Sword and Serpent

By: Taylor Marshall

Narrated by: Kennedy Hall

Every legend has a beginning....

The year is A.D. 299. Diocletian rules the Roman Empire. And the gods have suddenly fallen silent. Seventeen-year-old Jurian doesn’t have time for the gods. He’s trying to hold his family together after his father died in disgrace, and piety, even to the Christ, just isn’t practical.

But then, a ruthless enemy targets his family, forcing Jurian to make a choice: will he pursue the glory he’s always wanted, or will he sacrifice everything to protect a faith that was never really his own?

On the other side of the Empire, the young priestess Sabra shields her people from the terrible vengeance of the old god she serves. But even as she offers the dark and bloody sacrifices the god demands, visions of desolation haunt her dreams. As suspicion tightens its stranglehold on her city, Sabra must unravel the mystery of the god’s portents before everything she’s ever loved is destroyed. Fear of the gods’ silence sparks a bloody persecution that will soon consume the Empire.

As the fires of suspicion and hatred ignite around them, Jurian and Sabra are drawn together by a mysterious prophecy, one that will set them on a journey to battle an evil beyond imagining. Saints aren’t born. They are forged.

©2014 Taylor R. Marshall (P)2023 Taylor R. Marshall

the early light of underground Christians. St George was a humble peasant fleeing.

I like the life of the early Christians and using authentic names I also liked it when Georgius kill the dragon with a splinter of the True Cross.

Excellent story line

I was very impressed by this book. Kennedy did an excellent job reading it. Dr Marshall did an excellent job writing this. The details paint such a vivid picture, it’s like watching the story from your mind’s eye.

I loved the story

I love the story, I follow Dr. Taylor podcast and I know he has written books, but I have never read his work before. the story line is excellent, it keeps one in suspense and the story is beautiful. the narrator makes it very interesting as well. I definitely will follow the saga.

The amount of content and story about the faith.

A long read that kept attention for the whole story from beginning to end. Well written and it has many parts!

A wonderful tale!

Like the Lord the Rings but true (historical fiction)! Bravo Taylor Marshall! Reader also did a fine job “performing” this audio book.

Could NOT Turn It Off!

I thought this book was going to be too masculine and not relatable to me as a woman. Nope, Dr. Taylor Marshall writes fantastically in more than just non-fiction. This book contains strong masculine characters as much as it does strong feminine characters and both are outstandingly contemplative without being corny or preach. Actually, what surprised me the most was the lack of mentioning the subject of faith. While we do get scenes that teach something here and there it does so in a gentle way that makes it very approachable. Dr. Taylor Marshall also includes a few stories from the character's experience that I wonder are documented in a real account?

I look forward to listening to the other books in this series and greatly hope that Dr. Taylor Marshall will keep writing historical fiction books within the Church historical theme!

Well told story

While I am unsure of the historical accuracy, as I am somewhat acquainted with the authors work I would be surprised if it wasn’t as accurately researched as possible. It warms my heart to read a story where God is the main character. Thanks Dr. Marshall. Signed, a fan

Excellent Christian Story.

A Catholic version of CS Lewis' work. I hope the ither books bet made into audio books.

A Great Read

The narrator brought the storyline to life! The plot kept me wanting to listen. A great and educational book!

plot

narrator was wonderful- kept me riveted - looking forward to the next book in the series