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65th out of 154 books
—
40 voters
Guardian of the Flame (Seven Wonders #3)
by
Tracy L. Higley (Goodreads Author)
Guardian of the Flame is book three in the Seven Wonders series of novels transporting readers back to the Ancient World. Characters struggle to find meaning in a pagan society and are confronted by the one true God and His message of redemption.The year is 48 BC. Sophia, a woman hurt by past loss, guards the famous lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt, in order to hide herself...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by B&H Books
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I've liked Higley's other books, but after reading 154 pages of this book, I quit reading. Partly this is because I love ancient Egyptian and Roman history, so I know what's going to happen to Cleo and Caesar, in the harbor, etc., in the overall sense. There was no suspense there for me.
That wouldn't matter if the main characters' individual stories hooked me. But Sophia is a bitter, hard woman that I didn't like. I understand that her husband is dead, but we're not really told why she's so bitt...more
That wouldn't matter if the main characters' individual stories hooked me. But Sophia is a bitter, hard woman that I didn't like. I understand that her husband is dead, but we're not really told why she's so bitt...more
I have to say, the third instalment of T.L Higley's seven wonder's series was a big disappointment.
I read City of the Dead first, even though it is the second book, and loved it. It was very intense and her writing style immediately sold me. I bought that book and the first one not but a few weeks later and loved both of them. To this day, I've read them both countless times and would highly recommend them to anyone who loves a good portrayal of history's ancient worlds and cultures.
So as you c...more
I read City of the Dead first, even though it is the second book, and loved it. It was very intense and her writing style immediately sold me. I bought that book and the first one not but a few weeks later and loved both of them. To this day, I've read them both countless times and would highly recommend them to anyone who loves a good portrayal of history's ancient worlds and cultures.
So as you c...more
It’s 48 BC and two great fronts are about to collide. Rome has arrived in Egypt intertwining all of the combined glory of Caesar’s West and Cleopatra’s East. High atop the lighthouse of Alexandria, Sophia, a graying scholar keeps watch over a city she knows is doomed to change. Her life’s work, not to mention the work of her family and friends over generations, is at the doorstep of extinction, due to the growing rumble of international politics and national debts unpaid.
Three of Higley’s charac...more
Three of Higley’s charac...more
Guardian of the Flame
A Seven Wonders Novel
T.L. Higley
2009
B & H Publishing
Fiction/Historical/Christian
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Set in Alexandria Egypt, 48 BC Guardian of the Flame is truly like no other book I have read. A book that will grab you, lead you to a comfy chair and keep you there first page to the last page. Truly a fascinating book.
Sophia, a woman of great tragedy, loosing her husband and baby in a shipwreck years earlier, has hidden herself in the lighthouse for years. As the Keep...more
A Seven Wonders Novel
T.L. Higley
2009
B & H Publishing
Fiction/Historical/Christian
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Set in Alexandria Egypt, 48 BC Guardian of the Flame is truly like no other book I have read. A book that will grab you, lead you to a comfy chair and keep you there first page to the last page. Truly a fascinating book.
Sophia, a woman of great tragedy, loosing her husband and baby in a shipwreck years earlier, has hidden herself in the lighthouse for years. As the Keep...more
Sophia is the keeper of the Lighthouse in Alexandria. When Caesar and his armies invade Alexandria Sophia finds that she must keep more than her Lighthouse safe from their invasion.
Bellus a commander in the Roman army finds himself disgraced. As punishment Caesar orders him to “take the Lighthouse” and babysit the inhabitants until he can prove himself to Caesar once more.
Sophia has kept herself secluded in the Lighthouse for more than 20 years. False guilt for the loss of her husband and son ha...more
Bellus a commander in the Roman army finds himself disgraced. As punishment Caesar orders him to “take the Lighthouse” and babysit the inhabitants until he can prove himself to Caesar once more.
Sophia has kept herself secluded in the Lighthouse for more than 20 years. False guilt for the loss of her husband and son ha...more
Guardian of the Flame takes us to 48 B.C Alexandria, Egypt. It’s the time when Julius Caesar and his troops have taken control of Alexandria and Cleopatra and her younger brother Ptolemy are in exile.
But…this is not the story of Cleopatra, it’s the story of Sophia who is Cleopatra’s tutor and is the keeper of the strategic lighthouse.
