"Daughter of Cana" by Angela Hunt

 


Angela Hunt's new series will focus on women who were tangentially around Jesus during His earthly ministry. This first book is about Tasmin, one of the bakers at the wedding of Cana where Jesus turned the water into wine. Tasmin is skeptical about this Nazarene and sure He must have pulled a trick with the wine. She likes Jesus even less when her twin brother Thomas leaves their family business in order to follow the young rabbi.

Tasmin decides to go after Thomas and convince him to come home. She cannot travel by herself because she is an unmarried woman, but when Jesus' brother Jude passes through Cana on his way to find the group of travelers and talk his brother into giving up this madness, the two join up with a group of others to track Jesus across the country.

I was really captivated by the first part of this book. Tasmin's skepticism and getting an up-close look at Jesus' earthly family were both interesting drawing points. I understand historically why certain parts of the story had to draw out, but others seemed to be drawn out unnecessarily or beyond the suspension of disbelief. The end also wraps up very quickly.

If you enjoy Biblical fiction or are interested in what it might have looked like to live at the same time as Jesus but doubt that He was truly sent from God, this is a story I would recommend. Getting a different perspective always makes you think about the Bible in a new way. 

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.