‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ - Isaiah 9:2

This story picks up after Isaiah’s Daughter, introducing us to many new characters. Manasseh, 12 year old son of King Hezekiah and Queen Zibah, is crowned king after his father dies. Hezekiah was one of the most righteous kings in Judah’s history. Having struggled to reach Manasseh and teach him all he needed to know to lead the people, the parents had resorted to tutors and advisors they thought would carry out their wishes. However this was not the result. Manasseh was very smart with an incredible knowledge of the Torah. He was insecure, always looking for acceptance, misunderstanding social cues, and manipulated by those who appeared to care about him. Thus he was easily enticed away from believing in the one true God and led into the world of the dark arts.

The author has developed wonderful characters, some of which I certainly would love to get to know myself. The forces of good and evil, dark and light are very evident in this Bible story - I love how much clearer these historical happenings become when written into a story. The theme of light in the darkness threads its way throughout the whole book. Zibah and Adnah are just two of those who bring light to Shulle as she learns that there is someone who would give themselves up for her. She learns that earthly suffering and death don’t disprove God’s love. You’ll have to read the book to see if Manasseh finally believes that there is only one true God.

I received an ARC through WaterBrook, Penguin Random House and NetGalley. The impressions, comments and rating were in no way solicited.

With her impeccable research Mesu Andrews brings the scripture to life. So much so you can feel the emotions and see the setting as if you were sitting in Judah watching everything take place.

As with all biblical fiction I walk away learning something. I didn’t know much about Manasseh prior to reading this book. I liked that Ms. Andrews took creative license with Manasseh giving him autism. It added a unique twist.

This book is a definite must read for all biblical fiction fans!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The story of Manasseh has always gotten to me. How could a man raised in Hezekiah's household and tutored by the prophet Isaiah turn so far into evil? Reading this made think of the ways the enemy has turned my own head as well as the heads of those I loved. We live in a day of sacrificing babies, a culture bent of worshipping sexuality and self. It seems shocking to read it in the context of the Old Testament kings, but we are also living it.

I really enjoyed this book as a whole. I had a hard time getting into it because of what seemed like an overuse of cutesy nicknames to me. It made the gravity of the telling seem less. About halfway through I was able to begin ignoring it and get into the story. There are gaps filled in and historical narrative that fills in blanks for you. Some, of course, is made up for the sake of story. It gives you a whole picture of the events that unfolded and led to Manasseh turning away from and returning to God. It's fascinating. It is also a warning of us all. Through it all, this is a story that will stick with me.

"Isaiah's Legacy" is a story of a prodigal son, his devoted wife and a God-fearing mother.
King Manasseh begins his reign over Judah at age 12. Under the influence of his young wife and friend Shulle, he decides to ordain that Judah should worship all gods instead of Yahweh only. Other world leaders also influence Manasseh to act with cruel evil until one day his uncle Isaiah's prophecy comes true and Nassa is led into captivity in Assyria. When all seems hopeless, Nassa's wife and mother may have influence after all under the guidance of El Shaddai.
I struggled at first to get into this book because of the evil sorcery that kept me questioning when and if Yahweh would prevail. The book also contains numerous characters with nicknames that are difficult to keep track of at first. It also might have helped if I had read the first two books in the series.
However, Mesu Andrews has a way of weaving spiritual truth into everyday reality, and the story caught my attention about halfway through and didn't let go. I kept seeing God show up in the lives of the book's characters, and I wanted to see how and if He would win in the end. I also appreciated seeing a biblical story come to life. I've read the Bible chapters about Manasseh, but the culture and his violent actions come to life through this novel. Also, I have a son with HFA, and I appreciated reading a story that features a main character with the disability.
I have added Mesu Andrews to my "read again" and "recommend" lists. The way she makes a Bible story relevant to today and come alive inspires me.
Note: the book does include violence, animal cruelty, sexual innuendo, witchcraft, and mental health issues.

Another outstanding book by one of my favorite authors!

Mesu Andrews has an amazing talent in telling a story and making you feel that you are right in the middle of it. This story is a continuation of her previous book “Isaiah’s Daughter”. This novel continues the story with a deeper look at King Manasseh and how he “lead Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.“ 2 Chronicles 33:9.

While I do learn a lot more about the biblical characters by reading Mesu’s books, this particular novel provided rich insights to the different nations, rulers, customs and cultures of the time. Mesu spins a great tale combining Biblical characters, historical characters and fictional characters to bring the Biblical stories to life.

This book was a dark tale at times. It covered some tough issues like the manipulation of a child for evil purposes, a closer look at the dark arts, child sacrifice, and ruthless leaders. However, the evil plotline was balanced by the goodness of characters that tried to do the right thing and trusted in Yahweh (the one true God) despite being in the middle of a bad situation. Even though there were dark moments contained in the book, God‘s light shines through the entire story and His goodness, grace, and mercy ultimately win in the end. (Sorry if that’s a spoiler alert, but if you’ve read the Bible you know that’s how the story goes.) This is a powerful, prodigal story of King Manasseh who eventually turns from his evil ways and recognizes the one true God. In the end, Judah is restored.

I received an advanced e-copy of this book from Netgalley and a hard copy from Waterbrook in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.

Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews
King Manessah of Judah was one of the most notorious kings mentioned in the Old Testament. His life is the subject of Isaiah’s Legacy, a novel of prophets and kings. Andrews continues the tale of King Hezekiah and Queen Hepzibah and their godly rule of Judah, which she began in Isaiah’s Daughter. What puzzles readers of the Old Testament is why a godly king would have such an evil son. The author has her reasons, which she develops within the context of what scripture tells us.
Her characters have depth and personality. I both loved and hated King Manessah. Shulle, his wife, especially seemed very complex in her ambivalent feelings toward her king husband in different parts of the story. Zibah, the Queen Mother was a character to admire. Her testimony shone throughout the book.
This story gave me much to ponder. How would I respond to a husband or son who had such a blatant disregard for the laws of God or the lives of others? How would I live in a culture that was so adamantly opposed to the God that I loved and served? How would I survive if my husband or son were imprisoned in a foreign country for a decade? How would I love my son if he cold-heartedly sawed my father asunder? Hepzibah dealt with these issues and others--and lived a grace-filled life. Although it was a dark time in her country’s history, she remained faithful and God honored her faithfulness.
This book was well-written, although it contained many dark topics. They were handled sensitively, but still gave the reader a sense of the difficulty of the times. A thread of hope wound its way through the story and made me want to read the passages about Manesseh in the Bible. Readers who enjoy Biblical fiction will appreciate this book—even those who haven’t yet read Isaiah’s Daughter.
I was part of the author’s launch team and given this book in exchange for this, my honest review.

Mesu Andrews is one of my go-to authors for biblical fiction. Her stories encourage me to dig deeper into my study of the Old Testament and its prophets. While I acknowledge her books are a work of fiction, she does not deviate from the biblical account. Her works are three-pronged: inspired by the biblical account, historical research and her gift of storytelling.

Her heart for glorifying God through storytelling is apparent in this story of one of the most evil kings of Judah, Manasseh. Yet God "captured his heart and rebuilt him."
I don't think I ever stopped to think about how this came about. Yet Mesu Andrews' skillful pen brings this biblical story and lessons to life, tugging at the heartstrings, bringing lessons of old to life and making them relevant regardless of time or place.

The women in Manasseh's life, his mother, Queen Hephzibah and Queen Meshullemeth, stories are fleshed out, giving me more to ponder even as I realize this is a fictional work. Ms. Andrews story of both Shulle and Nassah's rejection of Yahweh and their individual journeys of faith are beautiful. I found the historical detail of the Assyrian empire and the political strife, treaties and intrigue that surrounded the courts of Judah and the greater Assyrian Empire fascinating.

A couple of my favorite quotes:
"No place on earth is beyond Yahweh's reach-including a man's heart."

"Does our legacy speak Yahweh's truth to those who follow?"

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.


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A King must be captured by Yahweh to be truly free.

A gripping Old Testament historical fiction based on King Manasseh of Judea. The only son of King Hezekiah. Some background on King Hezekiah, his death was foretold by the prophet Isaiah. King Hezekiah had pleaded with the Lord to extend his life and thru Isaiah was told that his life would be extended for 15 years. King Hezekiah did not question the Lord in this revelation but saw it as God's glory to lead his people in his ways. Hezekiah had a son Manasseh which did not. The historical fiction puts a human spin on Manasseh. Why did he lead his people to destruction? How was he influenced in the dark arts? And the how did Manasseh return to the Lord later in his life? He was a young king at 12 years old.

Andrews focuses on Manasseh mental health as he was unable to connect to others in a healthy way. Shulle, a niece to Shebna, Manasseh's tutor has made a connection to the young boy that no one else has been able. Shebna see's an evil opportunity and manipulates Shulle to do his bidding. The plot thickens has Shulle and young Manasseh form a deep friendship and love. Shulle is brought into the dark arts to influence Manasseh away from God's care and leadership. When Manasseh's father is killed, Manasseh in his pain, puts up alters to worship other gods has he now is king at 12 years old. He is counselled to visit other kingdoms where evil influences seem to capture Manasseh's heart. His obsession with Shulle grows as he has made her his Queen. Together they witness evil and Manasseh heart changes but Shulle questions the gods she has been worshiping. Shulle and Manasseh go in different directions when it comes to their faith which leads ultimately leads to Manasseh down fall.

If you have ever read this account in the bible, it gives a different perspective of faith, prayer and God's sovereignty. It will give your bible reading a boost as you think more deeply on faith.

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

I have read all of Mrs. Andrews books and am still in awe of the stories she can create by using what’s in the Bible and what she finds in other historical references. I always learn something when I read her books and this was no exception. This book continues the story of Isaiah’s family, specifically the story of his grandson, King Manasseh, who was one of the most evil rulers of Judah. Because of the things he did and how he was possibly lead to do these horrible things, the book causes a whole range of emotions. Never fear, it does include happier times as well. There are so many great phrases as well. There are few books I’ve highlighted so many phrases in. Highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book written by Mesu Andrews names Isaiah's Legacy. The story that focuses on King Hezekiah and his successor son Manasseh allowed for most informative reading. The details presented in the book explaining the difficulties the people of Judah experienced during Biblical times offers an insightful understanding of the events.

The author successfully captured history in a fictional way by explaining the traditions, cultures, religions and kingdom relationships of the time. The book explained the role of the boy king Manasseh, his allies and the manner the more advanced rulers impacted on his life. The reading material captured the influences of the Assyrian's on the Judah kingdom and the changes that happened in Jerusalem because of the occurrences.

Besides the daily struggle by the boy king to practice diplomacy, he struggled to keep his wife Shulle from becoming upset with the additional gifts received from the various visiting kingdoms. Besides the different practices and exposure of the Judah Kingdom to their historical enemies, the ignorance of the historical prophesies played a significant role in the wellbeing of the people from Judah.

Subsequently, the threat of becoming captured by their enemies changed into reality. The reading material basis the storyline on the Book Isaiah which guides the reader throughout the different events and complexities presented during the time.

