AWRW *5 Star* Book Review: Angels At The Gate, by Author T.K. Thorne @TKThorne @JWPRInc

Little is known about Lot’s wife, the unnamed biblical figure who was turned into a pillar of salt as she fled the destruction of Sodom. But for writer T.K. Thorne, just one reference was enough to ignite her imagination and form the basis for her dazzling new novel, ANGELS AT THE GATE (Cappuccino Books, March 2015). Like Noah’s Wife, Thorne’s highly praised debut, this book brings the ancient world to life through the eyes of an extraordinary woman.

Based on historical, biblical, and archaeological research, visits to the Middle East, and a large measure of creativity, ANGELS AT THE GATE is the story of Adira, destined to become Lot’s wife. A daughter of Abram’s tribe, Adira is an impetuous young girl whose mother died in childbirth. Secretly raised as a boy in her father’s caravan and schooled in languages and the art of negotiation, Adira rejects the looming changes of womanhood that threaten her nomadic life and independence.

But with the arrival of two mysterious strangers – Northmen rumored to be holy or possibly even “Angels” – Adira’s world unravels. Raiders invade the caravan, and she loses everything she values most – her father, her freedom, and even the “Angels.”

Caught between her oath to her father to return to her tribe and the “proper life for a woman” and tormented by an impossible love, she abandons all she has known in a dangerous quest to seek revenge and find her kidnapped “Angel.” With only her beloved dog, Nami, at her side, Adira must use the skills she learned in the caravan to survive the perils of the desert, Sodom, and her own heart.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published March 5th 2015 by Cappuccino Books Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction

Nami, Adira’s faithful companion. A Saluki dog.

What’s It About?

Angels at the Gate is a historical, biblical fiction about the life of Adira, Zakiti’s daughter, destined to become Lot’s second wife. Author T.K. Thorne tells Adira’s story based on biblical text and her own imagination.

Raised as a boy, “Adir” learned to manage animals, and travel with the caravan, picking up many languages as they went on their travels, as well as the fine art of negotiation.

As she gets older, her father, Zakiti, insists she claim her birthright to be a woman, but Adira is afraid to leave her father and their caravan. It is a dangerous world for women, and she is content with her lie. Besides, she prefers her independent life.

Then, two tall men arrive and seek refuge with Zakiti. Her uncle Abram believes these giants were angels sent from El.

For the first time, Adira has feelings for one of the brothers. But as a “male”, she hasn’t a chance…

When raiders looking for the brothers murder her father, steal her dog, and kidnap one of the brothers, Adira sets off on her quest of revenge, and love.

My Thoughts

This was my first biblical fiction and it won’t be my last. I absolutely loved living vicariously through Adira, and seeing the ancient world BCE through her eyes as told by Author T.K. Thorne!

Angels At The Gate is brimming with action and adventure! There is never a dull moment. Between scorpion bites, cobra venom, raiders, desert journeys, and the horsemen of the North, Adira handled it all and lived to tell about it. She hardly shirked behind the men, instead she fought beside them and took control of dangerous situations. Her upbringing as a boy served her well.

Perhaps the scariest situation was during the Spring Rites, when an angry mob appeared at Lot’s door, wanting to rape the brothers. He then offered his daughters to them…. Can you imagine? That scene will always stick with me. I loved how Adira handled it. Basically, she wasn’t having any of it! Even if her step-daughters were little witches!

Overall, I LOVED this book and I am grateful to Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc for providing me with a paperback copy, in exchange for a thoughtful, honest, and fair book review.

BTW, if ever a book should be turned into a movie, Angels At The Gate has my vote!

Rating

Recommendation

I would highly recommend this book to people who have an interest in women of the bible.

Purchase

Interested in a historical, biblical fiction about Adira, a woman of the bible? Purchase, here!

About The Author

 T.K. Thorne’s childhood passion for storytelling deepened when she became a police officer in Birmingham, Alabama. “It was a crash course in life and what motivated and mattered to people.” When she retired as a captain, she took on Birmingham’s business improvement district as the executive director. Both careers provide fodder for her writing, which has garnered several awards, including “Book of the Year for Historical Fiction” (ForeWord Reviews) for her debut novel Noah’s Wife. Her first non-fiction book, Last Chance for Justice, was featured on the New York Post’s “Books You Should Be Reading” list. She loves traveling, especially to research her novels, and speaking about her books and life lessons. She writes at her mountaintop home, often with two dogs by her side and a cat on her lap. —Goodreads Author Bio

AWARDS WON BY T.K. THORNE:
ForeWord Reviews “Book of the Year” for Historical Fiction
Winner of Portland Book Review for Short Fiction
Winner of Chattahoochee Valley Writer’s Contest for Short Fiction
Winner of Eugene Walters Writers Festival Termite Hall for Screenplay
Winner of Magic City Writers’ Contest for Short Fiction