Rating: 
Summary: Rivers at her best
Review: I read this series not long after it was published, and Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series is one of the best Christian trilogies published. Following Hadassah, Marcus, Atretes, Rizpah and all the other characters' lives is truly a journey well worth the time. The books are historically accurate and very informative while still being highly entertaining. This is Rivers at her best. Her other books are good as well; I especially recommend _Redeeming Love_ and _The Scarlet Thread_.I loaned my books to a friend at church, and from there, the series fanned out to at least nine people -- moms, daughters and even my father is now reading the series. These are books everyone can enjoy, learn and grow from.
Rating:
Summary: Francine Rivers is Awesome!!
Review: As a busy mother of 3, it had been a long time since I had felt enough patience and focus to sit still and read a book. First I read Atonement Child and I was so rivetted that the first time I spotted the boxed set of 3 for the Mark of the Lion series, I bought it immediately. What an epic story!!! If only someone could make a movie of the series that would do it justice. My only complaint is that the story ended... I wanted more. My next purchase will be the Lineage of Grace series and Redeeming Love. I can't wait!! Thank You Francine Rivers, keep those books coming.
Rating:
Summary: The best series ever
Review: This was the best series I have ever read! I recommend it to everyone I know. The story is moving and you can't help but be impacted by it. I read the entire three books in a week and a half. I took the first book with me on a weekend trip, not expecting to get very far because it is around 500 pages, but I was not able to put it down and finished it that weekend. Francine Rivers truly wrote a masterpiece series.
Rating:
Summary: Completely enthralling! The best books I've read in years!!
Review: A friend recommended Francine Rivers' "Mark of the Lion" series to me, and I am so grateful!! I love to read, but it is not often that my life is enriched by a work of fiction. From the very first book I found myself not only engaged, but challenged. Rivers begins by challenging her readers to a life committed to sharing the gospel and living Christ's love, through her main character, Hadassah. The second book takes an honest and powerful look at forgiveness, as God would have us forgive and love those who have hurt us most deeply. Finally, "As Sure As the Dawn" takes us into the heart and mind of an unbeliever who is chained by his anger. As I read of God's work in this man's life, I felt I was seeing an eye-opening perspective of my own life. Each book became so personal to me. The writing and research into each book is absolutely incredible. As a person with degree in English literature, it is so nice to read a book that I don't find myself editing as I read it!! I am certainly a new fan of Francine Rivers, and look forward to reading the rest of her work!
Rating:
Summary: Life-Changing Fiction (And Fun To Read!)
Review: In a short time Francine Rivers has become one of our finest Christian authors, and The Mark Of the Lion Trilogy is her crown jewel. Quite simply, these are my favorite works of fiction, ever. While other authors may sell more books at times, none can WRITE like this woman. The trilogy's setting is a short time after the resurrection of Christ, in the Roman Empire. Using a Hebrew slave girl (Hadassah) and a German gladiator (Atretes; think the movie Gladiator) as the main characters, three books are crafted with themes of faith, redemption and sacrifice. Rivers is one of the best at writing characters and the ones she creates here are absolutely convincing -- flawed and heroic on multiple layers, with developmental conflicts that relate to modern times almost seemlessly. These books will not only grab hold of you and demand to be finished but they will challenge you to take your walk with God to a much deeper level. Do not read this series unless you want to be changed. No other stories have every affected me in such a deep way. Forget the Left Behind series and go invest in a true Christian classic. Five Stars, times three.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This is the very first Francine Rivers book I read, and I'm hooked for life. Initially, I was wary of the categorisation "Christian Romance" having read a couple that were unbelievably preachy and historically inaccurate. Francine Rivers has written a book that is not just Christian, it is eminently human, professionally researched and masterfully put together in such a way that nobody, Christian or otherwise, who reads this book, can go away untouched by the "realness" of the personalities and situations described. The only other work of fiction I can liken this trilogy to is The Lord of the Rings, the difference being that Rivers has written a book that is both exciting fiction and accurate historical fact.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: Francine Rivers has written a masterpiece with The Mark of the Lion series. Having worked in a library for several years I have come across many interesting books, but none of them compare to these.
The research that had to be done to write such series must have been great, but it is Francine Rivers' talent as a writer that makes this series truely great. She has made her characters come to life, and one can almost see them while reading. Each character helps to weave an amazing story; one that is historically acurate, but that can also apply to life today. I even learned some lessons by reading about the struggles experienced by Hadassah (a young Jewish slave), Marcus (a Roman who thinks like an epicurean for part of the series), and Julia (Hadassah's rich young mistress). I was also thrilled that Rivers continued the Atretes (gladiator/slave) portion of the story because she took us outside of Rome and the other cities, and to Germania and the culture that existed there.
If you haven't read this series - do. There isn't one out there I would recommend more.
Rating:
Summary: Not just an incredible read; It greatly impacted my faith!
Review: Francine Rivers has an amazing gift from God to tell a believable story from completely foreign time and place and make the reader feel like they know the characters personally. The linkages between today's culture and that of the Roman Empire are astounding - This book helped me fully appreciate the unchanging nature of God throughout history . Thank you for writing this series Francine, I can't wait to read more of your books!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This is the very first Francine Rivers book I read, and I'm hooked for life. Initially, I was wary of the categorisation "Christian Romance" having read a couple that were unbelievably preachy and historically inaccurate. Francine Rivers has written a book that is not just Christian, it is eminently human, professionally researched and masterfully put together in such a way that nobody, Christian or otherwise, who reads this book, can go away untouched by the "realness" of the personalities and situations described. The only other work of fiction I can liken this trilogy to is The Lord of the Rings, the difference being that Rivers has written a book that is both exciting fiction and accurate historical fact.
Rating:
Summary: best read ever!!
Review: I have read many books, and have never been affected by a story as much as I did with these. What an incredible series. To be like Hadassah....only if we could have her faith.
Strongly reccomend to anyone.
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