Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar


Title:  Land of Silence
Author: Tessa Afshar
Publisher:  Tyndale House Publishers
Release Date:  May 1, 2016
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Before Christ called her daughter . . .

Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . .

Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father’s textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left.

No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul?





                                                                                                                                                                      


Tessa Afshar's Land of Silence brings the story of the bleeding woman to life.  Elianna is strong and her individuality shows through, giving readers a taste of Biblical life as a female, and still be able to relate to her. Rich in descriptive prose, we can almost see and feel the hillside, the workshop and the marketplace.  We can imagine the vast of people following Jesus, and how Elianna's story came to life. Fictional as it is, the story of how Jesus healed this woman, through her faith is not. From the Bible, we don't know Elianna's story. We don't even know her name, let alone her family. Yet, we can imagine the love and protection Jesus have for her with his loving term, "daughter". Tessa chose to develop onto this by giving this woman, Elianna a back story filled with guilt and disappointment as a daughter.

A story of forgiveness of self, of others and of letting go guilt and the weight of it that changed the course of Elianna's life. How beautifully intricate Tessa wrote of Elianna's family and her aspirations. How detailed we read of Tessa's research in trade during those times and the process of weaving linens.   And how real each character became right before our eyes. Ethan's integrity, Elianna's tenacity and vulnerability all in one, and Viriato. He is definitely one that brings light to the room with his humor. Claudia and Titus and Joanna and Cuza, all characters that gave depth to Land of Silence without stealing from Elianna's focus. A story that shines brilliantly as we see how total despair gave us the one glimpse of hope in Jesus, and with hope comes healing for soul and mind.

Lastly, might I add how gorgeous this cover is, from the landscape to the colors to her outfit. It's perfect.  It's official. I'm a fan of Biblical fiction. two out two Biblical fiction I've read recently have been wonderful. If you have not venture into this genre, you should definitely try. If you have already, but have not read Land of Silence, you won't be disappointed with it. So go get your copy now.


NOTE:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.


TO PURCHASE A COPY

   

                                                                                                                                                                      


TESSA AFSHAR was born in a nominally Muslim family in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She survived English boarding school for girls before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her mid-twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDIV from Yale University where she served as co-Chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last twelve years in full and part-time Christian work and currently serves as the leader of Women's and Prayer ministries at a church in New England.


TO CONNECT WITH TESSA:  website,  facebook,  twitter



                                                                                                                                                                      



Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.

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