Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone

Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone

Written by D. A. Brittain

Reviewed by Kirsten @ Mobius

“Brittain’s debut novel brings historical biblical fiction into mainstream, young adult reading.”

Biblical fiction brushed with romance.

In her debut novel, D.A. Brittain explores the legend of King Zedekiah’s daughter, Teia, as she escapes from the burning city of Jerusalem after it has fallen to the Babylonians. Guided by the prophet Jeremiah, who carries the Bethel Stone that was Jacob’s pillow, Teia and her sister find themselves in Egypt, where Teia falls in love with Eochaid, the son of Ireland’s high king. The remainder of the story follows the two lovers as they separate and each embark on their own journeys, ultimately reuniting in Erin after a series of trials via sea-travel.

Excellently researched and engagingly written, Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone holds its own in the cask of historical fiction. Brittain seamlessly weaves three plots into this piece, framing the entire story in the present day and underlining the importance of the sacred stone throughout the story. While this novel falls under a category of romance, the “love story” aspect is merely a dusting in the overall tale, with the adventures of Teia and Eochaid taking the lead. While Teia’s character arc leaves readers wanting (she is something of a damsel in distress who never quite reaches empowerment), Eochaid’s arc is strong and satisfying. In addition, Brittain provides an intriguing look at how the Hebrew and Irish cultured combined and how they link to the current British monarchs, creatively filling in the gaps of history.

Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone is a creative and engaging novel for those who are partial to biblical fiction, adventure, and young love.

About the author: D. A. Brittain writes adventure-filled stories that illustrate biblical truth through compelling and realistic characters. In addition to being a passionate student of the Bible and ancient history, she has traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East, giving her the opportunity to research and explore the land, historic sites, and larger-than-life heroes and heroines appearing in Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone, the first in a series of historical novels.

Brittain’s title has won multiple literary awards. The book has been reviewed over 50x. Cover art has been awarded a 5 star rating by Mobius. Goodreads rating 3.97, Amazon rating 4 stars. Comparative title: Raiders from the Sea, by Lois Walfrid Johnson.

Abstract terms: Adventure, Romance, Inspirational, Biblical, Christian, Historical, Fiction, Religious, Fantasy, Series

Published in hardcover, paperback and eBook formats. The book contains approximately 268 pages. Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Christian Fiction. ISBN HC, 9781506902296, ISBN PBK, 9781506902302, ISBN EBK, 9781506902319