A Bond of Briars

Synopisis: Caitrin’s life has taken a dramatic turn. Her husband has died, along with his brother and father. Now the only option she has left, is to travel with her mother-in-law back to her home country, where Caitrin’s people, culture and “talents” are not welcome and in some cases, illegal. But Caitrin is desperate to flee her mother and the evil she wields. But as her new life unfolds, Caitrin finds that she can’t outrun evil one has been bound to. My take: Such a beautiful book! So heartfelt, heartbreaking and heart mending! This story is a fantasy retelling of the Biblical account of Ruth. I loved that @erinphillipsauthor not only doesn’t shy away from the fact that pagans-gonna-pagan (and she mentions that we don’t know if Ruth actually participated in the actual pagan practices of her culture), but she writes about the fact the Ruth is one of the few women mentioned in Jesus’ lineage. AND the gospel is presented!!! How beautiful of a story is that! The pagan practices represented in this book take the form of dark magic, not the actual sacrifices of Biblical times. But it is essential to the story, and for the gospel message to shine. I loved this story! Definitely unforgettable!