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Cry For Jerusalem - Book 2 66-67 CE: Against All Odds
“An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction” -- Kirkus Reviews
In the novel series CRY FOR JERUSALEM you will experience firsthand the conflict that was the biggest turning point in the history of the Western World. The First Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and to the rise of Christianity and modern Judaism. Now for the first time, ancient eyewitness accounts have been transformed into a series of suspense-laden novels, letting you enter the lives of the men and women involved on both sides. You get to experience their fears and hopes and dreams as they are forced to confront life and death and the meaning of their lives on a daily basis. This is an epic story you that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more!
In Book 1—Resisting Tyranny, you met the cast of main characters as they struggled to survive when their ship is capsized in a storm in the middle of the Adriatic. On arrival in Rome, they had to face the whims of an emperor and the great fire that almost consumed the city. Once in Jerusalem, evil forces sought to ignite a rebellion as our friends tried to hold together a fragile status quo. As open warfare erupted, the Romans realized they had greatly underestimated their foe.
In Book 2—Against All Odds, the enthusiasm following a Jewish victory quickly erodes as they see the empire planning to strike back. Returning with a more experienced leader and in much greater numbers, the Romans first attack Galilee. There at the siege of the fortified headquarters, our friends find themselves on opposite sides. Visions and an escape from certain death lead to capture and imprisonment, while in Judea an escape from evil leads to an uncertain future.
In Book 3—Growing Anarchy, Jerusalem begins to unravel with fear as competing rebel leaders vie for control of the city. Romance compels a trip to the far reaches of the Empire, where aide is sought from a politician with rising ambitions for the imperial throne. His favor may be the only hope of an escape from behind enemy lines in Jerusalem. Meanwhile our heroine, turned assassin, has found that killing enemy spies can mean killing friends, yielding a vengeance more bitter than sweet.
In Book 4—coming in early 2023, Rome finds itself in its own civil war with emperors lasting for months, not decades. Jerusalem continues to suffer under rival factions whose self-serving leaders refuse to unite. Their failure suddenly comes into sharp focus when the Romans arrive to a city with empty food stores. Fierce battles accompany a long siege, and starvation leads to acts of desperation. A last-minute plea for peace fails, and friends must look for meaning to what fate has delivered.
For more details and background visit us at www.cryforjerusalem.com.
“The story sweeps across a first-century world that’s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. . . . Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed… there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward.”
-- Historical Novels Review February 2020
“The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book’s se quel. An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction.”
--Kirkus Reviews June 2020
Amazon Reviewer
★★★★★ The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, hope for them; in some cases you hate them, in others you love them! I especially appreciate the variety of main characters-peaceful Jewish believers, extremists, sympathetic non-Jews, those in the ruling classes, soldiers, etc.
In the novel series CRY FOR JERUSALEM you will experience firsthand the conflict that was the biggest turning point in the history of the Western World. The First Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and to the rise of Christianity and modern Judaism. Now for the first time, ancient eyewitness accounts have been transformed into a series of suspense-laden novels, letting you enter the lives of the men and women involved on both sides. You get to experience their fears and hopes and dreams as they are forced to confront life and death and the meaning of their lives on a daily basis. This is an epic story you that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more!
In Book 1—Resisting Tyranny, you met the cast of main characters as they struggled to survive when their ship is capsized in a storm in the middle of the Adriatic. On arrival in Rome, they had to face the whims of an emperor and the great fire that almost consumed the city. Once in Jerusalem, evil forces sought to ignite a rebellion as our friends tried to hold together a fragile status quo. As open warfare erupted, the Romans realized they had greatly underestimated their foe.
In Book 2—Against All Odds, the enthusiasm following a Jewish victory quickly erodes as they see the empire planning to strike back. Returning with a more experienced leader and in much greater numbers, the Romans first attack Galilee. There at the siege of the fortified headquarters, our friends find themselves on opposite sides. Visions and an escape from certain death lead to capture and imprisonment, while in Judea an escape from evil leads to an uncertain future.
In Book 3—Growing Anarchy, Jerusalem begins to unravel with fear as competing rebel leaders vie for control of the city. Romance compels a trip to the far reaches of the Empire, where aide is sought from a politician with rising ambitions for the imperial throne. His favor may be the only hope of an escape from behind enemy lines in Jerusalem. Meanwhile our heroine, turned assassin, has found that killing enemy spies can mean killing friends, yielding a vengeance more bitter than sweet.
In Book 4—coming in early 2023, Rome finds itself in its own civil war with emperors lasting for months, not decades. Jerusalem continues to suffer under rival factions whose self-serving leaders refuse to unite. Their failure suddenly comes into sharp focus when the Romans arrive to a city with empty food stores. Fierce battles accompany a long siege, and starvation leads to acts of desperation. A last-minute plea for peace fails, and friends must look for meaning to what fate has delivered.
For more details and background visit us at www.cryforjerusalem.com.
“The story sweeps across a first-century world that’s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. . . . Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed… there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward.”
-- Historical Novels Review February 2020
“The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book’s se quel. An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction.”
--Kirkus Reviews June 2020
Amazon Reviewer
★★★★★ The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, hope for them; in some cases you hate them, in others you love them! I especially appreciate the variety of main characters-peaceful Jewish believers, extremists, sympathetic non-Jews, those in the ruling classes, soldiers, etc.
436 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2020
About the author
Ward Sanford
7 books17 followersDr. Ward Sanford is an internationally renowned hydrogeologist who has spent over thirty years studying and writing journal articles on the availability and sustainability of groundwater around the United States and the world. He has given professional advice on sites in Texas, Virginia, New Mexico, Hungary, Central America, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as undertaken missions with the International Atomic Energy Agency to Thailand and the U. S. State Department to Libya.
More recently he has developed a keen interest in the first-century history of Israel through the writings of the contemporary historian Flavius Josephus. His desire is now to bring those recorded events to life through dramatization in a series of novels entitled Cry for Jerusalem. He and his wife and two sons and daughter-in-law live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.
More recently he has developed a keen interest in the first-century history of Israel through the writings of the contemporary historian Flavius Josephus. His desire is now to bring those recorded events to life through dramatization in a series of novels entitled Cry for Jerusalem. He and his wife and two sons and daughter-in-law live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 6, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
After defeating the Romans in the last book, it's time to get serious, as Rome will counter-attack. A lot of soap opera.
After defeating the Romans in the last book, it's time to get serious, as Rome will counter-attack. A lot of soap opera.
December 9, 2021
I won a copy of this book in a GR giveaway.
While I had vague knowledge of the Judean rebellion of about AD 67, I knew none of the particulars about it other than that Vespasian and Titus were involved in putting it down, and the holdouts and group suicide at Masada. I recall on our visit some years ago to Rome that my husband pointed out on Titus's arch the carvings that represented his victory over the rebellious Jews. That was about it.
This novel brings to life that time with sympathetic portraits of many of the rebels, as well as Vespasian, Titus, and other Roman soldiers. I had no idea that the Romans first defeated the rebel forces in Galilee before heading to Jerusalem.
This book is the 2nd of what looks to be a 3 book series. This story is big enough to need three books to explain everything that occurred.
The book was well written. My only (very minor complaint) was that the chapters were short, sometimes with one scene split between two of them.
While I had vague knowledge of the Judean rebellion of about AD 67, I knew none of the particulars about it other than that Vespasian and Titus were involved in putting it down, and the holdouts and group suicide at Masada. I recall on our visit some years ago to Rome that my husband pointed out on Titus's arch the carvings that represented his victory over the rebellious Jews. That was about it.
This novel brings to life that time with sympathetic portraits of many of the rebels, as well as Vespasian, Titus, and other Roman soldiers. I had no idea that the Romans first defeated the rebel forces in Galilee before heading to Jerusalem.
This book is the 2nd of what looks to be a 3 book series. This story is big enough to need three books to explain everything that occurred.
The book was well written. My only (very minor complaint) was that the chapters were short, sometimes with one scene split between two of them.
November 7, 2021
Throughly enjoyed this read
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews