Fantastic book! Tessa Afshar does such a great job world building that you get lost. I loved the story! The characters were great and I adored their story. I think this is my favorite by her!

The Hidden Prince is a very well written inspirational book. I had never read this author’s books but definitely will be now. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Wow. This book brought to life the time of Babylon, the turmoil that people would have faced then in a way that only this author can do. The cover is beautiful, but even more so the beautiful words inside. As you explore the topic of forgiveness, when you will bear the scars forever, the message will sink deeper with you than anything else. This is not a romance, but does have some relationship building that is unusual in the story.

First time reading this author and I will definitely read her again! This was a very well written novel.

The Hidden Prince is a beautiful story of bravery, forgiveness, and trusting in God. Set during the time of Jewish captivity in Babylon, a young girl, Keren, becomes a servant in the house of Daniel. It was amazing to be transported to the streets of Babylon and in the presence of the prophet Daniel. I loved getting a bit of perspective of living during this time and even see part of Jeremiah’s prophecy come to be. I felt a strong connection with the characters and empathy for what they were going though. I was encouraged by their personal revelations though Tessa’s words and through Scripture. There is also adventure and a sweet romance. This is a unique and fascinating read that I highly recommend to all Biblical historical fiction readers!

I liked the fact that this book addressed real trauma rather than just hurt feelings stemming from some trivial misunderstanding. The characters were all complex and well written. The only complaint: please no more "Fire and lightening!" :)

What a beautiful story of how even through our circumstances, our mistakes (intended or not), even our limitations, God can create something beautiful. In The Hidden Prince, Tessa Afshar introduces readers to a young woman who becomes a servant in order to help pay her family’s debt.

Keren’s start in Daniel’s household is almost humorous until she finds her fit. And once she settles in, Afshar paints a depiction of every-day life for Keren. Until an accident up ends everything she has come to love about her life. When she’s forced to flee Babylon, she embarks on a new adventure and purpose God planned for her.

The Hidden Prince is a story about friendship, grace, forgiveness, healing, and trusting God in your worst moments. We can become bitter, or we can accept our challenges and grow in the knowledge that God doesn’t abandon us in those moments that shift our paths. Afshar includes a romance in this book that is so well research and written you will feel like you are taking a journey right alongside Keren.

And if you’re wondering who the prince is, you’ll just have to discover the secret for yourself (and what a discovery it is!).

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

If Tessa has written a new book, do not hesitate, go and buy it!
Because I am 100% sure, not only you will enjoy the story, you will get a lot of lessons from it.
This author is one of the reasons I fell in love with Biblical Fiction.
I love that she also explains what or who are fictional in the story, and that she really does her research.

The chemistry of Jared and Keren is so swoon worthy. I love them together.
I also couldn't believe what happened between the two of them!

One of the things that this book reminded me, that during my "even ifs", I will still praise God. I may not see or like what He is doing, but I can trust that His plan is for the best.

Sharing some of my favorite quotes:

"I tell you that your mistake has not destroyed God's ability to fulfill his will in your life."

"Where do you draw the line for God, Jared? Even if he does not take away this pain? Even if he does not restore your independence, your strength, your health? Will you still choose him, even if? Choose him everyday?"

Tessa Afshar makes ancient Babylon come alive in this incredible book. The setting and characters are so richly drawn. I enjoyed every moment of the story, the adventure, romance and amazing faith journey.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'll admit that I added this book to my TBR pile a while ago and had forgotten what the book was about, but am so glad that I decided to read it. One of my favorite things about historical fiction is reading about time/places that I am not familiar with and learning new things. If I thought hard enough, I probably could have told you that Cyrus was a character in the Old Testament, but I really didn't know his story. While this is historical fiction, Tessa Afshar mentions many Biblical passages and includes references to his story at the end. I really enjoyed the characters of Keren and Jared as well as the tenacity of young Cyrus. This book is definitely a must love for lovers of Biblical fiction!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my
own.

Tessa Afshar is one of my favourite biblical fiction authors. Her writing style draws you into the storyline and helps you imagine these biblical times and figures as real and everyday. She is clear at the end of the story to disclose which parts are based on history and which parts she has created in fiction. I appreciate that. This story about a female scribe, who God leads on a very distinct life was captivating. I really enjoyed it!

A sweeping tale of love, loss, forgiveness, and hope, against the intrigue and danger of the royal courts from Babylon to Persia.

A riveting story, from the very beginning. I was pulled into Keren's plight as she was sold into service to pay her family's debts, finding purpose working as a scribe. I admired her honesty, as well as her quick thinking and determination. I especially liked how the chapters bounced between Keren an Jared, adding depth and insight to the story.

A captivating read that put me through the full gambit of emotions, and I liked that it didn't shy away from asking difficult questions about pain and loss.

Keren's young pupil is an intelligent boy with a big heart, a quick mind, and an air of mischief about him. His scenes always brought a smile to my face.

You won't want to miss this incredible adventure, full of intrigue, faith, and love, set against the lush backdrop of the ancient world. Skilled storytelling brings to life this immersive world, drawing out powerful life-changing messages of hope and faith in this compelling read. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As with any Tessa Afshar book I've read, this story is so good. a wonderful work of biblical fiction. Great characters and emotional story. Recommended!

