The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as Judah’s most notorious king ascends to the throne in this gripping novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter. At eight years old, Shulle has known only life in a small village with her loving but peculiar father. When Uncle Shebna offers shelter in Jerusalem in exchange for Shulle’s help tutoring King Manasseh, Judah’s five-year-old … tutoring King Manasseh, Judah’s five-year-old co-regent who displays the same peculiarities as her father, she’s eager to experience the royal court. But Shulle soon realizes the limits of her father’s strict adherence to Yahweh’s Law when Uncle Shebna teaches her of the starry hosts and their power.
Convinced Judah must be freed from Yahweh’s chains, she begins the subtle swaying of young Manasseh, using her charm and skills on the boy no one else understands. When King Hezekiah dies, twelve-year-old Manasseh is thrust onto Judah’s throne, bitter at Yahweh and eager to marry the girl he adores. Assyria’s crown prince favors Manasseh and twists his brilliant mind toward cruelty, beginning Shulle’s long and harrowing journey to discover the Yahweh she’d never known, guided with loving wisdom by Manasseh’s mother: Isaiah’s daughter, the heartbroken Hephzibah. Amid Judah’s dark days, a desperate remnant emerges, claiming the Lord’s promise, “Though we’re helpless now, we’re never hopeless–because we serve El Shaddai.” Shulle is among them, a girl who becomes a queen through Isaiah’s legacy.
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Oh goodness, I’ve found another one that I’m not sure I have the words to do it justice. After devouring the prequel to this story Isaiah’s Daughter, I simply couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It took my emotions on a rollercoaster ride I couldn’t have prepared for. Unlike his father Hezekiah, Manasseh worshiped many false gods instead of the one and only Yahweh.
God allowed a lot of evil during Nasseh’s reign. It’s easy to look at the circumstances and wish that God would have smote him and put an end to it all. It would have prevented a whole lot of bloodshed. Yet you also see (just as He does with us), that God doesn’t force a relationship. He allows a lot of evil and he allows Nasseh to fall flat on his face. He allowed the circumstances that would draw him to Himself. No one’s heart is beyond God’s ability to capture.
It was a unique viewpoint to see Nasseh as someone with what we would label today as “High Functioning Autism. As the Andrews states in her author’s note, she took some creative license with this since she had to develop a character that we could put up with for 400 pages. It was an interesting twist and certainly complicated the reader’s emotions towards him. As much as you hate him, you see how clueless and broken he is. I found myself wishing the influences around him would change so that he could be led to the truth instead of further manipulated by lies.
I liked that Shulle’s character was complicated as well. Like Nasseh, she’d been led astray by powerful influences in her life and had been used and manipulated by people with their own agendas. No matter how hard she tried to find ways to protect herself, she always seemed to end up hurt. She was searching for love but was often fueled by anger. It took the right people in her life to love her and lead her to the only one who could heal her heart.
As with the author’s other biblical fiction pieces, her respect and devotion to God’s Word is unmistakable. Relevant passages were added before chapters and interwoven into the narrative. In the end, Andrews shares some of her fact & fiction with the readers, along with encouraging them to reread the passages of scripture that related to the story. I appreciate when the authors add this because it truly enriches the story for me.
This was another absolute must-read in biblical fiction. I honestly don’t think I can recommend it enough. I would suggest reading Isaiah’s Daughter first since it gives a lot of the backstory to Nasseh’s family (and is another amazing read). I can’t wait to see what Mesu Andrews comes up with next!
* I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Press. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
My God…I finished this book on the 9th of December, but I couldn’t write this review until close to midnight on the 10th. This was an epic follow-up to Isaiah’s Daughter! Mesu has crafted such a heart-wrenching story. You will cry, get angry, shout, yell, laugh and feel warm while reading this beauty! I’m still frazzled in trying to type this review out.
Where do I even begin. The use of scripture was excellent. You could definitely feel all the research and study of the Word that was put into crafting this story. The description of locations, the detail to situations that occurred, how impeccable and real the characters felt. I was blown away by this book.
The follow picks up a few years after Isaiah’s Daughter in which Manasseh is a young boy who has “oddities” — he doesn’t like being touched, talked to or around loud noise. He freaks out over the littlest thing. He befriends a girl named Shulle who knows how to “deal” with his moments and life takes a major turn from there.