Sophia is a woman who has made the lighthouse her refuge and has refused to mix and mingle with the town people. She has closed her heart to every possibility of lo...more
But…this is not the story of Cleopatra, it’s the story of Sophia who is Cleopatra’s tutor and is the keeper of the strategic lighthouse.
Sophia is a woman who has made the lighthouse her refuge and has refused to mix and mingle with the town people. She has closed her heart to every possibility of lo...more
Oooh, what a great book! I got to read an advance copy. This book provides an inside look at Cleopatra as she's building her fateful relationship with Ceasar. It's full of political intrigue and fascinating details that bring ancient Egypt to life. Cleopatra is a viewpoint character, so readers get a satisfying look at her thought processes, her passions, her ambitions, and the strained relationship between Rome and Egypt.
The other major character is fictitious, but no less fascinating. Sophia,...more
The other major character is fictitious, but no less fascinating. Sophia,...more
I am fascinated by, but not very familiar with the history of the Ancient World. I wish I'd paid more attention in my Humanities World History classes in college! I was also not familiar with Tracy Higley's Seven Wonders series, but I intend to seek out the first two books.
Sophia is a strong, educated woman who has dedicated her life to keeping the lighthouse flame lit. Her sorrows and losses have kept her inside the lighthouse and away from the rest of the world. Her joys come from learning and...more
Sophia is a strong, educated woman who has dedicated her life to keeping the lighthouse flame lit. Her sorrows and losses have kept her inside the lighthouse and away from the rest of the world. Her joys come from learning and...more
Sophia and her pain co-exist in the seclusion of her lighthouse until the political forces at play threaten the one thing she loves more than her solitude. To protect it she must venture forth and in the process, face the lies that overshadow her life and soul. Can she find love and acceptance through an enemy?
Guardian of the Flame is set in historical Alexandria, Egypt with Cleopatra and Julies Caesar floating amidst the 379 pages. The unique historical setting, combined with the lovably flawed...more
Guardian of the Flame is set in historical Alexandria, Egypt with Cleopatra and Julies Caesar floating amidst the 379 pages. The unique historical setting, combined with the lovably flawed...more
Very interesting book – part history, part love story, part finding your faith, loving again after tragedy. Great research done on the part of TL Higley so that you can almost smell the streets of Alexandria in 48 BC. My only suggestion is that I wish there was a map in the front of the book – it would have helped to see the layout of Alexandria especially towards the end when the battle started.
This is the 3rd book in Higley’s 7 wonders of the Ancient World – definitely a must read series. I h...more
This is the 3rd book in Higley’s 7 wonders of the Ancient World – definitely a must read series. I h...more
Age Appropriate For: Ages 12 + (some violence, thematic elements, and reading leval)
Best for Ages: 18 and up
Wow! I stayed up until 1:00AM to finish this book. Beauty and the Beast retold in Egypt during the time of Cleopatra? Yes please!
Tracy Higley is, hands down, the best historical fiction writer I have ever read. She brings the history to life and pulls in bits of daily life so seamlessly, that you don't realize what an education you are getting until the book is over. The historical event o...more
Best for Ages: 18 and up
Wow! I stayed up until 1:00AM to finish this book. Beauty and the Beast retold in Egypt during the time of Cleopatra? Yes please!
Tracy Higley is, hands down, the best historical fiction writer I have ever read. She brings the history to life and pulls in bits of daily life so seamlessly, that you don't realize what an education you are getting until the book is over. The historical event o...more
This is one of those stories that keeps you turning pages, biting your lip and holding your breath to find out what will happen next with the characters. It is by no means a simple romance. I love ancient history and all the intrigue, action, and details that make that time period fascinating were so well represented that Alexandria itself became almost another character in the story.
