My review today is on the historical novel Valeria's Cross. This story is about the great persecution that took place in the early days of the church through the hands of the Roman Empire. I wish I could say I enjoyed this book but something so horrible is hard to enjoy. I was intrigued and found the book fascinating. The main characters have been fictionalized based on the historical dates and events.
Roman Emperor Doicletian's daughter, Valeria is fourteen years old when the book starts. She falls in love with a handsome Theban soldier named Mauritius. Both are strong Christians and her mother is pleased with the match. They start planning the wedding. Mauritius and his men are called to war with the Roman army. Mauitius give Valeria his cross as a token to remember him by.
General Galerius meets the beautiful young daughter and is consumed by his desire for her. After the battle the General convinces the emperor that the soldiers must offer the captive Christian soldiers to their pagan gods to appease them. Any man refusing to sacrifice will be killed. Mauitius and the entire Theban Legion are beheaded and thrown into the sea because of the beliefs.
Upon their return to the palace Valeria is heart broken to find her love has been killed. She is then forced to marry Galerius as soon as he gets rid of his first wife. Valeria refuses because of her father and Galerius murdering the man she loved but she has no choice and ends up his wife. He gives her his baby son to raise as her own but she remains barren
The story continues through the life of this courageous woman until her untimely death. It was once hard to believe these things could happen but now with ISIS and the other terrorist we are dealing with, you can see how this could happen even today.
It's an excellent book that has obviously been well researched. It is a great read.
Thanks so much for the excellent review, my friend.
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