Customer Reviews

Mark of the Lion : A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure As the Dawn (Vol 1-3)

5 star:		(315)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

You could buy these books one at a time, but why? As soon as I finished one, I was immediately reaching for the next. They are that good.

The first book in the series, *A Voice in the Wind*, introduces us to the characters. During the first half, the pace is rather frenetic, and the chapters skip from one character's story to the next. I found it a bit confusing at times. It was an interesting tale, but one I could put down. Halfway through the first book, the characters converge, the tension builds and I was absolutely hooked.

In my opinion, the second book was even better than the first (which is saying a lot -- I LOVED the first book). All of the magic of the first book is found in the second -- and more.

A word of advice: when you read the first book, be sure and read the chapter that is included introducing *An Echo in the Darkness* that follows. I ignored it, thinking that it would be redundant; however, this chapter is NOT included in the sequel, and it VERY important. A quarter of the way into *An Echo in the Darkness*, I went back and read this and it answered a lot of questions!

As soon as I finish writing this review, I will start reading *As Sure as the Dawn*, the final book in this series. I can't wait to discover what happens to Atretes, the German warrior whose story we were introduced to in *A Voice in the Wind*.

All in all, a wonderful, heartwarming and inspiring story. Sparks your imagination of what it would have been like to be a First Century Christian living in Rome and Ephesus.

In a short time Francine Rivers has become one of our finest Christian authors, and The Mark Of the Lion Trilogy is her crown jewel. Quite simply, these are my favorite works of fiction, ever. While other authors may sell more books at times, none can WRITE like this woman.

The trilogy's setting is a short time after the resurrection of Christ, in the Roman Empire. Using a Hebrew slave girl (Hadassah) and a German gladiator (Atretes; think the movie Gladiator) as the main characters, three books are crafted with themes of faith, redemption and sacrifice. Rivers is one of the best at writing characters and the ones she creates here are absolutely convincing -- flawed and heroic on multiple layers, with developmental conflicts that relate to modern times almost seemlessly.

These books will not only grab hold of you and demand to be finished but they will challenge you to take your walk with God to a much deeper level. Do not read this series unless you want to be changed. No other stories have every affected me in such a deep way. Forget the Left Behind series and go invest in a true Christian classic. Five Stars, times three.

A friend recommended Francine Rivers' "Mark of the Lion" series to me, and I am so grateful!! I love to read, but it is not often that my life is enriched by a work of fiction. From the very first book I found myself not only engaged, but challenged. Rivers begins by challenging her readers to a life committed to sharing the gospel and living Christ's love, through her main character, Hadassah. The second book takes an honest and powerful look at forgiveness, as God would have us forgive and love those who have hurt us most deeply. Finally, "As Sure As the Dawn" takes us into the heart and mind of an unbeliever who is chained by his anger. As I read of God's work in this man's life, I felt I was seeing an eye-opening perspective of my own life. Each book became so personal to me. The writing and research into each book is absolutely incredible. As a person with degree in English literature, it is so nice to read a book that I don't find myself editing as I read it!! I am certainly a new fan of Francine Rivers, and look forward to reading the rest of her work!

Francine Rivers has an amazing gift from God to tell a believable story from completely foreign time and place and make the reader feel like they know the characters personally. The linkages between today's culture and that of the Roman Empire are astounding - This book helped me fully appreciate the unchanging nature of God throughout history . Thank you for writing this series Francine, I can't wait to read more of your books!

Generally, I dislike fictional books, however, in the "Mark of the Lion" series, Francine Rivers has successfully achieved a remarkable feat. By creating what could soon become known as a masterpiece in Christian fictional literature, Ms. Rivers brings the characters to life with incredibly evoking realism, emotion, and soul. The chapters quickly engulf you, and the portrayal of life in the Imperial Roman Empire is surreal. The life of the Jewish slave Hadassah, the tragedy and triumph in her life, nonlessthan captivate the imagination, and are a testiment to what faith really is.
The historical accuracy and the terms (which are well defined throughout) are evidence that Ms. Rivers researched her material thoroughly, and add to the validity of the story. This is not just another novel, but rather a story that vividly depicts a glimpse into the cultural history of "the Nazarenes" (early Christians) during the first century. These books are not only a great read, they will change you - every Christian should read them. Perhaps the only negative thing about these books is that I couldn't put them down! I've read them all twice, and now they're circulating among my Christian and non-believer friends, and their reviews are all extremely positive. Buy all three, otherwise you'll be paying for overnight delivery from Amazon to ship the second and third books.

