As Sure as the Dawn

Wow. I just finished this one, #3 of the trilogy. Although each of the books could stand alone, I was enriched by beginning with the 1st and going all the way through the series in order. I have a new appreciation of the brutality and horror of the gladitorial arenas and the torturous training endured to be able to fight in them. Counterbalancing all that was the sweet acceptance and gentle love offered by a former slave girl who served the superficial, pleasure-seeking Julia. I was enriched by the stories of all the characters.

I stumbled across this series almost 20 years ago, and I am still reading them to this day, this book especially. I have read the first two at least a hundred times, but Atretes and Rizpah’s story is just so particularly beautiful, and I have read it at least an additional fifty times on top of the others. There is so much anger in Atretes, and the way that he slowly comes around to peace and God really is just beautiful. More than that though, the story is just so haunting and captivating.

The fear of the unknown, the struggle with temptation, the danger offered by Rome, and those who would see Atretes back in the arena. I also am just heartbroken each time as it is made clear over and over that actions have consequences. Nobody gets off unscathed, least of all those who make decisions outside of God’s will.

I read this book again just the other day, and there is a very good chance that I’ll still be reading it 30 years from now. It is a timeless masterpiece of struggle and love, and it was just so beautifully written!

Excellent

Great!

This series as a whole is 5 stars for me. This book picks up with Atretes where we left him in the first book. The events happen pretty much in parallel to the events of the 2nd book so we get no further updates on Hadassah and Marcus. There are so many moments in this book I love. Many times Atretes and Rizpah reminded me of Beast and Belle, especially the scenes in the beginning in Atretes villa. It was emotional and comical at the same time. I thought that the last quarter of the book ran a little slow and then the climax and resolution seemed a little rushed. I didn’t have the same heart wrenching emotions at the end of this book as I did with the first two, but I still really enjoyed and appreciated this story and the characters’ development. This series is powerful and beautiful and I enjoyed the journey. It has made me reflect on my relationship with Christ and I thank Francine Rivers for that.

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