Plagues and Papyrus

​Author: Christine Dillon
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Series: Light of the Nations
Pages: 280
Release Date: June 23, 2023
Publisher: Self-Published

What if life is built on the wrong foundation?

Kheti and his family have farmed papyrus along the Nile for generations. Kheti is confident the gods of Egypt and the harmony maintained by the divine Pharaoh are the sources of his prosperity. Then he watches his beloved river turn to blood, his crops fail, and his nation descend into chaos.
The Hebrew God wants his people released from slavery.
When the gods remain silent and Pharaoh is powerless to stop the carnage, Kheti wrestles with which way to turn. Replant his flattened crops and cling to Egypt’s gods? Or forsake his roots to follow new friends and a new faith to a distant land?

Could there be a place in God’s family for an Egyptian who kept God's people as slaves?

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Reviewer: Tom Dallis

To take a well-known story (like Moses and the 10 Plagues of Egypt) and invent a fictional tale around it while remaining faithful to biblical events and doing it entertainingly takes exceptional talent. Christine Dillion is such a talented author.

Plagues and Papyrus is the second book in her Light of the Nation series. Yet, it is a stand-alone story with engaging characters, a thoughtful plotline, and historical accuracy all wrapped together in a beautiful read. When I finished one chapter, I could not wait to read the next.

Interwoven in the story are small details (such as the making of papyrus boats and Egyptian living) with major historical characters (such as Moses and Pharaoh). The author also found a delightful way of introducing additional biblical characters to provide the storyline context. She likewise went with a “more Hebraic-anglicized version of familiar names,” which afforded the reader a more realistic reading, making the conversations seem genuine. Thus, Moses becomes “Mosheh” and Abraham becomes “Avraham”.

An additional feature is that the book opens with a list of character and place names to familiarize the reader with fictional as well as historical characters and places in Egypt shortly before the exodus. At the end of the book, there are also some historical notes and a list of questions that are excellent for book groups.

Plagues and Papyrus is a brilliant example of what historical fiction should be. You will love the characters and enjoy the story.  Although, as a reviewer, I received a digital copy of the book, I also purchased a printed copy for my wife to read, who is also greatly enjoying it. 

I highly recommend reading Plagues and Papyrus by Christine Dillon.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

If you are a fan of biblical fiction, you cannot go wrong with Christine Dillon's Light of the Nations series. Each book can be read as a standalone, as they each approach a different time in Biblical history. I absolutely loved this series and cannot recommend it enough!

The author has taken the interesting approach of looking at biblical stories and their characters from an outsider's point of view. In Plagues and Papyrus, we meet Kheti, a young Egyptian who, along with his family, farms along the Nile in Egypt. He has always been confident in his false gods until the God of the Hebrews makes himself known through a series of plagues.

I loved to see how Kheti, his family, and his neighbours reacted to what was happening around them. As Kheti and his father begin to doubt the power of their gods, they learn more about the powerful God of the Hebrews through their slaves, Avraham and Yosef.

The author stayed true to the Bible and brought this story to life. It is a book that will make you feel like you were there. I highly recommend it!

I purchased a copy for myself and can't wait for the next one in the series.

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