Isaiah’s Legacy (2020) — Release Day + My Thoughts + A Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Isaiah’s Legacy

Author: Mesu Andrews

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release Date: February 18, 2020

The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as Judah’s most notorious king ascends to the throne in this gripping novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter.

At eight years old, Shulle has known only life in a small village with her loving but peculiar father. When Uncle Shebna offers shelter in Jerusalem in exchange for Shulle’s help tutoring King Manasseh, Judah’s five-year-old co-regent who displays the same peculiarities as her father, she’s eager to experience the royal court. But Shulle soon realizes the limits of her father’s strict adherence to Yahweh’s Law when Uncle Shebna teaches her of the starry hosts and their power.

Convinced Judah must be freed from Yahweh’s chains, she begins the subtle swaying of young Manasseh, using her charm and skills on the boy no one else understands. When King Hezekiah dies, twelve-year-old Manasseh is thrust onto Judah’s throne, bitter at Yahweh and eager to marry the girl he adores. Assyria’s crown prince favors Manasseh and twists his brilliant mind toward cruelty, beginning Shulle’s long and harrowing journey to discover the Yahweh she’d never known, guided with loving wisdom by Manasseh’s mother: Isaiah’s daughter, the heartbroken Hephzibah. Amid Judah’s dark days, a desperate remnant emerges, claiming the Lord’s promise, “Though we’re helpless now, we’re never hopeless–because we serve El Shaddai.” Shulle is among them, a girl who becomes a queen through Isaiah’s legacy.

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and have not denied My Name” (Revelation 3:8).

Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews is an outstanding novel. This story allowed me to confront real, heavy darkness. It held a mirror up and showed me some of my deep fears and personal, spiritual failures. This beautiful story led me back into my Bible to really study God’s Word on a man I have always judged as irredeemable. I failed to ever see Manasseh as redeemable until after I dealt with some of the spiritual failings Isaiah’s Legacy showed were in my heart. This novel is a phenomenally hard story to read — it’s got a lot of ugliness and sin illustrated, but it is a remarkable testament to God’s redemptive love. No one is ever too far gone to be saved. As 1 Peter 4 states, love covers a multitude of sins and God’s redemptive love can cover anything.

This novel follows three main characters — Zibah, Shulle, and Manasseh — over the course of some of Judah’s most tumultuous times during Manasseh’s reign as king. One thing that is insanely clear is that women had almost zero control during this time. It was so frustrating to read because I struggle so hard with my own powerlessness. In today’s day and age, I see so much bad. I hear bad, misguided thinking. There is so much deception that common sense and logic have almost totally gone by the wayside. And, I have no power over any of this craziness. In this, I can relate to Zibah and Shulle 1000%. I find that I often ask God WHY a lot, and then I spiral because my tiny mind cannot understand God’s plan and I start to fear, doubt, and worry. In Isaiah’s Legacy, there is this glorious moment where in a fit of complete powerlessness Zibah loses her emotional cool after a very bad incident with her son, Manasseh, and she starts to ask a million WHY questions. Yaira, Zibah’s best friend and sister-in-law, pulls Zibah to her and lovingly scolds her: “Why questions lead only to doubt. Only who questions build faith.” I can personally attest to the truth of this statement. In my frustration and powerlessness, I always retreat to why questions, and then inevitably spiral out of emotional control. But, I’ve been working really hard lately to stop asking why and to speak Truth. My new mantra is “God is the BOSS!” As soon as I take myself away from the why focus and focus on the Who, I calm down and that sense of powerlessness disappears.

I began this review with a verse from Revelation because this one verse kept popping into my brain as I was reading Isaiah’s Legacy. As I was dealing with and confronting my own sense of powerlessness, and fears and doubts were popping up left and right, I didn’t want to spiral. So I took up my “God is the BOSS!” mantra. In the moments of peace that settled on me after I cried out that God is the BOSS, Revelation 3:8 would pop into my head and I would focus on the fact that Jesus “knows.” He knows my powerlessness. He knew Zibah’s and Shulle’s powerlessness. Nothing gets past God. This realization struck me like a ton of bricks and brought real peace. Part of being powerless is a frustration that truth isn’t seen. That injustice and ugliness and deprivation aren’t being seen. But when Jesus says in Revelation 3:8 that He knows we’re powerless it means He sees and nothing has gotten past Him, including one bit of bad. It also means that Jesus has a plan because He is the BOSS! Our job is to wait, to keep His Word, and to never deny His Name. In this command, Jesus has given us all something to hold onto. He has made us part of the plan, and He’s given us a choice. We can choose to wait, keep His Word, and never deny His Name, or we can go our own way. In this, Jesus has given us power. Isn’t that amazing?!

There is no way to do Isaiah’s Legacy justice in a review. It’s just too good a story to put into words. Isaiah’s Legacy is masterful and must be experienced. I highly recommend this novel. Reading Isaiah’s Legacy will change your life for the better!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, WaterBrook Press, via NetGalley. I have also received a review copy of this novel in paperback form from the author. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

---

GIVEAWAY

I am giving away ONE (1) paperback copy of Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews. My giveaway begins today, 2-18-20 at 5:00 am (PST) and ends on Saturday, 2-22-20 at 12:00 pm (PST). To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below. Good luck!

Congrats to Amy S.!

You have won this giveaway. Thank you for participating. I appreciate your support!

***Please Note: Open to Continental U.S. mailing addresses only.*** One winner will be notified via email at the end of the giveaway and will be announced here on this page. For full giveaway disclosures and policies, click HERE.