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Zion Chronicles #1
The Gates of Zion
Ellie, a young American photojournalist, finds herself in the Jerusalem of 1947. She unwittingly becomes a pawn in a political chess game when she photographs some ancient scrolls discovered by Bedouins. David seems to love her dearly, but Moshe has a purpose and commitment in life that intrigues her more than she can say. Through it all, Ellie discovers a people, a spirit and a person who profoundly change the direction of her life.
This first book in THE ZION CHRONICLES vividly portrays the intense struggle of the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the forces, within and without, which engulf the Middle East in conflict and controversy even today.
This first book in THE ZION CHRONICLES vividly portrays the intense struggle of the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the forces, within and without, which engulf the Middle East in conflict and controversy even today.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
324 people are currently reading
3762 people want to read
About the author
Bodie Thoene
202 books1,364 followersBODIE AND BROCK THOENE (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 45 works of historical fiction. These best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake Thoene, Luke Thoene, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake Thoene, Luke Thoene, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
February 22, 2012
The reason I chose 5 stars was because this series usually I walk past, but on a friends recommendation I picked up the first book. I was pleasantly surprised. I loved this book. So much that I bought the entire series in a nice collection. I loved the History and the fact that the characters and the events are actual events and real people that lived in these most trying times of faith and perseverance. I loved the fact that this book brought this History to life for me about the creation of the Jewish state of Israel. I liked the characters and the fictional conversations. I think sometimes the folks that give this book a dismal review are probably not Christians and every book they read has to be epic of sorts. I cat wait to get into the other continuing series from Thoene.
December 26, 2017
First in a series depicting the creation of Israel.
This book is mostly about a female journalist and her love triangle between a wise cracking ace, and fiery eyed zealot.
Not bad, if not my cup of tea.
This book is mostly about a female journalist and her love triangle between a wise cracking ace, and fiery eyed zealot.
Not bad, if not my cup of tea.
January 6, 2009
This book was like reading a "B" movie. Some books can seamlessly blend historical fiction, romance, adventure, suspense, cultural issues--this is not one of them. The closest is comes to fulfilling any of these would be historical fiction. The characters are generally stereotypical and shallow, the premis is grossly biased, and I have to balk at any theme that makes one race of people 'the bad guy'; it takes a subject that is complex, historical, and sensitive and reduces it to the cognitive level of a fourth-grader. One redeeming area can be found in a few religious (Judaism-vs-Christianity)conversations between various characters. Yet, it's easy to feel that these islands of intellect are there to bolster the progaganda of the book rather than from the depth of the characters' personality.
There is really no feeling of suspense when there should be, and with the possible exception of Reb Lebowitz and Yacov, who are minor characters, you could really care less who loves who or who lives or dies.
There is really no feeling of suspense when there should be, and with the possible exception of Reb Lebowitz and Yacov, who are minor characters, you could really care less who loves who or who lives or dies.
April 7, 2016
So disappointing. After LOVING the other series called Zion Covenant I purchased the whole set of Zion Chronicles thinking it would be similar - but it's awful. I suspect they wrote the books in a huge rush and never ended up coming back to edit or flesh out the stories properly. Someone has described them as a B movie and I couldn't agree more. I'm kind of stunned that they were even published. It is patchy and cliched and at times just plain boring because the characters are so 1-dimensional not to mention completely un-relateable. For example Rachael is a Polish Jew who survived living in a concentration camp as a forced prostitute. In other words she was raped constantly for years. And yet for some reason in the book she is the naive, love-struck beauty who is always dreaming about a future romance. Doesn't that seem strange? Her trauma (which would be ginormous) seems limited to a sense of almost embarrassment about how she has been a dirty prostitute and might not be able to get a man. She doesn't seem to be repulsed by the thought of Moshe wanting to be with her... just shyly sits around looking gorgeous and fragile and waiting for their big moment.
Likewise the American characters (who are all good guys of course) are all bolshy and use horribly cliched phrases like a bad movie, whilst the English characters are uptight and unlikeable (and also use horribly cliched British phrases). It was all just unconvincing and the story was badly told.
The other Zion series were amazing and the characters were SO well portayed and you were really drawn into their complex world, that I struggled to believe this was written by the same authors.
I would recommend the other 'Zion Covenant' series in a heartbeat - I just wish I had never spent money on the Zion Chronicles.
Likewise the American characters (who are all good guys of course) are all bolshy and use horribly cliched phrases like a bad movie, whilst the English characters are uptight and unlikeable (and also use horribly cliched British phrases). It was all just unconvincing and the story was badly told.
The other Zion series were amazing and the characters were SO well portayed and you were really drawn into their complex world, that I struggled to believe this was written by the same authors.
I would recommend the other 'Zion Covenant' series in a heartbeat - I just wish I had never spent money on the Zion Chronicles.
May 14, 2023
Caveat:: my ratings are based on genre meaning this is a 3.5 star in the Historical Romance genre NOT as compared to a great piece of literature like O'Connor or Solzhenitsyn:: I found this on my grandma's bookshelf and brought it home to read. I remembered reading the authors Zion Covenant series over twenty years ago and really enjoying them.
First, this is the authors first novel and the writing reflects that. It's a bit disjointed and sometimes it felt like she would've done better to leave out some characters. No one in particular, it just had too many to seem cohesive. On the other hand, I did enjoy the way she wove so many of them together.
