The Barbarian

The Barbarian: The Herod Chronicles by Wanda Ann Thomas

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

November 2014

ISBN: 978-1503023753

Pages: 330

Historical Romance

Judea, Egypt and Rome

Kadar the Northman is an outcast and a pagan.  He also can’t ignore the plea from Lydia Onias who is both highborn and a Jewess.  She is desperate to recover her son.  Lydia has been wronged by her father who is power-hungry.  Lydia is also at the mercy of her father.  Kadar had been a comfort to Lydia during her bleakest moments. Kadar and Lydia have denied their love believing it was impossible to do anything about it.  Now they have found more trouble as they align themselves with Herod, whose power has been threatened by palace murder and conspiracies. 

When Jerusalem is attacked by an invading army everyone’s lives are put in jeopardy along with their future prospects.  As Herod travels to the dangerous courts of both Cleopatra and Mark Antony to gain men and money to strike back, Kadar travels with him.  Herod’s family and Lydia are all stranded atop the water-starved heights of Masada.  The fate of the woman he loves and the nation depend on Kadar’s sword. 

This is proving to be an interesting take on history.  While this is the second book in the series it proves to be able to be read as a standalone but it is much better if the books are read in order.  History comes to interesting life for the reader as they delve into the story and the characters that takes readers on a ride to another time and place.  With each word that is read it takes the reader to back in history and will have them believing they are living it with characters.  It also gives a different spin on a period in time that is not well known.  It makes for a great read.

Received a review copy

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH