Prodigal stories are among my favorites, so I went into The Prince and the Prodigal with hard anticipation. I was not disappointed. Anyone who knows the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors will see plenty of the biblical aspects within the novel while also hopefully enjoying the added thrill of fiction that brings this story to life in new and invigorating ways. The imagery the author creates and the passion for story comes through with vivid details and a steady tension that anchors the reader into Joseph's time and draws compassion for history long passed. Excellently crafted and wonderfully storied, this prodigal son tale will enchant as it takes you back in time. I received a copy of this book through Revell Reads and NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book! I thought this was a great retelling of Joseph in Egypt. I loved how Jill Eileen Smith told the story from multiple perspectives. I thought this helped us to get a fuller picture of what was going on and it helped us to understand what people involved in the story would have felt. I also loved watching the characters grow and seeing as their faith in God grew. I thought this was very well written and one that I would recommend to others.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

When it comes to biblical fiction Jill Eileen Smith is my favorite author. She has a way of weaving true biblical truths with fictional details that make it easier to connect and understand what life was like during Bible times. So often the Bible is short in its descriptions that we forget that they are real people with real feelings. I think it's important to remember while reading biblical fiction that it's just that....a fictional account of a biblical truth.
In The Prince and The Prodigal we get a closer look into the life of Joseph. I enjoyed this so much and it actually changes my perception of Joseph. I always viewed him as a bit of an arrogant, spoiled boy, but from this perspective I realized that maybe that was not necessarily the case. Maybe Joseph didn't want to be singled out and favored by his father. Maybe he just really wanted to fit in with his brothers. I also enjoyed reading about his other brothers, with Judah being a main focus.

This brought a well familiar Bible story more alive than ever before for me. As always with a biblical fiction read I feel the need to go back and read and study straight from the Bible after the fictional account. I don't want to veer from the truth, but also want to be aware that there is much more than what is told in the biblical account.

Christian fiction is always a plus to read if it challenges you to draw closer to God and read His Word more. This was just such a book.

***Thanks to Revell Reads for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very good imaginative work on the biblical story between Joseph and his brothers! I really appreciated the author's ability to immerse us in the story and I didn't mind that the perspective shifted between Joseph, Judah, Dinah, and others. The plot itself is basically the standard of what is in the Bible, so I appreciate that.

My issues with the novel arise only in the writing, where there were no clear transitions between scenes and it took about two or three paragraphs to figure out whose perspective we were using in the story.

I would definitely read another work by Smith. Wonderful work!

Book Review

The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith is a biblical fiction retelling on the character Joseph.

The author uses fiction to elaborate on the lives of Jacob and his twelve sons. It was fun reading through the author's eyes as she expertly takes her readers to biblical times.

Joseph and Judah had central places in this book. I love how she did her best to stick to biblical facts despite the fictional segments of each character.

Overall, the title for this book is a perfect fit. The author did a great job.

I am rating the book five stars. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

This author takes biblical fiction to new heights. She gives each of these characters such wonderful personalities. I loved how we get to know Judah as much as Joseph. She shows why Josephs brothers hated Joseph so much. She shows that Joseph was a spoiled person though that did not give the brothers the right to try to kill him. I always look forward to this authors stories to see what type of personality she weaves into her stories. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Smith has taken the epic tale of the sons of Jacob and woven a story that encompasses the points of view of many of the characters. This allows the story to be retold with a richness and depth that is satisfying. Many details are added to the Bible stories and the reader is immersed in the rich culture of Ancient Egypt and the surrounding countries of Canaan and Goshen. Fans of biblical fiction will appreciate the wide scope of this retelling!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Jill Eileen Smith is among the best when it comes to retelling Bible stories and bringing them to life. Her newest release continues her excellent standard. Her historical research is obvious throughout the book bringing the life and times of that Egyptian time period into focus. The story of Joseph and his brothers is a common one, but Smith adds a new freshness to it that makes it a pleasure to read it anew and feel the emotion of the main characters as they each realize the role they played in God's plan for their lives. Yet it is obvious she builds the story on a strong Biblical foundation.

I highly recommend this latest work from a wonderful Biblical fiction author.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

2 brothers...1 choice...lives forever changed...

It's been a little while since I've read one of Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical fiction books but this one intrigued me from the start. There was something about the cover that really drew me in and since I was already familiar with and trusted her Biblical accuracy I went for it

In all of the Biblical fiction books that I've read over the years I think The Prince And The Prodigal is the first one that features Joseph. Strange isn't it? He was a central figure in the book of Genesis and yet I've not, to the best of my recollection, read a single novel encompassing his story. And then there's the other half of the title, the 'Prodigal'. Yes, I did read Francine Rivers' book, Unveiled: Tamar, but this time around was quite different. This time two men, Joseph and his older brother Judah, are the central characters. It was pretty much a new experience to have the two main POVs both be male, an experience that I found quite interesting.

I appreciated that romance was not the main theme in The Prince And The Prodigal. No, the relationships between brothers was more of a focal point and three of the main themes were: forgiveness, redemption, and trust in God even when it seems like things couldn't possibly get any worse.

As always Jill Eileen Smith did an excellent job bringing the drama, the traditions, and culture of ancient Egypt and and the land of Canaan to life. The story was entertaining even as it made me stop to ponder the consequences of our choice, no matter how insignificant they seem at the time. Even if you've read the story of Joseph a dozen, or probably more, times you won't want to miss Jill Eileen Smith's fresh take on it in her newest novel The Prince And The Prodigal...

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

I adore historical fiction, and this is such an interesting premise. I recommend because of the story itself, writing style, and its ability to transport you into a different world/time period.

The Prince and the Prodigal, by Jill Eileen Smith, is a beautiful retelling of an age-old biblical tale!

Author Jill Eileen Smith transports her readers back to the 1800’s BC in the Middle East, where she skillfully elaborates on Joseph’s story that’s already documented in the Bible’s Book of Genesis. Faithfulness, jealousy, forgiveness, persistence, suffering, and unrelenting love are some of the themes that transcend the centuries from Egypt to modern-day America and beyond.

As Jacob’s favored son, Joseph was resented by his older half-brothers. Joseph’s arrogance did little to help his situation. As many siblings may fantasize to do, Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into slavery to get rid of him. Joseph’s life seemed to be doomed to slavery and imprisonment, but he’d been promised by God that he’d rule over his brothers someday. How was that possible?

Jacob and Joseph’s stories are very detailed in the Bible and Ms. Smith follows the Biblical account accurately. Her additional storylines and detail paint a plausible and interesting picture of a family torn apart. God’s grace, faithfulness, and redemption shine through all the angst, betrayal, and heartbreak that Jacob’s family endured.

Who would enjoy this book: Anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction would enjoy this story. Anyone who feels lost, betrayed, or forgotten might gain solace from Joseph’s struggles, ultimate triumph, and seeing the eventual fulfillment of God’s promise.

How this book affected me: I read fiction sparingly as a mental vacation from nonfiction books and The Prince and The Prodigal was a pleasurable vacation getaway for my soul. I’m not a huge history person, but I enjoyed being transported to a Biblical day and time and appreciating that life struggles and God’s blessings haven’t changed in the centuries that separate us from Joseph and his family.

The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books – adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. Our specialties are books on faith and new Christian book releases. We’re proud to be included in the Top Christian Book Review Bloggers. I chose to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the Biblical account of Joseph and his brothers. Jill Eileen Smith has a unique way of showing what life was like at the time and fleshing out the scriptures into a full blown story. I have loved all of her work so far. I really enjoyed this account.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.

“The Prince and the Prodigal” is the newest novel by Jill Eileen Smith. It chronicles the stories of Joseph (the prince) and Judah (the prodigal). Without a doubt, the book is incredibly faithful to the Biblical text. It seeks to flesh out the story with this strong backbone.

However, I felt that the book’s greatest strength led to its weaknesses. Part of the beauty of Biblical fiction is that while it closely adheres to the Bible, it also seeks to capture the imagination by taking us into the possible thoughts, feelings, and lives of these human beings. It works to process and understand what these people might have been experiencing during that time-period and draws us into their struggles of faith. It ultimately points us to our Heavenly Father.

The story of Judah in the book fails to accomplish this. We are not given a nuanced picture of led him to his hatred of Joseph or his rejection of God. He flees from his father’s home due to guilt over Joseph and continues to stay away. His eventual turn back to God and his father Jacob is abrupt after the birth of his twin sons by Tamar. For this to be the prodigal story, it needed to have a greater watershed moment.