I love, love, love this book! The tension was high and I couldn’t stop reading. I loved the characters of Jared and Keren as they meet as children but grow into more. It is against the backdrop of captivity and important quests. I wish I could express my favourite parts but that would spoil this amazing plot. This book does have disability rep in blindness and headaches. The headaches were so well written and incredible to see on the page through a main character. This was amazing!


I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

One simple truth has risen, lifting up out of the storm, to become the rock that was higher than the pain. Higher than the fear. Higher than the unanswered questions. He would choose to cling to God. God's love for you endures. God wants our heart to learn to endure, too. Endure in love. Love him even when he seems absent. Love him when has has offended or disappointed you.


A very well done biblical historical fiction. Based on the Old Testament on the prophet Daniel during King Nebuchadnezzar rule. The Jewish people were taken captive by the Babylonians for 70 years which was prophesized. The captivity would end by a named King in the book of Isaiah which was before Daniel's time. If you are a student of the word of God, it is exciting to see how prophecy is unfolded in God's time. It was done very well in this historical fiction.

Keren is sent to Daniel's household to pay off debts that have occurred in her family. You learn very quickly Keren is vulnerable, clumsy, smart, and loyal. When she first enters Daniel household, they try to find a spot for her to serve, however, they find out that she is only well suited to be Daniel's assistance as a scribe. Her grandfather had served as one so naturally it is a job that she loves and she becomes very well regarded by Daniel. Daniel and his wife become very fond Keren. They share with her the wisdom of the scriptures and how God has fitted her for a time such as this. She also meets another friend of the family Jared. They share an attraction that is sweet and pure. But because of family status they cannot act in that attraction but become very good friends until a terrible accident occurs that test their friendship and their faith.

Keren is sent away from Babylon where she meets her fate. She becomes a teacher to a little boy. The boy is expectational and they develop a relationship that changes both of them. When she learns of his true identity, she knows that she must keep him safe with her life. Will she ever see her family, will Jared forgive her. Will she know love.

Afshar does an excellent job of bringing the bible to life. She makes the fictional seem seamless with the historical. The fictional of Keren and Jared's relationship is center. It is a strong relationship based on respect and loyalty. When it is questioned, it proves itself with grace and faith. Their story brings many life lessons. Highly recommend.

A special thank you to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportuntity to post an honest review.

Fire and Lightning! Keren, female lead in The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar, captivated me with her perceptiveness and intelligence. Her “voice” invited me into her story and kept me turning the pages. I devoured the novel, excited for the plot and relationship developments. Then I read the book again, with knowledge of what would happen, and enjoyed it more the second time! With an ancient setting, beautiful prose, and spiritual truths, The Hidden Prince deserves to be savored.

Like so many of Tessa Afshar’s novels, The Hidden Prince, embeds spiritual themes into captivating fiction. The characters deal with so many things: following God’s will, setting one’s heart on truth, moving from upheaval to fruitfulness. My personal favorite was the theme about flourishing in the desert. I marked over forty quotes during my readings. If I read the novel again, I’d likely find more nuggets of truth to meditate on.

The Hidden Prince swirls together powerful themes, a thwarted romance, and royal intrigue. The story holds a strong dose of tragedy for Keren and Jared, creating depth and emotional investment for the reader, but without feeling overly heavy. I enjoyed reading The Hidden Prince and rate it five stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

What a lovely novel and beautiful writing by Tessa Ahshar. If you love biblical fiction, you'll love this.

"The Hidden Prince" is biblical fiction set halfway into the Babylon captivity and is set in Babylon, Media, and Persia. Keren is content assisting Daniel while furthering her education as a scribe. True, she loves her childhood friend, Jared, but her family and position are too humble for him to marry her. Jared cares about her, but when she accidently badly injures him during sword practice, he feels betrayed by her and by God. Now he'll always struggle to do what once came so easily and he's rejected by others as no longer good enough or desirable. So he finds it baffling that God has clearly chosen him and Keren to train and protect Cyrus, the future king that will end the Jewish captivity.

The main characters were complex, likable, and reacted realistically to events. Keren struggled with forgiving herself for what she did to Jared, and Jared struggled with bitterness and confusion about why God would allow his injury yet also prevent it from being even worse. As they worked through these issues, Keren taught the future king and Jared healed. When they came together again, they protected Cyrus from a king who wanted to eliminate a boy he considers a threat.

Jared and Keren learned to trust in God's love and power even when things confused them. There was no bad language or sex scenes. Overall, I'd highly recommend this exciting and engaging historical novel.

Biblical times come to life through this very enjoyable story of Cyrus. Although fictionalized, this story is a very believable rendition of Cyrus' early years. Readers will be intrigued by Keren, a strong, interesting character with unusual talents. The faith the Jewish people had as they waited upon the Lord was amazing. Highly recommended!

What a wonderful read! This book is full of suspense, danger and romance, it will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of biblical fiction. This book deserves more than 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.