Title: Daughter of Rome
Author: Angela Hunt
Series: The Emissaries, book 3
Major Themes: Rome, Persecution, Apostle Paul, Early Church
Synopsis: When a Christian couple open their home to Calandra and her father as Rome burns, she learns about their faith—but she is still sure that the gods she has relied on all her life will help her.
After enjoying Angela Hunt’s first two books in The Emissaries series, I had been anticipating the release of Daughter of Rome. Finally, the wait is over! What a story. I didn’t want to put it down when I had to; it made a good opportunity to practice self-control.
Publisher’s description:
In Nero’s Rome, Calandra helps her father, a renowned sculptor, complete the most significant commission of his illustrious career. But then a catastrophic fire nearly destroys the imperial city, leaving Calandra reliant on a group of Christians—unusual individuals unlike any she has encountered before. Intrigued by their worship of the Son of an invisible God, Calandra grapples with her mistrust, only to find herself indebted to these believers as they help her rebuild her shattered world.
When Emperor Nero begins constructing his opulent Golden House, the people of Rome grow resentful, suspecting him of starting the fire in order to clear the land for his immense palace. Needing a scapegoat, Nero points at those who follow the Jewish Messiah, forcing Calandra to make an impossible choice between right and wrong, friends and family, love and death.
My thoughts:
Many themes are explored in Daughter of Rome. It’s hard to know what to say and what will be a spoiler! There is romance in the story, but it is a minor theme. The effects of sexual sin on a woman are explored somewhat. Friendship is a major theme—and how God can use friendship to bring people to Himself. Another theme I noticed was how persecution, rather than causing people to avoid the Gospel, actually spread it.
Daughter of Rome is a vivid picture of life in Rome under the emperor Nero. As I read about the fire that destroyed large portions of the city, I could almost feel and smell it, and could definitely feel the horror and desperation. (As a side note, I’m glad I read this book before we lost a small building to fire recently—it would have triggered some intense feelings inside me!) I was struck by the vast gulf between the rich and the poor in Rome, between the patricians and the plebeians. It was also fascinating to read about the process of constructing a sculpture. I enjoyed seeing Calandra and her father working together on a masterpiece.
I would not say that this is one of the best books I’ve read that was set in Bible times, but I did appreciate the way the times of the Apostles were brought to life. I like the whole series for that reason, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning about the past through stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 9: Fire, people burning and dying. Chapter 12: Immorality—off-page, it becomes obvious later what happened. Chapter 13: Reference to previous chapter’s scene. Chapter 14: Woman thinks about the results of sleeping with a man. Chapter 15: Mention of a prostitute. Chapter 18: Bones of abandoned infants. Chapter 24: Woman in labor. Chapter 37: Many people martyred in the arena, in various ways. Chapter 38: Sacrifice of an animal, more people killed in the arena. Chapter 40: Man remembering seeing people being killed, mention of Nero marrying a boy.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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