I've wanted to read this book for a long time! Having followed it since pre-release buzz first began, it's been on my radar for quite a while. The stories depicted in the book of Daniel hold a certain fascination, as they show such big works of our God in undeniable ways. I was eager to see how Mesu Andrews would bring the story to light.

The narrative style unfortunately took me out of the story before it even began. With back-and-forth settings, we open with Daniel as an old man, then rewind to the first day he was taken captive in Jerusalem, then ping-pong back to to old Daniel. Every time things would get interesting we'd be switched to another part of the story. I'm not a fan of non-linear storytelling, and it was exhausting to keep up with which characters belonged where and what was happening at any given time.

I also found the main character unlikable, and her journey not believable or interesting. I didn't even like Daniel very much. The most interesting scenes were any in which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego appeared. I would have loved to see more of them.

The author did a great job setting the stage with vivid details. I loved her version of the fiery furnace, as it brought a whole new dimension of the account to life for me. She also did a good job showing the friendly relationship between Daniel and King Darius, and how distraught the young king was when he learned that one of his closest advisers was going to be thrown to the lions. There was plenty of good, enlightening Biblical content. I just wish Abigail/Belili had won my heart and that we could have progressed naturally through the story instead of the constantly shifting timelines.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own

I've yet to meet a Mesu book I didn't love and 'Of Fire and Lions' fits into that niche pretty well.  Remember please that I am totally not a cover person but this cover really does do justice to the words inside.  And the words inside do justice to the Biblical references they are drawn from.  If you grew up in church you heard the story of Daniel being tossed into the lion's den from a young age.  That and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (and isn't it odd we know them by their Babylonian names and not their Hebrew names) being saved in the fiery furnace by an angel visible to all those who bore witness to the event.  As you continued through studies into youth groups and possibly even adult Sunday School or Bible study you learned about the wisdom of Daniel and his ability to interpret dreams for the kings he served and the rise to the upper echelon of government due to the truth he never withheld, even to his own detriment.  In his time he was considered a wise man, a man who always redirected back to God, a man who never lost his foundation of Jerusalem.  Mesu, however takes all of that one step farther and builds a word that shows the depth of character that someone like Daniel would have need to stabilize the life he lead.  It weaves him a life that would have been the backdrop to his government roles.  And it brings this man to life in a way no other has.

Mesu chose to write in a wife and family for Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, his Babylonian name.  The Bible doesn't specify if he had a family but in doing so in this book it allows for the great expansion of the themes of choices and redemption and reconciliation.  the addition of Abigail (Belili is her Babylonian name) brings in the themes that we are all faced with, choosing to stay strong in our faith even when it feels dark and alone.  'Yes, I believed. . . that He answered your prayers.  But not mine.  I believed I was too broken, too stained.'  You can't tell me there has never been a time in your life you felt too broken, too stained, just too something to be chosen by God.  Abigail found herself pressed into service in a pagan temple.  She found herself trying to find a path to maintain her life in the only way she, as a human knew how.  She found herself feel separate from the same God that had shown himself to her in the Temple during the initial invasion.  She wasn't separate from God but as a human she felt she was.  And she made human choices outside of that faith.  God is able to use that darkness to bring reconciliation to a family that feels fractured.  God is able to use that darkness to bring faith the the faithless.  God is able to use that darkness to bring humility and grace to those who need it, even Daniel as he faced his own fears at the mouth of the lions enclosure.

'Yahweh's plan for His people had seasons - sowing, growing, harvest and rest.'  Through Daniel, and Abigail, we see these seasons. Through their experiences and ultimately their family they sow the seeds of their faith and they grow in those seeds.  They ultimately harvest those seeds and send them out to do the things they dreamed of since their you, the return to Jerusalem, during the years of their rest.  There is so much depth to this book, so much room for understand and growth.  There is literally something here for everyone to take away a seed of their own to sow.   A reminder that God is not a feeling or a one time experience.  A reminder that God never abandons us but keeps his promises, they just don't always look the way we may want or expect them too.  A reminder that even 'men of God' are human and sometimes do things that hurt those around them.  God is always faithfI was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley, Waterbrook Press. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. ul, to the well known, the wise, and even the former temple high priestess.  Daniel has a lot to teach us even in today's culture.  This book will send you back to Daniel for the tidbits you missed in Sunday school stories and youth group Bible studies.  A good book will do that. . . send you right back to the basics.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley, Waterbrook Press. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

While this book was written and seems to be well researched. It just wasn't something that held my attention. I find that I'm very pickly about my Biblical fiction authors. So far I haven't found more than one I enjoy I hoped that this would have been an author I added to my list.

