My rating: 4.5/5
A riveting, fictional portrayal of Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible, The Crooked Daughter by D.M. Griffin is an astounding work of biblical fiction that inspires hope, emphasizes the redemptive power of Christ, and depicts the sovereignty of faith.
Author D.M. Griffin is a skillful writer, whose masterful storytelling shines in this character and plot driven story. The Crooked Daughter is an enriching tale of two primary characters, Priscilla and Aquila. Priscilla has lived a difficult life for numerous years disabled with a physical infirmity she acquired in childhood. Abandoned by her father, much to her mother’s dismay, and cast out of her family to survive alone in the streets of Jerusalem, Priscilla is no stranger to poverty and suffering. Yet, she maintains a posture of unwavering faith in Yahweh and has a heart of kindness and service that blesses several people. After numerous years bound by the infirmity, she meets Jesus, and the encounter forever changes her life.
Psalm 27:1, 14: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Aquila grew up in a loving family, with a respectful father who loved the Lord, and a loving mother, who faithfully cared for the household which included him and his three younger brothers. When a heart wrenching loss changes the dynamics of his family, his life slowly spirals into many years of forced manual labor, a troubled relationship with one of his brothers, and his faith depleted. An unplanned encounter with Jesus restores his faith, reestablishes his purpose, and leads him to meet his true love, Priscilla.
“God reveals His heart to those who believe and trust in His timing” (Joseph, The Crooked Daughter).
The Crooked Daughter is a phenomenal novel that depicts how two individuals, emotionally wounded by constant unfortunate situations in life, find hope and peace in the love of Jesus, and come to know that despite challenging circumstances, His timing is perfect and complete. The story is well paced and intriguing, with excellent character development. The faith content is exemplary. Author Griffin was able to take two figures mentioned very few times in the Bible, who worked with the apostle Paul and were devoted missionaries and created an inspiring story that exemplifies the love of Christ. The author also included numerous biblical scriptures within the plot, and each scripture was footnoted for easy reference. I utterly loved this story, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys or is interested in biblical fiction.
