It's been awhile since I started a book, and was immediately rippled with heartache and hope. Isaiah's Daughter, the first book in the Prophets & Kings series by Mesu Andrews opens with such an image, that I can't help but continue on. In that glimpse of a first chapter, I can tell you, it not only propelled me forward into the story, but prepared my heart and mind for one tumultuous ride.

Biblical fiction have always been one of those genres that I've always been leery of. Not because I don't think it's fascinating or good, it's because I've not read one that I've been able to walk away like any other type of fiction I read. True to its genre, Isaiah's Daughter combined Biblical truths, setting and add in a fictional element. That's not to say there's no purpose because it's made up. In fact, the very best biblical fictional will bring the stories of the Bible to life and allow modern day readers to grasp the idea that the Bible is not so "ancient" and "hard to understand" anymore. The Bible is relevant, and Mesu Andrews gave this believer one heavy heart in its message and in comprehension of the times of the "prophets and the kings." With all said, I like the fact that there's a bit about what is fiction and what is from the Bible in the beginning and the author's notes.

Isaiah's Daughter is very much about Ishma, as it is about Hezekiah. Their first meeting have been the most memorable for me, and my favorite. Both children, both witnessed a traumatic event and as they relied on each other, we see through the years, their minds, their emotions and their development. How they overcame the fear and learned to trust in Yahweh with their lives and their country, was powerful to say the least. Romance may not be at the forefront, but no one can deny the romance in this novel. 

With the tension of royal uncertainties to the cruelty of aggression and the sacrifice of life, Isaiah's Daughter also is balanced with the love of family, the joy of friendship and the message of God's eternal promise. My very first Mesu Andrews' novels, but definitely won't be my last. Even days afterwards, I am inclined to go back on several passages or reach into my Bible and read - of God's deliverance, as well as His promise. Yes, Isaiah's Daughter is good. Be prepared to be wowed, but take heart, it needs to be savored, and pondered over.