.At first I found this book very disjointed and hard to follow but I'm glad I persevered as I soon became caught up in what seems to be a real story. Deucalion finds himself torn between his role in eliminating the followers of Jesus while increasingly believing in Him.Although fiction this book reads true and gives an insight into what it must have been like for Christians in the early days of the churc.
— Northern Light