Let’s talk about two of my favorite characters from the first book — King Hezekiah and Queen Zibah. I love them so much! I’m so glad I got to see a different side of them in this book with their parenting skills. They both struggled being parents which was relatable to me. You could see they loved their son, but also they knew they couldn’t do much for him. King Hezekiah is simply an amazing man. I loved everything about him except his end…that was unexpected, tragic and threw me for a complete and total loop. As for Queen Zibah, she continues to stay steadfast in the faith and learns to love despite the hurt.
King Manasseh aka Nasseh is such an interesting child. He becomes co-regent at around 8 years old and king at 11 or 12 years old. I couldn’t stand him for his choices, but I also felt bad for him because 1) he was easily swayed by the niceness of others, 2) the adults who “advised” him were treacherous and 3) he blinded by “love” at first sight. Nasseh would have been such a great king if he hadn’t had his “fall” however, I feel like his experiences made him much stronger in the end for God’s glory. Nasseh was such a loving kid who just didn’t know how to deal with his emotions. Sometimes I wanted to just kick him in his shin.
Shulle…what can I say about this treacherous yet warm child. She, like Nasseh, was a victim of being swayed by adults. She was dragged into dark arts and stopped believing in God thanks to her uncle. She became the catalyst that caused Nasseh to fall. Shulle is a character that I had mixed feelings for throughout the course of the novel. I hated her tremendously at first, but as she began to grow, mature and believe again my heart melted. She was faced with hard decisions that caused her heart to harden. She learned in the end and became a powerful queen.
The romance between Nasseh and Shulle was annoying and adorable. You could tell that Nasseh had an obsessive love for Shulle. You could also see that Shulle didn’t really care for Nasseh the way a wife should at first, but throughout their marriage they struggled and tried to understand one another though it mostly ended in miscommunication and Nasseh being easily swayed. They were a danger to one another, but some how it all panned out well in the end for them.
Lord Shebna was the epitome of evil. He cared for nothing but riches. Believed in God, but still dabbled in other gods. He was a foolish man with a hardened heart. Belit was a pure a witch. I have no other words to express my deep and utterly boundless hatred for her as a woman. She irked me each turn of the page. King Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was despicable! That scene with the cat and dog killed me. Prince Esar was just as foolish as Nasseh and a victim like Shulle in his kingdom.
The Prophet Isaiah was EXCELLENT in this story. I got to see him as not just a prophet and father, but as a grandfather. I loved his sound wisdom. My heart ached with the tree scene. I loved getting a chance to see the Prophet Nahum as a little boy. Perfect addition.
The scenes with Gemit cracked me up because Nasseh was so ruthless and childish in his thoughts. My heart ached for Panya and the other concubines.
There’s just too many characters and events to discuss that make this story worth the read. I highly recommend this story to all. I hope there is a third book to come because I just need more.
Definitely a 2019 AND 2020 FAVORITE!
Any time you delve into a story written by Mesu Andrews you will be transported to ancient Biblical times meeting the people you are familiar with in the pages of the Old Testament and new non-historical characters. Because Mesu does such thorough research into the culture and customs you will come away with a new understanding of these peoples and their struggles and perhaps a desire to go to Scripture and read again their stories.
Isaiah’s Legacy is the story of Manasseh ben Hezekiah, Judah’s most wicked king. But along with the story of his wickedness, is a beautiful love story between a king and his wife and most importantly the story of a God who never stops chasing after prodigal and lost people with His incredible love and mercy. We are given glimpses into the dark arts that were such a part of ancient culture, what it was like to be a king, how evil and sin can insinuate itself into a person’s life ever so subtly and how there is always hope in Yahweh.
At times it was very dark and difficult to read, but isn’t life like that, with times of darkness that we wish weren’t there. I loved this book and all the lessons it teaches. It drove me to Scripture to read again Manasseh’s story seeing him through different eyes.
I highly recommend this book and would give it more than 5 stars if possible.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook-Multnomah. I am not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are solely my own.
Isaiah’s Legacy is the sequel to Mesu Andrew’s powerful novel, Isaiah’s Daughter, based on the life of Judah’s 13th king, King Hezekiah, found in II Kings in the Bible.
