Song of Redemption takes place right where Gods and Kings end. Hezekiah is now king. Even though he has gone through so much as a child and leading up to him becoming king. Hezekiah now faces a tough challenge. It is trail for him and his faith. The last thing he wants to do is fail like his father and grandfathers before him.Hezekiah takes to the throne not knowing what is awaiting him. What he finds is turmoil. No money in the treasury, a land full of idolators, and no one he can trust, but he is determined to bring his nation back to God.This story takes place over seven years. The reform that Hezekiah has in store is great, but he faces opposition from many. Plus, the men who he wants to serve as his right hand men do not want the job. They know what the palace and power and do to a person and want nothing to do with it. They want to serve the Lord. Hezekiah turns then to his former tutor. He is a person who believes in nothing. Shebna I grew to like in Gods and Kings. He was kind to Hezekiah, when everything was falling around him. He was a stability. However in Song of Redemption, he lost his luster. He fought hard against the reform Hezekiah wanted. For someone that didn't believe in anything he wanted to make sure that Hezekiah didn't follow his beliefs, but that of his forefathers.We were introduced to a new character as well, Jerusha. She was an innocent girl day dreaming of marriage when we meet her, but after the harsh life she was forced into, we watched her crumble and harden her heart. Her story was heart breaking and through her eyes, you get to see the harshness and evilness of the Assyrians.We also get to see more into the marriage of Hezekiah and Hephzibah in this book. Hezekiah still has much to learn even as king, mainly when speaking to his wife, but he is trying to do the right thing. Hephzibah...right now, I just didn't see much point for her to be in the story. I can see how things are set up for her story to go deeper in the coming series, but right now, I want to shake her! After everything that Hezekiah has spoken with her about and how important they are to him, she blows what he says off. I hope that she changes, but right now, I do not like her.Lynn Austin has such a talent for writing. She makes the story pop off the page. The characters definitely draw out your emotions as you read.I can't wait to see what happens next in book 3!This review was originally posted @ http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot....
This book continued the problems specified in my first review.The book covered about four-to-six years of Hezekiah's reign of Judah. The first part has him just hearing about all that Yahweh instructed in the Torah for the nation and for himself. It also introduces Jerusha, an Israelite who was captured by the Assyrians. (He should have divorced his wife, and been a little more political with her - had spies.)The second part continues following Jerusha, and now Hezekiah is preparing for Assyria to attack Jerusalem. Eliakim is an engineer, and he is put in charge of all the projects - including the construction of the underwater cistern that will provide Jerusalem with water during the siege. If only he could get the tunnels to line up! Eliakim is in love with Jerusha, but she feels unworthy after being captured and used by the Assyrians. As the book comes to a close, those things that were introduced here are resolved; except for Hezekiah's wife, who has been childless and wants a child so badly that she started worshiping Asherah again and eventually promised "her" the couple's firstborn child if Hezekiah can keep his kingdom (priorities: first kingdom, then children [evidently]).Political machinations are also in play with the Egyptian tutor being elevated to palace administrator - but he does not believe in any gods, including Yahweh. The king's brother and counsel do not agree with Hezekiah's actions in seeking Yahweh, nor in doing nothing when the Assyrians are right there in Israel (divided kingdom). They believe Hezekiah should, in no particular order: create a political alliance through marriage; create a political alliance through tribute; raise an army; or send tribute to the Assyrians to appease them. So..... yeah, at the end of the book, certain people flee to a different city because of their designs on the throne.
What do You think about Song Of Redemption (2005)?
Picking up where "Gods and Kings" left off, we see Hezekiah in his new reign as king, learning from Zechariah and trying to following Yahweh with all his heart. As he tries to reform the nation, he faces threats (both and inward and outward) as Assyria takes over Israel. As Hezekiah tries to secure Judah and also follow God's laws, he learns lessons about trust and faithfulness. We also see Eliakim and Hilkiah's story continue as God brings an Israelite family into their lives, forever changing them. We are also introduced to Jerusha, an Israeli girl taken captive by the Assyrians, a girl who suffers incredible atrocities and yet makes her way to Judah with a clear call of God upon her life.I loved all the historical aspects of this book. The emotions were clearly communicated across the pages as the characters each faced their own demons and learned life-changing lessons about God and his ways.
—Pamela Hubbard
I started this book on Saturday, I'm almost finished. I am loving this series. They are very exciting and I love the separate stories of each character. Some people have commented on how modern the language is for being a biblical fiction. I love that the language is modern, to me, it is so much easier to read - I know it isn't how they talked back then, but if I read it in that language I would constantly be trying to determine the meanings. I love how I can completely understand the story, relate to the conflict, mourn with the characters or rejoice with them and feel like I totally get what they are saying. I really liked one readers comments that said "very relatable human beings faced with one of mankind's oldest conflicts -- the choice between faith and fear". Yes, this book is full of those choices between faith and fear. While back then the "fear" was probably much more than we could bare today in these times, back then choosing to do what they know is right comes with angering those who can just beat you to death, or worse. Today we face those same choices but it is probably more like choosing between what you know is right and risk losing friends, or risk feeling alone or foolish, or facing some taunting or teasing. I feel strength from the characters in standing up for what they believe is true and right. I love how King Hezekiah is such a great King, yet he too loses faith, or struggles with despair, or mourns and questions God about why a loved one was lost. In fact, all the characters in this book have faced great adversity and have had moments of losing faith, some of them fall, and some of them regain thier faith and press forward and are stronger. Life's challenges come to everyone, its a matter of how we deal with them and will we ultimately stand up for what is good.
—Karen
The author, Lynn Austin, is a born-again Christian. In an interview with her that I read, she said that her first purpose in writing is to tell a good story. That she does. One of her books, Candle in the Darkness, is one of my favorites. But as much as a good story, her writing is also a plea for faithfulness and keeping the Lord's commandments.The Chronicles of the Kings are historical novels based on Old Testament history. The first 2, which I have read (see my previous post on Gods and Kings) are about King Hezekiah. Although he was the son of a very wicked, idolatrous father, Hezekiah did his best to cleanse the Temple in Jerusalem and bring back the righteous worship of the Lord to the people of Judah. In this effort he was counseled by Isaiah. These books follow the Biblical account very carefully with additional characters and twists of plot added for interest. Hezekiah's grandfather, Zechariah, in these books reminds me of the black preacher in Candle in the Darkness for his wisdom and insight into living with faith. I find Mrs. Austin's books inspiring.
—Gay
