Hamutal is a humble shepherdess who follows the mesmerizing voice of God. When rowdy criminals assault her at Jerusalem’s cistern one afternoon before Sabbath, she feels hopeless until Josiah rescues her and leaves the men bleeding in the street.Young King Josiah’s journey to find truth leads him to Jehovah’s altar and— together with the woman he rescued from both tedium and peril—he seeks to … leave behind the scandalous past of his grandfather’s monarchy in exchange for a revolutionary plan. What will he do when restorers of the Temple at Jerusalem unearth an ancient scroll that spells doom for them all?
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Consuming Fire doesn’t at all read like a first-time novelist’s book. Robyn Langdon’s writing is compelling and mature. She’s a refreshing new voice in the Christian historical fiction. I appreciate the elements of love and romance without the too-detailed, overly flowery, and often implausible romantic scenes found in some of today’s Christian fiction and would therefore recommend this book to teenagers as well as adults.
I love Hamutal’s beautiful prayers when she is worshipping her Lord, agonizing over her loved ones, dealing with the responsibilities of motherhood, and missing Josiah. Her character is relatable and endearing.
Josiah is both strong and vulnerable, and his conviction translates powerfully through Robyn’s words. His zeal is just as I hoped it would be, and the depth of his relationships with Jehovah, Hamutal, and other characters, such as the prophet Jeremiah, is surprising and moving as well.
I always thought perhaps Josiah was too busy or focused carrying out the work God gave him to train up his sons to follow in his footsteps. It is difficult to reconcile the Biblical account of their demise when picturing Josiah and Hamutal as the dedicated parents that Robyn’s characters turn out to be. This serves as an impactful reminder to me as a parent, but the end of the story also makes me grateful all over again for the amazing gifts of grace and redemption we have now that they could not fully grasp at that time.
As a as a fellow essential oils enthusiast, I just love the way Robyn interweaves oils and their potent benefits into the story. Since these plant compounds are gifts from our Creator that have been used for thousands of years, it isn’t difficult to imagine that people would have used them exactly as Robyn describes.
In summary, this book has it all: the intrigue to hold interest, the lessons to impart real-life value today, and the artistic touches that move the soul. Robyn obviously researched for many hours and poured her heart into this novel. I am already looking forward to her next book.
On a personal note, Robyn is a dear friend, and I know she lives her faith authentically and ministers to people around her every day. She wants nothing more than to be a vessel used to draw people into the love she has found in the one true God. I truly believe she is on her way to becoming a beloved and well-known Christian author who will make a positive difference in even more lives through her gifts of writing and speaking. She is an inspiring example of surrendering one’s life in obedience as an act of worship.
An Ancient Story with a Modern Feel
Langdon has succeeded in taking a little described biblical story and bringing it to life. Though the story is over 2500 years old, it reads like a Nicholas Sparks love story. The love story isn’t just the one you expect, between a man and a woman though. It is a story of God, who is desperate for his love to return from the worthless worship of mean and cruel idols. This sweeping tale will take you on a journey as the King desperately tries to find a God worthy of serving and in the process meets a woman who has already found him. Together they discover that laws and rules aren’t enough to save their nation, though they desperately try to prevent its destruction. I really enjoyed this book which explains why the God of the Old Testament sometimes dealt harshly with his people.