In Isaiah’s Daughter, we meet King Hezekiah (Hezi) and his beautiful wife Queen Hephzibah (Zibah), the adopted daughter of the prophet Isaiah, who became friends and soulmates as young children bonding through trauma. King Hezekiah was one of Judah’s most righteous kings, restoring his kingdom to Yahweh worship after previous kings encouraged the worship of idols throughout Judah. After a close call with death, Yahweh answers Hezi’s prayer and grants him fifteen more years of life. It was during this time King Hezi and Queen Zibah welcome their son, Manasseh, into their family.
In Isaiah’s Legacy, Mesu picks up with Manasseh (Nasseh) who is but a young boy, having to prepare to become King of Judah when King Hezekiah’s promised fifteen years are up. Except there’s something a little different about Nasseh – he doesn’t talk or readily display affection and can spend hours fixated on one particular toy…
Co-regent King Manasseh seems to live life locked in his head – until he meets Shulle, who grew up with a father who displayed many of the same tendencies. Shulle encourages Nasseh to start coming out of himself. Just like little Hezi and Zibah, Nasseh and Shulle become childhood friends then sweethearts.
Except unbeknownst to Nasseh and his family, Shulle’s wicked uncle, Shebna, introduces young Shulle to the black arts, then intricately takes advantage of Shulle’s and Nasseh’s friendship and then marriage to mold Nasseh into one of the most evil kings in Judah’s history.
Within Isaiah’s Legacy, Andrews explores some deep subjects, such as life for persons born on the spectrum, and how subtly sin can take over someone’s mind and heart and influence not only their decisions, but the decisions and lives of everyone they come into contact with. Even so, Isaiah’s Legacy is ultimately a story of how God can transform even the darkest of hearts through His everlasting love and unrelenting mercy.
*I received a copy of this book as part of the launch team; I was not required to write a positive review.*
Once again, Mesu Andrews has blown me away with her ability to flesh out characters from the Bible, bringing their stories to life and making them relatable in our day. This time, she tackles the incredibly challenging story of King Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, who rose to the throne of Judah at the tender age of 12 and became his country’s most notorious ruler.
As in all her books, Andrews closely follows Scripture while weaving in rich detail and plausible dialogue that empower readers to step back in time into the Biblical world. She paints Manasseh as a high-functioning autistic young man who, along with his companion Shulle, falls under the influence of an evil woman who practices sorcery. As he grows, he commits horrible, brutal acts of torture and bloodshed. The entire first half of the book is extremely dark, as it focuses on this terrible time in history.
But readers need not despair, for the story of Manasseh is truly the ultimate prodigal son story. Through the loving wisdom, prayer, and guidance of Manasseh’s mother, Hephzibah, Shulle and, in turn, Manasseh are drawn back to Yahweh, making this a beautiful story of redemption and renewal. It is a wonderful reminder that no one – not even the most wicked among us – is beyond God’s power to save.
This book is the third in Andrews’ “Prophets and Kings” series, following Isaiah’s Daughter and Of Fire and Lions. Although I would recommend reading the other books first, it is not essential, as this story easily stands alone.
I love Biblical fiction, and Andrews is one of my favorite authors in this genre. Isaiah’s Legacy is a fantastic addition to her long list of outstanding novels, and I heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a great Biblical fiction book. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; however, there was no requirement of a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.
With prayerful guidance and COUNTLESS hours of research and downright hard work, Mesu Andrews has “birthed” yet another engaging Biblical fiction page-turner!! In Isaiah’s Legacy, Mesu skillfully tells the horrific and painful story of Manasseh, one of the most evil kings to ever rule Judah. He begins his reign at the ripe old age of TWELVE!! And, as a youngster and then king, he is highly influenced by his young friend and later wife, Meshullemeth, who was trained in the ways of sorcery, though not necessarily by her choice. Manasseh leads his Yahwist-worshipping subjects from Light into his dark world of evil. Will he keep them there?? OR does God have a much better plan for Manasseh and those he rules?? I highly encourage you to read Isaiah’s Legacy to find out!!
Disclaimer Note: I was given an ARC of Isaiah’s Legacy by Waterbrook, for which nothing was required in return, including this review. In spite of the dark topics that the Bible associates with Manasseh’s rule, I truly enjoyed reading this book’s telling of Manasseh’s story and hope others will as well!!
Mesu Andrews is an incredibly creative storyteller while still honoring biblical history. Her story of this Old Testament prodigal had me turning pages while ignoring my housework. While the plot thickened, the characters had caught my attention. I found it interesting that several of her characters have autism, including her high functioning main character. As these characters struggled at times to navigate their environments, sometimes they were surrounded by people who loved them, appreciated them and wanted to help them. What a difference these true caregivers made. Personally, I was strengthened as I read about the characters remaining steadfast in their faith during horrific times. The friendships that the believers maintained certainly built them up. These characters were challenged to believe God’s promises before they saw answers. I never want to forget these characters because they taught me so much through the lessons they learned. Even though this time in history is difficult to read about, Andrews writes a beautiful story infused with hope. Anyone who has a prodigal in their life would certainly be encouraged by this book. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher @waterbrookmultnomah #partner. All opinions are my own.
What a beautiful book. Going into it, I knew that it might be bit heavy, and more…hard to read as it showed the depravity of the nation under pagan worshipping, and how wicked Manasseh had become. And it was hard in that aspect. But by no means did this story ever drag on or have cause for me to want to put it down.
Brilliantly written, we are thrust into the characters lives and connected so deeply, that the things that cause them pain echo pain in our own hearts just from watching. Likewise, the joy – at the end especially – finds rest upon our soul.
I loved the message of this book. That no one is ever too far for Yahweh to reach, to redeem, to call back home to Him. And King Manasseh’s story is an exceptional tale of this. And not only his, but Meshullemeth’s (Shulle) – her story equally wrote itself upon my heart and touched me deeply. I am still pondering the truths found in this story, and how everything Yahweh promised was fulfilled – just maybe not in their preferred timing. Isn’t that so often the case? We want immediate results, and it’s so easy to doubt when we don’t see His immediate provision or answer…but sometimes those answers don’t come right away. But that doesn’t mean the fulfillment won’t come eventually, right at the time Yahweh desires it to come. Like I said, this theme especially is one that I am personally pondering in my own life, and I am thankful for the corresponding truths in this book to bring it to light.
Oh yes, there was a great deal of pain, a great deal of sorrow in Isaiah’s Legacy. Watching it all play out was hard, but it was also necessary, and it only amplified the redeeming end all the more.
The two books in this series, Isaiah’s Daughter and Isaiah’s Legacy now are definitely two of my most favorite books by this author. They are beautiful and full of meaning, and I look forward to going back over them again.
*I received a copy of this book as apart of the launch team; I was not required to write a positive review.
Isaiah’s Legacy, the third installment in the A Novel of Prophets and Kings series by Mesu Andrews, follows in a grand tradition of inspired biblical fiction that enlightens as it carries the reader to Judah for a turbulent ride through the reign of King Manasseh. A thoroughly researched and well crafted novel, but not an easy one to read, it examines a level of spiritual darkness and depravity that is often danced about, implied, but rarely addressed directly. However, these issues are very real and are critical to a true understanding of the evil that gripped King Manasseh’s heart until Yahweh broke the chains that bound him and redeemed him in a glorious way.
This novel picks up after the conclusion of Isaiah’s Daughter, at the end of King Hezekiah’s life, as his son Manasseh prepares and eventually becomes king. We are subject to the conflict of loving certain characters while we hate the evil that works its way into their lives and shackles them apart from the loving God. Shulle had my heart from the very beginning, and my heart broke for her over and over again as she was tricked and manipulated into the sorcery that bound her while masquerading as power. Manasseh’s reign of terror against the prophets and Yahwehists is a horror that was foretold, but not any easier to bear as it unfolded. Through it all, Queen Hephzibah can only pray and hope that her precious boy will someday see Truth and turn from darkness. And her abba, the prophet Isaiah, foretells his own demise at the hands of his grandson, knowing that it must be done as Yahweh says to ultimately give Him the glory.
Dear reader, know that Isaiah’s Legacy is not a bit of fiction to be undertaken lightly. As Mesu Andrews toiled to bring it forth, so you will toil to digest it. And yet, it is certainly one of the most valuable and eye opening novels I have ever consumed. The understanding that comes from the scripture and the exploration of the spiritual, social, and political turmoil within reveals what is possibly the greatest prodigal story ever told. And if Shulle and Manasseh can be unchained by Yahweh, then nobody is beyond His redemptive love.
Thank you to the publishers and author for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC for this novel. The opinions shared here are my own and are my completely honest assessment.
I’d give this book a 10 star if that was possible.
“Everyone dies, precious Bekira, and we all leave a legacy. The question is, Does our legacy speak Yahweh’s truth to those who follow?”
