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    An Echo in the Darkness
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    An Echo in the Darkness
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    An Echo in the Darkness
    Ebook655 pages10 hours

    An Echo in the Darkness

    By Francine Rivers

    4.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

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    About this ebook

    Book 2 in the 3-book historical Christian fiction series by the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and A Voice in the Wind.

    From Francine Rivers comes the “compelling” and “emotionally charged” (Booklist, starred review) second installment in of the story of Hadassah, a courageous Christian slave girl with unrelenting faith, and Marcus, the Roman aristocrat who claims her heart.

    Believed dead, Hadassah finds employment helping a doctor in the poor section of first-century Rome and discovers an ability to heal others through the power of her faith. When Julia falls ill, Hadassah is forced to confront a difficult decision: should she return to the Valerian household, risking exposure and death, to help her former tormentor in the Christian tradition?

    Continuing to search for meaning and faith, Marcus turns away from the opulence of Rome, led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.

    Includes discussion questions suitable for individual use or group discussions.

    “Francine unlocks the longing in each one of us to connect to God in a deeper, life-changing way. No one reading her books will ever be the same again.”
    —Debbie Macomber

    “As we ‘watch’ Hadassah and Atretes struggle through first-century trials, we learn how to handle similar situations in the twenty-first century. The ‘costumes’ may vary, but our Lord does not change.”
    —Angela Hunt

    “Francine redefined Christian fiction—honest, unflinching, powerful, life-changing—demonstrating why storytelling is the most effective way to communicate God’s truth. Every Christian novelist writing today owes a debt of gratitude to Francine Rivers for lighting the way.”
    —Liz Curtis Higgs

    “Francine Rivers writes from her heart to touch the hearts of her readers. Her books are essential reading for all who love Christian fiction.”
    —Bodie Thoene

    “Francine Rivers puts readers right into the history of the moment.”
    —Romantic Times
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTyndale House Publishers
    Release dateDec 9, 2011
    ISBN9781414340906
    Author

    Francine Rivers

    New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers is one of the leading authors of women's Christian fiction. With nearly thirty published novels with Christian themes to her credit, she continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her numerous bestsellers, including Redeeming Love, have been translated into more than thirty different languages.  Shortly after becoming a born-again Christian in 1986, Francine wrote Redeeming Love as her statement of faith. This retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction. Redeeming Love continues to be one of the Christian Booksellers Association’s top-selling titles, and it has held a spot on the Christian bestsellers list for nearly a decade. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America's coveted Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Visit Francine online at www.francinerivers.com and connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers) and Twitter (@FrancineRivers).

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    Reviews for An Echo in the Darkness

    4.5/5

    111 ratings23 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This story is so incredibly moving; I enjoyed every minute!
    • 5/5
      Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.
    • 4/5
      Hadassah, a female Jewish slave, has been thrown to lions. She is rescued and nursed back to health by Alexander, a doctor. She works in partnership with him and becomes known as "Rapha" or healer. Her faith in God gives her care an added dimension which people respect and revere.Marcus Valerian, a Roman, who wanted to marry Hadassah before she was thrown to the lions, believes she is dead and goes on a quest to Palestine to find Hadassah's God. Marcus returns to Ephesus and finds his sister, Julia, terminally ill and penniless, and brings her into his house. Ultimately, Hadassah ends up nursing Julia, the person responsible for sending Hadassah to her supposed death, while Marcus continues to grieve for his lost love, not realising she is the one who tends to Julia.An encouraging story of faith and forgiveness.
    • 5/5
      This book is great. I love Marcus' journey to redemption and how everything turned out according to God's purpose. Truly, Francine Rivers has a superb gift. words can't describe how much I love this book!
    • 5/5
      I just couldn't put this book down for long. I pray to do the will of the master just like Hadassah.
    • 5/5
      This book is gripping! From start to finish, it's near-impossible to put down. I cant wait to get started on book 3!
    • 5/5
      The sequel is as good as the first one. The characters continue to act like real people, there is character growth, and there are good emotional peaks and payoffs. This time I noticed and enjoyed that some of the characters experienced events that occurred to characters in The Bible. No spoilers but Paul and Philemon stand out the most. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one. Final Grade - A
    • 5/5
      I grow up in a foster home with over 80 kids in the Philippines one of the missionaries brought this book and thats where I got my hobby for reading, this book gives me chills and excitement evrytime, i love how Francine created this story there are 5 books that I read from her and this one is the best, all her books touches my heart and I melt down, all her books are amazing, how she wave the stories are incredible! Although I was not able to own one because its very expensive to ship in our country but I am a fan, I still remember these books.
    • 5/5
      Francine Rivers is amazing! One of my all time favorites. The whole series is hard to put down.
    • 5/5
      Often the second novel in a trilogy suffers from middle-book syndrome where it lacks depth and purpose. An Echo in the Darkness definitely defies this complaint. I was captivated from the first to the last page as I continued following the lives of Hadassah, Marcus, Julia and Phoebe. A beautiful and moving story - loved it!
    • 1/5
      This greatly improved my Bible knowledge, it took me back in time to when Jesus walked the face of this earth. I cannot wait to read the the next book in line. Francine Rivera is a wonderful writer with an imagination-to-die-for.
    • 5/5
      I loved the story. I was in tears at the end. The love of God is so beautiful one cannot fully comprehend it.
    • 5/5
      Superior literary language that brings to life and reality the history and culture of the times.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Again amazing.
    • 4/5
      After reading the first book in this series, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! This book was a surprising read, in some respects, but also a deeply redemptive one. Watching characters choose the hard road of forgiveness over hate was powerful, and the historical context was striking, especially considering the perspective the Bible gives on certain places that feature in this book. Content-wise, I was a little disappointed at some of the sin that was mentioned in the book—although overall, it felt like a cleaner read than the first book in the series.There was much to love and appreciate in this story, and for that, I’m grateful. I’m planning to read the last book in the series as soon as I can, even though I’m not sure how many other books I want to read from Francine Rivers. She is a talented author, and I greatly enjoy her style and ways of showing Biblical truth and history through the medium of story, but some of the descriptions of sin are borderline too much for me at times (thankfully, no instances appear condoning of said sin—and rarely is there more than a mention of it—but it is a common occurrence in these books).
    • 5/5
      This was just as good as the first book. I had a hard time putting it down. What a great mix of an adventure and biblical truths. I would and have recommended this series to everyone that I know.