Second, the historical facts in the book are what kept me hanging in there. I'm not one to just go read a romance novel, I find them generally boring so the history is the reason I wanted to read it in the first place. That was definitely my favorite element of the book. I found myself wanting to know more about the events and what were factual. Many of them were and others were based on actual events. Characters were based on real people or WERE real people. For example Golda Meir has a scene, and David Ben-Gurion, the Mufti and others are characters.
Lastly, my favorite characters were Yacov, Miriam, Rachel, Moshe and Rabbi Lebowitz, and out of those only Moshe is a main character.
I will continue reading the series since I enjoyed it enough and I like to mix in quick reads with my headier books. I am hoping the writing improves with each one though.
First, this is the authors first novel and the writing reflects that. It's a bit disjointed and sometimes it felt like she would've done better to leave out some characters. No one in particular, it just had too many to seem cohesive. On the other hand, I did enjoy the way she wove so many of them together.
Second, the historical facts in the book are what kept me hanging in there. I'm not one to just go read a romance novel, I find them generally boring so the history is the reason I wanted to read it in the first place. That was definitely my favorite element of the book. I found myself wanting to know more about the events and what were factual. Many of them were and others were based on actual events. Characters were based on real people or WERE real people. For example Golda Meir has a scene, and David Ben-Gurion, the Mufti and others are characters.
Lastly, my favorite characters were Yacov, Miriam, Rachel, Moshe and Rabbi Lebowitz, and out of those only Moshe is a main character.
I will continue reading the series since I enjoyed it enough and I like to mix in quick reads with my headier books. I am hoping the writing improves with each one though.
January 13, 2014
My High school English teacher recommended the Thoenes to us, but I never got around to reading them then. I recently opened The Gates of Zion and could not put it down. As a history lover, I appreciate their approach to being as historically accurate as possible. I walked away with more understanding of Israel's struggle for a nation. As a reader, I loved the plot; full of suspense, action, intrigue, and some romance for good measure. For me, any historical fiction that makes me want to study out the subject more is an excellent read. This one fit the bill. Can't wait to read more by this talented husband/wife team!
February 21, 2017
A great book from beginning to end. A wonderful story of the Jews attempting to settle in Jerusalem in the post World War 2 area after the fall of Nazism. The persecution followed them even to their homeland where the Moslems continued to persecute from where the Nazis left off. No dull moments in this story but action from the beginning to the end. I am looking forward to reading #2 of the Zion Chronicles.
December 19, 2012
This book covers an interesting and often overlooked piece of history, the establishment of Israel for the Jewish people after World War II. Unfortunately, the characters failed to draw me in or make me care about them. The women are so beautiful it is difficult for the men to decide which one they love, and the women suffer similarly because both men are handsome and courageous. The dialog is unrealistic and at times cringeworthy. As others have pointed out, the "bad guys" are all ignorant and cruel while the "good guys" are intelligent and virtuous. If only people were truly that easy to figure out and categorize. I found myself wanting to learn more about the historical events but hoping to read about them somewhere else. As much as I enjoy reading a series, I am not sure if I will continue with this one. Thoene's AD Chronicles was much better in my opinion.
August 29, 2008
I wasn't so sure I was going to like this book. It was a book club selection so I was coerced into reading it. I was greatly surprised to find it very interesting and enjoyable. I don't think I will read the rest of the series, but I am glad I read this one. I liked that I learned about an event in history that I never-ever thought about before, the partition of Israel and Palestine or rather the creation of modern day Israel soon after the holocaust (definitely biased towards the Jews and Christians and not the Muslims). Now I have the desire to learn about it in more depth.
April 25, 2015
A historical fiction novel filled with truth. I loved every second of this book. Set in 1947, we learn the story of Ellie Warne and how she came to love the Jewish people. She learns to trust her heart even in the midst of incredible pain. You won't be able to set this book down. These two authors are fantastic writers who weave the story and the truth into a blend of perfect reading.
June 6, 2014
A little slow to start, but picks up and then you can't put it down.
My favorite line from the book is "Would she have ever known that God's love was bigger than heartache?"
What a powerful and precious thought!
My favorite line from the book is "Would she have ever known that God's love was bigger than heartache?"
What a powerful and precious thought!
November 14, 2016
I loved this book. I thought that the beginning was a bit slow but now I see why it had to be like that. This wasn't the type of book that you can guess the ending, which I think is nice. I can't wait to read the next book!
January 17, 2012
This is one of my favorite series and I really think y'all need to read it. :) Wonderful story. Highly recommended.
July 18, 2022
4,5 sterren - Dutch paperback
Evil circles closer,
threatening even those
who survived the Holocaust.
The Gates of Zion was a pleasant surprise! I've read plenty of historical books about this time and place in history, and I found this book to be accurate throughout: not only with the facts, but also with the character's perceptions.
This round out the history into a compelling story with plots that pique the reader's interest, characters and situations one can sympathize with, and an overall sense of 1940's drama that seems like a film from that time period.
I was especially impressed with the accuracy of the history and geography of Jerusalem; I can tell they have at least visited the city before!
I found the characters to be pretty believable as well: sort of a cross between Leon Uri's "The Exodus" and Indiana Jones personalities. There all interesting.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the other books in this series, and then diving into some of the other Thoene books!
Evil circles closer,
threatening even those
who survived the Holocaust.
The Gates of Zion was a pleasant surprise! I've read plenty of historical books about this time and place in history, and I found this book to be accurate throughout: not only with the facts, but also with the character's perceptions.
This round out the history into a compelling story with plots that pique the reader's interest, characters and situations one can sympathize with, and an overall sense of 1940's drama that seems like a film from that time period.
