In this poignant capstone to the trilogy, the man called Barabbas—infamous former thief, murderer and prisoner turned Christian—and his wife Chanah continue their mission of spreading the gospel across the known world as cauldrons of political and military chaos boil across the Roman Empire. Nero is increasingly erratic, and it’s only a matter of time before the sharp knives of imperial politics finish him off. Various successors vie for position. Who will strike first, and who will come out on top?
Meanwhile, the rebellion in Judea has intensified, the Jewish zealots exerting great influence over the minds of the people. General Vespasian and his son Titus aim to put a permanent end to the insurrection. How many lives will ultimately be sacrificed on the great altar of Jerusalem? Can the Jewish nation survive the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy? What will become of the Jewish Christians and the apostles and sisters who lead them? And where will Barabbas and his family find lasting peace?
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The plot follows Barabbas as significant events occur both in his own life and against the historical backdrop of the novel's setting. Those familiar with the figure of Barabbas will be intrigued, though as the third in a series, the novel is most impactful for readers already acquainted with the first two books.
Prose: The style mirrors English translations of biblical accounts, a choice that matches the novel's premise but also creates some distance between readers and the book's characters.
Originality: The story, anchored in biblical history, successfully delivers an absorbing fictionalized account of Barabbas’s later life.
Character/Execution: Readers will want to be grounded in the first two books of the series to truly understand the background of the novel's characters, but Barabbas and his family are well-crafted, relatable, and charismatic.
Date Submitted: May 29, 2023