I’m sometimes hesitant to read a fictional story about Biblical characters, but I really appreciated Andrews’ tale Of Fire and Lions. I appreciate that Andrews gives an outline for how she writes Biblical, historical fiction.

1) Biblical accounts and Scripture build the foundation,
2) Historical facts support the truth of God’s Word, and
3) Creative fiction holds the historical fact and Biblical truth together.

I absolutely loved that the creative fiction made the familiar stories come alive. For example, I’d never worked out a timeline or thought of the age that Daniel would have been when cast into the lions den. It moved me when I realized he wasn’t a young, strong man at that point, but an older, more vulnerable age. For some reason I tend to create an image of a character and then it never ages, so to meet Daniel in his later years was a gift that I had missed when I read the Biblical text.

There is, of course, a lot of holy imagination happening, but all in all I felt that the story not only stayed true to the Biblical text, it captivated. I now find it easier to put myself in the shoes of the captives than I did before. I stood with awe as I watched the ways that the LORD met with the characters. I remembered, yes, this is my God. I felt their doubts, their losses, their joys, all very real and very familiar.

The book does jump back and forth in the timeline of Belili’s life, but I didn’t find it at all hard to follow. In fact, this was one of those books that I really hated to have to set down and walk away from at any point.

I really liked Of Fire and Lions and would recommend it to you.

I received a free digital copy of this book for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kings rise and fall but can she truly trust Yahweh?

I didn't start this book as soon as I probably should have, I've had a copy in my possession for awhile now. But I knew that there was no way I could read a Mesu Andrews book piecemeal. No, when you read one of her books you have to have time, time to read it, and time to ponder what you read. You will become so immersed, so focused on the story that nothing else can get in the way. Of Fire And Lions again proved that to be true and it more than met my expectations.

As with Mesu Andrews's other books this story is deep, many-layered, it's dark and even harsh in places because she accurately depicts the terrifying times her characters lived in, but every dark moment leads toward redemption, hope, the Creator, and the coming Savior.

Of Fire And Lions is a beautiful story, sometimes hard to read, but oh so worth it! And it's a tale you won't soon forget. Belili, Daniel, and the others so quickly become like friends. Because the plot covers several decades, and thus several kings, you become invested in the characters lives and when that last page is turned and you have to come back to the real world it takes a bit of time to reluctantly adjust.

Seriously, Of Fire And Lions in one of Mesu Andrews's absolute BEST books and one that I would recommend to pretty much anyone. That is unless you want a pastel portrait of the Bible and in that case I suggest try a little kids Bible storybook because this book has a powerful message to share that does not compromise history or Biblical fact...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

This is the first book by Mesh Andrew's that I've had the privilege to read! I found that she was able to bring the story of Daniel to life! I found myself returning to the front of the book to see the list of names to remember who they were, but that wasn't a problem. I love the book and will recommend it to others!

Of Fire and Lions was the first novel I have read by this author. I'm getting to like Biblical Fiction now more than I used to, and the Book of Daniel. Well, it really does cover some very turbulent times earth-shaping events from the perspective of a Jewish exile who rose to the heights of society in Ancient Babylonia, but remained faithful to his God.

Who can forget the story of King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the great statue, Daniel in the Lion's Den, and the Fiery Furnace. Its all here, alongside some hints of Romance and family drama.
Adding Daniel's wife, and having much of the story written from her standpoint adds an interesting and emotional flavour to the story.

Abigail (the said wife of Daniel), takes on a Babylonian name, and struggles with the terrible hand that fate deals with her. Though sometimes its the King, not fate. Even in later life she struggles to come to terms with her past, and to repair her relationship with her children who she was forced to live apart from for several years.
She grows and develops a lot as a character, and is the perfect companion to Daniel: at times and almost otherworldly figure.

It terms of historical accuracy, this novel seemed pretty good. The descriptions of places and buildings, and even religious rites were authentic.
My only niggle, and its a minor one, was the use of the term 'Palestinian'. There was no such place as 'Palestine' in 500BC: the region in the modern day Holy Land was not called that until Roman times.

Overall this was a very good story told from the perspective of a strong but vulnerable woman. I would certainly be open to reading more by this author.

I requested this title from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Mesu Andrews has the ability to take a bible story that we are all familiar with and love, more than one actually, and make it come to life right before our eyes. Truly, I could see this book play out on the stage of the Sight and Sound Theater. It took me back to the days of Daniel, and offered such an interesting point of view from Belili. I don’t think I really thought of her story when reading my bible before, but this book has opened my eyes to it. And yes, I do realize that this book if fictional. However, it challenged me to look in my bible, see exactly what it said about Belili, and try to learn more about her. It also allowed me to use my imagination a little in what times truly were like in Daniel’s time. Can you imagine having to pretty much hide your faith? Can you imagine sent to a fiery furnace, or a lion’s den simply because you stood up for God?

Yes, we read these two stories in the bible. Yes we are in awe of the courage these young men had. But Andrews brings you so much more than that. You see even more that they could have gone through. The research is so evident in each and every sentence you read. I felt like I was on some amazing journey where I get to jump in the bible and live there for awhile, kind of like the kids in The Magic Tree House. It’s so real, so vivid. I would find it very hard to believe that someone could read this book and not feel like they were right there next to Daniel, or Belili.

I will also say this – there were some things I read that I did not recall reading in the bible. So I looked it up. I wanted to see if it was real, or if it was just an addition to the story to make it what it is – fictional. And truthfully there was a little bit of both. I think people get hung up on the fact that biblical fiction has to be 100% accurate – well I disagree. It isn’t there to teach us, although I can say that I learned A LOT in reading this. It’s there to open our eyes and minds to the things people could have faced. It’s there to make us want to search the truths in our bible and bring us closer to the One who created authors in the first place!

Friends, if you have never read a biblical fiction book before, I encourage you to give this one a try. Mesu Andrews will transform you, challenge you, encourage you, and send you on a bible hunting mission. This is a story that will stick with me for years, and I can see myself rereading this many times. Read it alone. Read it with family members. Read it with a church group or book club. Just read it. I promise you won’t regret it!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is a great fictional book looking at the life of Daniel based on biblical accounts. It sure makes you look at and think about these portions of the bible in a new way! You also realize that the bible is not really chronological and you might need to look in more than one book of the bible to piece the story together!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Story is told from the point of view of Daniel and Belili. It is testimony to God’s faithfulness through adversity. Switching between alternate time periods is a bit confusing, but overall it works. Andrews weaves the biblical account into a beautiful story where the readers feels like they have front row seats to history.

This was an excellent read. I found myself hooked on the story line. Very plausible. I did appreciate a unique look at a beloved character. I thought the entire idea was interesting. I disagreed in some areas, but not enough to ruin the book for me. I found the Abigail character to be very interesting. I would have also loved to see more between the two main characters. I thought that their relationship was clearly shown, but I would have loved to see more. I found myself thinking about the passages mentioned in new ways. I can't give it a five, since I did have some disagreements with things, but it was a very entertaining read, and one I will remember.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Once again Mesu Andrews delivers captivating biblical fiction. I connected with these characters as this fictionalized story from the book of Daniel unfolded. Andrew’s characters are real and flawed, learning deep lessons along their journey. While facing uncertain and extremely difficult circumstances, their faith was tested. Although they did not always remain faithful, they discovered that God is always faithful. And so, hope was found. That is only one of the many lessons that I want to take to heart from this book. I felt that Andrews handled scripture carefully, as well as, historical details in imaging the life that Daniel faced many years ago. For me, reading this book added depth to my understanding of the book of Daniel. I highly recommend Of Fire and Lions to anyone who is looking for strength to face their own difficult circumstances. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

