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In the Shadow of Jezebel: A Novel
In the Shadow of Jezebel: A Novel
In the Shadow of Jezebel: A Novel
Audiobook15 hours

In the Shadow of Jezebel: A Novel

Written by Mesu Andrews

Narrated by Lisa Larsen

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

Princess Jehosheba wants nothing more than to please the harsh and demanding Queen Athaliah, daughter of the notorious Queen Jezebel. Her work as a priestess in the temple of Baal seems to do the trick. But when a mysterious letter from the dead prophet Elijah predicts doom for the royal household, Jehosheba realizes that the dark arts she practices reach beyond the realm of earthly governments. To further Athaliah and Jezebel's strategies, she is forced to marry Yahweh's high priest and enters the unfamiliar world of Yahweh's temple. Can her new husband show her the truth and love she craves? And can Jehosheba overcome her fear and save the family-and the nation-she loves?

With deft skill, Mesu Andrews brings Old Testament passages to life, revealing a fascinating story of the power of unconditional love.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJan 28, 2020
ISBN9781541433403
In the Shadow of Jezebel: A Novel

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Reviews for In the Shadow of Jezebel

Rating: 4.556818272727273 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

44 ratings13 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The narrator did a wonderful job to am already amazing book written by a totally talented author.

    Thought provoking, heart gripping and captivating. True to the genre it brought so much color and to the biblblical text with well carried out research.
    The characters did justice to the plot and vice versa. They kept me glued to the story as I saw truth war with lies, darkness war with light, blood against blood but ultimately, even when it didn't look like it was going to happen God won.

    A totally amazing and captivating story of God's love, deliverance and redemption to his children.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Jezebel is a name everyone is familiar with—at least what the name stands for, if not the story of its original bearer. I was interested to see how Mesu Andrews would bring Jezebel's story to life, and then somewhat perplexed that Jezebel herself plays such a small role in this book. I believe she's in only one scene. I thought the book might more aptly have been called In the Shadow of Athaliah, as that wicked woman has a much stronger and immediate influence compared to Jezebel.

    Once I realized Athaliah was going to be a prominent figure, I then thought the book would focus on the Biblical account for which she is most famous. I was wrong again.

    So what *is* this story about, if not two of the most wicked queens in Israel and Judah's history? It's about Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah, and Jehoiada, the newly appointed high priest at Solomon's Temple. Some of my favorite scenes involved the choosing of the high priest and getting a better understanding of that process.

    Jehosheba has been trained all her life to become a Ba'al priestess, but at the last minute her parents change their minds and seek a marriage for her with Jehoiada in an attempt to gain control of events at the temple, or even strike a bargain with God. Jehosheba knows little of Yahweh and trusts no one, especially this strange man whose whole life is devoted to Yahweh's service. For Jehoiada's part, he finds it hard to believe that this could possibly be God's plan—either his appointment, or his role as husband of the princess.

    I listened to this book on audio, and it was no hardship to follow along. The narrator is very good, and the story is interesting, even if it wasn't what I expected. A few things that bothered me were that the characters cry frequently—all of them, even the hardened soldiers. It seems at least two out of every three scenes involve tears. There's also a lot of yelling and grabbing of arms to restrain people when angry, so if domestic violence is a trigger for you, I would avoid this story. As far as a look at a slice of history from Israel and Judah, it's quite good and deals with a lot of intriguing topics. I would recommend this story if you like Biblical fiction.

