Petra: City in Stone [Paperback]

T. L. Higley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2010

Petra, the wondrous ancient city carved from the mountains of modern Jordan, is at the height of its glory in this gripping historical novel by T. L. Higley. A young widow, Cassia, and her son, Alexander, have arrived there seeking protection with her late husband's estranged family. But when Cassia discovers the man she married was heir to the throne, the power-hungry Queen Hagiru plots to murder Alexander so that her own child will someday rule. The queen, priestess of the sun-god, Dushrat, calls on demonic powers in her quest, but Cassia is prepared for the fierce spiritual battle to save her son, joining a Roman named Julian and his community of believers in the Jewish Messiah. Together they seek a mighty movement of God far stronger than any dark heart or city made of stone.

Endorsement

"It is impossible to read a T. L. Higley novel and not be transported. Petra is filled with all the intrigue, drama, and flavors of the ancient world that Higley is so well known for. With heart-pounding action and characters that carve their way into your heart, Petra is an adventurist's read, and an escapist's dream. Who needs Indiana Jones?"

Tosca Lee, author of Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve

"Set in early second century AD, this historical Christian novel provides great tie-ins to Scripture and early church history. Malik was a real disciple of Paul, and martyred by Trajan Christians in the arena. The characters are complex and believable . . . The good- versus-evil conflict in this book is especially powerful— Cassia against Hagiru reflects the bigger struggle in the spiritual realm between Jesus and the demons behind the false gods of Petra. Readers will come away with renewed appreciation for the courage of Christians in the face of uncertainty and persecution."

Christian Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

T. L. Higley holds a degree in English literature and has written six previous novels. She lives with her family near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: B&H Books (September 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433668564
• ISBN-13: 978-1433668562
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #638,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tracy L. Higley travels the world, brings back adventure and writes novels that transports readers to ancient times and places.

Visit her website at TracyHigley.com or meet up with her on Facebook at facebook.com/tlhigley.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Journey back through the sands of time..., October 21, 2010

By 

Diane Brown "The Readers Cove" (Cheyenne, Wyoming) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Petra: City in Stone (Paperback)

Journey back through the sands of time...

Vivid adventure, survival, and a quest for truth fill the pages of Petra, City in Stone. The glory days of the Roman Empire and the struggle of the early Christians make a compelling background to the lives of nobles and slaves alike.

Powerful characters carry the story down dangerous paths, filled with sinister shadows and evil darkness. Petra, City in stone, harbors many secrets but light and love can find a way when the heart is open. Failures turn into triumphs and impossible odds are challenged.

Intense emotion, human imperfections, unconquerable determination...

Petra, City in Stone, is indeed fiction at it's finest!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a while!, October 1, 2010

By 

K. L. Haschke "Kmama" (South Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Petra: City in Stone (Paperback)

I'm the type of person that has a really, really hard time putting a good novel down once it draws me in. I tend to devour them, often in one sitting. Alas, my current busy household doesn't allow for extended reading time like that. Instead, I stayed up way, way too late two nights in a row reading Petra: City of Stone, the newest novel by T.L. Higley. I'm so glad B&H Publishing sent it to me for review, because I might have missed it if they hadn't.

Petra is the first in a new series set in "lost cities"...the next volume, due out in mid-2011, will be set in Pompeii. In Petra, Cassia and her young son, having no where else to turn, travel to the city of Petra in search of the estranged family of the boy's recently deceased father. When they arrive, the discovery of the family's true identity puts both Cassia and her son in grave danger. While attempting to rescue her son, Cassia is joined by Julian, another recent transplant to Petra, who fled the Christian persecutions in Rome, and Malik, the elder of the Christian church in Petra, along with many of his flock. Cassia, desperate for love, and Julian, always searching for approval, both have much to learn from the situation and their encounters with Malik and the church. Eventually, Cassia learns that with the love of the one true God, she can love others from a position of strength...God's strength...rather than need, and Julian realizes that God's approval, rather than men's, is all he needs.

The book is an engaging blend of history, adventure, suspense, romance, and intense spiritual warfare. The ancient city of Petra comes alive under Ms. Higley's skillful pen. She obviously did her research, and has even more background and historical information available at her website. The characters are well-developed, effortlessly drawing the reader into the story. I loved the portrayal of the church in the early second century. It's easy to take for granted the relative freedom we have here and now to practice our faith. These believers (along with many others right down to the present day) risked their very lives just by being identified as followers of "The Way" and had to have an incredible trust in and reliance on God. I love how Malik instructs his flock to "love until they ask why", even in the face of opposition and persecution. We can all learn from their example.

I highly recommend Petra: City of Stone. It's an incredibly enjoyable read, especially if you like historical fiction in the same vein as the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. You can even read the first three chapters online to see what you think. The Dancer, my oldest daughter, is reading it now and loving it. It's perfect since she's studying ancient cultures this year! I've already ordered two of Ms. Higley's previous titles, from her series on the Seven Wonders, to check out while we wait for the next installment in this new series.

Thanks so much to Julie Gwinn at B&H Publishing for sending a review copy to me!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Experience the battle of good vs evil, September 16, 2010

By 

Wyn (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Petra: City in Stone (Paperback)

I have always been fascinated by Petra and was anxious to see how the author would treat it. It was easy to see that she spent time there for the physical details were extraordinary. I felt like I was living in the city with the hero, Cassia. In this story Cassia arrives in Petra in the early 100AD's with her son looking for her dead husband's family. There she discovers that there was more to her husband than he told her, that his family is under the influence of evil. She also discovers the Church of Petra and struggles to understand the idea that strength is not gained from the inside but rather from the love of Jesus inside her. Cassia's fight to save her son from becoming an evil sacrifice while at the same time learning to trust Jesus is fraught with suspense and intrigue at every turn. The author has described the evil living in the palace and in the High Place in a breathtaking way that brings it alive in your mind and makes one wonder about today's examples. Definitely a book worth reading