      4 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I read the book in less than 48 hours. It was nice not having to spend the first third of the book trying to learn the characters. Other than the introduction of a doctor and a few ancillary characters, the cast remained the same. It was easy to plow right through, and I was just as invested in the characters as I was in the first book. The most compelling part of this book, easily, is Marcus’s trip to Judea. He aches to discover the God who would kill the woman he loved. His quest is heart-breaking — Rivers really captures what it’s like to be angry and searching and broken, and then to find redemption but still have a significant journey ahead. Marcus’s progression through Hadassah’s homeland is truly incredible. Then I got to the ending which was The Most Felicitous Ending In The History Of Books Ever. And that kind of made me frustrated. Life, especially the Christian life in ancient Rome, was not nearly as tidy as this book made it out to be. Rivers took “And they lived happily ever after” to a level never before reached by someone other than Walt Disney.
    • 5/5
      Let me start by saying, "WOW, This is one of the best, most moving books I have ever read in my entire life!"An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers is an absolute masterpiece. The story picks directly at the ending of the first book. Hadassah, now very disfigured, covers herself from head to toe in veils and does God's work as a healer, working tirelessly with Alexander, the physician who helped God save her from the arena. She sees patient after patient, day after day. And all the while, she tries to open Alexander's eyes to the wonder that is Christ. Eventually, Hadassah learns of the all consuming illness Julia has contracted and knows that God is leading her back to Julia in order to continue her work trying to make Julia understand the salvation God can offer regardless of her past transgressions. All the while, Marcus is consumed with bitterness at the loss of Hadassah as he doesn't know she's still alive. He refuses to speak with Julia and no longer enjoys the pull of Rome or anything else in life. To find the truth about God, he travels to all the places Hadassah has ever set foot, yet he still finds no salvation, until one night, after attempting to drown himself, he is rescued by a man and told the Good News again. He knows now that God wants him to return to Ephesus in order that he may forgive Julia for her sin against him just as God has forgiven him his own sins. What I Liked: THE WHOLE THING! From start to finish, I was totally enraptured. I shed a few tears but I also felt like jumping for joy. The emotional pull Mrs. Rivers exerts is absolutely astounding. Through the whole book, you are rooting for everyone to be able to find the salvation they need and to be able to see God as clearly as Hadassah. Yet you also see the vulnerability of believers, those who's faith isn't strong but whom strive to be stronger. You also feel the frustration, as Hadassah tries to import God's message as people hear the words yet don't understand the deeper meaning of what she's really trying to impart. I was very much in love with all the events in the book and how strong Hadassah is, as her faith never wavers. This series has made me a stronger believer. Thank you, Francine. What I Didn't Like: Not a single thing. I encourage everyone, young or old, man or woman, regardless of religion, to read this book. It will move you and show you the goodness of one young woman who touched the lives of so many. And through them, the lives of even more people. A wonderful, awe inspiring, belief strengthening book.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      the story of Julia and Hadassah continued and showed the results of the choices they have each made and the paths those choices led each on. It was a true coming of age story that is so similar to what is happening in todays world. In Julia's world of pleasure and me me me her choices lead to unhappiness, loneliness yet Hadassah serves with a willing and loving heart and even survives the areana! I was very well told. enjoyed the discussions it lead to with my seventeen year old son.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This series is incredible! This second book is just as good if not better than the first. The author captures that time period so well. The characters are so real you don't want the story to end!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      2nd book in the series but more of a journey whereas the first book was more action. Still love this series.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Francine Rivers paints a detailed picture of life in the Roman Empire. She gets into who her characters are inside rather than just how they appear on the surface. The book is Christian fiction, in the best sense of the word. The main character is a Christian Jew who is taken captive when Jerusalem falls to the Romans. The story is very much about how her faith effects her life and the lives of those around her, and it is shown not by sermon snippets but by her actions. I highly recommend the book. Much of what is sold as Christian fiction couldn't be sold to those without faith because the stories are trite and the dialogue preachy. This book could be enjoyed even by someone who didn't care a bit about religion

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      This is the second in the Mark of the Lion series. A dear friend loaned this to me, so I feel bound to finish the trilogy. It's ok, but I feel it's a bit preachy. Still, the characters almost seem to be caracatures, not realistic. There is also an angel figure that appears briefly. I understand Rivers's goal in writing this, to bring her readers closer to Christ. I am afraid, however, that she has made it seem like all Christians are perfect, have powers that non-Christians don't have, and have angels appear to lead them to Christ. In my experience, it doesn't happen that way. The story itself picks up more than it did in the first one, although it did seem a bit draggy in spots.