I absolutely loved this book! Mesu Andrews has woven a tale from the Old Testament that is steeped in history, rich with great characters and a plot that evolves in layers.
This is a follow-up to Isaiah's Daughter but can easily be read as a standalone. Some characters do reappear from that aforementioned novel but their presence is explained well.
One thing that is extremely helpful in this book is a list of characters and who they are and what role they play in the story as well as a map of the region. Special thanks to the author for those!
This book follows the story of Shulle, an eight year old girl, who is being raised by her rather eccentric father. Her uncle requests her help tutoring King Manasseh as she has a gift for this (patience, persistence, kindness, etc.). The author explains in her author's note at the end that due to some traits that Manasseh exhibits, she believed that he may have been autistic.
There are struggles within souls throughout this book. Some find redemption, some seek a darker path. Some have ulterior motives behind each move that they make.
All told, the meticulous attention to research and world building make this an utter delight to read. @mesuandrews #bookstagram @penguinrandomhouse #isaiahslegacy #chainbreaker #booklove

Mesu Andrews is an incredibly creative storyteller while still honoring biblical history. Her story of this Old Testament prodigal had me turning pages while ignoring my housework. While the plot thickened, the characters had caught my attention. I found it interesting that several of her characters have autism, including her high functioning main character. As these characters struggled at times to navigate their environments, sometimes they were surrounded by people who loved them, appreciated them and wanted to help them. What a difference these true caregivers made. Personally, I was strengthened as I read about the characters remaining steadfast in their faith during horrific times. The friendships that the believers maintained certainly built them up. These characters were challenged to believe God’s promises before they saw answers. I never want to forget these characters because they taught me so much through the lessons they learned. Even though this time in history is difficult to read about, Andrews writes a beautiful story infused with hope. Anyone who has a prodigal in their life would certainly be encouraged by this book. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher @waterbrookmultnomah #partner. All opinions are my own.

Wow! Just wow.

This was my first read of 2020, and it completely blew me away. Isaiah's Legacy is a story of redemption. It is a story of brokenness and evil beyond belief, and the God whose love, compassion, and power changed everything.

This story meant so much to me for a variety of different reasons. I think we all have that person in our lives that for one reason or another turns away from us. Refuses to accept love. And at times it's tempting to give up. To forget that God promised to fight for us. To do impossible things.

And this story reminded me to hope. To have faith and believe in the goodness of the Lord and trust that all His promises are true. And not ONE will ever return void.

With beautiful storytelling, a stunningly unique perspective, and characters that I absolutely adored, Mesu Andrews crafted a story that absolutely broke my heart. And encouraged my soul.

As with all of her novels, through rich details and historical nuggets (which admittedly catch me off guard sometimes), Mesu Andrews took a story that I already loved and made me THINK about it. Made me wonder...what if? But the most important thing it did was drive me back to the Source. To learn more of His great love and compassion that does not fail.

FIVE STARS for my first read of the year. A breath-taking, gorgeous look at what might have been...

NOTE: I received a copy of this book for FREE, and a positive review was not required.

--Please bear in mind as you read this story (and I hope you will!) that it is Biblical FICTION. I hope you will turn back to the Source, and find the Truth that lies with Him alone.--

Any time you delve into a story written by Mesu Andrews you will be transported to ancient Biblical times meeting the people you are familiar with in the pages of the Old Testament and new non-historical characters. Because Mesu does such thorough research into the culture and customs you will come away with a new understanding of these peoples and their struggles and perhaps a desire to go to Scripture and read again their stories.

Isaiah’s Legacy is the story of Manasseh ben Hezekiah, Judah’s most wicked king. But along with the story of his wickedness, is a beautiful love story between a king and his wife and most importantly the story of a God who never stops chasing after prodigal and lost people with His incredible love and mercy. We are given glimpses into the dark arts that were such a part of ancient culture, what it was like to be a king, how evil and sin can insinuate itself into a person’s life ever so subtly and how there is always hope in Yahweh.

At times it was very dark and difficult to read, but isn’t life like that, with times of darkness that we wish weren’t there. I loved this book and all the lessons it teaches. It drove me to Scripture to read again Manasseh’s story seeing him through different eyes.

I highly recommend this book and would give it more than 5 stars if possible.
I received a Netgalley digital copy of the book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed here are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, part 255 Guidelines, concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in advertising.

Once again, Mesu Andrews has blown me away with her ability to flesh out characters from the Bible, bringing their stories to life and making them relatable in our day. This time, she tackles the incredibly challenging story of King Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, who rose to the throne of Judah at the tender age of 12 and became his country’s most notorious ruler.