The story of Joseph is filled with more shades and coloring. We do see him wrestle with his suffering and him trying to understand God’s bigger plan. My biggest pet peeve in this version of the story is of him constantly thinking and referring to himself as a “prince” in Jacob’s family even after his relocation to Egypt. I cannot reconcile that with the culture of Canaan in that time-period, and I feel it does a great disservice to his humility later on in his life.

I have loved Jill Eileen Smith’s books for years. She is one of my favorite Biblical fiction authors. In my opinion this book fell short of her usual excellence. I received a digital copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love Jill Eileen Smith’s biblical retellings! I always come away from reading her books with more sympathy and greater understanding. She expertly brings biblical figures to life with fabulous storytelling, meticulous detail, and historical accuracy. The story of Joseph and his coat of many colors has been a favorite since childhood, but I never paid much attention to Judah’s story. Ms. Smith shares a compelling comparison between the two brothers by showing what happened to both of them after Judah encouraged his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery. It’s an amazing story of jealousy, betrayal, family dysfunction, forgiveness, and redemption.

There were so many things I didn’t realize I missed about this story and found myself turning to the Bible to double check the story. I should know by now that I didn’t need to because of the author’s careful attention to detail. I was surprised by Judah’s story in particular. After selling Joseph into slavery, he leaves his family to go to Canaan and experiences several tragic events which change his perspective and faith, ultimately leading to his redemption and seeking Joseph’s forgiveness.

The lesser known characters bring even more depth and emotion to the story. Readers are treated to several different perspectives besides Joseph and Judah. I loved reading from Asenath’s, Dinah’s, and Tamar’s points of view. The majority of women were treated so poorly in those times and it was interesting to see the story from their perspectives.

Ms. Smith doesn’t hold back from sharing the accurate somewhat salacious aspects of the story, but she does so tastefully with minimal detail. There are brief mentions of abuse, violence, and promiscuity sensitive readers might want to be aware of.

If you are a historical fiction fan or love biblical retellings, Jill Eileen Smith is a master at maintaining historical accuracy while breathing new life into these well known stories. Highly recommend this book! I received an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

Jill Eileen Smith has done it again. Another insightful, well-researched, page-turning, and poignant Biblical story. The Prince and the Prodigal showed me something new. It revealed a connective tissue between two sons of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel—Joseph and Judah.

As someone acquainted with Jewish lifestyle (both contemporary and ancient), as well as Biblical studies, I would have thought Simeon as the best antagonist. But Jill identified a fascinating link between Joseph and Judah. Once I saw it, it opened the door to so many symbolisms it made my head spin and my heart sing.
Smith follows the events as closely as possible as it was written in the book of Genesis (the first book of the Bible and the Torah), and has crafted an excellent story about forgiveness, family disfunction, favoritism, deceit, obedience, and God's faithfulness. For those familiar with the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (or the coat of “long sleeves”), this is a detailed look at life in that period. The descriptions of the setting are rich, and the emotion of the characters come through clearly and realistically.

For those unfamiliar with the story - don't let that stop you from reading this book. The author gives plenty of background information on the characters. One other item that stands out without being hammered, is the position (or lack thereof) of women in those times.

Likewise, for those who think they know all there is to know about Joseph’s story, be prepared to receive a fresh understanding of the story. And a reminder of GOD’s love and forgiveness—the same love and forgiveness from Genesis to Revelation.

Highly recommend for those who love Biblical fiction and those who want to try this genre.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher, Revell through #NetGalley.

A favourite son. Ten elder brothers full of hate and envy. One disastrous decision that will change all their lives. What will it take to make the ringleader, Judah, realise that he can't run from his past sins, he needs to face them and make amends where possible? And will Joseph ever come to recognise and accept God's reasons for putting him through such terrible trials?

I enjoyed this book, but with a bit more of a 'but' than I normally find with this author. There were a few things about the timing (admittedly awkward to work out in this case) that didn't seem to me to match the Bible, which threw me off from the start. Also, because the story had to cover so many years and two or three distinct storylines, it felt like it didn't go as deep as I would have liked at times. However, Joseph was an amazing person and I did appreciate this glimpse of bits of what his life might have been like. Similarly, I've always found Judah's story intriguing, and the way the author brought the two together was both helpful and well done. All in all, this was a good read and I really appreciate the way that Biblical fiction can bring the stories in the Bible to life - after all, they were real people! Recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

“But I suppose sometimes hardship is what leads us to seek the things we’ve always known were true.”