I am rarely speechless. Somehow I always know what to say and if I can’t say it, my body language expresses it.
But after reading this book I didn’t have words for it. I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed in a good way. I was overwhelmed by the undeserved, pursuing love of God. More than any book I have read, Isaiah’s Legacy paralysed my senses and brought to life one of the most profound prodigal stories and expression of God’s love.
It made me see myself as I am; underserving but yet loved with a fierceness greater than any chain, claim or darkness.
King Menessah’s and Shulle’s story will drive your heart to God, will convict your heart of sin and open you wide to a Love and LORD that pursues you like you are the only one alive.
I received a copy of the book and this is my honest opinion.
Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews continues the story that began in Isaiah’s Daughter. This moving read brings the Biblical narrative of Manasseh ben Hezekiah’s reign to life using potent characters and smooth prose. However, it’s not a light, feel-good kind of read. Staying true to the Biblical record of this dark time, rampant evil brings tragedy after tragedy. I found the book hard to read due to the content, but the ending satisfied and I’m glad I persevered.
Isaiah’s Legacy will appeal to readers who enjoyed Isaiah’s Daughter. Although there is probably enough background information given for Isaiah’s Legacy to be a stand alone novel, I do recommend reading them in order. The back story will be clearer and certain characters will be more likeable.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Biblical fiction is not intended to replace your Bible. Instead, Author Mesu Andrews provides and encourages scripture reading so you will better understand the story. I sometimes forget Bible characters are individuals with various needs just like me. The author does her research well and her descriptions and attention to detail help the reader to feel the characters pain and triumphs. She also uses historical facts to ensure accuracy. Isaiah’s Legacy deals with a young boy with peculiarities who becomes a king at the age of twelve and soon turns the nation of Judah into a pagan nation no longer worshipping the one true God. This is truly a story of redemption and hope. I always look forward to a new book from Author Mesu Andrews and Isaiah’s Legacy does not disappoint!
Thank you for the free book @waterbrookmultnomah! #partner. The opinions are my own.
Excellent read! Consistent with the quality of books written by Mesu Andrews.
This book takes an incredibly difficult historical character, most would call him evil, and makes him relatable without whitewashing the facts.
This story moves along and keeps you reading. Biblical accuracy seems well maintained as always.
I can definitely recommend this book. I did have an advance reader copy, provided by the publisher.
Wow – what a story! One thing I love about biblical fiction is how it brings the scriptures to life for me. When I next read that passage, I will see it in a new light. This book was definitely one of those. This book follows Manasseh, the wickedest king in Judah’s history (and whose father was one of the most righteous kings in Judah’s history). Ms. Andrews came across the fact that Manasseh had a profound knowledge of the Torah and could interpret Leviticus a number of ways and this drew her to think that perhaps this wicked king was what we would consider “on the autism spectrum”. Not that that contributed to his wickedness, but perhaps added to his naivete, misunderstanding of social cues and need for acceptance. Coupling that with the death of a father in his formative years and some negative advisors, this set the seed in the heart of this boy-king to reject the God of his fathers.
The story of Manasseh is the ultimate prodigal story. As many times as I’d read the Bible, I’d completely missed that Manasseh was humbled and turned to Yahweh towards the end of his reign, until I read Lynn Austins’s “Gods and Kings” series. When I went back to the scriptures after those books, I found that sure enough, the most wicked king had indeed repented. I was thrilled that Ms. Andrews (one of my favorite biblical fiction authors) was also going to write about this and knew I had to read this take on Manasseh’s story as well. This book was very well researched and well written. The depth of history – both Jewish and Assyrian was astounding. The research into the dark arts – the spells and incantations that Manasseh would have followed as a worshipper of the Starry Hosts was intense. There were a couple of times I had to set the book down and focus on the Light before I could pick it back up. This was not for the feint of heart! I found myself literally weeping as Manasseh slaughtered innocent men and women who would not deny Yahweh and felt the struggle of the young king to do what he believed was best for Judah, though it went against his family’s wishes.
This book follows scripture impeccably, has a great deal of added history and of course a fair amount of speculation. But the characters, the speculation, the conversations and the reasons behind decisions were all quite believable. This author does a phenomenal job of bringing the scriptures to life and bringing more consideration to the missing details. The author urges readers to go back and read the passages of the scripture to glean what is fact and what is fiction and I recommend that as well. Overall, I strongly recommend this book to fans of biblical historical, those who enjoy learning more about the history and culture of Bible times in a “story” setting and those who are dealing with their own prodigal story. Manasseh’s story for us is ultimately a story of hope – hope that no matter how far we (or our loved one) have fallen, there is always grace to get back Home.
Special thanks to Waterbrook Publishers and Mesu Andrews for an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
I am convinced that Mesu Andrews cannot write a bad book. Every book I have read of hers has blown me away, and this book was no exception. She has a way of drawing me into the story right away and making me feel like I am in the story.
I adored Isaiah’s Daughter, it was actually the first book I read by Mesu Andrews, and it made me go on a reading spree of her books. I was so excited when I learned there was sequel of that book. I was hooked from the first page and she left me wanting more!
Andrews never fails to bring me a deeper understanding of the portion of the Bible she is representing. After reading this book, and all her other books, I went back and reread this portion of the Bible, and I found myself reading it with a different perspective than I ever had.
I couldn’t recommend this book any higher. If you enjoy Biblical Fiction or haven’t had the opportunity to read any yet, do yourself a favor and read this book!!
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
Ever read about the Old Testament kings and come across a verse that says, “And so-and-so began to reign when he was nine years old?” and wonder, “How could someone so young rule a nation?” If so, then Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews is a must read! Through this sequel to Isaiah’s Daughter, Andrews brings the story of Manasseh to life and how a child’s reign turned into one of the greatest redemption stories of redemption in the Old Testament.
The story of Manasseh has always been one of my favorites in the Old Testament – the radical change from an idol worshiper to a Yahweh worshiper is truly amazing. But there are so many questions in between the story’s beginning and end. This novel takes you on a fictional journey of how such a life may have developed and I loved how the author crafted this story. There were times when your heart broke for both Shulle and Manasseh as they tried to find their way in a cruel world and then there were times when you rejoiced with the steadfastness of Yahweh’s followers.
My favorite part about this story was how the author made it so believable. Personally, though I’ve been through some hard times myself, it’s so hard to grasp how someone with a father like King Hezekiah could turn from the Lord and do so much evil. But I loved the angle Andrews took in her telling; it felt real and something that maybe even people today could relate too. (I won’t spoil it for you though! You’ll have to read the book to find out what it is!) On the other hand, the author made Manasseh so personable. For example, he liked cats, and y’all, any character that has a cat gets my vote! lol!
Conclusion: This book was so full of rich characters, truths and life patterns, it’s hard to express all the things I learned and enjoyed in a simple review. I would recommend Isaiah’s Legacy to anyone who is a student of the Word and wants to gain a different, “possible perspective” or someone who just has a love for Biblical Fiction. I learned a lot historically about the time period and am so glad that the author included notes at the end that tells you what is fact and what is fiction. All in all, a great, deep read!
I received a free book from @waterbrookmultnomah to review. I love Mesu Andrews books, but this one has got to be my favorite! She writes truth and historical, Biblical events as if you were really there. I loved hating Manasseh throughout the story while also hoping that he turned his life to Yahweh. Shulle was also another character I was rooting for to have her life changed for the better. Mesu has such a way of pulling you into the story that there’s no escape; I spent many a sleepless night reading way past my bedtime to see what would happen to these precious people. I was crying, smiling, crying again: the cycle was endless! I didn’t want the book to end, yet I wanted to find out what happened.
I also liked how Mesu added high functioning autism to the story. She did it in a wonderful way; it wasn’t over-the-top or whatnot. It was done tastefully and, to what I know, correctly.
Overall, this is a wonderfully amazing book that I would read over and over again.
I have read all of Mesu Andrews books and Isaiah’s Legacy is my new favorite. Rich in historical details, poignant, and captivating character development. I love how Shulle and Zibah love their husbands as men, despite the headstrong nature of them as king. Zibah comforts Shulle with a beautiful truth that has stuck with me: we may be helpless to change the minds and actions of others, but we are never hopeless. Wow. So many powerful truths displayed in the struggles of each of these characters. Another great reminder is that we learn the Truth in daylight so we can walk in darkness. Scripture recounts the acts of Manasseh and I love how Mesu explored the option of autism contributing to his brilliant mind and particular behaviors. His choices were sinful and affected many, leading hearts astray from Yahweh. Shulle questions how God can be Sovereign in all of it and Zibah lovingly reminds her to “Never begin a sentence with ‘Yahweh can’t’. Our minds are too small to imagine what He can do.” This historical tale takes the reader through the recounting of what God can do as well as powerful retellings of all that He did. Lovers of Biblical fiction: I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and all expressed opinions are solely my own.
