Bøker av Ward Sanford

"An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction" --Kirkus ReviewsThe events and characters of this novel series are based on the writings of the first-century, Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.The First Jewish Revolt against Rome in the first century led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and to the rise of Christianity and modern Judaism. Now for the first time, ancient eyewitness accounts have been transformed into a series of suspense-laden novels, letting you enter the lives of the men and women involved on both sides. You get to experience their fears and hopes and dreams as they are forced to confront life and death and the meaning of their lives on a daily basis. This is an epic story you that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more!In Book 1-Resisting Tyranny, you meet the cast of main characters as they struggle to survive when their ship is capsized in a storm in the middle of the Adriatic. On arrival in Rome, they must face the whims of an emperor and the great fire that almost consumes the city. Once in Jerusalem, evil forces seek to ignite a rebellion as our friends try to hold together a fragile status quo. As open warfare erupts, the Romans realize they have greatly underestimated their foe.In Book 2-Against All Odds, the enthusiasm following a Jewish victory quickly erodes as they see the empire planning to strike back. Returning with a more experienced leader and in much greater numbers, the Romans first attack Galilee. There at the siege of the fortified headquarters, our friends find themselves on opposite sides. Visions and an escape from certain death lead to capture and imprisonment, while in Judea an escape from evil leads to an uncertain future.In Book 3-Growing Anarchy, Jerusalem begins to unravel with fear as competing rebel leaders vie for control of the city. Romance compels a trip to the far reaches of the Empire, where aide is sought from a politician with rising ambitions for the imperial throne. His favor may be the only hope of an escape from behind enemy lines in Jerusalem. Meanwhile our heroine, turned assassin, has found that killing enemy spies can mean killing friends, yielding a vengeance more bitter than sweet.In Book 4-Final Siege, Rome finds itself in its own civil war with emperors lasting for months, not decades. Jerusalem continues to suffer under rival factions whose self-serving leaders refuse to unite. Their failure suddenly comes into sharp focus when the Romans arrive to a city with empty food stores. Fierce battles accompany a long siege, and starvation leads to acts of desperation. A last-minute plea for peace fails, and friends must look for meaning to what fate has delivered."The story sweeps across a first-century world that's diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. . . . Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed... there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward."--Historical Novels Review February 2020"The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book's sequel. An impressive blend of historical portrayal and dramatic fiction."--Kirkus Reviews June 2020Amazon Reviewer★★★★★ The characters are so well developed that you feel for them, hope for them; in some cases you hate them, in others you love them! I especially appreciate the variety of main characters-peaceful Jewish believers, extremists, sympathetic non-Jews, those in the ruling classes, soldiers, etc.

This is the third installment of the historical series Cry for Jerusalem that follows the Great Jewish Revolt of 66-70 CE against the Roman Empire. The series follows the fate of five friends and family members from different backgrounds that fate brought together. After the initial revolt in 66CE where the Jews kicked the Romans out of Judea and Galilee, our friends find themselves in precarious positions as the Romans plan a counterattack. General Vespasian launches his attack against the fortified town of Yotapta in the hills of Galilee, where Yosef has been put in charge. After a seige of 47 days Yosef survives but is captured and held in chains by the General. Meanwhile Cleo escapes her abusive husband, the antagoinst Gessius Florus, who means to plunder the Jewish Temple of its gold. She flees to Jerusalem to hide out in disguise as a Jew under the name Ya'el. Miriam, Yosef's younger sister, has joined the secretive group of assassins known as the Sicarri, and is forced to hide out temporarily in David's Tomb. In Book 3 Jerusalem descends into anarchy as rival factions vie for power. Miriam must avoid the clutches of the sinister assassin, Hananiah, hired by Florus to kill her. She in turn, must decide the fate of her former flame, Ehud. Nicanor, a Roman soldier who has befriended Yosef and Cleo, has been sent to Rome, but then heads to the western edges of the empire to seek out Cleo's brother and future Emperor Marcus Otho. The Roman Empire descends into a civil war as Otho takes the throne and the Year of the Four Emperors is under way.

Book 2 Against All Odds is the second book in a series of four entitled Cry For Jerusalem, and is the story of the first Jewish Revolt in 66-70 CE from the perspective of the people involved and the eyewitness accounts of the historian Josephus.Two thousand years ago, men and women were driven to act by the same emotions, needs, and wants as they are today,. In Cry For Jerusalem Book One, we experienced how such actions forever changed the world for Jews and Christians, and met our main cast of characters: Yosef, Nicanor, Cleo, Sayid, and Miriam.In Book Two of this series, the epic saga continues its sweeping arc from Rome to Jerusalem, from Antioch to Galilee. Ancient history comes to life through the actions of historical figures, and events unanswered by history become plausibly explained. You''ll read of the Siege of Yotapta (Jotapata) where thousands of Jews died fighting Roman legions--against all odds--in one of the bloodiest battles in Jewish history, witnessed and chronicled by the famous Jewish historian, Josephus. You''ll follow the developing story behind the legendary (but real) Copper Scroll, considered "the most uniques, the most important, and the least understood" of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This scroll describes the locations of the Temple treasure moved from Jerusalem to be hidden--assumingly--from the Romans (but has never been found). You''ll learn of the factions and dissension that weaken Jerusalem, and the intrigues within the Roman Empire leading up to the Year of the Four Emperors and the civil war that would then shape the empire for decades. The Great Fire in Rome, started by Nero and covered in Book One, still figuratively burned and had triggered a series of events that would end with the burning of Jerusalem and its Temple in Book Four.What professional reviewers are saying about Cry For Jerusalem so far in Book One:"The story seeps across a first-century world that''s diverse, gritty, and laced with tension. Everything is supported by an incredibly well-researched foundation. The time period and social customs are delightfully developed... there is political and religious strife, moments of ancient beauty, and well-developed characters to carry the plot forward." --Historical Novels Review Issue 91, February 2020"The plot is as gripping as it is historically edifying, remarkably authentic, and rigorously researched. At its conclusion, readers will be left impatient for the book''s sequel. An impressive blend of historical and dramatic fiction." --Kirkus Reviews June 2020