A Daughter of Zion (Zion Chronicles, #2) by Bodie Thoene

A Daughter of Zion (Zion Chronicles, #2) Reviews

• 
  Belinda Vlasbaard

  4 ,5 stars - Dutch paperback
  
  This book kept me wanting to read more.
  
  The characters are so real that you feel their pain and sorrow and their joy in their faith.
  
  It is the kind of book that you don't want to end, and it doesn't. The next book in the series keeps the story moving.
  
  I think these books belong in schools. They would surely keep the interest in the history classes!
• 
  Emma Turner

  “How many times had she prayed to die, and the heavens had answered in stony silence?”
  
  This book touched every heart string I have.
  It convicted me of my ‘Shallow Christianity’ to the core. I. We have so many freedoms in North America. To read what these people went through, simply because they were Jews destroyed me.
  
  Rachel is the main character in this story. She doesn’t know why she chooses to live anymore. The quote above was describing her. The horrors she went through in Nazi Germany I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies. She was brave through it all, but always thought she was worthless because of the brand the terrible Nazi soldiers gave her. Why did she have to live when everything and everyone she knew was peaceful in the grave? Why did nightmares chase her when she thought it was over? Rachel is one the strongest characters I have ever read about.
  
  This is a work of fiction, but I cannot help but believe thousands upon thousands of Jewish girls went through just what Rachel went through. I understand these people in the story were Jewish, but I cannot help but think about how easy it is to live my Christian life.. Imagine living in this era as a young woman and every day not knowing if you would make it to the end. Would a Palestinian soldier find you and take you to do who knows what horrible things to you? Would a bomb go off on the streets you walk on? Would a bullet pierce your flesh from a Palestinian look-out who shot at you just... because?
  
  There are some details in this book described. Nothing ever over-and-above graphic, but I wouldn’t recommend to read this if that greatly affects you. I did not lower my rating because I believe the author used these details to portray just how terrible and despicable this era was.
  
  This book was suspenseful, emotional, and just enough a touch of love.
  
  Some of my favourite quotes from Leah, quite possibly my favourite character:
  
  “If we do not draw a line and say to the enemies of peace, ‘This far and no farther,’ then someday this child I bear will be forced to fight an enemy a thousand times stronger than the one I face.” -Leah
  
  “It is a mystery, Rachel. God made us one and all, did He not? And was it not His pleasure to make us all different? And yet people try always to make everyone the same...” -Leah
• 
  Heidi

  Caveat:: my ratings are based on genre meaning this is a 5 star historical romance NOT a great piece of literature like Hugo or Dostoevsky. I think that's how a lot of people rate things but I feel the need to mention it::
  This focused most on one of my favorite characters from book one, Rachel. It is a story of redemption.
• 
  Liz

  3.5
  
  I love the character of Rachel, I think her struggle was so important to address and I love the way the author’s did so.
  
  The fact that a dog played a major role definitely gave this review a half a star more.
  
  The fact that **SPOILER** Leah died **END OF SPOILER** knocked it back down. (Leah was the face of wisdom)
  
  
  Still a little bit confused on Rachel’s backstory, that could be because I haven’t read the first book… not exactly sure what the first book addresses, so I have no idea. :)
  
  Also the knowledge I gained was amazing, definitely don’t regret reading for that reason. Not that I regret reading this, because I don’t.
  
  Overall, it’s got history, romance (which I wasn’t a huge ship of but it is what it is) (also not like kissing, more along the lines of a man trying to save the girl from her certain doom so he can confess his love and marry her all while she’s completely oblivious), learning to love, overcoming the past, and a whole lot more. Do I recommend? Yes, I do. It honestly didn’t take that long to read (before you start rolling your eyes at 13 days, it’s only because I read for a few minutes every night before bed, okay? Forgive me, please.). While it didn’t hold my interest completely throughout the story, it picked up a lot at the end and I was glad I continued reading.
• 
  Gwendolyn Gage

  Rachel helps the Haganah smuggle weapons into Israel, and gets stuck inside the Old City when passage in and out of the gates is denied. She makes friends with Leah and Shimon. Moshe is in love with Rachel, but hasn't told her. Unable to bear the distance between them, he plots to gain entrance into the Old City.
  
  Great story, with lots of compelling action. The author does juggle a lot of POV characters and head hop. The romance between Rachel and Moshe didn't reach my emotions--suddenly they were in love with no clear journey to that point, and the final scene between them, though sweet, was riddled with unnatural dialogue and thought. But even though the romance fell short for me, I cried over other characters--twice. A beautiful historical, both entertaining and educational, and definately worth reading.
• 
  Shaun

  A beautiful book to read! A wonderful story! Keeps getting better!
• 
  Hanna

  My heart is in at least three pieces after reading that.
  
  Setting: January 1948, Israel. Of course this time period and region of the world is what the plot revolves around, so it is heavily involved and explained. This is the book (and series) to read if one wants to learn about the Zionist movement post-WWII. It is chocked-full of big-picture information.
  