As in all her books, Andrews closely follows Scripture while weaving in rich detail and plausible dialogue that empower readers to step back in time into the Biblical world. She paints Manasseh as a high-functioning autistic young man who, along with his companion Shulle, falls under the influence of an evil woman who practices sorcery. As he grows, he commits horrible, brutal acts of torture and bloodshed. The entire first half of the book is extremely dark, as it focuses on this terrible time in history.

But readers need not despair, for the story of Manasseh is truly the ultimate prodigal son story. Through the loving wisdom, prayer, and guidance of Manasseh’s mother, Hephzibah, Shulle and, in turn, Manasseh are drawn back to Yahweh, making this a beautiful story of redemption and renewal. It is a wonderful reminder that no one – not even the most wicked among us – is beyond God’s power to save.

This book is the third in Andrews’ “Prophets and Kings” series, following Isaiah’s Daughter and Of Fire and Lions. Although I would recommend reading the other books first, it is not essential, as this story easily stands alone.

I love Biblical fiction, and Andrews is one of my favorite authors in this genre. Isaiah’s Legacy is a fantastic addition to her long list of outstanding novels, and I heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a great Biblical fiction book. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; however, there was no requirement of a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

Mesu Andrews has yet again written another outstanding book. The amount of research that the author puts into a book shows, I was pulled into the story from page one. “Isaiah’s Legacy” continues the story that started in “Isaiah’s Daughter.” The author took me through the reign of King Manasseh who was considered one of most wicked kings. Mesu weaves biblical history and historical fact into a book that one should not miss reading.
I prayed for Manasseh that he turns his life to God and learn the truth in daylight. Shulle questions God and wonders how he can be sovereign, Zibah reminds her that God is always with us. Lots of truth is displayed with each character and will leave the reader asking for more. I reread the story of Manasseh and it gave me a different perspective of his life. If you love biblical fiction run to the closest bookstore, carve time out to read “Isaiah’s Legacy.” I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Biblical fiction is not intended to replace your Bible. Instead, Author Mesu Andrews provides and encourages scripture reading so you will better understand the story. I sometimes forget Bible characters are individuals with various needs just like me. The author does her research well and her descriptions and attention to detail help the reader to feel the characters pain and triumphs. She also uses historical facts to ensure accuracy. Isaiah’s Legacy deals with a young boy with peculiarities who becomes a king at the age of twelve and soon turns the nation of Judah into a pagan nation no longer worshipping the one true God. This is truly a story of redemption and hope. I always look forward to a new book from Author Mesu Andrews and Isaiah’s Legacy does not disappoint!
Thank you for the free book @waterbrookmultnomah! #partner. The opinions are my own.

Wow - what a story! One thing I love about biblical fiction is how it brings the scriptures to life for me. When I next read that passage, I will see it in a new light. This book was definitely one of those. This book follows Manasseh, the wickedest king in Judah's history (and whose father was one of the most righteous kings in Judah's history). Ms. Andrews came across the fact that Manasseh had a profound knowledge of the Torah and could interpret Leviticus a number of ways and this drew her to think that perhaps this wicked king was what we would consider "on the autism spectrum". Not that that contributed to his wickedness, but perhaps added to his naivete, misunderstanding of social cues and need for acceptance. Coupling that with the death of a father in his formative years and some negative advisors, this set the seed in the heart of this boy-king to reject the God of his fathers.

