Bronze and Brokeness

Author: Christine Dillon
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Series: Light of Nations #4
Pages: 274
Release Date: January 4, 2025
Publisher: Links in the Chain Press

Master at mending copper. Failure at mending family.

Reuel's family have been traveling coppersmiths for generations, but it's not enough. His Israelite customers don’t respect any Midianite, and his father only takes pride in what his older brother does. When Israel’s power wanes and Midianite raids shift who’s on top, all that could change. Has the time come when a second son can outshine the eldest?

Jael married Reuel with dreams of a home filled with love and respect, but her marriage has become as dry as the drought-plagued land they live in.

Reuel rejected all the gods, and Jael followed his lead. But is what she has all she’ll ever have? Why does her sister, Zura, find such hope in the God of Israel, even though she remains blind?

All are broken, but can they, like bronze, be recast?

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Bronze and Brokenness by Christine Dillon is an engaging Biblical Fiction novel that transports readers to the Old Testament era and the division between the Israelites and Midianites.

The story centres on Reuel, a Midianite coppersmith and his wife Jael, who travels from town to town selling his wares and repairing pots and pans people bring to them. Reuel is a bitter and angry man who resents his older brother Ephah because their father favoured him or Reuel, and unfortunately, he takes his anger out on his wife and children. 

Jael had thought being married to Reuel would be everything she ever hoped for, but she did not expect how he would treat her. Both Reuel and Jael did not believe in God, nor did they worship the fake gods of the land. But Zura, Jael’s blind sister, who travelled with them, loved God and throughout the story, we learn of her faith and see that even though our prayers may seem to go unanswered for a very long time, God hears them and is working His will to answer them. This story shows Zura having faith and patience where prayer is concerned. 

Without giving too much away, Reuel lashes out horribly toward one of his sons and it is an event that forces Jael to stand up to her husband and he is forced to sell his bronze goods without her help. But, he is not alone and as the story progresses we see how God sometimes takes bad things and uses them to change us and to bring glory to His name.

I loved the storytelling aspect of this book. The author brought biblical stories to life in normal conversations with her characters, making them come alive in a way that most students of the Bible will appreciate. Also, her research of the era shines through as do her insights into how bronze was made during that time.

Bronze and Brokenness is a compelling read and while this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Fans of Angela Hunt, Jill Eileen Smith and Tessa Afshar will find much to admire in Christine Dillon’s latest offering.

Bronze and Brokenness is a captivating tale of faith, redemption and self-discovery set against a rich biblical history that is brought to life. I highly recommend it.

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