Behold the Dawn by K.M. Weiland

Read on my Kindle!

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction

Book Summary:  Marcus Annan has secrets, and he would prefer them to stay that way. However, the Crusades are in full swing, and a rogue monk, a war, and a woman in dire need of his help threaten to reveal those secrets and endanger not just Annan's life, but the lives of those around him as well. This is a really moving story of redemption and never being too far gone to be saved, even from oneself.

Indulgent Book Talk: I have been following the author's blog for some time now; she gives good writing advice and motivation for aspiring authors (you can find it here). Anxious to read something with a good story, and having an inkling that the Weiland was a Christian, I picked up this book. I was not disappointed. Weiland is not only a strong writer, but she also has a no-nonsense way of telling stories that I really admired. Her facts are well-researched (as far as I can tell, being by no means an expert on twelfth-century history), and her characters are believable and realistic. She also succeeds well at what I think Christian authors should be doing; that is, crafting a compelling story in its own right that reflects the love and truth of the Gospel without coming across as preachy or trite. Hurrah!

Glorifying Elements: This entire book presents the Gospel well, as I have already said. Specifically, through the troubled character of Annan, she really drives home the totality of Jesus' salvation and love for sinners. All without sounding like a gospel tract or resorting to Amish women in bonnets! Hip Hip Hurrah! She also discusses the fact that the Crusades were not representative of real Christianity, but rather a bi-product of the corrupt Roman Catholic church (the only one at the time, since this is pre-Reformation) and power-hungry government leaders.

Worldly Elements: Nothing remotely gratuitous. You can give this book a good solid PG. There is some violence (this is the Crusades, after all), but the description is restrained. There is also a mention of an intimate relationship between a husband and a wife, but again, no specific descriptions. Bad language is non-existent, except for some historical insults and name calling.

General Recommendation: A definite yes. If you have a Kindle, this one is less than $5 too. :-)