I had a few reservations before picking this book on Netgalley, mainly due to an older book I read by this author years ago which: wasn't great at all. I did, however, enjoy the movie adaptation of her more recent work 'Risen' and the subject was interesting. I know a little about Ceasar and Cleopatra.
My final feelings on the book were decidedly mixed. There were definitely shades of Ben-Hur in the plot, and I liked Ben-Hur a lot, but this was lacking in some of the charm of that story.
The over-arching story could be seen as that a Jewish girl remaining faithful to her God and her principles when her whole world was turned on its head, and in the midst of terrible adversities, and in that was it was genuinely well-told, emotional and exciting. Chava grew a lot in the course of the story, and though I rooted for her, I'm not sure I ever warmed to her.

The religious message was also touching and delivered authentically without being preachy. I thought it was well handled, as since of course the novel is set a few decades Before Christ, it does not fit into the traditional remit of 'Biblical Fiction'. Judaism, not Christianity is the faith of the faithful, and of course, no New Testament existed so they drew guidance, encouragement, and peace from what they had whether that was the Old Testament Scriptures or the works of the Great Philosophers of old.

However, I had a number of issues. Whilst the author's research was spelled out at the end, and many details well-researched and authentic, others were not. Obvious Americanisms coming from the mouths of first century BC Alexandrians were just--- no. Chava talking about traveling several 'blocks' to the city docks was almost too much. (For goodness sake, stop it with everyone in the Ancient and Medieval world measuring distance in 'blocks'! I'm sure readers can grasp miles and yards). There were other glaring historical errors- one that stood out for me was the mention of raw sewage flowing down the streets of ancient Rome. Rome is the city that became famous for its underground sewage network (some of which survives today) and transporting this technology across the Empire.

Also the description of slaves being transported in Tiny berths and conditions reminiscent of the transatlantic slave trade and terrible also didn't ring true. I mean seriously, why would the person who had supposedly paid over a year's wage one slave then keep her in conditions so bad it destroyed her beauty and nearly killed her only to sell her for a fraction of the price? It's this inconsistency in terms of research and accuracy that bothers me with a lot of Christian Fiction, in which minor details are correct, but major ones are allowed to slip.

I have also noticed in several of this authors books the tendency to idealize the culture in which her protagonists lived: but at the same time have historical people judge the world around them and its people according to modern expectations and standards, unattainable and unrealistic at the time. So there were some modern romantic ideas bandied about 'Why can't Cleopatra just marry whoever she wants because she loves them no matter who they are?' and 'Poor her, having to marry for duty/politics'.

Finally, I really did not buy the sympathetic depiction of Cleopatra as a type of victim who just wanted to do the best for her country: I think it's a naive depiction that does not take account of the savage realities of the ancient world and its politics. Many people were just looking out for Number One: and had few scruples about murdering anyone they deemed a threat- including family members. Cleopatra may have been a good friend who loved her country, but that does not negate the fact that she was determined to keep hold of power by any means necessary, to the point that she killed her brother and sister.
Don't try and tell me they deserved it because they were worse than her, or that she did not use what her brother and his advisors could not: her feminine wiles to win over powerful men for her ends.

I requested a copy of this title from Netgalley and listened on the Audiobook of my own volition. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Egypt's Sister

A Novel of Cleopatra
by Angela Hunt

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Christian

Pub Date 04 Jul 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Egypt's Sister through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

Five decades before Christ Chava, the daughter of the royal tutor grows up with Urbi a princess in Alexandria's royal Palace.  Urbi grows up to become Queen Cleopatra.

Ten days after Alexandria buried the twelfth Macedonian Greek to call himself King of Egypt people gathered outside for the wedding of Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII.

Chava has always known Cleopatra as Urbi, not the queen, but her friend, but now Queen Cleopatra is in danger, at the risk of assasinated.  Will Chavabe able to protect her friend?

Chava finds herself cast off alone in Rome, forced to choose between love and honor, between her desires and God's Will in Life.

I give Egypt's Sister five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I was unable to open this book on my reader. So I was unable to read or review it. I had so hoped to read it, the cover looks amazing and the story sounds wonderful

I’ve followed Angela Hunt’s writings for years thanks to her predictable ability to turn out a good book especially when she delves into historical fiction as she has this ability to make you believe her stories could have happened. Her biblical fiction takes that ability to new heights as she has this way to make the Bible come alive. This latest is no exception as she takes us back in time to the years between the Old & New Testament and provides us a unique view of Cleopatra’s rise to power which we are privy to through the eyes of her loyal friend. Her storyline isn’t overly predictable so you get to have the fun of guessing what is going to happen next through most of her novel.

Like a typical Hunt book her character development is fleshed out so we really get a feel for who Chava is, her place in the world, her relationship to Cleopatra and her faith. She made her version of Cleopatra seem tragic and authentic as if this was more than an idealized version altered for a story. She has a real knack for creating strong female characters. She didn’t write her characters as being flawless human beings who simply believe in God and have perfect lives which can be an irritating part of Christian fiction.

The historical details she puts makes you feel like you are really learning something about the lives of Egyptians and Romans as well as how the socio-political climate was pre-Christ. Reading about the ‘Silent Years’ as seen from a Jewish family who is navigating the world of Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian against a descriptive landscape gives you the feel of a secular book so for anyone who gets a little nervous reading prototypical Christian fiction you should rest easy and give this a chance.

If you’re into historical Christian fiction you should add Angela Hunt to your Must Read list as she is guaranteed to provide well-written Christian books.

Angela Hunt is one of my favorite authors and this book is one of her best.  In my opinion a historical fiction book leaves you wanting to learn more.  I found myself looking up information while reading the book and astounded at the amount of research that Ms. Hunt did to make the book accurate and so enjoyable to read.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to more books by Angela Hunt.

Daughter of the royal tutor, Chava, has grown up alongside Egyptian princess Urbi in the royal palace at Alexandria.  When Urbi unexpectedly becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava holds to a promise given by God that, "Your friendship with the queen lies in My hands.  You will be with her on her happiest day and her last.  An you, daughter of Israel, will know yourself, and you will bless her."  Despite their promise to be friends and sisters forever, however, Cleopatra imprisons Chava after an argument.  Sold into slavery and shipped to Rome, Chava begins a years-long journey back to her beloved home, that will eventually bring her face-to-face with the queen and friend who betrayed her so viciously.

From the palaces of Alexandria to the Roman countryside and the very halls of Roman power, Angela Hunt takes readers on a powerful and compelling journey in Egypt's Sister.  Impeccably researched and full of wonderful historical detail, Hunt's latest Biblical-era novel is nothing less than fascinating.  She expertly has readers explore the the competing worlds of Egyptian, Greek, Jewish, and Roman thought.  The story itself is fast-paced, and makes the books almost impossible to put down.  For such a lovely story of identity in God, faithfulness, and forgiveness, though, there was just so little joy to be had.  After finishing the novel, I felt like I had journeyed and learned alongside Chava, but that neither of us had truly reached a happy ending.  The hopeless romantic and occasional optimist in me simply wasn't satisfied by the ending and needed just one more-- perhaps cliche-- chapter to bring the story to its conclusion.

Angela Hunt continues to write wonderful historical novels that take you back into Biblical times.  This story is a deviation from her normal tomes where she writes about a woman in the Bible.  In this story, her character is fictional and her time is the 400 silent years from the last prophet in the Old Testament to the writing of the new.   This time, her main character, Chava, is fictional and a friend of Cleopatra.  She fills the pages with an enthralling story of two young girls growing up in this ancient era, one is Jewish, devoted to her God and the other worships many gods and becomes queen of Egypt. 

The author brings this tale to life by having Chava tell her life’s journey in the first person.  You experience her despair as her life of privilege comes to a shocking end and her family is ripped apart.  You are also witness to her strong faith in God and how it assists her in times of misery and hopelessness.  You get a taste for the lifestyle of both the rich and poor in early Egypt.  All these factors combine to give the story depth and character and inspire the reader to keep reading.

