Many fans of Rice may find the author’s latest novel to be a curious departure from her well-loved Vampire Chronicles series,. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt trades in the demonic for the religious as Rice gives a painstakingly researched, fictional narrative of Jesus’s life as a child leaving Egypt at seven-years-old to return to his home in Nazareth. As with all her stories, Rice provides a colorful context for her characters, this time steeped in Hebrew culture, history, and tradition. The early years of Jesus’ life are handled languidly and saturated with details and imagery, but soon the narrative picks up, and at the emotional heart of this story is Jesus’ discovery of the miraculous origins of his birth and why he can heal the sick and raise the dead. As he begins to understand who he really is, readers are presented with an achingly human portrayal of the savior of mankind, thanks to Rice’s magical prose.

Read Amy Wellborn’s indepth review of Rice’s latest novel here.

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