Belltower

Fantastic Historical Novel & Excellent Narration

Revisado: 07-09-20

Joni Okun's debut novel, To Hold the Throne, is a wonderful work of historical fiction, and the voice actors who narrate this tale are engaging and fun to listen to. It is great entertainment, as well as an easy way to learn some fascinating ancient history.

The listener is transported to an exciting and turbulent time in Judea. The Maccabee (Hasmonean) dynasty has been torn apart, both from an internal struggle for power and from the foreign influence of Rome. A new king has been crowned, Herod the Great, counselor to former King Hyrcanus and married to the old ruler's granddaughter, Mariamne, the last Maccabee princess. The listener comes to know Mariamne and Herod, their complicated relationship, and their inner thoughts and fears. Other characters include luminaries of the time, among them Marc Antony, Augustus Caesar, and Cleopatra.

There is something for everyone in this story, which has elements of suspense, intrigue, romance, treachery, murder and warfare. The characters are well developed, and the listener comes to care about them, even while questioning their motives and their sanity. This is a work of fiction, however it is clear that a lot of research went into bringing this ancient world back to life.

Those who are familiar with Herod as a master builder and as the architect of the Slaughter of the Innocents may be unaware of the events which unfolded decades before, when his scheming first brought him to power. And Mariamne, the tortured link between the Maccabee and Herodian dynasties, is a worthy foil to her ambitious husband.

If you enjoy historical fiction, or actually any form of fiction, you really should not miss this audiobook.

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