The Temple At Sunset
Feathered Quill Book Awards Reviewer's Choice
2024 Finalist INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD
2024 Winner FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD
2024 International Impact Book Awards Winner
2024 Book Fest Award Winner
Decades after Simon of Cyrene carried the cross of Jesus to Golgotha, the new Christian faith has spread across the empire—and Simon fears for his sons. They follow a preacher named Paul, now under house arrest in Rome, and Simon is desperate to bring them home to Alexandria before it’s too late.
When Paul is condemned in Nero’s court, Rome’s Christians face a chilling test: Caesar or Christ? Their answer means life or death. After Paul’s execution, Simon’s son Rufus rushes to warn the Apostle Peter, but Peter refuses to flee, instead confronting the magician Simon Magus in the forum—where the self-proclaimed prophet vows he will fly over Rome.
Then the fires begin.
As flames consume two-thirds of the city, Simon and Rufus stay behind to tend the wounded—only to be swept up in Nero’s wave of retribution. Christians are accused of arson. The first great persecution begins. And Simon, a father who once bore a cross, now finds himself carrying a heavier burden than he ever imagined.
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Reviews
"The Temple at Sunset is a fantastic finale to the series, which beautifully and agonizingly places the reader within the historical realities of ancient Rome for Christians and Jews, integrating political, social, and religious issues. ...Ciholas brilliantly offers moral dilemmas that test faith, conscience, and courage. this is a completely immersive story, and I would give it a whole bucket of stars if I could."
“An evocative and intimate account of the growing pains of Christianity…The meticulously researched theological, medical, and political threads come together to create a fascinating story of love, betrayal, and sacrifice.”
“Valerius is a man of heroic restraint and a brave exemplar of the best
Roman virtues. He and Simon were childhood friends, but Simon is incredibly determined when it comes to protecting the Jews, so the fate of this
friendship becomes a key theme of the story…A well-spun historical tale
with a host of fully realized characters.”
“Readers of Robert Graves’s I, Claudius and Claudius the God will find
this trilogy to be a rich addition to an understanding of the age, but
with a broader perspective of society. These novels are what historical novels
should be.”
“The highlight of this novel is the deeply personal and detailed characterizations that Ciholas has given to each character, who seem to have marched right out of ancient religious and historical texts to become living, breathing men and women. The storyline is intense and absorbing.”
“Backed by solid research into historical fact and insights into social and political currents of the times, Ciholas creates a vivid, memorable story powered as much by strong characters as by the forces that influenced this world’s directions... Her descriptions are memorable and hard-hitting, embracing not just Simon’s perspective, but the men and women who circle around him in various ways.”
“Valerius’s internal conflicts are both compelling and relatable. He is portrayed as a man caught between duty and conscience, a warrior longing
for peaceful resolutions. His reflections on his position as governor reveal
deep-seated frustrations with the bureaucratic mechanisms of imperial
rule, echoing sentiments of disillusionment that resonate with contemporary issues of governance and moral integrity.”
“Excellently researched historical fiction set in Alexandria and Jerusalem
during early Christianity. I instantly fell in love with the characters as they
grappled with religious change, immoral leaders, and the struggle to determine which matters more, one person’s life or the lives of many.”
“Details of Jewish and Hippocratic medicine, the political intrigues of the Roman Senate and succession...vivid details of everyday life in both the Jewish and Roman worlds in Cyrene, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Rome…amazing.”
“True history intermixed with a wonderfully storyline that will thrill any reader.”
“Readers gain insight into an era in which Jewish nationalism, nascent
Christianity, Roman power and Hellenistic culture in the Mediterranean
world converged, sometimes violently and tragically. Concentrating
on Simon and his extended family, Ciholas adeptly and empathetically
describes the tensions and polemics that arose when some family members
adopted a new allegiance (Christianity) while others clung to the
ancient paths (Judaism). At stake was nothing less than the self-definition
of both Jews and Christians.”
“If you love James Michener, you will love this book! It evokes his keen sense of history and his ability to bring long-ago characters and settings to life.”
“The conflict between Simon’s commitment to his faith and the new
Christian beliefs embraced by his family sits firmly at the center of the
novel…The blend of historical detail and human emotion kept me engaged
throughout, and the morals underpinning the exciting plot encourage reflection on the nature of courage, faith, and love. A powerful and
thought-provoking read.”
“The sweep and depth of Ciholas’s grasp of First Century Greco-Roman
culture and early Jewish-Christian interactions are impressive. ...Her
imagination reaches into all the corners of First Century culture as she
enhances the reader’s pleasure as well as speaks to matters of enduring
religious and political significance.”