Title: The Shepherd and the King
Series: The Kings of Israel #1
Author: Bryan R. Saye
Publisher: @2021 by Bryan R. Saye
Genre: Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction
Source: Author provided
My Review:
Just know we are all called for something.
There is much to enjoy in Bryan R. Saye's book The Shepherd and the King. Told in alternating viewpoints between David and Saul, the reader gets a broader understanding of what each is thinking and feeling as they read the book. I enjoy Biblical fiction as I find it will typically give me a broader understanding of the Biblical story by which it is inspired. I have not read another Biblical Fiction book about David before and that is part of what drew me to this story.
Saye writes with considerable detail and a strong voice. He portrays vivid scenes with his words (at times too much so for this sensitive reader), and the story is edited well. While staying true to the Biblical story, Saye has also added a lot of thought and scenes to the story. We learn what David and Saul could have been thinking, and what could have happened in greater detail than what is told in the Bible.
Saye goes into significant detail on the rise of David and the fall of Saul. I particularly liked how paranoid Saul got at various times in the story. Everything feels real and not contrived. There is a logical progression to the story and the ending leaves room for another story.
I would recommend this book to fans of Biblical fiction and historical fiction. Fans of Tessa Afshar and Jill Eileen Smith will also enjoy Bryan Saye's writing.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to publish a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
★★★/5
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
David, new shepherd and
youngest of eight, doesn’t want to fight. He wants to disappear, to be
alone with his sheep. His brothers mock him, his father ignores him, and
even the sheep he protects flee him. Yet, he was born for more. Yahweh
has called him beyond the fields of little Bethlehem.
He has called him to greatness.
Saul
is king of Israel. Its first. Chosen by Yahweh and anointed by Samuel
the prophet, he leads the fledgling nation as he defends its borders
with shaky hands. Chosen and anointed he may be, but he is also a
failure. Hounded by fear and anger and doubt, he is quickly losing his
tenuous grip on the nation. Yahweh has new plans for Saul.
And it does not involve a crown.
When God speaks, shepherds and kings will hear. But will they obey?
About the Author:
You can connect with Bryan here:
Hi there Cindy! I do like the sound of this one and your review was lovely. I like Biblical stories and will most probably enjoy this one!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it with us.