    I received my copy of the audiobook from JustRead Publicity. All thoughts in this review are my own.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very intriguing look at Israel's history through the characters found in the Bible but with a deeper look into their lives in the work of fiction that encompasses the culture of the people of that times. I listen to it in audiobook and was lawd into the story by the narrator's flawless and inviting voice that took my away to the past of millennias. I definitely recommend this story!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Captivating from the first words, I love how this story came alive under the narrator's voice.
    Engaging and thought provoking, I could not help but want to know more. The wickedness of Jezebel and Athaliah, the meekness of Jehoseba and the understanding that God is not finished with you yet.
    I love the research that went into the story and how the author dealt with the areas of sin and idolatry without sugarcoating it.
    It's definitely one I'd go back to again.
    I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author via JustRead tours. All opinions expressed are solely mine.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Although I read through the entire Bible in 2020 I was unfamiliar with this story. In the Shadow of Jezebel begins with Jehosheba as a spoiled and abused princess brought up to be a priestess of the god Baal-Melkart. Jezebel had already killed most of Yahweh's prophets and together with her daughter Queen Athaliah, they plot a new role for Jehosheba. To unite the tribes of Israel and Judah, Jehosheba must seduce Yahweh's high priest and convert him to worshiping Baal.

    The narrator has such a pleasant voice to listen to. Very rhythmic. I did enjoy the story better at 1.25 narration speed. At normal speed it was too slow and I kept getting distracted. I'm really glad I listened to the story as these characters have some interesting names. Please tell me I'm not the only one that gets lazy and reads an abbreviated version of Old Testament biblical names because they are unfamiliar. Having her continue to pronounce the names I found myself saying the same words when I looked up the quoted scripture at the start of chapters.


    I have read a couple of books by Mesu Andrews now. I love how different the characters are. She breathes life into them. Manasseh was portrayed autistic in Isaiah's Legacy. Job was patient and lamented in Love Amid the Ashes. In this book the priest Jehoiada has an anger problem. He acts out, yells, and is domineering. Even so he is God's chosen leader and has the weight of sacrifice on his shoulders. The characters' personalities in this book cause problems in relationships but also demonstrate the human aspect that God offers grace to. Jehosheba aka Sheba was abused so in this book she learns to stand up for herself while healing.


