Tessa Afshar can always be counted on for strong female characters and good Biblical and historical research. I was excited to read this book after reading Bread of Angels since these characters show up there after the events of this book and I already loved them. I wanted to know their backstory. But I quickly became bogged down in what felt to me an unbelievable number of bad things happening to Elianna. This book reminded me of a Karen Kingsbury book so if you like her writing and enjoy Biblical fiction, you will probably love this book. Sadly, it wasn't something I enjoyed. There was far too much sadness and despair and Yeshua/Jesus didn't come on the scene nearly soon enough in this book for my liking. I guess it was good to experience the waiting and longing for the Messiah in this way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.

I am a big fan of Tessa Afshar's works, for me she is the best writer of Christian biblical fiction. The attention to the detail is great, the historical facts seem to be well researched and the feel of the land and times rings true. Her novels are richly layered and have very authentic female voice with real feminine experiences. And she is very funny! Her tongue-in-cheek kind of humour is very refreshing.

This novel, too, is well-written and I admire that the authoress went farer than "just" the illness - she went for the healing of heart. Jesus called the heroine "daughter". And Ms Afshar goes deep into the heart of daughter hurt by her father's silence. This is a very deep issue, the pain many are facing.
And then there is the other silence - the silence of God amidst our true suffering. This is even deeper issue, because to trust and to believe when one is hurting is hard. The faith of the suffering ones is fragile like glass, but might become hard as a diamond after the fire. *Might* is the important word here, because the suffering is real, many can get broken because of it.
This is my favourite story of the Bible - the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. The struggle of "being impure" added the burden of aloneness to Elianna's physical suffering (while this is authoress' fictitious guess, I think the guess might be quite right simply because the natural processes of female body were/are subject of taboo in many cultures). And 12 years! Oh my God. Poor soul. Yet - this is also the story of a miracle and of great healing. Of a plan to use the suffering to show God's grace and glory.

So why 3 stars? Firstly, I think the "illness part" of story is really short, I would like the authoress to elaborate more. Second, I find there bits of blame-shifting which I do not like. Like when Decimus Calvus is made into the bad character when I think that Elianna should take much more responsibility (while she was protective, Decimus was not to blame for her breaking her promise). Ethan, too - he is portrayed as a saint of a guy, so why can not he trust Elianna's character more? Third, I do not like the romance here. The sparks are missing. Really, Decimus Calvus might be a better hero, because while he is selfish and rough, he is also willing to marry Elianna "as she is" - read: ill. The writing is clearly oriented into making a hero out of Ethan, but he does not work for me. I would be happy without the romance in this novel, or simply with a small romance say at the ending, a hint of something new. But I also get that the authoress wanted to show Elianna as a Job like kind of person, who has lost practically everything - and who was given new, better things then.

Having saod all that - I will continue this authoress' works. This one might not be my cup of coffee, but she can offer unique approach and values and I do not want to miss them.

<br><a href="http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2016/05/02/land-of-silence-by-tessa-afshar/" target="_blank">Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.</a>&nbsp;

The <em>Land of Silence</em> starts off during a beautiful day of joy and playfulness... Tessa Afshar's prose is witty and the personality of our main character Elianna comes right off the page as she interacts with her brother Joseph. However,<strong> </strong>quite quickly things change for Elianna and the story takes off. Following family tragedy, she has to find distraction, they all do just to continue to go on in everyday life. Things need to be done, and Elianna wants to make up for a debt she thinks that is her fault and throws herself into any task and finds some solace there.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-27427" src="http://creativemadnessmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Land-of-Silence-by-Tessa-Afshar-ChristianHistorical-BiblicalFiction-is-a-recommended-read-from-Debbie-Macomber.jpg" alt="Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar #ChristianHistorical #BiblicalFiction is a recommended read from Debbie Macomber" width="350" />
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23563" src="http://creativemadnessmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/FTC-Book-Review.png" alt="FTC-Book-Review" width="350" /><br><a href="http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2016/05/02/land-of-silence-by-tessa-afshar/" target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.</a>

Tessa Afshar has been my go to author for biblical fiction ever since I read her début, Pearl in the Sand. Unique and refreshing, her novels always leave me with a different viewpoint with each biblical story and biblical character enclosed within its pages. I’ve found that it’s so easy to get lost in her incredible storytelling and real to life characters.

