The Bible is filled with stories of brave, wise, and faithful women who dared to follow God's call. In this new book, Fierce and Faithful: 25 Women of the Bible Who Dared to Trust God, Carmen Ines and Nijay Gupta have introduced us to some of them and this is so rewarding. Read this, read this and reread again and tell all your friends about this book.

This is a fantastic resource for girls, one that I would have devoured in my early tweens. Informative, reflective and beautifully illustrated.

I am so excited about this book! These stories about the women in the Bible are so approachable for young readers, and at the same time I, a 32 year old, enjoyed reading them! Both authors struck a balance of Biblical details and culturally accurate imagination. This is absolutely a book I would want kids in my life and in my church reading!

★★★★★

Fierce and Faithful is an outstanding exploration of twenty-five women of the Bible and the ways their courage, faith, and trust in God mattered. Although I was familiar with many of these women, this book taught me several things I did not know. I especially appreciated the historical and cultural background explaining what daily life would have been like for women during both Old and New Testament times. That context helped me understand their actions and significance more fully.

The chapters are short and approachable without feeling shallow. Each one introduces the woman being studied, explains her role in Scripture, and considers why her story remains meaningful. Several of the women are unnamed in the Bible, so the authors assign them names for the purpose of discussing their lives and experiences. Each chapter also includes thoughtful questions connecting the woman’s story with situations we may face today, followed by relevant Scripture. The book concludes with helpful suggestions for continuing to study and apply what we have learned.

I received both an advanced listener’s copy and an advanced reader’s copy. The audiobook was excellent, with an outstanding narrator and a chapter structure that made it easy to follow. I reflected on the questions while listening, but I believe readers who want to study the book more deeply may prefer the Kindle or hardcover edition. Having the questions in front of me would make it easier to pause, think carefully, and work through my answers more deliberately.

After looking through the ARC, I was completely impressed by both the layout and Jade van der Zalm’s beautiful illustrations. The visual presentation adds tremendously to the experience and complements the women’s stories wonderfully. In fact, I was so impressed that I am seriously considering purchasing a finished copy when the book is released. The audiobook is excellent for listening and learning, while the print or Kindle edition would be especially valuable for reflection and deeper study.

This is a beautifully written, thoughtfully organized, and visually striking book that would be valuable for personal reading, Bible study, or discussion. It has encouraged me to look more closely at women whose faith and courage played significant roles in Scripture. This was unquestionably a five-star experience for me.

I was blessed with both an ARC and an ALC of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to experience it in both formats. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and unbiased.