The Sisters of Corinth

March 25, 2024
Hunt (The Emissaries) sends readers to ancient Rome for the immersive tale of a Christian convert who seeks to maintain her faith in a pagan world. The year is 60 CE and 15-year-old Mariana lives in Corinth, a city filled with worshippers of the Roman god Jupiter, among them her power-hungry father, Narkis, and stepsister Prima. While Mariana and her mother, Hester, feign partial allegiance to the Roman deities, the two have quietly become devoted to the Christian god, Adonai, and his son, Yeshua, since hearing his message from the “fiery emissary” Paulos. The family lives in relative peace until Narkis tries to make a match between one of his daughters and the son of a powerful governor of Achaia. Despite Mariana’s misgivings about marrying an idol worshipper, she and Marcus develop an attraction for each other, fueling jealous Prima’s attempts to break up the two. Meanwhile, Marcus is torn between Jupiter and Mariana’s god, a choice that grows increasingly perilous as Emperor Nero’s suspicion of Christians intensifies, putting Marcus’s hopes of becoming a governor at risk. Chapters alternate between Mariana and Prima to build suspense, and—while her conversion to Christianity is somewhat abruptly explained—Mariana’s fiery devotion to her faith adds energy to the fast-moving plot. Hunt’s fans will be eager to sink their teeth into this evocative historical and its inspiring message of faith in times of trial.

Starred review from June 6, 2024
Fifteen-year-old Mariana and her mother Hester are Christian converts through the apostle Paul's first-century ministry in the Greek city of Corinth. After being widowed, Hester married Narkis, the city's ambitious chief magistrate. Narkis and Prima, his strong-willed 16-year-old daughter from his earlier marriage, worship the Roman gods and the emperor. Hester tries to obey Narkis and balance her role as his wife in a pagan household with her new faith. As the story begins, they all await the arrival of the new governor, Memmius, and his son, Marcus. Narkis hopes to arrange a marriage between Prima and Marcus. He has no plans for Mariana's marriage, but may soon, since Romans did not consider her underage. Emperor Nero is escalating the persecution of Christians, and Hunt ramps up the intrigue and suspense. Can Mariana and Hester trust in God's higher plan even if it puts them at risk with those who have the power to have them executed? Will they be able to remain faithful? Though it can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own, this compelling biblical tale--complete with classic cliffhanger ending--is the second in Hunt's Emissaries series, following The Woman from Lydia (2023). Readers of Tessa Afshar and Jill Eileen Smith will enjoy Hunt.

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