A sword among the ravens by Cynthia Ripley Miller

 

Name of Book: A Sword Among Ravens

Author: Cynthia Ripley Miller

ISBN: 978-1-64719-001-9

Publisher: Book Locker

Part of a Series: 3rd book in The Long-Hair Saga, On the Edge of Sunrise and The Quest for the Crown of Thorns prequels

Type of book: travel, continuation, 447, 455, Rome, war, Middle East, intrigues, Jerusalem, relationships, stops, changes, lives, curses, stories, secrets 

Year it was published: 2020

Summary:

In a grave, on the edge of a Roman battlefield, an ancient sword has been discovered. Legend claims it belonged to King David of Israel and carries a curse—those who wield it will tragically die—but not the chosen.

AD 455. Arria Felix and her husband, Garic the Frank, have safely delivered a sacred relic to Emperor Marcian in Constantinople. But now, Arria and Garic will accept a new mission. The emperor has asked them to carry the sword of King David of Israel to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Arria will dedicate it in her murdered father’s memory.

As Arria and Garic travel into the heart of the Holy Land, they face many challenges and dangers. A brutal killer stalks their path. Their young daughter is missing then found in the company of a strange and suspicious old monk. And a band of cold-blooded thieves is determined to steal the sword for their own gains. But when Arria confronts the question of where the sword should truly rest—old friendships, loyalties, and her duty are put to the test like never before. At every turn, Arria and Garic find themselves caught in a treacherous mission wrapped in mystery, murder, and A Sword Among Ravens.

Characters:

There were a lot of important characters, but main ones include Arria, a beautiful and talented daughter of a Roman senator who has converted to Christianity and has also become wife to Garric the Frank. She is kind, openhearted and very dutiful to her family. She tries to follow the example of Christ's words. ( trust me it's not a religious or conversion novel.) She is also observant. Garric the Frank is her husband and amongst the Franks he has a very high standing of being a former representative as well as a diplomat. He also owns a local farm Wild Honey and is respectful and in love with Arria. He is able to see various points of views and often tries to convince Arria to do what she knows is right. In this one too we meet their adopted daughter who is curious and very kindhearted towards animals. Marcella is Arrias half sister and she definitely changed in this novel from being alone and seduction to having a partner in crime and being loyal to him as well as questioning and seeing things from different perspective. Returning  is Samuel the Jew who has his own views on the Sword of David. Unfortunately Garics cousin and his wife didn't have a big role in the book. 

Theme:

What is stronger, duty or being right 

Plot:

The story is written in third person narrative from what seems to be everyones point of view, although we are warned when point of view switches. I did at times feel that point of view switch was a bit too much and for me it detracted from enjoying the story as much as I wished. The story picks up immediately from the end of second book and although it is a mystery and travel, it also includes a little bit of magical realism, which the previous two novels didn't include. 

 
Author Information:
(From goodreads)

Cynthia Ripley Miller is the author of On the Edge of Sunrise, the first novel in the Long-Hair Sagas, a series set in Late Ancient Rome and France. She has lived and travelled in Europe, Africa, North America and the Caribbean, taught history and currently teaches English. Her short stories have appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, The Scriptor, and at Orchard Press Mysteries.com. Cynthia writes a blog, Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus. She lives with her husband, twin cats, and German Shepherd in a suburb of Chicago.

Opinion:

Like the previous two novels, this is definitely a tale to savor and to enjoy. It's filled with travel, details and we see the deepening of relationships between myriad of characters. For me  what's impressive are the characters` arcs and how much one doesn't want to leave the world of dying Western Roman Empire. I also loved that a Jewish point of view was included, or at least Jewish voice regarding the recently discovered and fictional Sword of David. I sincerely hope that the author either writes a prequel about the case that Arria was first in charge of, or at least continues on with Arrias world. I am curious as to how Arria and Garic will face the dying Western Roman Empire. 

This was given for review 

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)