Having never read a Francine Rivers novel before I gobbled up this trilogy, I was enthralled by the passion she feels for her characters. Even as she describes the actions of Julia, lost in sin, and those of Marcus, rebellious towards God, you know that her heart goes out to them. It's as if she's describing people she truly knows, and for whom her heart breaks. Though Hadassah's character is by far the sweetest and gentlest, I must say that most of us, Christian or not, are more like the others: blind to our own faults, selfish, and hard-hearted. This series, beautifully, eloquently written, opened by eyes to that. In addition, the tale is carefully researched. Having studied ancient civilizations for the past twelve years, I often read historical fiction with a mental "challenge" for the author to "get it right." After her portrayals of violence, sexuality, religion and politics during the early years of the church, I think Ms. Rivers has met that challenge head-on. I admit that some scenes could be considered disturbing to readers (the portrayal of homosexuality and gladitorial games, for instance) but what makes it worth it is to see how much each character grows out of his or her sin to walk in the love and forgiveness of Christ. For someone who sees these struggles in today's world, it's encouraging to know that early Christians faced the same problems we do today. These books feature the issues of feminism, homosexuality, promiscuity, abortion, racism, genocide, and religious intolerance. In case you're unaware, we as Christians face these issues daily, too! Ms. Rivers took our problems, gave them ancient faces, and created a tapestry of accessible, moving, interwoven tales of love, adventure, and salvation. How can I give it less than five stars?

WHAT AN AMAZING TRILOGY! Francine Rivers has done it and she has done it well. When I was first recommended this book, I was a little aprehensive about reading it, only because I had never read a Christian novel before. All it took was the very first page and I was hooked!!! Francine Rivers writes with such vivid imagination and color. The characters were so real that I felt I knew them personally, I felt I could touch them and talk to them. I read this book about 2-3 years ago and I will never forget the impact that it has had on me.
The story focuses on a young Jewish girl named Hadassah who is of Christian belief. She falls in love with Marcus Valerian, the wealthy son of Decimus and Phoebe, and older brother of snobbish and spoiled Julia. (They happen to be her masters; the family that she works for) Hadassah's solemn, humble, and plain way positively affects everyone she meets. She is a true example of the Child of God; strong and admirable.
This is truly a masterpiece, and I would recommend this book to ANYONE, no matter what types of books you are into. This story will stay with you for years to come. A story like this should definatly be made into a movie!

Words can't even describe how much this series touches your very soul! I read this series years ago and I still can't believe how wonderful this series is! Your heart will fill to the brim (so there is room for nothing else) with so many emotions throughout the course of the books. Joy, extreme sadness, serenity/peace, thrill, wonder/amazement! Get ready for the read of your life. I recommend these for anyone! After reading these, I found myself comparing other books to them, i.e., good, but not as good as Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series! I can't say enough, so I'll stop now without repeating myself too many times! Enjoy!

I read this series not long after it was published, and Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series is one of the best Christian trilogies published. Following Hadassah, Marcus, Atretes, Rizpah and all the other characters' lives is truly a journey well worth the time. The books are historically accurate and very informative while still being highly entertaining. This is Rivers at her best. Her other books are good as well; I especially recommend _Redeeming Love_ and _The Scarlet Thread_.

I loaned my books to a friend at church, and from there, the series fanned out to at least nine people -- moms, daughters and even my father is now reading the series. These are books everyone can enjoy, learn and grow from.

Once you get into the very first book, you will not be able to put it down. Everything else will get ignored. This series shows God's amazing love when things are going just as awful as they can get. You involve yourself with the characters and are stunned at the end by God's love and forgiveness. The characters surprise you by their love, their violence and their heartfelt repentance.

This trilogy is a must for everyone. A must!