What Is The Restoration Chronicles About?
I’ve read a few standalone novels by 8-time Christy Award winning author Lynn Austin, but The Restoration Chronicles was my first time delving into a series of hers. It was one of the best series I’ve read recently.
Comprised of three novels, Austin walks readers through the Biblical narrative surrounding the rebuilding of the city of Judah from the time of King Cyrus of Persia through the reign of King Xerxes (you may recognize his famed wife Esther) and finally King Artaxerxes. Each novel focuses on different characters – men and women both – and carefully weaves their stories together into the greater narrative of God’s redemptive purpose for His people.
Book 1: Return to Me
Return to Me opens with the Persian takeover of Babylon. Following historical and Biblical accounts, it traces King Cyrus’s decree for the Jews to return to their land and rebuild God’s temple. We follow devout Iddo, his wife Dinah, and their grandson Zechariah as they take the multiple-month-long journey from their lifelong home of Babylon to ruins of Judah and begin to rebuild.
Book 2: Keepers of the Covenant
Keepers of the Covenant begins with the well-known events of the biblical book of Esther, as Haman plots to annihilate all the Jews. The book is from the perspective of ordinary Jews throughout the empire as they respond to the king’s decree for them to all be killed, through the fight for their lives, and the opportunity to return to their homeland.
Book 3: On This Foundation
Nehemiah – cupbearer to King Artaxerxes – is suddenly named Governor and tasked with going home to Judah to rebuild its walls. The story intertwines Nehemiah’s story along with two young women in very different circumstances: Chana and Nava.
What I Loved About This Epic Biblical Historical Fiction Series
- Well-Organized and Fast-Paced: Although each novel spans a great deal of complex Biblical timelines, Austin keeps the pace moving swiftly. I never felt like the book dwelled on one thing more for too long.
- Raw, Real Characters & Complex Relationships: I loved the variety of perspectives included and how each character’s story worked together to make a stronger overall narrative. She really had me guessing on the outcome for many of the character arcs!
- Brilliant Biblical and Historical Narration: Austin takes a rather complicated and often hard-to-understand part of the Bible (the Old Testament books of Zechariah, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah) and brings it to life. I actually learned a lot from this series. It helped me put dates and names together to understand the bigger picture.
Something for Everyone!
- History
- Action & Adventure
- Romance
- Betrayal
- Mystery
- Faith
- Redemption
These books grip at your heart in every possible way. Characters grapple with political upheaval, persecution, racism, violence, hunger, death, while also experiencing love, family and the joys of marriage and children, answered prayers, reunions, and the beauty of faith.
As a Christian, it reminded me just how great a God we serve and how perfect His plan is.
Looking for More Biblical Fiction like The Restoration Chronicles?
Check out some of these other series!
- Cities of Refuge (Connilyn Cossette)
- Out of Egypt (Connilyn Cossette)
- Covenant House (Connilyn Cossette)
- Mark of the Lion (Francine Rivers)
Final Thoughts
I finished the trilogy (over 1200 pages) in about four days. That’s how much it hooked (and kept) me! I fell in love with the simplicity of the time period and appreciated the historical accuracy. We don’t often read stories set in Biblical times that don’t feel abundantly preachy. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, it is full of fascinating history, and I loved experiencing that in these books.
To be honest – just writing this review makes me want to go back and read them again! I cannot recommend this series enough.
Content Rating: Mild
for themes, turmoil; nothing graphic
Copyright Lynn Austin and Bethany House Publishers. Image from Christianbook.com.
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