An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers
Reviewed by Lori Twichell, Radiantlit.com
Genre: Romance, Historical
Publisher: Tyndale
Publication Dates: March 1, 1998

Marcus Valerian is unhappy with his life. This is something completely new for him to deal with and honestly, he’s having trouble grasping it. Where women, alcohol and the games used to occupy his time, he has discovered that everything that once filled him now not only bores him, but makes him ill.

This drastic change in Valerian’s life comes from Hadassah, a simple Jewish/Christian slave girl that he met earlier. (This story can be found in the previous book, A Voice in the Wind.) During the course of that book, Marcus fell in love with Hadassah, but since he did not share her faith, she refused him. (This, despite the fact that she loved him as well.) This refusal had tragic consequences that destroyed the lives of many people and nearly cost Hadassah her life.

Now, without Hadassah, Marcus is lost. He has no one to question about faith and he needs to know more. The hunger Hadassah planted in his life has grown to something all consuming in Marcus’ life. He doesn’t just want to know more. He must know more. And since there’s no one left to ask, he decides that a trip to Jerusalem is just what he needs. His mother is worried for him, but as a new Christian, she knows that this is what her son needs. His sister is spiraling even deeper into sin and excess. With the loss of both Hadassah and Marcus, there’s very little chance that she will be able to stop the insanity in her life.

The second book in Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series is astounding, beautiful, heart wrenching and a satisfying conclusion to the lives of both Marcus and Julia Valerian and their slave, Hadassah. It might be thought that a book taking place in ancient Rome couldn’t possibly speak to the life of a modern day Christian, but with this series, Rivers shows us that though times and circumstances may change, people do not. Lives full of sin still reign. There are still corrupt leaders. And there are still people in this world who are called to serve, reach the masses, and share the gospel.

Hadassah, as a slave, was not called to be an evangelist or a teacher. Instead, she reached the family that owned her by her service. Her gentle spirit and quiet heart showed this family more than preaching the scriptures ever would have. Everything about Hadassah became a testimony. It would be hard not to find the relevance to the modern Christian life. With so many avenues available to us to preach the gospel, so many forget the powerful impact one can have by living it.

This book has everything that someone could want from a good read. Action and adventure. Romance. History. Travels. Foreign lands. And most of all, it’s packed with God breathed truths woven through each chapter and sometimes, in every line. This is definitely a powerful and entertaining read that has the potential of being life changing.

Rated PG-13 – Sin can lead us into difficult places that aren’t always pretty or easy to take. Rivers does a great job of showing the truth of this statement without belaboring the point.

Review copy provided by Tyndale House Publishers. Thank you.