The story of Manasseh is the ultimate prodigal story. As many times as I'd read the Bible, I'd completely missed that Manasseh was humbled and turned to Yahweh towards the end of his reign, until I read Lynn Austins's "Gods and Kings" series. When I went back to the scriptures after those books, I found that sure enough, the most wicked king had indeed repented. I was thrilled that Ms. Andrews (one of my favorite biblical fiction authors) was also going to write about this and knew I had to read this take on Manasseh's story as well. This book was very well researched and well written. The depth of history - both Jewish and Assyrian was astounding. The research into the dark arts - the spells and incantations that Manasseh would have followed as a worshipper of the Starry Hosts was intense. There were a couple of times I had to set the book down and focus on the Light before I could pick it back up. This was not for the feint of heart! I found myself literally weeping as Manasseh slaughtered innocent men and women who would not deny Yahweh and felt the struggle of the young king to do what he believed was best for Judah, though it went against his family's wishes.

This book follows scripture impeccably, has a great deal of added history and of course a fair amount of speculation. But the characters, the speculation, the conversations and the reasons behind decisions were all quite believable. This author does a phenomenal job of bringing the scriptures to life and bringing more consideration to the missing details. The author urges readers to go back and read the passages of the scripture to glean what is fact and what is fiction and I recommend that as well. Overall, I strongly recommend this book to fans of biblical historical, those who enjoy learning more about the history and culture of Bible times in a "story" setting and those who are dealing with their own prodigal story. Manasseh's story for us is ultimately a story of hope - hope that no matter how far we (or our loved one) have fallen, there is always grace to get back Home.

Special thanks to Waterbrook Publishers and Mesu Andrews for an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

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

Taking up some years after Isaiah’s Daughter leaves off, we meet up again with King Hezekiah and Queen Zibah. This story begins with Prince Manasseh—the son of Hezi & Zibah. Andrews presents him as an autistic young man who bonds with a servant girl named Shulle. Both are manipulated by the adults in their lives and eventually leave their Jewish faith to become pagan idol worshippers. The book seemed very dark and depressing for quite a while. Although I already knew the scriptures about Manasseh, and his eventual return to Yahweh, it was really hard to read about the evil her perpetrated against his people. This was such a dark time in Judah’s history as idolatry was rampant and the Jewish people forsook Jehovah. I was thankful for Manasseh’s eventual return to God, but it was very troubling to read about all the evil leading up to it.

King Hesekiah's death leaves Mannasah to inherit the throne of Judah at the young age of twelve.
Some of his teachers preparing him for the throne are Godly men who give him a foundation in the teachings of Yahweh but one of his teachers has rebelled against God and turned to the occult. This influence will change the lives of many in the kingdom of Judah as a spirit of darkness moves over the land. Yahweh's light provides the way as His remnant stands up to call him Holy during a reign that is everything but that.

Biblical fiction is one of my favorite types of books to read. First, I wondered how the author, Mesu Andrews, could pull a book together that was centering on Mannasah, one of the most wicked kings in the history of Judah. Secondly, I wondered if I wanted to read it knowing there had to be a great deal of wickedness and evil.

The author did a fine job in presenting the possibility of autism playing a part in Manassah's life. Sensitive, easily swayed, fiercely loyal, misinterpretation of words, all of these played a part in the story of the young king who came to the throne too soon.

Reading of the occult practices of pagan worshippers was a bit difficult. It brings in the dark underlying current that runs throughout the book. You have to wonder what it was that first influenced Mannasah toward the occult in the true account so this brought an element of thought through the lives of his teachers and wives.

One cannot imagine the stresses and terrors that accompany the throne in Biblical times and the family members that surround it. I thought Mesu excellently portrayed many believable scenarios. Many were heart wrenching. We have it all in Isaiah's Legacy; young love, the desire to be found worthy in the eyes of other leaders and proving your loyalty to them, hardening hearts, villains that you hope see justice, frightening situations, fierce loyalty to God who sees and provides especially in dire, painful moments. One of my favorite parts of the book is the workings of God while Nassah is in captivity. Though part of this book is difficult in topic, there is a calmness that overcomes with each mention of Yahweh. His spirit of love and power are woven into the lives of his followers.

There is great creative license taken in the writing of Biblical fiction when we don't have a wealth of information.
I was afforded a copy of this book in exchange for my thoughts. Thank you NetGalley & The Crown Publishing Group.