Jill Eileen Smith always brings the Bible to life and I thoroughly enjoyed this epic thirty somewhat year journey with Joseph. But this book is not just about Joseph; it’s also about Judah - thus the title The Prince and the Prodigal. I had never paid much attention to Judah having left his family after selling Joseph and what transpired afterwards. Judah’s account gave me a fresh perspective on how Judah must have matured through his hardships to become the man who faces Joseph in Egypt with integrity and humility.

The book is a little different in that there are many voices narrating the story. Joseph and Judah have the strongest voices, but Jacob, Reuben, Dinah, Tamar and Asenath also tell parts of the story that make the plot much richer. The author has a way of transporting the reader into her book that one can smell and taste the flatbread and stew, touch and hear the goats and sheep grazing, and see the magnificence of the Pharaoh’s holdings. It’s such a familiar story yet made new by the author’s incredible storytelling; it definitely gave me a deeper appreciation for Joseph’s faith, Judah’s renewed commitment to family, and Jacob’s trials and heartaches.

I received the book from Baker Publishing Group via Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Confession: I really don't read biblical fiction. I got scarred after a couple other books in the genre, which shall remain nameless (I'm not here on this book's page to review other books anyway haha). Suffice to say, I was a little nervous going in, but also really excited because I love the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers.

It took probably 30+% of the book before I really got "into" it. If that's you too, I'd just say ... stick with it! I'm not sure if it was the writing style (new-to-me author) or something else, I just couldn't latch on for a while. But after I did, it was worthwhile!

Of course, reading a fictional spin on historic events can be challenging, regardless of the event or era. I think this can especially be hard with biblical fiction--maybe because it's sooooo very long ago? We obviously have no one still alive today from those times that can corroborate, meaning the story (beyond what's in the Bible or filled in by other sources, whether church tradition/fathers or historians, etc.) is pretty speculative. Smith does a really good job at not only telling the story from multiple narrators' POVs, but bringing the story to life as a cohesive whole. She takes a story that doesn't historically offer much in the way of characters' feelings/thoughts and nuanced plot points and breathes life into it.

Of course ... the biblical story _does_ have some colorful elements to it, and sometimes that was really hard to read here (part of my issue with the aforementioned other books, too, frankly). One scene involving child sacrifice (a terrible topic to read about at any time of day, but especially as I was approaching bedtime) was particularly challenging, as were a couple other scenes of a more adult/sensual nature. Smith handled them well, and I had to remind myself several times that _they were in the biblical narrative_. (While the biblical Joseph story doesn't call out Molech and child sacrifice specifically in those chapters of Genesis, they were mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, and external documentation also notes the practice.) These were not made up for the sake of furthering the story, being "edgy," or anything else. So as much as I might sit there in my discomfort, that's not a bad thing if it pushes me closer to Christ and not away from the Scriptures I call holy--even the parts I don't like. (And frankly, I should be, and am, grateful that God uses imperfect people...I'd be sunk myself otherwise, lol.)

So--this was sometimes a hard read. It was also a personable read, where I really got to deep-dive into the (albeit fictionalized) minds of biblical characters I've read about a bajillion times. I do feel it will enhance my future readings of the story in the Word, and that is the best part!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I've read many books by Smith, and I've always enjoyed them and found them spot-on with the Biblical details, and this book was no exception.

The author brings Joseph, one of the most well-known Biblical stories, to life. In fact, I've just finished reading it in my daily devotional time. Smith delves into complicated family dynamics that are complicated by guilt, loss, and favoritism. Forgiveness, hope, love, and compassion are themes woven throughout. This is such an emotional read, on many levels, in regards not only to Joseph's brothers but also Leah and Rachel. I'd love to see a future book focusing on Dinah! The story is told from various POVs, including Joseph, Judah, and Dinah--all relatable characters, as they deal with issues such as betrayal, jealousy, and reconciliation, which are as present now as they were in biblical times.

Overall, I found this to be a compelling read right from the start.