Which is why I should not have been surprised by how much I was taken away with one of her latest, Land of Silence. Like a soothing cup of warm tea on a cold winter night, Land of Silence transported me away into a time and place that felt so real with each turning page. I exaggerate not when I say the emotional aspect of this novel gripped my heart instantly, making me want to reach across fictional lines and give out hugs. May sound silly, but I think after reading this novel you’ll understand where I’m coming from.

What I loved most about Land of Silence? Its main character, Elianna. The Bible offers little information about the woman found in Matthew 9:20-22 {among other places}, but the little that is provided makes it impossible not to feel for this woman who suffered what seemed like an incurable disease for 12 years. And that’s what Land of Silence does so well. Through the POV of Elianna, readers get the chance to experience what life could have been like for her and understand why that moment at Jesus’ hem was so monumental. And that experience is breathtaking!

In short, Land of Silence is a must read. A novel I would gladly read over and over again!!!

Title: Land of Silence

Author: Tessa Asfhar

Chapters: 31 plus epilogue

Pages: 390

Genre: Christian Biblical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar is a retelling of Biblical story of the woman with the bleeding condition. Not only did I read this book at the right time. To get out of my reading slump, but it also helped me deal with losing my mother.

Tessa's books always seem to come to life for me. The characters seem so real. Land of Silence was no different. Eilanna has faced hardships in life; she's almost given up hope. When she hears of the messiah someone who can heal her. So she searches him out. In the end she doesn't just find physical healing she finds so much more.

I was having a hard time dealing with losing my mom, but after reading Land of Silence and the recount of the bleeding woman in the Gospels; I was reminded that I am still a daughter. But more importantly as a believer I am a daughter of the King of kinds, and Lord of lords.


So thanks Tessa for writing this book. It was truly a God moment that the publisher chose to release it when they did. It was released the right moment as I was reminded me of Who's I am.


I received a complimentary copy of Land of Silence from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Thanks for letting me review it! Never read this author before.

Tessa Afshar is one of the best at Biblical, historical fiction! She's at it again, this time telling the story of the woman who bled for 12 years. Little is known about her, except she was considered "unclean," and therefore an outcast, from this bleeding disease. Her faith is rewarded by Jesus and she is healed simply by touching the hem of his garment, as told in three of the four gospels in the Bible. Jesus actually thought it significant enough to stop what he was doing to pay attention to her extraordinary faith.

Storyline
Tessa Afshar tells this woman's (fictional) story in Land of Silence, and as usual, does an amazing job weaving real people, fiction and history together. Her writing flows and engages the reader right from the beginning, with well-developed characters and deep, realistic storylines.

The woman's name is Elianna: a young Jewish maiden in a happy family and betrothed to a man she has loved all her life. But in an instant, her family's lives are devastated, and thus begins a season of (seemingly) never ending loss and heartache. When her life is finally stripped down to almost nothing, it is only then that she begins to experience who God really is. Can she trust God to be all he says he is? And what about this new prophet, Jesus, everyone is talking about? Rumors are he heals the sick and the lame. Could he actually be the long awaited Messiah? What's more... could he really be the answer she has needed all along?

Depth
As in all Tessa's books, she never shies away from exploring the deep, soul wrenching realities of life. Issues of guilt, bitterness, grief, sorrow and betrayal are all shaken to the core. This story dives pretty low into despair and heartache, but surfaces with satisfaction into redemption, forgiveness and hope.


Faith
It's a rare thing for these two chicks to give a five star rating for the faith category! In this book, God is most definitely a main character. The Jews follow the old law to the best of their abilities, and Tessa takes great care to respect it and show the need for a Savior all at the same time. A wise Pharisee (who in real life secretly became a follower of Jesus) says that we do not understand who God really is in our times of happiness, but rather in our times of suffering and sickness. He prays for Elianna, but advises her that even if she is not healed physically, her heart can begin mending and her soul can begin preparing for the plans God has yet to unfold in her life.

Tessa's vast knowledge and understanding of Jewish and Christian history blows us away with each of her books we open!


Squeal Factor
Elianna has loved Ethan her whole life and assumes she probably always will. They share a few tender scenes, but mostly we are just witness to their traditional - albeit, unpredictable - betrothal.


Overall

If you are looking for a deep, faith-filled read, this book is for you! Tessa's excellence as a historical fiction writer, based on true accounts, is supreme. We would have loved to give this read a five star, but we felt the first half of the book was a little too drawn out. However, like usual, Tessa ties everything together beautifully at the end and makes this a solid, wonderful read.