The Bronze Door

THE BRONZE DOOR opens to a turbulent time in history when great courage is needed to defy a tyrant.

Unwavering in his mission to save lives, Simon fights for justice for his fellow Jews but faces a new challenge when his wife, Aurelia, and his sons embrace Christianity. Despair and fear grip Simon as Caligula seeks revenge for Simon’s past opposition. Caligula appoints Aurelia’s brother, Valerius, as governor of Syria, and orders him to lead his legions to Jerusalem to erect Caligula’s statue in the temple. To obey Caligula means the slaughter of thousands of Jews who are ready to give their lives to save the sanctity of the temple. To disobey means death for Valerius and his family. Faced with this agonizing choice, Valerius gains strength from his deep love for Rachel, Simon’s sister.

In this story of courage, faith, and love, witness the unfolding drama against the backdrop of a world torn between cruelty and humanity.

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Reviews

“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.”

“The Bronze Door is an excellently researched historical fiction set in Alexandria and Jerusalem during the time of 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.”

“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.”

“The Bronze Door is a story of faith and bravery and, above all else, love... Every character in this story, whether a fictional or a real one, is written with such depth and every one of them is someone you believe in and really care about. ...There is so much history included in the story, and it is explained flawlessly and in an interesting and attention-grabbing manner that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read.

“Kudos to Karin Ciholas for The Bronze Door, a tour de force of Judeo-Roman and Christian history fictionalized into a riveting page-turner rich with character, emotion, and ideas relevant to the modern world.”

“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.”

The Bronze Door brings historical characters to life and gives them flesh and feelings that immerse the reader in a fascinating time when the Roman Empire begins to clash with the Jews and emerging Christianity. It grabs the reader’s attention and makes you feel involved in the characters’ lives, struggles and victories.