My rating: 5/5
When the torrents of sorrow arise and vehemently grips the heart and renders it of all hope, there comes a desperate need for rescuing; a yearning for a savior to quench the grip of despair. That Savior is Jesus. His restoration of a lost hope can change the life of even the most bitter person. This truth is beautifully highlighted within the pages of Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar.
“Compassion becomes a weapon of warfare in Jesus’s hands. No heartache can stand against it” (Elianna, Land of Silence).
The novel follows an unnamed biblical figure, a woman within the scriptural text whose story is quite memorable due to the immense faith she exhibits while suffering from an unyielding disease of her blood, which torments her for twelve years. Rather short in length, her story is told in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48, and is the epitome of the restorative power of Jesus and depicts His compassion for the sick and weary.
In Land of Silence, author Tessa Afshar encompasses this inspiring story in the fictional retelling of the biblical account. The unnamed woman in the bible is given the name Elianna in this novel. A heart-shattering event alters her life and begins a tumultuous series of events that sinks her into a life bound by guilt and shame. She is grounded by the love of her sister Johanna and the love of her life, Ethan. However, in a disturbing turn of events, she is forced to make a grave decision that may rob her of a marital future with Ethan. Even worse, she is thrust into a deeper depth of despair when she begins to experience an endless onslaught of bleeding that makes her religiously unclean, preventing her from receiving human touch and much social interaction. As a result, she becomes shunned by her community and forced into a life of isolation. However, desperation brings her at the feet of Jesus, and a sheer act of faith causes her to touch the hem of His garment. Amongst a large crowd, Jesus miraculously senses that someone touched Him and received divine healing powers. Elianna reveals herself to Jesus, and receives not only physical healing, but a restored heart and renewed hope. This divine experience changes her life forever.
Brilliantly written, with superb character development, Land of Silence is undoubtedly a five-star book. I was completely invested in the characters and inspired by the story. The novel is well-paced and riveting. The story is told in first-person POV, with the narrator being Elianna, and is richly faith based. Each chapter is proceeded by a scripture, and the story concludes by emphasizing the merciful and compassionate power of Jesus. I highly recommend this book.
Check it out on Amazon! #CommissionsEarned
