A.D. 30: A Novel

by Ted Dekker Narrated by Ellen Archer

Overview

A sweeping epic set in the harsh deserts of Arabia and ancient Palestine.

A war that rages between kingdoms on the earth and in the heart.

The harrowing journey of the woman at the center of it all.

Step back in time to the year of our Lord...A.D. 30.

The outcast daughter of one of the most powerful Bedouin sheikhs in Arabia, Maviah is called on to protect the very people who rejected her. When their enemies launch a sudden attack with devastating consequences, Maviah escapes with the help of two of her father's warriors--Saba who speaks more with is sword than his voice and Judah, a Jew who comes from a tribe that can read the stars. Their journey will be fraught with terrible danger. If they can survive the vast forbidding sands of a desert that is deadly to most, they will reach a brutal world subjugated by kings and emperors. There Maviah must secure an unlikely alliance with King Herod of the Jews.

But Maviah's path leads her unexpectedly to another man. An enigmatic teacher who speaks of a way in this life which offers greater power than any kingdom. His name is Yeshua, and his words turn everything known on its head. Though following him may present even greater danger, his may be the only way for Maviah to save her people--and herself.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

09/08/2014
The reigning king of Christian thrillers expands into biblical fiction to explore the time and teachings of Christ. Maviah, the illegitimate daughter of a Bedouin king, is sent to Egypt and enslaved. When she has a baby with a man her mistress loves, she is returned to her family in double shame. Raiding enemies kill Maviah’s son and capture her father, so she journeys to seek an audience with King Herod in the hopes that he will avenge her son and rescue her father. Traveling with two of her father’s male slaves, she crosses paths with another man, Yeshua, who has a more profound impact on their actions than Herod ever could. Maviah’s viewpoint is used to narrate the action, including her meetings with Yeshua and long conversations that weave Christ’s gospel teachings into the story in clever ways. The author paints vivid scenes of desert crossings on camels, aristocratic life in ancient Palestine, and the private doings of kings and queens. In this first of a pair of novels about Jesus, Dekker kicks down the door of biblical fiction. Agency: Creative Trust. (Nov.)

From the Publisher

"The reigning king of Christian thrillers...kicks down the door of biblical fiction."—Publishers Weekly

"[A.D. 30] showcases the New York Times best-selling author's gift for immersing readers in ancient settings, believable characters, and high-octane story lines."—Library Journal, starred review

"This is the kind of book the term "sweeping epic" was made for."—Booklist

"A rich and engaging tale that captivates readers from the first page. The depth of insight and development into characters is outstanding....This is a must read."—RT Book Reviews, top pick

"An Enjoyable read...Maviah's journey to redemption was very engaging and left me eager for the next installment."—Jennifer Fleming, CBA Retailers and Resources

"Dekker (Outlaw, 2013, etc.) makes the spiritual real."—Kirkus Reviews

"Dekker, the profilic best-selling author of more than 20 books including the "Book of Mortals" series and "The Circle" trilogy, draws on his exotic Indonesian childhood for his new thrilling adventure saga. . .Combining a rich visual portrait of a Stone Age civilization and a surprising spiritual redemption, this excellent book will engage suspense and historical fiction readers."—Library Journal on Outlaw, starred review

Told with gritty realism to match The Hunger Games, Ted Dekker's Outlaw is an epic story of triumph over trial and the far-reaching power of great personal sacrifice.—Novel Crossing on Outlaw

"Dekker's crossed a new threshold with OUTLAW. It's like nothing he's ever written, while at the same time, touching on the themes that made his previous works enjoyable. You can tell through the story that he's excited about the plot and the story and the message, and hopes that along the journey of reading, readers will go through just a bit of the journey he took when writing it. It's an astounding novel. But the most exciting part of this story is where it's going."—Life Is Story on Outlaw

"Intricate and well thought out are Dekker's tales. Sovereign is heavily laced with religious parallels, but they only added extra life and depth to this book. I could mention there is plenty of action and interesting characters, but that would be an understatement. There is so much more here, material and ideas and concepts that made me think as well as enjoy the book...so be sure you take the time to delve into Sovereign. It's a different sword and fantasy novel, unlike anything out there. Which is good, because I didn't want to read another rehash of swords and magic. Dekker and Lee definitely set the bar a bit higher with Sovereign."—Suspense Magazine on Sovereign

