My rating: 4/5
An inspiring tale, with sweeping themes of faith, forgiveness, and salvation, A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker, is a heroic novel that reverberates long past the last page.
Regarded as biblical fiction, A.D. 30 is framed in biblical times, during the earlier stages of Jesus’ ministry. The novel is written in first person point of view and centers around the main character Maviah, who was born into the throes of shame as an illegitimate child, with a perished mother during childbirth, and whose father, the leader and chief of the Banu Kalb tribe, shrewdly banishes her to Egypt in an act to cover the shame of the forbidden union with her mother. Secretly exiled as a baby to Egypt, she is sold as a slave to an Egyptian household for many years, until she is expelled from the household after becoming pregnant. Upon returning to her father’s kingdom, she is despised and regarded as a whore for being an unwed mother, along with the seal of shame of her illegitimacy upon her birth. In a string of unforeseen events, Maviah is given a surprising charge by her father to save his honor and the future of the Banu Kalb tribe by propositioning the loyalty and protection of Herod Antipas in Palestine. During the grueling journey, she experiences a life changing event when she stumbles upon the influential presence of Jesus. It is during this chance encounter, that her purpose as a savior to her people is revealed and she comes to the knowledge and truth of Jesus Christ, which changes the course of her life and journey forever.
“With faith, Maviah, you can see that nothing threatens you. Then you will fear no storm-you will master it. Only when you trust the Father can you let go of your fear and all grievance” (A.D. 30).
Written with a strong biblical foundation, A.D. 30 has a riveting plot that is both thrilling and spiritually inspirational. There are many biblical references, with some mentioning of central biblical figures including Jesus Christ and the woman with the issue of blood. The novel is well-paced and rich in character development. I found that I favored Maviah along with her two guards, Saba and Judah. Moreover, as a reader you will effortlessly become invested in the characters and the storyline. I am eager to read the second book in this two-part series. If you desire to read an exhilarating story that points to the restorative love of Jesus Christ, I highly recommend this book.
Check it out on Amazon! #CommissionsEarned
