Book Review: Zion Covenant Series by Bodie Thoene

I am steaming through the rest of this series, and I am LOVING it! I don't have quotes from these three since they had to be returned to the library, but I am constantly impressed by how well-researched and well-written they have all been!

Munich Signature (Zion Covenant)

You know how with some series the first and maybe even the second books are really good, and then it seems like the author is just dragging the story lines along to keep making money from a popular series? That is soooooooo not the case with the Zion Covenant Series! Each installment in this series that I have read thus far has been incredible enough to stand on its own besides the fact that it is a piece of this captivating sextet that Bodie and Brock Thoene have created!

The other amazing facet of this series is the mastery with which Thoene weaves together many separate, but similar story-lines together without them becoming convaluted or overly simplified! I have also found that often books with several characters involved in multiple escapades, I am very interested in one or two of the characters while I find myself bored by the others. With these books, the unfolding of each of the dramas swept me along so spellbindingly that "I'm just going to read one chapter," turned into, "I can't believe it's already two o'clock in the morning!"

Jerusalem Interlude

I have read many books about the history of this time period, but there is something about reading the accurate historic portrayals of important events intertwined with the emotional personal stories of the specific characters that gives such amazing perspective to the gravity of the situations.

I also love the way that Thoene envelops each thread of the story with the main characters love of Christ that compels them to act on behalf of the downtrodden and disenfranchised, those deemed unworthy, untouchable and subhuman by the powers of the day. That same love that empowers them to take a stand when the majority of the world was choosing to turn a blind eye to the atrocities being committed against God's chosen people.

Danzig Passage

This is an inspiring and challenging series that makes you think about what is truly important in this life, and in eternity. I hope you get a chance to read them, and that you enjoy them as much as I have! If you've already read this series, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Leave me a comment and let me know, but please don't tell me how the last book, Warsaw Requiem, ends - I haven't finished that one yet!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Book Review: Prague Counterpoint by Bodie Thoene

Okay, so I am LOVING this series, and I'm bummed that I had to leave it back in Iowa :S I think the fact that I read both Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2) and Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant, Book 1) in less than a week should indicate how great these books are! (And it was a busy week at that, lol!)

This installment in the Zion Covenant series covers the period of history right after the Anschluss of Germany and Austria and before the invasion of Czechoslovakia. Although this is a dramatic and compelling time of history in and of itself, Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2) kept me turning pages into the wee hours of the morning! Again, Thoene weaves an intricate and engrossing plot in the midst of fascinating and accurate historic, political drama!

The book itself belonged to the church library, so it had to be left in Iowa, so I do not have any "favorite quotes" for this review, but there were many!

I am so excited to keep going with this series, and I'm thrilled that the third book in the series, Munich Signature (Zion Covenant), is available for the Kindle, so I'll be able to read it on the road! :)

What's on your summer reading list?

Book Review: Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene

I used to do book reviews pretty regularly on my 100 things in 1001 days blog, but due to the added craziness of our new lifestyle, I'm no longer posting over there; therefore, I bring the book reviews here :)

I just finished reading Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene. This book, the first of the Zion Covenant series, was absolutely phenomenal! Set in pre-World War II Europe, the book follows the life of Elisa Lindheim (alias Linder) a Jewish-German violin player who lives and works in Vienna.

This period of history has always fascinated me, so this series is right up my alley. On top of that, I LOVE Thoene's work. Many of her books are written with her husband, Brock, and in fact in the next book in this series, Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2), he is credited as having done the "Research & Development," so it's fun to know that they do such amazing work together. I read their book First Light (A. D. Chronicles, Book 1) last summer, and I am continually impressed by how historically accurate - without being the tiniest bit dry - their work is! Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant, Book 1) was no exception! Thoene expertly weaves historical report of fact into a gripping, exciting plot that kept me turning pages until the wee hours of the morning :)

Another thing that brings me back to her writing again and again is how she is able to move her characters to the understanding of God's love and sovereignty despite the chaos around them. It's always a good reminder for me!

Some of my favorite quotes:

"Gott soll allein mein Herze haben." She sang the words so softly that no one in the crowded room could hear her. "God alone shall have my heart. . . . ." ... The answer whispered back to her, joyfully and without a doubt: "Was Gott tut, das is wohilgetan! What God has done is rightly done!" ... Somehow it was those last lyrics that came back as a challenge to Elisa. What she had questioned before must now be accepted and believed. If her heart was to belong to God alone, then she must have faith that He did not make mistakes. Men might fail miserabely - that was in evidence all around. But that which was done by God would not fail.

p.277

"Pity them, Jacob. Pity them for the evil they worship and the end that will surely come to them. Weep for our tormentors who have forgotten that they are also eternal. There will be a moment when it is too late to beg forgiveness . . ."

p.320

"No. It is not fear of hell that turns my heart from evil." Theo smiled to himself as though he had discovered a secret. "We have been privileged to see what becomes of men who give themselves over to darkness. They are no longer men. They are the creatures; we are still men." He reached out to touch the arm of th eprofessor. "And yet, we all began exactly alike, like lumps of coal, maybe in different shapes and sizes. The fire and the pressure of hatred consumes some men until they consume others around them in a white-hot fire. And others, trapped in the same fierce pressure and terrible heat, become diamonds to glisten in the hand of God. To shine bright when the blackness is all around, to find love when others are burning in their hatred. Isn't that the essence of God?" ... "A long time ago I gave up hope of ever seeing my Anna again. Or the children. And in that moment, I suppose I died to what I was." ... "Yet when I let go even of life and put myself in the hands of God, I became free, Julius! And I said to God that in this darkness, I want to become a shining light. The men who have imprisoned me changed my name to Stern. Like your name. Stern means star. Do you think that the Gestapo knew how much I wanted to shine! ...

p.339-340

This is one book, series, and author that I would recommend to anyone, any time, with no reservations whatsoever!

Have a great evening!