"THE SANCTUARY may make you wonder if prisons manufacture more criminals than they rehabilitate. The vivid descriptions and drama are gripping, and the alternating POVs add depth to the characters and story. Dekker reminds us that we are all prisoners, though it may be our minds, vs. prison bars, holding us captive."—RT Book Reviews on The Sanctuary, 4 1/2 Stars TOP PICK on The Sanctuary

Suspense Magazine on Sovereign

"Intricate and well thought out are Dekker's tales. Sovereign is heavily laced with religious parallels, but they only added extra life and depth to this book. I could mention there is plenty of action and interesting characters, but that would be an understatement. There is so much more here, material and ideas and concepts that made me think as well as enjoy the book...so be sure you take the time to delve into Sovereign. It's a different sword and fantasy novel, unlike anything out there. Which is good, because I didn't want to read another rehash of swords and magic. Dekker and Lee definitely set the bar a bit higher with Sovereign."

Life Is Story on Outlaw

"Dekker's crossed a new threshold with OUTLAW. It's like nothing he's ever written, while at the same time, touching on the themes that made his previous works enjoyable. You can tell through the story that he's excited about the plot and the story and the message, and hopes that along the journey of reading, readers will go through just a bit of the journey he took when writing it. It's an astounding novel. But the most exciting part of this story is where it's going."

Novel Crossing on Outlaw

Told with gritty realism to match The Hunger Games, Ted Dekker's Outlaw is an epic story of triumph over trial and the far-reaching power of great personal sacrifice.

Library Journal

★ 11/15/2014
Maviah is the shunned daughter of Rami, a powerful Bedouin sheikh in Arabia. Only through the kindness of her stepmother, Nasha, is Maviah allowed to return home with her illegitimate son. When Nasha dies, Maviah's very existence is in danger when Nasha's father attacks Rami, seeking to conquer his kingdom. In a desperate attempt to save his realm, Rami asks Maviah to go to King Herod and beg for an alliance. But on her journey she meets a Yeshua, a teacher whose theology runs counter to the current thinking of the time and whose reputation as a powerful mystic begins to attract the notice of the ruling powers. This unusual man may be the only solution to her problems. VERDICT This first entry in a new series about the life of Yeshua (Jesus Christ) showcases the New York Times best-selling author's gift ("Circle" series) for immersing readers in ancient settings, believable characters, and high-octane story lines. An accessible and suspenseful tale reminiscent of novels by Tosca Lee and Anita Diamant, this is biblical fiction of the highest caliber.

Kirkus Reviews

2014-08-28
Dekker (Outlaw, 2013, etc.) makes the spiritual real through the fictional Maviah, daughter of Rami bin Malik, Bedu sheikh. It's A.D. 30. Maviah has returned from Egypt into her father's reluctant care. She was born illegitimate, her father's daughter by a woman from an outcast Bedu tribe; thus, her exile. Now she's been returned from Egypt because she's given birth to a baby son "without a suitable husband." Her father is the Banu Kalb's great sheikh, but contrary to nomadic traditions, he settled at Dumah in the Northern Arabian desert, allying with his wife's uncle, Nabataean King Aretas. Now Nashquya, Malik's wife, dies, her death robbing Maviah of protection and jeopardizing Malik's power. Aretas gives his support to the Thamud, an aggressive Kalb enemy. Worse, Malik is betrayed by Maliku, his son. As Malik's overthrown, he dispatches Maviah to Palestine. She's to convince King Herod to persuade Rome to support the Kalb. Dekker plunges headfirst into this complex scene-setting, thereafter ramping up drama with Maviah's perilous trek across the desolate Nafud desert. Dekker's descriptions of the Nafud's dangers—think Lawrence of Arabia—are powerfully done, as are his portrayals of the perils posed by the clashing customs of Arabs, Jews and Romans in an era when women were property. Dekker's secondary characters sparkle as well, including the Bedu Judah, a convert to Judaism who's entranced with Yeshua of Nazareth. A nicely scripted romance develops between Judah and Maviah—"Judah was like water to my heart"—but as Maviah seeks Herod at Sepphoris, she worries she's "too common to win the favor of a king." Then she meets Yeshua—"I could not doubt I was looking at more than a mere man." What follows are machinations at Herod's court and then pain, imprisonment and swordplay at Aretas' Petra court, before Dekker offers an ending supporting his announced sequel. Action-adventure, set against the life of Yeshua, the prophet who dared speak against "the way of the world, protected by position and sword and gold and knowledge."

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170177035
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	10/28/2014
Series:	AD , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos