September 9, 2019
Carr (The Shock of Night) retells the story of the Magi in this bustling biblical adventure. In 537 BCE, the prophet Daniel predicted that from the day of the command to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah would be 483 years, and he taught the Magi, a group of wise men, to keep watch for his coming. In 5 BCE, Myrad, the adopted son of Gershom, a respected member of the Magi, has a dream of a star hanging in the sky, not moving at all. When most of the Magi, including Gershom, are murdered by Parthian king Phraates IV, Myrad takes his father’s papers and flees, a journey made more difficult by his club foot. He’s aided by God, a kind merchant, and a few other displaced Magi in his quest to discover the meaning of his dream and to avenge his father’s death. Myrad witnesses the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, but even then, his dangerous journey is not complete. Myrad’s divine vision of the star and his arduous trek battling his own physical problems to pay homage to the Messiah capture the majesty of biblical narratives and will appeal to Christians well versed in scripture. Fans of Mesu Andrews will love this.