For those amongst us with a Jewish or a Christian upbringing the story of Daniel (in the lionpit) will be familiar. Young Jewish prince Daniel is deported to Babylon after the conquest of Jerusalem and become a high advisor of first the Babylonian king and later the Persian one.
In this novel mrs Andrews gives Daniel a (fictional) wife. We follow not only the known biblical events but also see their world from the eyes of the wife for instance as her serving as a high priestess of a local religion, the eunuch system in government and other things. And of course the events mentioned in the bible: the throwing in an oven, the illness of the king, the lionpit and all the dreams.
Although it is a book written by a Christian person it is not overdoing it like some American novels can what normally makes me sooner think of blasphemy. It is an entertaining read and if someone is inspired to read the original by it all the better.

A four stars out of 5

Of Fire and Lions
by Mesu Andrews
Pub Date: 05 Mar 2019

I love a Biblical fiction that puts a face on a beloved person. Of Fire and Lions delves into Daniel's story for a family's perspective. What would it have been like to watch your husband/father refuse to follow a king because he follows the King of kings? What was it like to watch the man who is the strength of your family walk into a lion's den? Andrews lets us peek behind that curtain and understand what God asked of Daniel and sometimes asks of us.

Wow. This book was incredible. I loved how she took passages from the Bible and other historical sources to expand on and create a narrative of what the actual humans behind the story of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego and Daniel in the lions' den stories may have actually been like. What a sweet story of love and redemption.

Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews was a fictional book based on the Daniel of the Old Testament. I just love Daniel and God’s Word. Because of this, I struggled at first with this book and was not understanding why she was bringing in a life mate (wife) into his story. I was like, is this like watching a movie about Noah and having there be other boats in the water… Then I flipped to the back of the book where she shares why she decided to add this element and that helped me to see this author has sought His Scripture and is a fellow-studier of His Word, doesn’t take His Word lightly, and she wasn’t just uneducated but she shares her possible findings, most importantly she included a Biblical example. Whether that is where I’ll land or not, this helped me let go and get into the reading a bit deeper. What I found when I did this was amazing writing of fiction. I related often with the wife and her struggles for forgiveness to King Neb and all the pain he had brought into her life. Such pictures painted in words. I would liken it to watching the movies "Passion of the Christ” and “The Nativity”. Not everything is written down for us in Scripture but one example from “The Nativity” was when Joseph and Mary were leaving Nazareth to journey to Bethlehem, Joseph states that “the people were going to miss us”. Knowing the cost involved in Mary’s decision of obedience to the Lord’s will cost them, many things. To see in this book the costs involved in Daniel determining beforehand that he would not defile himself. It’s powerful. The three friends and their journey into the fire and all… breathtakingly powerful. Everything before that, after that, and in between. Exceptional fiction. I’m so blessed to have picked up this book and I’ll be reading it again and sharing it with others!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

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Truth. It is the only purely righteous thing on earth, giving it power over the excesses of wine, unrighteous kings, and disagreeable women. Truth alone prevails forever without partiality or preference. Truth conquers all. Truth sets us free

Such an undertaking to take a well-known bible figure such as Daniel of the Old Testament and to bring it to life for us today. I don't think the bible ever indicated that Daniel was married. It is my belief that he was truly devoted to the Lord first and with the calling God had on him, I don't believe he would have been married. However, I appreciated how this take on Daniel's life revealed him as man and the faithfulness of God. The narration goes back in forth in time in Daniel's life and touches on all key events from the bible. The writing on the wall, the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar, the exile, the lion's den, and his friendship with the 3 amigos and their own testimony of God's faithfulness and their trust.

The key character is not Daniel but the women he eventually married. Abigail her Hebrew name later changed to Belil . It was the custom Babylonians to change the names of their captives to strip them of their identity. This is where young Daniel and Abigail met and became fast friends. Abigail had her own "God" moment when she knew God was in her midst. However, lives change and during her captivity, she lost all hope and that God had abandoned her. Being separated from Daniel, the man she grew to love, she survived the only way she knew how.

Daniel and Abigail roads cross again. The love between them is there, however, now Abigail's past may destroy what love there is between them.

