I confess, I have rarely ever felt the Lord so closely when reading a book. I am drawn to Him, I find His comfort often in the words of my favorite authors, and Biblical fiction points me to His word, igniting me to dig deeper into my own personal study.
This book was different.
Something about it touched my soul so deeply, resonated with me so well, I felt the Lord speaking to me directly through this book (As I’m sure He has to many others who’ve read this masterpiece before me).
The spiritual content in this book is overwhelmingly amazing, and Tessa Afshar’s research shines in this novel. Every bit of the plot seems so well-rooted in research, that it came to life before my very eyes. Literally, as I listened to the audiobook version of this book, visions of Eliana, Ethan, and Joanna danced in my imagination as the story was narrated to me.
Before I get ahead of myself, let me share with you what this book is about:
Before Christ called her daughter . . . Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . . Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father’s textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left. No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul?
This is the story of the bleeding woman, who had a bleeding heart long before her physical malady took hold. Her life is full of pain, twisted apart by misunderstandings, miscommunications, gossip, and unfortunate interpretations of the Law. Yet, through all of this, she searches for healing, first from the physical world of doctors and physicians, later from the Lord, and finally, from Jesus Christ.
I highly recommend this book to all fans of Biblical fiction and well-researched historical fiction, but also to those who are in need of encouragement and healing. That is exactly what you will find in the Land of Silence.
Until next time,