  Characters: Exactly the reason my heart is broken. But actually, it was put back together at the end. Near the beginning, I didn't have a real special attachment to anyone. Of course they were from previous books, so I kind of liked Ellie, David, Howard, Rachel, and the rest. And yes, I always love Moshe. The minor characters stayed enjoyable to read, but not particularly captivating. But this story brings out Rachel more than ever, and it broke my heart. And she and Moshe are so precious. Also Captain Luke Thomas and Ehud are amazing supporting characters. (Luke is the other reason my heart isn't so healthy anymore)
  
  Plot: Honestly, I would like the entire conflict over the Holy Land to end in one book, but I know that can't happen--and then infinitely more pressing matters come up, and I forget about national-level matters. (All that matters is that Mose lives, okay??) Once there is a specific plotline to focus on, it's amazing. One part of the solution was remarkably similar to Les Misérables. Also, sometimes Moshe acted like he had two perfectly good arms and hands, when he most certainly did not. So I don't know how realistic some of that was (Here's my question: can a person tie a tourniquet with only one hand?)
  
  Faith content: The handling of Jewish and Christian faith combined, both being portrayed as good religions, is done exceptionally well. The gentle expression of the Messiah's true identity doesn't in any way overwhelm any of the story, although it does appear in some amusing ways. Also, the story doesn't hide at all the militant, violent goals of Islam and Jihad.
  
  Heartily recommended for readers who have interest in history, especially World War II and the aftereffects. Also for anyone with interest in Jewish history.
• 
  Joy Lokey

  We met Ellie, Moshe, David, Uncle Walter, Yacob, Grandfather, Rachel, and so many more interesting characters in book one. Ellie befriends Rachel, of whom jealousy almost disrupted this beautiful friendship, setting the course for Moshe to pursue the one he jumped ship to save in book one. We learned of one faithful dog Shaul, who would give his life for his beloved ten year old Yacob and those Yacob loves in both books 1 & 2. Rachel's star is rising, as she steps out to pursue the peace of Jerusalem with her Rabbi Grandfather's blessing, risking her own reputation. The Holocaust had already destroyed her soul at a tender young age, she carried that surviving disgrace like a burdensome lock and chain without a key into her new life. Moshe is driven to dangerous pursuit of his love for Rachel. If not for his British friend Luke, his courage might have failed. But the small group of Jews hanging on for dear life in the Old City and those in the New Jerusalem continue to face day to day threats from the Arab terrorists. The slowly dwindling emergence of hope for Jerusalem and a continued Jewish presence is what each weary heart holds tight to at all cost.
• 
  Linda

  This is the story of a young woman named Rachel who in the Gates of Zion is smuggled into Jerusalem after nearly being destroyed by the Nazi.
  In A Daughter of Zion, Rachel enters Old Jerusalem while smuggling arms for Zion’s defensive. Once in the Old City Rachel stays in spite of the difficult living conditions of its citizens.
  As the heroine, Rachel has enemies who try to undermine her but she also has those who love and support her. One of these people is a man named Moshe who goes to great length to join her in the Old City of Jerusalem. Moshe and his friend Luke Thomas travel through an old, underground tunnel (scary, deadly, old tunnel) that goes from the New City to the Old City. Traveling this tunnel reminded me of an Indiana Jones movie and is the best part of the book, in my opinion. Through deadly peril, the hero, Moshe is reunited to his love and future wife Rachel.
  I liked this sequel better than Gates of Zion but I liked them both.
• 
  Kirsten

  This was probably my favorite book of the series as a teenager (teenage me definitely had a bit of a crush on Moshe), and I still enjoy it as an adult. I especially like the scenes in the underground passageways, and I also like Rachel's journey. Yes, the book has its flaws, but the things I like about it are enough for me to look past those and appreciate the story for what it is. 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up for the sake of nostalgia, since I read this series multiple times in my teens.
• 
  Lynn Orser

  After finishing the first book of the Bodie Thoene series The Zion Chronicals, I read book two. Continuing where book one left off the story moved to 1948 and the story of the Jews after World War II. Covering historical events written in a novel format makes reading the books much easier to read.
  I am enjoying the series and if you are interested in this period of history, I am sure you will too.
• 
  Eric Wright

  Suspenseful to the end. Again Bodie gives us excellent background and even details that lead us deeply into the trauma of keeping the Jewish enclave in Jerusalem from being overrun by Palestinians. We gain a glimpse into the horrific odds the Jewish community faced from not only Palestinians by antagonistic British soldiers. We also read about the labyrinth of tunnels and ruins beneath Jerusalem. We could have used a sympathetic Palestinian in the book. They are too much of an evil caricature.
• 
  Heather Painter

  Excellent Read. Very Engaging!
  
  I am a huge fan of Bodie and Brock Thoene’s books, and this one is no exception! The writing was vivid, and engaging. The characters were real, and sympathetic (especially Rachel). A+
• 
  Terri

  I appreciated the look into this time period and learning about what the Jewish people went through after the Holocaust. I could of done with out the cheesy romance and the author’s repetitive writing.
  3.5
• 
  Erika

  Good continuation of an increasingly addictive series.
• 
  Carol Goodpaster

  Thoroughly held my attention as modern day Israel is born through the characters of this historical novel. Lots of action, espionage, chases, courage.
• 
  Jan Curry

  Litterally could not put it down!
  
  Litterally could not put it down! I was so captured by the drama that I didn't go to sleep! Bodie; you're a master! Thanks
• 
  Bright Boy Books

  2 trade
• 
  Eileen

  The character Rachel made this book almost unbearable to read. I found her to be incredibly self centered and whiny, feeling sorry for herself. It was slow reading for me.
• 
  Eric Anderson

  I remember this being interesting and engaging to read, but it was the second one! I didn't read the first one!