A good book, but not one I’d pick up again or necessarily recommend.
This book really conflicts me—I appreciated some elements, and hated others. If you enjoy good writing, this would be the book for you. The characters are diverse and spot-on, the plot is well-developed and perfectly executed, and the history is seamlessly woven in in a way that feels very realistic. I loved getting to meet Shulle, with her imperfections and dreams. She had so much go wrong for her, and so much fear to deal with, but she always worked to conquer that. I also loved meeting Nasseh, though he was an overall very evil king—the way he was portrayed here as a high-functioning autistic was special, and not too hard to believe. Their lives together—with the political intrigue of King Manasseh’s reign—were quite fascinating to watch.
I hated how much the Assyrians controlled things in here—I know it happened, but really, they were awful! I also didn’t like how much sex was mentioned (although it was hidden behind a myriad of terms, AND was something that would have come up with a king with many concubines, I still didn’t enjoy that). Then there’s the whole priestess/sorceress side of things, which is pretty horrific in some ways.
For me, I don’t know if the good—the prodigal story, in essence—really outweighed the bad for me. Don’t get me wrong; sometimes God takes the worst evil (which Manassah’s story is, in essence) and turns it into the most beautiful redemption. But I don’t know how much dwelling on said evil is healthy. It’s hard to know where to draw the line. Though I didn’t feel like I had to participate in everything that happened in the book, there was a lot that made me uncomfortable. And though I enjoyed the storytelling and history immensely, I don’t think I would have read it if I had known how much I wouldn’t appreciate some aspects of the book.
The beautiful thing I took away from this was that God’s light does shine even in the darkest of places—though some parts were fictitious, I did want to go research Isaiah’s death a lot more after reading the account in here. And the quiet faithful faith displayed in several characters in here really shone against the horrible elements. God preserves His own—that’s a major part of this book.
As I said, this is a conflicting one for me! Some aspects I would easily give five stars; they were amazing! Other parts would barely get a two from me. So I’ll stick with 3. If you don’t mind violence, or an idea of what sorcery back in those times was like, or multiple (as in, occasionally nearly every chapter) hints at bedroom scenes, and love seeing the Lord’s redemption coming through, this might be a book you’d enjoy.
Favorite quote:
“Why questions lead only to doubt. Only Who questions build faith. Who is sovereign over the kingdoms of earth? Who spoke light into darkness? And Who promised to capture and build Nasseh’s heart?” —Yaira
I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
“Isaiah’s Legacy” continues the remarkable story Mesu Andrews began in “Isaiah’s Daughter.” It takes the reader through the dark days of the reign of King Manasseh (Nasseh) of Judah, considered to be one of the most wicked kings in Jewish history. The novel seamlessly weaves Biblical history, verifiable historical fact, and extra-Biblical legends into a novel that is not to be missed.
The story of Manasseh is one few have ever tackled. What makes this novel stand out is that it lifts the curtain on the idolatrous religious practices of the era. You experience the darkness, what made these so vile, in a manner that is neither crude nor degrading to the reader. But you walk away with an understanding of why these practices were so abominable. This required a high level of artistry from the author.
Another unique aspect of this story that sets it apart from all other novels is the inclusion of high-functioning autistic characteristics into the person of Manasseh. This was not done to blame Manasseh’s wickedness on autism. Autism informs the character but does not dominate. At points in the story, other characters exploit Nasseh based on his difficulties. Nasseh makes his choice to reject God not based on autism, but on the tragedies of his life and the influence of others. Nasseh conquers self-stim behaviors in order to be able to rule as king. I am aware that this may be controversial to some as someone who has been in the autism community for over twenty-five years. This portrayal was carefully and gracefully done.
Mesu Andrews describes Manasseh’s story as one of the greatest prodigal stories in the Bible, and I cannot disagree. It is a beautiful tale of depravity, heart-breaking tragedy, and the hand of God moving through it all. To quote the book, “The blacker the darkness, the brighter God’s spark.” This novel is a masterpiece triumphing God’s sovereignty in the midst of pain.
I received a Netgalley digital copy of the book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed here are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, part 255 Guidelines, concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in advertising.