In a world enslaved by money and power, one woman dares to be free. Will an explosive secret enslave her again? The place is the island of Rhodes;...
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reviews
Jun 08, 2011
Denise
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I started reading this book with the hope that it would shed some light on a little known part of the ancient world (the island of Rhodes). I love historical fiction and thought this was the same. Little did I know that the author had a religious "agenda" in mind. The main character is Tessa, a hetaera, but the author portrays her as little more than a whore. Tessa's mother sold her (as a child) to a woman who runs a training school that produces educated and cultured female companions
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Dec 23, 2009
Nicola
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Reason for Reading: I had been wanting to read it anyway. The Ancient Greece and Seven Wonders angle appealed to me.
Summary: Set in 227 BC on the Greek island of Rhodes, Tesa was sold into bondage by her mother ten years ago and has been a courtesan ever since. She holds quite a high position in society as the hetaera of a wealthy politician, but still she must meet his every need in the privacy of his home. When her patrician is accidentally killed Tesa comes up with a plan to final More...
Summary: Set in 227 BC on the Greek island of Rhodes, Tesa was sold into bondage by her mother ten years ago and has been a courtesan ever since. She holds quite a high position in society as the hetaera of a wealthy politician, but still she must meet his every need in the privacy of his home. When her patrician is accidentally killed Tesa comes up with a plan to final More...
May 25, 2010
rjp316
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It is book #1 of 7 written by T.L. Higley features the Seven Wonders of the World. This one is set in Ancient Greece (227 B.C.), in Rhodes, where the Colossus once stood. The main character – Tessa – is a hetaeira, a high-priced Greek mistress. Since she is basically a slave – she has tried to abandon all emotion. She is known for being beautiful but having a heart of stone. When her owner dies she begins to hope that she can be free, if she can keep his death a secret and escape the island.
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Jan 12, 2012
Debbie
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"Shadow of Colossus" is a fast-paced Christian historical novel that contains some romance. It's set in 227 B.C. in Rhodes. The story was rich with setting, cultural, and historical details that brought the ancient world alive without slowing the pacing. The suspense was high throughout and was created mainly by the physical danger to the characters. The characters were complex, realistic, and engaging. It was an enjoyable book, but I did have a hard time believing that their secret wa
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Jul 29, 2011
An excellent read. It gives plenty of interesting historical detail and insight, and describes Tessa's life as a hetaera so that it's easily understandable but not unnecessarily graphic. Higley writes in plenty of suspense and tension and paints the contrast between Tessa's "marble Athena" shell and the new feelings aroused in her by Nikos and the Jewish children very well. I like how the author focused not only on the view of Tessa as a woman (courtesan vs. wife), but also on her p
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Feb 10, 2011
Terri
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Tessa was a good character. Her heart was hard, because of the life she's lived, but you see her start to thaw, exploring whether or not she can love someone and what that might do to her tightly held control. Nikos, our male protagonist, is likeable and brave, and seems like a good fit for Tessa. Still, there was very little about either of these characters that made them particularly special. Like your average human being, they had strengths and weaknesses, and those manifested in the nove
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Nov 04, 2010
Emily
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Higley does such a great job of taking us back to ancient Greece. My heart was instantly filled with sorrow for the young Tessa who was sold at a young age into slavery to live the life of a hetaera. When an accident claims the life of her abusive owner she is faced with a hard choice. I loved how the story unfolded with a mixture of adventure, betrayal, love, hatred, mystery, suspense, and above all faith. God brings people into her life in the most unexpected way. He also brings the mighty Col
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Aug 11, 2011
Violet
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Tessa has been a hetaeira, a mistress, for more than 10 years, a captive with one of the island’s most powerful politician Glaucus. All she wants is freedom. Fate gives her a chance when her master dies accidentally leaving Tessa with 2 choices. Either be hanged to death if charged with his murder or pass on to her next master who could be more if not equally brutal as her previous master. She chooses none of these.
She decides to free herself from all the bondages by running away fro More...
She decides to free herself from all the bondages by running away fro More...
Jan 19, 2009
Janna
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I have discovered a very special series of books that I'm thinking some of you haven't read yet and I am hoping to help you rectify that very sad situation. For lovers of historical fiction (and even those that may not think they enjoy historical fiction) this series is amazing! Welcome to the 7 Wonders Series by T.L. Higley... each book centers around one of the Ancient Wonders of the World and sets characters and mystery/suspense against that setting. I have read the first two (Shadow of Colos
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Sep 17, 2008
Cheryl
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The year is 227 B.C. The place is Rhodes, a Greek island.
For ten years, Tessa of Delos has been in Glaucus’s ownership as his hetaera (an owned woman). Tessa had given up all hope. It seemed like she would never experience freedom again. It looked like the only way Tessa would gain her freedom was to take her own life. The Gods had another plan; they were looking down on her that day. Glaucus befalls a terrible fate, which will ultimately change things for Tessa forever. The next co More...
For ten years, Tessa of Delos has been in Glaucus’s ownership as his hetaera (an owned woman). Tessa had given up all hope. It seemed like she would never experience freedom again. It looked like the only way Tessa would gain her freedom was to take her own life. The Gods had another plan; they were looking down on her that day. Glaucus befalls a terrible fate, which will ultimately change things for Tessa forever. The next co More...
May 13, 2009
Margaret
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After reading this story, while reading a note provided after the story within the book I found that this really explained what I think as a whole about the tale.
Weaving in and out of actual events, brushing lightly against the lives of characters from the pages of history, the Seven Wonders novels take us beyond man's ingenuity and hubris to explore the Supreme Creator's work in the ancient world beyond Israel. From the fall of the mighty Colossus of Rhodes to the destruction of th More...
Weaving in and out of actual events, brushing lightly against the lives of characters from the pages of history, the Seven Wonders novels take us beyond man's ingenuity and hubris to explore the Supreme Creator's work in the ancient world beyond Israel. From the fall of the mighty Colossus of Rhodes to the destruction of th More...
Dec 30, 2011
Marci
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I started this with such high hopes since I love Greek and any ancient historical fiction! By 50 PGs in, I still could not get into it ( it should've hooked me by then). Characters boring and lifeless. And by pg 50 no real plot still. I couldn't even finish it. It was like pulling teeth just to get to pg 50. Very, very disappointed! Don't know if I should even attempt the other two in this series!!!!
Jul 04, 2011
Kayley
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I have always loved history, and I found this to not only be a fascinating story but greatly revealing as to this ancient culture. I'd never heard of a hetaeira before I read this book and enjoyed learning for the first time many things about ancient Rhodes. I love the character of Tessa, finding her and her struggles very real and personal. T.L. Higley weaved the gospel very effectively throughout the story. It's a great beginning to the series.
Feb 08, 2010
jennifer joy
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I kept waiting for the plot to start. It never really did. I felt like the author kept telling me how to feel and think about her characters. I pretty much knew the end of the book at the end of the first chapter. There was only one great character and "twist" which came at the end and wasn't really enough to carry the book. I probably won't read anything else by this author.
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Aug 10, 2010
Cindy
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This book offered a great tale of happenings in Rhodes in 227BC, taking place just days before the great earthquake that toppled the colossus Helios statue. For historic fiction readers, its a must-read. For christian fiction readers, its a must-read. For those who just like a good story and a challenge to find the soul deep within you, this is a must-read.
Jun 01, 2009
Erin
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The year is 227 BC. Tessa has been used and abused as a hetaera on the Greek isle of Rhodes. She is tired of the pain, wishing her heart were as solid as the giant Colossus that towers over the city. Spiro is hungry for power and obsessed with obtaining Tessa for himself. Nikos has come to the island as a spy but his mission is quickly derailed by unfolding events. The story takes a little while to jump off the page, but soon you are completely transported to the time and place and the struggles
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Dec 12, 2008
M.C.
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I enjoyed this so much. T. L. Higley did a superb job of not being too preachy, but still getting redemption into the story.
I loved how wonderfully researched this book was. I felt like I learned a lot while still really caring for the characters.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the Seven Wonders series!
I loved how wonderfully researched this book was. I felt like I learned a lot while still really caring for the characters.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the Seven Wonders series!
Sep 10, 2009
Wen
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This book was very good. It is the first in a series of books set in ancient times and features the areas of the seven wonders of the world. This one is set in Ancient Greece, in Rhodes, where the Colossus once stood. The characters are very well done and likeable. The story line kept me interested. It is certainly a good read and worth picking up.
May 16, 2011
Katie
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An interesting series concept where each book is centered around one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This book was still an enjoyable read although I couldn't really buy into the historical accuracy of the book. I know, I know: it's fiction. But good historical fiction should still have an authentic feel. It could be just that I am not that familiar with this particular time and location's history, but I just couldn't see some of things in the book being very plausible. It was Christi
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Aug 23, 2011
Michelle
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I literally couldn't put it down but minus one star for slightly religious moments but tey didn't impede the story at all and the romance is wonderful! A must-read for lovers of classical-era historical fiction
May 22, 2009
Courtney
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What a fast read, I must say. I really enjoyed the story line even though it took me a few chapters to really get into it. Love the idea of structuring a story line around actual events. Can't wait for the next one!
Jan 26, 2009
Julie
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I enjoy historical suspense and TL Higley delivers. I felt like I was on the Island of Rhodes and the descriptions and attention to detail helped paint the picture without bogging down the story.
Jul 02, 2011
Betsy
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this was a great book. The descriptions of the time are amazing and the way she weaves in the pagan religions and slows brings the characters around to the One True God is wonderful!!!
Dec 11, 2009
Kathyred
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Adequate plot, language and depiction of the time/place, but I thought the main character's growth was too fast and pat to be really believable.
Oct 09, 2011
Kris
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Meh. The big earthquake doesn't happen until the last 10 pages, so that was kind of lame. This book was predictable and kind of slow.
Nov 15, 2008
Ruth
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Shadow of a Colussus takes us into the life of Tessa, a courtesan and slave on the Island of Rhodes in the year 227 BC, the week before an earthquake that topples the Colossus. It is a story of political intrigue and the story of how a women who had taught herself to be as unfeeling as a statue learns to trust and love. The author adds a lot of historical detail--we learn about the interior of homes, the public baths and the aquaduct system and the religous practices of the people. My only cr
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Aug 15, 2009
Deborah
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7 wonders of the world series, but doesn not have to be read in order. Early Christians, how they impacted the world.
Dec 26, 2011
Cheryl
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Interesting romance set amid the background of Rhodes and the Colossus of Helios. Liked the heroine Tess. Didn't care for the emphasis on religion in the last quarter of the book. It was added nicely, but I'm just not into that for novels.