Sophia is a wonderful character. She's isolated, intelligent, self-sacrificing and has built more than a few wal...more
Sophia is a wonderful character. She's isolated, intelligent, self-sacrificing and has built more than a few wal...more
I haven't read a story written by this author before and I really enjoyed it. Last week I read Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran, so it was cool to hang out in the ancient world a bit longer. In Guardian of the Flame, Cleopatra is involved with Julius Caesar and is trying to save her country while holding on to power at the same time. Sophia, the main character in this book, is forced to trust a Roman Centurion and the tension between them is delightfully charged with both animosity and att...more
The year is 48 BC. A time when the Romans led by General Julius Caesar were preparing to storm the walls of the city of Alexandria. Sophia lost her husband to the sea. For years now she has been the Keeper of the Light. She lives in the tower of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. She is in charge of making sure the light is never exstingished. The Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra comes to visit her mentor. Cleopatra does not like Caesar. She asks Sophia for her help in stopping Caesar from gaining control o...more
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Guardian of the Flame by T.L. Higley is the third book in the historical fiction Seven Wonders series. Sophia has spent her life keeping the fire at the top of the Lighthouse of Alexandria lit and encouraging the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom at the city's famed Library. Both are threatened by the arrival of Julius Caesar and his troops. Even worse, the wall she has built around her heart is in danger from the glances from Pilus Prior Bellus, a leader of the centurions. Higley's series abo...more
Guardian of the Flame was a great introduction to this author. I enjoy historical fiction, whether it has a romance element through it or not, and this one hit the right balance for me. The detail was enough to create the atmosphere without bogging the reader down in too much 'waffle'. When the book arrived and was marked as a religious book, I admit I was a little concerned. But the religious message was present without taking over the story completely. Well done.
I found this book very enjoyable. It has been my reading experience that there are not many writers who can write good, accurate historial fiction. Guardian of the Flame satisfies the desire for an engaging story and historical accuracy. The characters of Sofia, Cleopatra, Caesar and Bellus are wonderfully drawn and the pace of the story never drags. All in all an excellent read.
The history fascinated me. I love history, especially in the Roman era, but I learned some things. Higley has done her research and I am impressed. The fiction was also cleverly crafted to keep me intrigued - hating Pothinus, rooting for Lucius, and wondering what Cleopatra would do next. Now I need to go look into the challenges of keeping time. Thank you, Tracy!
This book provided a history lesson without you realising it, drawn into the story of Sophia, an educated woman who lives in a lighthouse. Not just any lighthouse though, ancient Egypt is restless, the Romans are invading and Cleopatra has not yet become powerful. Once you've read this book you'll want to learn more about this amazing civilisation.
This is a great book! : ) If you like Roman/adventure/suspense/historical romance, this is the book for you! The author does a great job developing the characters. For those of you who hate kissy scenes, they are not intense. But for those of you who like a good kiss at the end, be satisfied that it's in there too!
This is probably the best book by Higley that I've read, despite some pretty glaring grammatical errors throughout the book. Also some plot lines were unclear and/or implausible. Also the whole religion handling is pretty random and weird. But still, probably one of her better novels.
This story takes place during the time of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, though it focuses instead on Sophia, keeper of the flame of the great lighthouse of Alexandria. A swift read, completed in a day.
Caesar and Cleopatra. The Lighthouse of Alexandria and its lofty keeper who has chosen to remain hidden away in its strength. A Roman centurion who does his job well but his heart is not in war. T.L. Higley weaves a masterful story set in 48 BC, full of history, political intrigue, scholarly pursuits and matters of the heart. Egypt versus Rome. Love versus power. Isolation versus community. Another keeper for the shelf!
T.L. Higley officially moves into the "authors I must read" watchlist after a...more
T.L. Higley officially moves into the "authors I must read" watchlist after a...more
Really enjoyed this book.
7 wonders of the world series
Another amazing adventure by T.L. Higley that left me breathless & wanting more. As with the other novels in the Seven Wonders series, Guardian of the Flame is full of intricate historical detail and beautifully crafted characters. I love how Higley intertwines the search for the One True God with everyday worship of ancient pagan gods, ultimately proving that He is the only way. In my opinion, Guardian of the Flame is yet another winning book and I can't wait for the next one!
just hate it when I get a free book and then don't like it. It just seems so ungracious of me. Anyway, this book read really fast but it just was not engaging to me. I think her history is pretty good, but the story went on too long and the conversations were not well written. The characters did not come across as real. I really love the story of Cleopatra so I was really disappointed.
This one just didn't hook me like Ms. Higley's other books have. Still, I did enjoy it & I loved the ending!
Very informative and mildly exciting!
Loved the how T.L.Higley weaves an interesting story line between the unlikeliest of characters.
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From her earliest childhood, there was nothing Tracy loved better than stepping into another world between the pages of a book. From dragons and knights, to the wonders of Narnia, that passion has never abated, and to Tracy, opening any novel is like stepping again through the wardrobe, into the thrilling unknown. With every book she writes, she wants to open a door like that, and invite readers t...more
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