What a great book for young boys! My grandsons love stories filled with action and lots of exciting exploits, especially tales of military battles. This book fulfills all those conditions and has the added bonus of historical detail. I found it very educational and fascinating to be able step back into 311 A.D. and share in the experiences and challenges of life during that time. It isn’t often you find a fiction book written about this time and even rarer for it to be a children’s book.
The story centers around two best friends, Con and Julius. Con’s father serves as a centurion for the Roman government. Julius’s father is a merchant. They live in a province on the fringes of Rome’s vast empire. It is a time that Christians are in danger of severe persecution should they be found out.
The boys inadvertently find themselves a part of a surprise attack in a nearby area. (I appreciated the fact that while the description of this battle was exciting and full of action, it was not gory or gruesome).
At this skirmish, they meet a Christian priest, Brychan, and become fast friends. At first they are not aware he is a Christian, but find themselves fascinated by him. For reasons they cannot explain the have a strong desire to get to know him better and protect him. As their friendship grows he shares his faith and how it has changed his life.
As the story unfolds, the boys’ loyalty to Brychan has an enormous impact on their lives and that of their families. It costs them more than they could have ever imagined and takes them on a journey they could never have dreamed of.
Their bravery and commitment to stand for what is right, no matter what the costs is a wonderful example to young readers. This book will not only appeal a boy’s sense of adventure but also teach some important character lessons.
I received this book free from Bethlehem Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 for the purpose of this review.