Their story takes what is evil (actual events) and how God redeemed Israel's captivity. Abigail learns to trust in faith the sovereign God and Daniel's faith by exposing the truth of her past.

A Special Thank you to WaterBrook Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Mesu Andrews masterfully shares a great story with us. Characters come to life as if you’re going through their day with them. The dialogue flows easy and the family dynamics are so realistic. The scoundrels and evil doers say and do just enough to make them loathsome. Some readers don’t care for books filled with ancient Babylonian names. There is quite a roster of them in Of Fire and Lions, but don’t let it be an obstacle to this recent release. The character list at the opening is a great resource.

The starting point for this book is the Bible’s Book of Daniel. There are some gripping events that are accurately told in this historical fiction book. Three Jewish exiles survive a fiery furnace. Lions with insatiable appetites take no action, even though Daniel is sealed inside as easy prey. As you walk through these events with the characters your are drawn into an epic story that gives you new insight into the Babylonian Empire. Andrews' research leaves no stone unturned.

Of the author’s three most recent releases, I have to say Miriam was my favorite. I read Isaiah’s Daughter and enjoyed it. Miriam was a Christie Award finalist two years ago, and Isaiah’s Daughter won the top award in historical fiction last year. This newest release, Of Fire and Lions, covers a lot of ground. Seventy years of captivity to be exact. A consistent, impressive story thread throughout the story is Daniel’s rock solid faith in his one true God. He remains steadfast despite being surrounded by a culture that is is hostile to his beliefs. This is captivating enough, but the transformation of some of the fictional characters is just as gripping.

In her author notes, Mesu Andrews writes that she hopes her fiction will drive readers to Scripture to delve deep on Daniel and the experience of the exiles. I know I turned to Ezra to look further into the historical record of Sheshbazzar and his role in the return to Jerusalem.

My goal was to finish this book by it’s release date. I was on track until I found myself savoring the book and not wanting it to end. This behavior is familiar to all readers who just don’t want to have to say goodbye to a good book. I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. #OfFireandLions #NetGalley

Of Fire and Lions is a retelling of the Book of Daniel told from the perspective of Daniel’s wife, Belili. Abigail is a little Hebrew girl living in Jerusalem. One day, when the Babylonians capture the city, she becomes a slave in the Babylonian palace. She meets a Jewish prince named Daniel. The two of them strike a close friendship and eventual romance. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the two are separated. Abigail gives up her faith in Yahweh and starts worshipping other gods and changes her name to Belili. Belili marries a Babylonian official and has a son.

When her husband dies unexpectedly, Belili is reunited with Daniel who marries her immediately. Belili tries to become an excellent Jewish wife to please her husband. Could Belili keep her secret that she once worshipped other gods from her husband? Will he ever forgive her if he discovers her secret? Could Belili ever believe in Yahweh again?

I really admired Belili’s strength and resilience. Belili goes through many hardships as a young girl. Her main priority is survival. Because she has suffered at a very early age, she no longer believes that God exists. Thus, Belili is often put to a test with faith. It is not until she marries Daniel that she slowly starts believing in God. Thus, Daniel was a part of God’s plan for her because he brought her back to God and made her believe in His great love again.

Daniel was one of my favorite characters in the novel. He was a very righteous man who always made the right choices. Even though he was a hostage prince in another kingdom, he never strayed from his faith or was tempted to worship the other gods. Instead, he always believed that God would protect him, and he never feared anything, even when he entered the lion’s den. Daniel always listened to God and obeyed his will. It is because of his steadfast faith that Belili slowly warms up to God.

Overall, this novel is about tests of faith and learning how to love. Of Fires and Lions had complex and realistic characters. The setting is filled with rich historical detail. The writing is very lush and evocative. What I really liked is that the novel was very faithful to the Book of Daniel. Of Fire and Lions kept me enthralled because it was filled with romance, danger, political intrigue, and miracles, and I did not want this book to end! For those that love Christian romances, this is not a book that you should miss! I have to confess that as a huge fan of biblical fiction, I have to say that this is one of the best of 2019! Of Fire and Lions proves why Mrs. Andrews is one of my go to historical authors!