Book Review: Fifth Seal by Bodie and Brock Thoene (A.D. Chronicles #5)

Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: Fictitious characters and their story

Cons: Pacing

The Bottom Line:

There's some good drama

But story pace gets in way

They can write better

Stretching Things Out Slows Down the Book

Husband and wife team Brock and Bodie Thoene have been writing Christian historical fiction for many years and have earned a well-deserved reputation for outstanding storytelling. Unfortunately, Fifth Seal doesn't live up to the normal standards.

Beginning just after the last book in the series ended, this entry continues the flashback to the birth of Jesus. Yosef and Mary should be living the joyous life of newlyweds. However, they have fallen under suspicion in their village of Nazareth. Mary is quite obviously pregnant, but it is too soon after the wedding for her to be this far along. The rumors are swirling around them in town, and Yosef is feeling added pressure to divorce Mary for obvious adultery.

What the rest of the village doesn't know is that Mary is carrying the promised Messiah. Yet they can't tell their friends because if word got out to King Herod, their lives would be in danger. So the couple carries on as best they can as if nothing is wrong.

Meanwhile, tensions are mounting in Jerusalem. The prophetess Hannah is predicting that Messiah will be arriving soon, a prediction that drives the already paranoid Herod even crazier. And in nearby Bethlehem, Zadok the shepherd tries to stay under the radar, a difficult proposition when one of Herod's slaves dies in his house.

And, in the Far East, two Magi are watching the night sky, observing changes that foretell of the fulfillment of hundreds of years of prophecy. Is this the year?

I have been a fan of the Thoenes for years. Their historical fiction brings people and events of the past to life. This book was a disappointment.

It started out strong with several strong plots that held my interest. I enjoyed seeing the struggles that Mary and Yosef faced because of their obedience to God. Yet that part of the story dragged on longer then necessary. I mean, I knew from page one where the book was going. I was ready for the story to get there.

Further slowing things down were the Jewish grammar and history lessons plus the observations of the Magi. I found a little bit of this background to the Christmas story fascinating, but it went on way too long. I was reading a novel, yet it was beginning to feel like non-fiction.

The story is saved in part by Zadok and the political intrigue around King Herod. Whenever those storylines were on the page, I perked up. And I found the climax surprisingly moving.

Another saving grace was the characters. We spend lots of time in Yosef's point of view, and watching his doubt struggle with his faith was enlightening. I feared King Herod myself, and Zadok's emotions made the struggle of the Jews much easier to understand.

As I expected, the story is well written. The Thoenes easily balance the multiple viewpoints and stories in a very engaging style.

I have a feeling this is the middle of a three-book arc about the birth of Christ that will be completed before we move on to the Easter story. I think they are stretching things out too much, however, and should have wrapped up Christmas in this book.

The politics and fictitious characters helped, but they weren't enough to overcome the weak main story in Fifth Seal. Hopefully the next in the series will be up to par.