I was especially impressed with the accuracy of the history and geography of Jerusalem; I can tell they have at least visited the city before!
I found the characters to be pretty believable as well: sort of a cross between Leon Uri's "The Exodus" and Indiana Jones personalities. There all interesting.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the other books in this series, and then diving into some of the other Thoene books!
July 1, 2019
Definitely not my usual kind of book, but a friend lent me the whole series and said I’d love it.
It took me a little bit to get into it, but by the time I got halfway though, it was a real page turner!
It took me a little bit to get into it, but by the time I got halfway though, it was a real page turner!
May 31, 2021
The following is a quote about The Gates of Zion, from goodreads, about this book. It says it well.
“This first book in THE ZION CHRONICLES vividly portrays the intense struggle of the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the forces, within and without, which engulf the Middle East in conflict and controversy even today.”
I enjoyed this book's real characters and suspenseful fast moving story. It gave me an appreciation of Israel, the Middle East and its history.
“This first book in THE ZION CHRONICLES vividly portrays the intense struggle of the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the forces, within and without, which engulf the Middle East in conflict and controversy even today.”
I enjoyed this book's real characters and suspenseful fast moving story. It gave me an appreciation of Israel, the Middle East and its history.
June 16, 2016
I started out very hopeful for this book. I was looking for a story in the same vein as Leon Uris' Exodus, and, right away, this book brought me to the very same time period and location--right at the moment of Palestinian partition in Old Jerusalem. There is even an early scene featuring David Ben-Gurion.
Unfortunately, that is about all the history there is. From there on, the story devolves into a sort of Hallmark movie of the week melodrama. There are an unbelievable number of last-minute saves and close calls that it soon becomes cartoonish.
However, what really bothered me (and I have only myself to blame as I could have checked) was that the whole book was evidently intended for religious training purposes. There is an appendix with questions designed to facilitate the book's use in religious study. After seeing this, the rather cardboard nature of the characters makes more sense. That is, the bad guys are really bad with NO redeeming features and the good guys seemingly have no flaws.
This is NOT another Exodus, unfortunately.
Unfortunately, that is about all the history there is. From there on, the story devolves into a sort of Hallmark movie of the week melodrama. There are an unbelievable number of last-minute saves and close calls that it soon becomes cartoonish.
However, what really bothered me (and I have only myself to blame as I could have checked) was that the whole book was evidently intended for religious training purposes. There is an appendix with questions designed to facilitate the book's use in religious study. After seeing this, the rather cardboard nature of the characters makes more sense. That is, the bad guys are really bad with NO redeeming features and the good guys seemingly have no flaws.
This is NOT another Exodus, unfortunately.
March 22, 2015
2.5 stars. Decently researched and of a subject matter that I love, but cliche-riddled with a bit of a disney ending (an animal sidekick saves the day). The character Rachael, in particular, could have used more character development. The extra .5 stars is for one scene where Moshe talks about the history between the Jewish people and the Christian church, which I really liked.
For a post-WWII, establishment of the state of Israel book, I would recommend Leon Uris' Exodus.
For a post-WWII, establishment of the state of Israel book, I would recommend Leon Uris' Exodus.
June 9, 2019
Good hospital and post hernia operation reading. Too pro-Israel anti Arab for my liking. But was set after World War 2 so Jewish prejudice was still running high in many quarters. Convincing 'Christian spy' genre. Virtually my first Christian fiction, recommended by my wife who has read all the five books in the series, and pronounced 'I think these are more you than me.' May pick up again vol 2 in next hols... Worth a read if you are into fiction.
June 22, 2008
Takes a while to get going, and rather political; based in 1947, in Palestine around the time when Israel became a nation. Violent in places, and a bit biased, though mostly well researched - but overall a good story, which became much more interesting after the early chapters.
Three and a half stars, really.
Three and a half stars, really.
January 4, 2016
I first read this series in 7th grade. I love historical fiction, I felt compelled to re read the series and was surprised at how much I remember. Love Ellie and her character. The "romance" felt a bit more contrived this time but I like the aspects of history and faith.
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January 17, 2024 The Gates of Zion
The Gates of Zion is the first book in a historical fiction series written by Bodie Thoene. The book takes place at the beginning of Israel’s statehood in 1947, just at the time before partition was put into action. Partition was the United Nations' plan to divide Israel into two states, a Jewish and an Arab state while keeping Jerusalem as an international city.
The book is written from the perspective of multiple different characters, including an American photojournalist named Ellie, David an American pilot fighting for the Jewish Agency and supporting the Haganah, a Jewish archaeologist and professor named Moshe Sachar, a Jewish Rabbi living in the Old City of Jerusalem, Rachel, a girl who was forced into prostitution by the Nazis, Hassan, an Arab working for the Mufti, and even Gerhardt, a former Nazi, now working for the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Hussinei. The book gives stories of the bombings and attacks waged by both the Arabs under the Mufti and Jewish terrorist groups such as the Irgun. It speaks of the feelings on both sides of the fight and of the way that both sides used the media to their benefit.
The main struggles in this book in the series are the Jew’s fight to maintain control of the Old City and their attempt to buy weapons and planes. The British have placed an arms embargo on the Jews in order to appease the Arabs, so it is illegal for Jews to be found with weapons up until the British withdraw from Palestine, which will be too late. If the Jews do not have a way to defend themselves when the British withdraw, they will likely be defeated by the Arab Jihad warriors. The radical Muslims have threatened to drive the Jews into the sea when the British withdrew. So, the Jews are smuggling weapons into the Old City by any means that they can: bullets in their beans and disassembled Sten guns strapped to the inside of rabbis’ clothing.
I like this book because I feel like it helped me to better understand how the people of Palestine felt under the British mandate and at the time before partition. It helped to give an idea about the way that both the Jews and the Arabs thought about the situation. It is sometimes hard for us to understand the struggle in the Middle East because here in the West we think differently about life and war than they do. The struggle in the Middle East is a prevalent issue in our present time, and I think that having a good perspective on it is very important, this is the main reason why I wanted to read this book right now.
I would recommend that anyone looking to learn more about this time in Israel’s history or just about the Jewish-Arab struggle read this book. It is very engaging, and while not all of the characters are real, I feel like they give a good idea of what people did and what they felt during this time. The one thing that I would say, is that while this book is clearly pro-Isarael, it still gives many stories of kind Arabs and a few of Jews turned traitors.
I feel like this quote from David Ben-Gurion summarizes the mission of the Jews of Israel quite well, “I know God promised all of Palestine to the children of Israel. I do not know what borders He set. I believe they are wider than the ones proposed. If God will keep his promise in his own time, our business as poor humans who live in a difficult age is to save as much as we can of the remnants of Israel.”
The Gates of Zion is the first book in a historical fiction series written by Bodie Thoene. The book takes place at the beginning of Israel’s statehood in 1947, just at the time before partition was put into action. Partition was the United Nations' plan to divide Israel into two states, a Jewish and an Arab state while keeping Jerusalem as an international city.
The book is written from the perspective of multiple different characters, including an American photojournalist named Ellie, David an American pilot fighting for the Jewish Agency and supporting the Haganah, a Jewish archaeologist and professor named Moshe Sachar, a Jewish Rabbi living in the Old City of Jerusalem, Rachel, a girl who was forced into prostitution by the Nazis, Hassan, an Arab working for the Mufti, and even Gerhardt, a former Nazi, now working for the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Hussinei. The book gives stories of the bombings and attacks waged by both the Arabs under the Mufti and Jewish terrorist groups such as the Irgun. It speaks of the feelings on both sides of the fight and of the way that both sides used the media to their benefit.
The main struggles in this book in the series are the Jew’s fight to maintain control of the Old City and their attempt to buy weapons and planes. The British have placed an arms embargo on the Jews in order to appease the Arabs, so it is illegal for Jews to be found with weapons up until the British withdraw from Palestine, which will be too late. If the Jews do not have a way to defend themselves when the British withdraw, they will likely be defeated by the Arab Jihad warriors. The radical Muslims have threatened to drive the Jews into the sea when the British withdrew. So, the Jews are smuggling weapons into the Old City by any means that they can: bullets in their beans and disassembled Sten guns strapped to the inside of rabbis’ clothing.
I like this book because I feel like it helped me to better understand how the people of Palestine felt under the British mandate and at the time before partition. It helped to give an idea about the way that both the Jews and the Arabs thought about the situation. It is sometimes hard for us to understand the struggle in the Middle East because here in the West we think differently about life and war than they do. The struggle in the Middle East is a prevalent issue in our present time, and I think that having a good perspective on it is very important, this is the main reason why I wanted to read this book right now.
I would recommend that anyone looking to learn more about this time in Israel’s history or just about the Jewish-Arab struggle read this book. It is very engaging, and while not all of the characters are real, I feel like they give a good idea of what people did and what they felt during this time. The one thing that I would say, is that while this book is clearly pro-Isarael, it still gives many stories of kind Arabs and a few of Jews turned traitors.
I feel like this quote from David Ben-Gurion summarizes the mission of the Jews of Israel quite well, “I know God promised all of Palestine to the children of Israel. I do not know what borders He set. I believe they are wider than the ones proposed. If God will keep his promise in his own time, our business as poor humans who live in a difficult age is to save as much as we can of the remnants of Israel.”
March 25, 2023
This series of books was very popular among the evangelical set when I was growing up. Many of my friends in college were reading them, and I was always intrigued by the premise, but never made time for them. I recently discovered them on the shelves of my churches library, so I picked up the first one, just to see what all the hype was about, 30 years later.
The protagonist is Ellie Warne, a young American photojournalist living in Jerusalem in 1947 with her uncle, an archaeologist. Ellie unwittingly becomes involved in political intrigue when she snaps some photographs of ancient scrolls shown to her by Bedouin tribesman. Ellie also faces a dilemma in that she is attracted to Moshe, a Jewish archaeologist, but also has feelings for David, an American pilot, who also makes his way to Jerusalem to rekindle their old romance. Unbeknownst to Ellie, Moshe is more than he seems. He works with an underground organization to smuggle people into the country, past the British blockade. Meanwhile, tensions between the Jews and the Arabs in the city escalate, as the UN recommends the partition of Palestine into two states and the British mandate in the region comes to an end.
At its heart, this book reads like a romance. The love triangle between Ellie and David and Moshe lurks constantly in the background, even as other activities take center stage. However, the novel also has elements of a political thriller, and an action-adventure tale. It falls somewhere between "Exodus" and "Indiana Jones" on the scale of historical fiction, with set pieces that would do either film proud - a rooftop chase sequence is particularly memorable, as well as an actual instance of tomb raiding.
The film metaphor may well be appropriate, as Bodie Thoene, the author, cut her teeth as a screenwriter. The book has a very cinematic feel to it, with the physical locations well described, character who sometimes read like tropes, and the action front and center. Thoene spends some time on her protagonist's feelings, but by and large this is an external facing book - what happens next is the driving paradigm.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I expected it to be slightly less intelligent, and certainly less entertaining that it proved to be. It's a quick read, with a lot of fun action in it, although some moments strain credulity. My biggest critique is in how it paints its Arab characters. They are generally depicted as wholesale villains, with few redeeming qualities. The book never allows them to be fully human, with legitimate grievances or concerns. Rather, they are consistently malicious and scheming. Although I am sure there were nefarious Palestinians in 1947, the uncritical, pro-Israel approach paints the whole situation with too broad of a brush. The conflict between Jews and Arabs in this region is far more complex than Thoene's characterizations allow.
I am still debating whether to pick up the next book in the series. I'm interested to know what happens, but I was not so smitten with this volume as to make it an automatic must read. For any of those who have read the rest of the series, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.
The protagonist is Ellie Warne, a young American photojournalist living in Jerusalem in 1947 with her uncle, an archaeologist. Ellie unwittingly becomes involved in political intrigue when she snaps some photographs of ancient scrolls shown to her by Bedouin tribesman. Ellie also faces a dilemma in that she is attracted to Moshe, a Jewish archaeologist, but also has feelings for David, an American pilot, who also makes his way to Jerusalem to rekindle their old romance. Unbeknownst to Ellie, Moshe is more than he seems. He works with an underground organization to smuggle people into the country, past the British blockade. Meanwhile, tensions between the Jews and the Arabs in the city escalate, as the UN recommends the partition of Palestine into two states and the British mandate in the region comes to an end.
At its heart, this book reads like a romance. The love triangle between Ellie and David and Moshe lurks constantly in the background, even as other activities take center stage. However, the novel also has elements of a political thriller, and an action-adventure tale. It falls somewhere between "Exodus" and "Indiana Jones" on the scale of historical fiction, with set pieces that would do either film proud - a rooftop chase sequence is particularly memorable, as well as an actual instance of tomb raiding.
The film metaphor may well be appropriate, as Bodie Thoene, the author, cut her teeth as a screenwriter. The book has a very cinematic feel to it, with the physical locations well described, character who sometimes read like tropes, and the action front and center. Thoene spends some time on her protagonist's feelings, but by and large this is an external facing book - what happens next is the driving paradigm.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I expected it to be slightly less intelligent, and certainly less entertaining that it proved to be. It's a quick read, with a lot of fun action in it, although some moments strain credulity. My biggest critique is in how it paints its Arab characters. They are generally depicted as wholesale villains, with few redeeming qualities. The book never allows them to be fully human, with legitimate grievances or concerns. Rather, they are consistently malicious and scheming. Although I am sure there were nefarious Palestinians in 1947, the uncritical, pro-Israel approach paints the whole situation with too broad of a brush. The conflict between Jews and Arabs in this region is far more complex than Thoene's characterizations allow.
I am still debating whether to pick up the next book in the series. I'm interested to know what happens, but I was not so smitten with this volume as to make it an automatic must read. For any of those who have read the rest of the series, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.
April 11, 2024
Excellent, but not as good as the Zion Covenant series (4 stars)
The Thoene author duo has produced some of the finest Christian fiction, and this was the entry novel of their first Zion themed series, the Zion Chronicles. Set in 1947 post-war Jerusalem, the main protagonist is photojournalist Ellie Warne, along with archaeologist Moshe Sachar, American pilot David Meyer, newly arrived Jewish Holocaust survivor Rachel Lubetkin, and a number of secondary characters, including nine year old Jacov and his Rabbi grandfather. A violent conflict is brewing between Jews and Arabs after the UN Partition Plan, and Ellie finds herself in the middle of it.
I love the way that the Thoenes weave a compelling and suspenseful narrative as part of a rich historical backdrop, which is well researched and brings to life the struggles and culture of the time. Readers should be aware that the authors seem to support the Zionist ideal of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in Israel, including the ingathering of dispersed exiles; at the very least this novel portrays Zionism very favourably. The authors are also Christian, and I appreciate the Christian elements of this novel, which are very present without being preachy - although I was perplexed by one character who refuses to call himself Christian even though he believes Jesus is the Messiah (p307). Overall the story is a good one, as is the history, and the theology.
So why do I think that the Zion Covenant series, which was written after the Zion Chronicles, but describes events and characters before it, is better? This first novel of the Zion Chronicles, Gates of Zion, just seems to reflect a less mature writing team, and over time the Thoenes have evidently sharpened their skills.
To begin with, The Zion Covenant novels feature a much larger, diverse, and more credible cast of characters. Those novels also have a more authentic and serious tone. At times the dialogue in Gates of Zion is cheesy, and the most heart-stopping scenes of suspense read like a cheap action film, with sequences of events rather hard to believe at times, and things just always working out right for the protagonists in the end, even if it requires turning the tables on the bad guys in the most unlikely ways. In comparison,
The Zion Covenant books are more gritty and feel more authentic, and while they have more tragedy, this also makes them more believeable and compelling. The Gates of Zion also wasn't helped by a rather confused set of romances, where the two male protagonists have affections for both main female characters, and vice-versa, which becomes a bit bizarre and unconvincing.
But those weaknesses aside, this is still an excellent, excellent book. It's not as good as the Zion Covenant novels, but it's still terrific, and I also enjoyed the rest of the series.
The Thoene author duo has produced some of the finest Christian fiction, and this was the entry novel of their first Zion themed series, the Zion Chronicles. Set in 1947 post-war Jerusalem, the main protagonist is photojournalist Ellie Warne, along with archaeologist Moshe Sachar, American pilot David Meyer, newly arrived Jewish Holocaust survivor Rachel Lubetkin, and a number of secondary characters, including nine year old Jacov and his Rabbi grandfather. A violent conflict is brewing between Jews and Arabs after the UN Partition Plan, and Ellie finds herself in the middle of it.
I love the way that the Thoenes weave a compelling and suspenseful narrative as part of a rich historical backdrop, which is well researched and brings to life the struggles and culture of the time. Readers should be aware that the authors seem to support the Zionist ideal of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in Israel, including the ingathering of dispersed exiles; at the very least this novel portrays Zionism very favourably. The authors are also Christian, and I appreciate the Christian elements of this novel, which are very present without being preachy - although I was perplexed by one character who refuses to call himself Christian even though he believes Jesus is the Messiah (p307). Overall the story is a good one, as is the history, and the theology.
So why do I think that the Zion Covenant series, which was written after the Zion Chronicles, but describes events and characters before it, is better? This first novel of the Zion Chronicles, Gates of Zion, just seems to reflect a less mature writing team, and over time the Thoenes have evidently sharpened their skills.
To begin with, The Zion Covenant novels feature a much larger, diverse, and more credible cast of characters. Those novels also have a more authentic and serious tone. At times the dialogue in Gates of Zion is cheesy, and the most heart-stopping scenes of suspense read like a cheap action film, with sequences of events rather hard to believe at times, and things just always working out right for the protagonists in the end, even if it requires turning the tables on the bad guys in the most unlikely ways. In comparison,
The Zion Covenant books are more gritty and feel more authentic, and while they have more tragedy, this also makes them more believeable and compelling. The Gates of Zion also wasn't helped by a rather confused set of romances, where the two male protagonists have affections for both main female characters, and vice-versa, which becomes a bit bizarre and unconvincing.
But those weaknesses aside, this is still an excellent, excellent book. It's not as good as the Zion Covenant novels, but it's still terrific, and I also enjoyed the rest of the series.
July 17, 2019
Wow ... that was a wild ride. And it's only just begun.
This is just the type of book that I needed to read: informative and instructive, chocked full of historical details, and heart-rending at the same time. I've been largely heartless with the books I've read recently, but there was no way I wasn't going to love these characters. David, Moshe, Uncle Howard, Rachel ...
Granted, there were times where they bugged me. Rachel was highly annoying in the beginning(how dare she be rude to Moshe!) Then Ellie bugged me, and then I realized David was an arrogant jerk. (Moshe was the only one perfect from the beginning) But the way I grew to love them all reminded me of how we should treat others in real life. They may annoy us with their first impression, but there's always stuff going on in their lives. (They may not have been an S.S. prostitute, but nobody's perfect) David's courage was great, and he was a pilot, and his banter with Michael was precious. (How dare they make me laugh right before the tense climax! I guess I didn't completely lose my heartlessness) And Rachel was a dear, and her eventual friendship with Ellie was nice, too.
I guess Moshe wasn't perfect in the beginning, but his conversion was awesome. I don't use that word particularly lightly, and the way he explained the Messiah and everything was great. His relationship with Uncle Howard was also a nice touch.
Oh, and the history. I just want to devour all the Thoene books, but I know that I can't, that I have to digest everything in this book. Some people like to have a break from school during the Summer, but I'd rather not have my brains turn to mush. This book certainly guarded my brain from the mush; the political situation in the Middle East--the British, the Arabs and Haj Amin, the Jews, the Zionists ... all the factions, and how they interacted and were affected, was really interesting and instructive to read. The terrorism was sickening, but the good works of the Zionists was encouraging. But there are still so many problems!
It's true: this is only the beginning.
This is just the type of book that I needed to read: informative and instructive, chocked full of historical details, and heart-rending at the same time. I've been largely heartless with the books I've read recently, but there was no way I wasn't going to love these characters. David, Moshe, Uncle Howard, Rachel ...
Granted, there were times where they bugged me. Rachel was highly annoying in the beginning(how dare she be rude to Moshe!) Then Ellie bugged me, and then I realized David was an arrogant jerk. (Moshe was the only one perfect from the beginning) But the way I grew to love them all reminded me of how we should treat others in real life. They may annoy us with their first impression, but there's always stuff going on in their lives. (They may not have been an S.S. prostitute, but nobody's perfect) David's courage was great, and he was a pilot, and his banter with Michael was precious. (How dare they make me laugh right before the tense climax! I guess I didn't completely lose my heartlessness) And Rachel was a dear, and her eventual friendship with Ellie was nice, too.
I guess Moshe wasn't perfect in the beginning, but his conversion was awesome. I don't use that word particularly lightly, and the way he explained the Messiah and everything was great. His relationship with Uncle Howard was also a nice touch.
Oh, and the history. I just want to devour all the Thoene books, but I know that I can't, that I have to digest everything in this book. Some people like to have a break from school during the Summer, but I'd rather not have my brains turn to mush. This book certainly guarded my brain from the mush; the political situation in the Middle East--the British, the Arabs and Haj Amin, the Jews, the Zionists ... all the factions, and how they interacted and were affected, was really interesting and instructive to read. The terrorism was sickening, but the good works of the Zionists was encouraging. But there are still so many problems!
It's true: this is only the beginning.
March 19, 2021
Time Period: 1947
Setting: Jerusalem, Israel
A few years ago I read Bodie Theone’s series, “The Zion Covenant.” I know, I know...I’m way behind reading these CF classics! But it was my first time to read Thoene’s work and I immediately fell in love with all the characters. I vaguely made the connection that the “Zion Chronicles” was a spin off series, but mostly, I just knew I wanted to read it too because of how much I enjoyed “Zion Covenant.” You guys, I waited way too long! The connections in this series to the “Zion Covenant” are outstanding and so many characters have returned, I’m just thrilled!
So, before I go any farther, I’ll quickly make the connection between the two series. The Zion Covenant series has nine books. Book four is “Jerusalem Interlude,” and from there, we have a host of connections to the “Zion Chronicles” series. In fact, there are sooooo many meaning characters and parts of the story that cross over, I would dare say you should read “Jerusalem Interlude” before reading this series.
“The Gates of Zion” begins with a girl after my own heart, Ellie Warne, who is a photographer living with her uncle in Jerusalem. (He’s an archeologist.) And get this, the opening scene ties in a theme with the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Insert heart thumping emoji!) But what I love about Thoene’s writing is that these books just don’t cover one or two characters - there’s several people who play major parts in the story and they just don’t break down into the traditional hero and heroine plot. Now, if I were to tell you of Moshe, David, Yacov, Miriam, Rachel, Grandfather and others, it would sound a bit overwhelming. Yet, when you read this novel, everything flows so well, you feel like you’re right there, living this reality out with each person. It’s truly amazing and one reason I’ve committed to read this whole series too!
Conclusion: I absolutely loved the start to this series! There were moments when I thought this was just a new series, with new characters and new plots and then the author would slip something in that made me go, “Wait, was that just?...Oh!” And wham, there was a connection to “Jerusalem Interlude” that made me sit on the edge of my seat. And that’s what made me give this book five stars. Even though the subject matter with Israel’s political situation added some heart wrenching truths, the author made this an enjoyable read. So much history! But above all, it felt real. And that’s why I can’t wait to continue the series.
Setting: Jerusalem, Israel
A few years ago I read Bodie Theone’s series, “The Zion Covenant.” I know, I know...I’m way behind reading these CF classics! But it was my first time to read Thoene’s work and I immediately fell in love with all the characters. I vaguely made the connection that the “Zion Chronicles” was a spin off series, but mostly, I just knew I wanted to read it too because of how much I enjoyed “Zion Covenant.” You guys, I waited way too long! The connections in this series to the “Zion Covenant” are outstanding and so many characters have returned, I’m just thrilled!
So, before I go any farther, I’ll quickly make the connection between the two series. The Zion Covenant series has nine books. Book four is “Jerusalem Interlude,” and from there, we have a host of connections to the “Zion Chronicles” series. In fact, there are sooooo many meaning characters and parts of the story that cross over, I would dare say you should read “Jerusalem Interlude” before reading this series.
“The Gates of Zion” begins with a girl after my own heart, Ellie Warne, who is a photographer living with her uncle in Jerusalem. (He’s an archeologist.) And get this, the opening scene ties in a theme with the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Insert heart thumping emoji!) But what I love about Thoene’s writing is that these books just don’t cover one or two characters - there’s several people who play major parts in the story and they just don’t break down into the traditional hero and heroine plot. Now, if I were to tell you of Moshe, David, Yacov, Miriam, Rachel, Grandfather and others, it would sound a bit overwhelming. Yet, when you read this novel, everything flows so well, you feel like you’re right there, living this reality out with each person. It’s truly amazing and one reason I’ve committed to read this whole series too!
Conclusion: I absolutely loved the start to this series! There were moments when I thought this was just a new series, with new characters and new plots and then the author would slip something in that made me go, “Wait, was that just?...Oh!” And wham, there was a connection to “Jerusalem Interlude” that made me sit on the edge of my seat. And that’s what made me give this book five stars. Even though the subject matter with Israel’s political situation added some heart wrenching truths, the author made this an enjoyable read. So much history! But above all, it felt real. And that’s why I can’t wait to continue the series.
October 23, 2022
The first in this series, what an intriguing and vivid story teller Ms Bodie is! She had me at the first word and I'm starting book three already as I write this review. Hard to put down to see what happens next, this most adventurous storyline of what it was so very likely like for the first gen Jews as Partition took place in Jerusalem in 1947 forward., What it had been like for them up to that point for the past 1/2 decade, and a tinge of what it was probably like in A.D. 70 when the tabernacle was last destroyed for the 1st Century Jewish Christ followers. I can't help but get lost in the reality of it all as it was back at the times of the first church and the times of the beginning of the Aliyah, the return to Zion last century. Very true to life, heartfelt emotions, very exciting and suspenseful to read, as well as most informative to those timelines. We've grown so comfortable in our America, we've created an Americanized Jesus. We've not been taught much about our Jewish Messiah. When did we get distracted from the plan? Messiah is returning. His name is Yeshua. He was Jewish. He said He was returning in the same manner in which He departed this earth. To the same spot, Jerusalem. Mount Zion. To the Jews first. That's what the Bible says, He wrote it, He is the Word. I want to learn more of Him, the ways of His chosen people, and the land Jehovah God held dear to His heart. This series is a beautifully written glimpse into all that America minimized. Thank you Bodie and Brock for bringing these stories to life! I was rooting for Moshe and Ellie, but Rachel and David are finding their own way with such a need for rescuing.
October 16, 2020
Technically, a 3-4 star book.
This book series has been laying around my house forever and I finally picked it up to read. I will definitely be reading the entire series.
The Gates of Zion mostly focuses on an unusual group of people. Ellie is a young American photographer. Together with Howard, Moshe, David, and Rachel, she experiences the birth of the nation of Israel and all of the trials and tribulations that came from that. This historic fiction is definitely from a Christian perspective (I'm OK with that, but I know other readers may not be), and as such the "good guys" are all Jewish and Christian, and/or American. The "bad guys" are Muslim or German, with the occasional "British traitor." It's very black and white in that respect.
I could have done completely without the romance aspect. It felt forced and the triangle that sort of became a rectangle was so full of unnecessary "confused feelings" every which way detracted from the rest of the plot for me.
I definitely had to suspend belief for some of the action. The many close calls did keep the book exciting, though. The ongoing battle between the Jewish Haganah and the Muslim Jihadists is "contained" during the British occupation, but once the United Nations votes to partition Palestine, the fighting ramps up, knowing the British are becoming less inclined to interfere before their departure.
I have become interested in learning more about this topic because of this book.
This book series has been laying around my house forever and I finally picked it up to read. I will definitely be reading the entire series.
The Gates of Zion mostly focuses on an unusual group of people. Ellie is a young American photographer. Together with Howard, Moshe, David, and Rachel, she experiences the birth of the nation of Israel and all of the trials and tribulations that came from that. This historic fiction is definitely from a Christian perspective (I'm OK with that, but I know other readers may not be), and as such the "good guys" are all Jewish and Christian, and/or American. The "bad guys" are Muslim or German, with the occasional "British traitor." It's very black and white in that respect.
I could have done completely without the romance aspect. It felt forced and the triangle that sort of became a rectangle was so full of unnecessary "confused feelings" every which way detracted from the rest of the plot for me.
I definitely had to suspend belief for some of the action. The many close calls did keep the book exciting, though. The ongoing battle between the Jewish Haganah and the Muslim Jihadists is "contained" during the British occupation, but once the United Nations votes to partition Palestine, the fighting ramps up, knowing the British are becoming less inclined to interfere before their departure.
I have become interested in learning more about this topic because of this book.
March 31, 2019
There are four main characters the story focuses on and they are well established and unique, definitely recognizable as individuals. As for the historical accuracy of the series, I am not sure. But the cultural accuracy of the Jews and Arabs versus the Americans of the era, as far as I can tell, is well accounted for.
The book starts right where the holocaust left off. For most Americans, little is known of the Jews who survived the death camps, but this series does a fantastic job relating the events that followed. How the Jews attempted to reclaim their lives after years of darkness, what their homeland was like before the war, and what they had to face after the war's end. For the Americans, the war ended in September of 1945, but for the Jews it only continued and has not stopped. Even unto the present day, there is an outcry for the deaths of all Jews.
The main characters run across great historical figures and the authors do a fantastic job retelling how a nation defended itself against the world with ancient weapons, misfit soldiers, and faith in Almighty God.
I would recommend this series for an age range between 18 and 25. The average eighteen-year-old (based on what I remember being eighteen years old myself at one time) would be mature enough to handle the mature content which is not explicit in the intimacy shared between the two young couples. And the dialogue is nothing like what you'll find in Cyrano or Jane Austin for your older adults above twenty-five, but, the strong suit of this series is the history of a nation of people. It also focuses on the growth of the characters and how they find God in their broken lives.
If you like drama, action, suspense, romance, history, culture, and travel, then I would recommend these books for you.
The book starts right where the holocaust left off. For most Americans, little is known of the Jews who survived the death camps, but this series does a fantastic job relating the events that followed. How the Jews attempted to reclaim their lives after years of darkness, what their homeland was like before the war, and what they had to face after the war's end. For the Americans, the war ended in September of 1945, but for the Jews it only continued and has not stopped. Even unto the present day, there is an outcry for the deaths of all Jews.
The main characters run across great historical figures and the authors do a fantastic job retelling how a nation defended itself against the world with ancient weapons, misfit soldiers, and faith in Almighty God.
I would recommend this series for an age range between 18 and 25. The average eighteen-year-old (based on what I remember being eighteen years old myself at one time) would be mature enough to handle the mature content which is not explicit in the intimacy shared between the two young couples. And the dialogue is nothing like what you'll find in Cyrano or Jane Austin for your older adults above twenty-five, but, the strong suit of this series is the history of a nation of people. It also focuses on the growth of the characters and how they find God in their broken lives.
If you like drama, action, suspense, romance, history, culture, and travel, then I would recommend these books for you.
August 4, 2018
It's interesting reading this series after having read most of the Zion Covenant, since this was published first, but is chronologically second. So I'm seeing the stories in order, but if I'd read them in published order, I would have already known some of what was going to happen to the characters in the Covenant series, which is more of a background of less prominent characters in this one.
The writing improved from this book to the Covenant series, but it's not bad. It's a look into a world that we don't hear much about, the recreation of a Jewish nation in Israel post-WWII and the politics worldwide that were involved, and the drama and grief that happened within the country, the test of loyalties, which governments and individuals to trust, which laws to break in the pursuit of higher good, etc. It's a little more preachy than the later books, but not unbearably so, and the characters do grow on you after awhile.
The writing improved from this book to the Covenant series, but it's not bad. It's a look into a world that we don't hear much about, the recreation of a Jewish nation in Israel post-WWII and the politics worldwide that were involved, and the drama and grief that happened within the country, the test of loyalties, which governments and individuals to trust, which laws to break in the pursuit of higher good, etc. It's a little more preachy than the later books, but not unbearably so, and the characters do grow on you after awhile.
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