This story can be read and enjoyed by early teen readers to adults.  I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading stories that involve characters from the Bible.  Although this book doesn’t pertain to a particular person, it does pertain to the era and helps you to understand the challenges that were faced by everyday people, both Jewish and non-Jewish.

I am always excited when one of my favorite authors comes out with a new book. I have been reading Angela Hunt's books for years, and I am never disappointed. She writes in historical and contemporary genres, and I enjoy both of them. However, her Biblical fiction is my favorite. In this newest series, she is tackling the "silent years" between the Old and New Testament. Egypt's Sister is a fictionalized account of Cleopatra's rise to power told thru the eyes of her closest friend, Chava.

I loved the character development of Chava through out this book. She begins as a pampered, shallow girl who wants nothing more than to spend all of her time with her friend, the princess. Her relationship with Cleopatra boarders on obsessive. Eventually she is betrayed by her friend and she learns to rely on God. By the end of the book, she is a mature women who knows her own mind.

Another wonderful aspect of this book is the historical detail. I learned so much about the day to day lives of the Egyptians and Romans of that time. It also put the timeline leading up to the birth of Christ into perspective. The scope and detail reminded of the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a lot of detail and strong female characters, I would definitely recommend this book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out so I can learn more about this fascinating time in history. 

I received this book for free for the purpose of review.

**Many thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for this book!**

The Silent Years. They passed between the days of Malachi and the first Christmas. Every Jew longed to hear God's voice, but he did not speak. At least not through the prophets. 

Chava and her father, Daniel and brother, Asher, live in Alexandra, Egypt, during its glory days. Egypt is as prosperous as its ever been, and Daniel has work at the royal palace, tutoring princes and princesses. Even for Jews in Egypt, not a great position to be in, they're content.

Especially Chava, who's lucky enough to be friends with Urbi, the second princess of Egypt. One day Chava seems to hear YHVH's voice, telling her that she and Urbi will be together on Urbi's happiest and last days. For a while Chava is content to dwell like this, her life given to serve her best friend who will one day rule as the queen of Egypt. 

But then political tensions rise as Julius Caesar and others vie for dominion of the Roman Republic. Chava finds herself caught in the middle- and when she is sold into slavery, it will take all her resilience and faith to escape- and survive.

Likes:
-This was a genuinely well-written Christian book. It was all about the Silent Years, a period which fascinates many, and managed to weave Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Octavian and Julius, into the story of a small Jewish family. The writing was lush and descriptive, and it had the feel of a lovely mainstream book with great editors. 
-The characters make mistakes. Hallelujah, a Christian book where not everyone is a saint! 
-I was constantly guessing about what would happen next, although some of the foreshadowing got a little obvious. More on that later.
-I thought the romance was genuinely well done and did not dominate the story at all. While the book never really talked about a call to singleness, it did incorporate that into the story, and it was well-done.
-All the clever references to things that I know are true about Jewish life. Things like the name of God and the stories about the Septuagint. It felt very authentic.
-Cleopatra was a real person, and truly made sense. Her figure was tragic, but still very human. 

Dislikes:
-The Chekhov's guns were frequent, and it got a little bit predictable. 
-I didn't feel like Chava was all that well-developed at first, but that got better as the story progressed.

Content warnings:
-LANGUAGE: none
-SEX: the story takes place in Rome, and many of the main characters are female slaves. The sexual aspect is not glossed over, but it is never depicted either with any kind of detail, and the main character is never taken advantage of. A few characters are pregnant, there is some talk of mistresses, and much of the later story deals with being a midwife.
-VIOLENCE: While there are massacres and revolts mentioned, no violence is really straight-up depicted. A baby is still-born, a mother dies in labor, a character is found with throat slit. Another character commits suicide. 

This was a good book, and I enjoyed it. Thanks again to Bethany for the ARC.

I enjoy Angela's books and this is no exception.  The story had many twists and turns that never ceased to amaze me. Seeing how Cheva stood on he faith in God & for her beliefsis encouraging.  Knowing that God is faithful  & being reminded he will not test us beyond what we are able to endure is encouraging.