    I received an audiobook copy of this novel from the author/publisher  All opinions are my own, any positive review is voluntary.  
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The last word of the first chapters are missing which gives a disjointed feel in a great read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Audiobook ReviewThis Biblical fiction story, focusing on the life of Sheba, is a beautiful display of God’s love and redemption.Sheba (Jehosheba) is an interesting character with so much depth. Her internal scars have shaped her and my heart went out to her. Jehoiada is also a flawed character who is unpretentious and easy to connect with. His love was palpable and stirring. And Athaliah is an unforgettable character as well. She is a harsh and corrupt queen, adding layers of disruption and uncertainty to the story.In the Shadow of Jezebel gives me a better understanding of the Old Testament customs and trials and encourages and inspires me. The amount of research and care put into this story is evident, and so appreciated.Audio Narration: Lisa Larson’s voice is crisp and pleasant, and I wasn’t distracted by the fluctuating tones used for varying characters.Audio Production Quality: The production quality oof this audiobook is clear with no distracting noises.Overall Opinion: In the Shadow of Jezebel is a fitting title, sharing an emotional and consequential story during Old Testament times. I appreciate the strong themes and historical significance this audio version shares. As with all of Ms. Andrews’ stories, I enjoyed it immensely. Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A very well-researched and interesting read. I felt as if I were doing a Bible study about people who were actually flesh and blood and not just names in a history book. The characters were well-drawn and believable (even the fictional ones) and you were actually in the story itself and watching it unfold. Enjoyable, entertaining, and inspirational.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I am always amazed at how Mesu can weave the truth of scripture and history into a story you can't put down. She brings the names of the Bible to life! If you love the Bible and you love history, Mesu is your author!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    These stories by Mesu Andrews are great Biblical fiction. I think she does such a good job of making difficult stories come alive, while also staying true to Biblical truth. This story takes place during a very dark and sad time in Israel and Judah's history. But it also shows how God reigns through it all.Princess Jehosheba (aka-Sheba) was being trained as a priestess in the temple of Baal, trying to please the very wicked and demanding Queen Athaliah, who is the daughter of Jezebel. But all that will come to an end when her father (King Jehoram) demands she marry Yahweh's high priest to supposedly appease God. Now it will be up to the high priest, Jehoiada, to show her what truth and love really look like. It will be an uphill battle, but it will also be a fascinating story that will show the power of unconditional love. Even though wickedness seems to be reigning everywhere, there are those who remain faithful to their Yahweh, and will see the goodness of God and His will being done.I have read all 4 stories in this series. They are all separate stand alone stories, but all 4 helped me understand hard to understand portions of God's Word in a way that remained true to the Bible. Well done!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Raised to fulfill her future roles as high priestess to Baal Melkart and a queen of destiny, Princess Jehosheba learned early to use manipulation, cruelty and fear to gain power and impress Queen Athalia, her father's wife. An invitation from Jezebel, the Queen Mother of Israel, and a letter from the dead prophet, Elijah, begin a whirlwind of events as Jehosheba learns deep family secrets and reluctantly marries Yahweh's high priest. As Jehosheba learns more of Yahweh, she loses faith in Baal Melkart. Under a death sentence should she fail to carry out the plans of the queens of destiny, will Jehosheba overcome her fear and fully trust Yahweh for life, love and a safe future? I was very impressed by In the Shadow of Jezebel, the first book I've read by Mesu Andrews. From the beginning, the story had my attention and, in spite of one scene that I think had a lapse in tone, my interest in the characters and their stories, never waned. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the story's setting. I haven't read a lot of fictional stories set in this period and the use of unfamiliar words such as “Ima” and “Gevirah” intrigued me. Andrews expertly weaved Biblical events with fictional elements. This book actually made me want to go back and read the correlating Biblical accounts. I can not say enough good things about this book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    IN THE SHADOW OF JEZEBEL by Mesu Andrews is an wonderful Inspirational Historical Romance (Biblical Fiction). #4 in the "Treasures of His Love" series, but can be read as a stand alone. See, "Love Amid the Ashes", "Love's Sacred Song", and " Love in a Broken Vessel".This is the tale of Princess Jehosheba, who was forced to marry a Yahweh's high priest by her Queen, Queen Athaliah,daughter of Jezebel.If you enjoy seeing Biblical characters come to life, though the pages of a book, then you are in for a real treat. With her usual aplomb for telling the Bible though story,the use of scripture, and historical facts, Ms. Andrews has once again written a tale of unconditional love, sacrifice, and faith.You will feel the characters struggles, their faith, see their customs, history and the culture of an era gone by long ago. She has captured the spirit of those from ancient times. A must read for anyone who enjoys Biblical Fiction and romance. Received an advance copy.*Available March 2014 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.*RATING: 4HEAT RATING: SWEETREVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love Biblical fiction.......I love the feel of comfort and warmth you get as the author creates a novel of Biblical times making it come alive. The books just suck me in and keep me hooked. It's a wonderful feeling really, and Mesu Andrews is on of the most talented Biblical fiction authors. Truly. She is amazing and her stories are an escape for me into a world where I can breath easy. Jehosheba, or Sheba as many may know her, is an amazing character! I loved how she was created, and I felt as if I was reading her story straight from the Bible. Ms. Andrews truly created her story in such a life like manner! I love it. Watching as Sheba was married off and came to love her husband, watching as he taught her about the love of God, become so captivating to me, that I stayed awake until 3 in the morning turning the pages. It's just incredible how Ms. Andrews creates a passionate, emotionally moving story. I definitely recommend this book with the highest of 4.5 stars. While it's the fourth in Ms. Andrews' Treasures Of His Love series, it's most definitely easily read as a stand alone. If you've never before read a Biblical story by Ms. Andrews, then wait no more. Grab a copy of this amazing story now! **Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Reviews By Molly free of charge by Revell in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other RBM reviewer or this blog's owner, editor or administrator.