I just finished reading Isle of Shadows by Tracy Higley. I really enjoyed this book, as I have never read anything about Rhodes before. Tracy has skillfully woven Romance and intrigue together in an exciting historical novel. This books takes place in the 8 days preceeding the 226 BC earthquake that destroyed the statue of the Greek god that stood for 56 years in the harbor.This book is the story of Tessa, the most valuable Hetaera on the island of Rhodes...her services are sold to the highest bidder and although she is very wise in the polotics of Rhodes, she is only a slave,not to be anything but an object of pleasure. Nikos , a new slave in the home of Tessa's master is a willing partner in the cover up of murder and the search for who is really causing the uprising in the city...are the jews guilty of murder and causing unrest or are the Greeks?I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading Tracy's other books. If you love historical Christian fiction, then Isle of Shadows, by Tracy L. Higley, is another book to definitely add to your collection and read over a couple of chilly nights, sitting by the fire or enjoying a cup of tea. I know that I am busy adding all Higley's books to my shelves and I was very excited to read Isle of Shadows, her newest release after Garden of Madness that I also read this year (and loved).Actually released previously in 2008 as Shadow of Colossus, Higley edited and revised the version for new release due to her increasing knowledge of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World she gained through travels and research. As she decided to continue the series about the ancient wonders (this first and current book surrounds the statue of Colossus) and felt she had come a long way in perfecting her writing craft, she felt she could make the book even better.I hadn't read the book in its former version as the first in her series, but I loved this version of Isle of Shadows for its easy and light prose, the mystery component, the growing romance, and the setting--which was the decadent Rhodes, circa the 227 BC, during a time that the Jewish people were fighting for their rights, lands, and their very existence as humans, rather than slaves. The Greeks ruled by democracy and the in-fighting for political gain was prominent.Tessa, the main character, is a hetaera (an educated and beautiful professional female companion) to Glaucus, one of the ten army leaders who direct politics on Rhodes. The life of being a courtesan is not for Tessa, even though she is widely admired for her beauty and prestige. She longs to be truly free from this life which she considers slavery. Just as she begins to devise a plan to flee, her master has an accident. A cover-up ensues with help of members of the household staff, family, and a stranger named Nikos who shows up mysteriously saying he'd like a position in the staff. Nikos becomes Tessa's partner in crime as they fend of the other leaders who are vying for position and leveraging the Jewish issue on Rhodes (the Greeks don't want them integrated). But who is Nikos really? He seems more than a common servant. Tessa battles twists and turns, action, and adventure during the novel, but also grows tremendously as a woman. Can her once cemented soul really open to love again? Can she be loved by the One True God like these caring Jews present? Her independent nature serves her well, but will some of her walls be broken down to let others in to her heart?I enjoy Higley's books for their historical component as well as for their character development. She really knows how to write strong female lead characters who are torn by their past, making them angry and resentful, and placing other characters in their path that offer testimony to allow their barriers to be broken and their hearts to be mended. Higley's books, and this series, really intrigue me for their historical and archeological references and time periods. However, the novels end up tugging at my heart-strings and showing me how God's grace works too. I love how her strong, independent women fall slowly in love with tender-hearted, yet honorable men, who always know how to treat them right.
What do You think about Shadow Of Colossus (2008)?
The beginning is a little slow but once you are midway through there's no putting it down!
—tstump
I liked the book. Very intense. However the ending was a bit abrupt.
—Halea
