The Woman From Lydia

Author: Angela Hunt
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Series: The Emissaries #1
Pages: 352
Release Date: Jul 11, 2023
Publisher: Bethany House

Widowed Euodia, known to her neighbors as "the Lydian woman," seeks to make a fresh start by moving to the foreign city of Philippi. She finds new purpose after meeting Paulos, apostle to the Gentiles, who opens her eyes to helping those in need, particularly women and those who have been enslaved.

Retired Roman soldier Hector has settled in Philippi with dreams of a future filled with wealth and status, pooling his army earnings with Lucius, his fellow comrade-in-arms turned business partner. His hopes are dashed, however, when Paulos robs their youngest enslaved girl of her lucrative ability to foretell the future, rendering her worthless to Hector's ambition.

Determined to find someone to restore the girl's valuable "gift," Hector is willing to travel to the ends of the earth to do so. Following close behind him, Euodia and her servants embark on a journey to rescue Sabina and set her free forever.

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Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders

I love biblical fiction, and I'm a fan of Angela Hunt, so I was especially anxious to read this book. The Woman from Lydia features the apostle Paul, his traveling companion Silas, and Euodia, who is mentioned in Acts 16 as Lydia, a seller of purple cloth. Much of the story is told from Euodia's point of view as she valiantly tries to free a girl from slavery after the apostle Paul casts a demon from her. Euodia's determined efforts to free Sabina from a retired Roman soldier's possession are equally matched by his intentions to use Sabina's gift of divination for his own personal gain! Will Euodia succeed in thwarting Hector's plans?

Hunt possesses a wonderful talent for weaving facts with fiction, and this book is a perfect example. I enjoyed the relationship that evolves between Euodia and her new husband Ariston, along with those that she shares with Phebe and Syntyche. I gained a new perspective on Paul's missionary journeys and relished the explanation of slavery versus freedom, in both physical and spiritual terms. I know that an author of Biblical fiction has succeeded when I find myself reading my Bible to verify a fact or searching for a Bible commentary to learn more about a scene. I did both of these while reading this book!

This is a story that will inspire Christian readers and challenge non-believers, and I'm thrilled to have it as my church Bible group begins its study of the Book of Acts. I highly recommend The Woman from Lydia, and I look forward to the next book in The Emissaries series!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review.

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Reviewer: Jeanette Durkin

Wow! This book has it all! Drama, love, and history! It's an extremely well-crafted historical fiction novel that brings a woman from the Scriptures to life. The author's research is phenomenal! Angela Hunt brings to life the time period when the Apostle Paul was alive. I could imagine myself in the setting of ancient Philippi: the sounds, the smells...

One thought I took away from this book is that the power of God is undeniable! Lydia, or Euodia, is a woman of strength and strong convictions. She follows her heart and loves those deemed unlovable. She is someone who reminds me of God and how He loves us. The rest of the characters are amazing! Sabina's story is heartbreaking. Ariston is compassionate, loyal, loving, and brave. The characters each touched my heart, and I invested in their lives.

I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series! I know they're going to be fantastic!

I was provided a book through Bethany House via Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Tracy Derksen

I have always been intrigued by the early church and enjoy reading novels set during this time. This new novel by Angela Hunt brings us into this world.

The story clearly shows the reality between the Christian worldview and the Roman worldview, and while this was one of my favourite parts of the story, it was also hard to read the parts about the "villain." I found these Roman viewpoints to have opened my eyes to the evil in the world during the New Testament period (compared to the current world state), but I also found them hard to read and therefore enjoyed the book a little less because of them.

While I did enjoy the book, I felt the love interest parts could have been more developed or totally left out. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys biblical fiction, but I would caution that some of the themes are more mature and better for adult audiences.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review.

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Reviewer: Charity Henico

I love how Biblical fiction can weave different parts of the Bible together. Of course, being fiction, we can't take this literally, but imagining the what-ifs is fun.

Take The Woman from Lydia, for example. This book ties in the jailer, the demon-possessed slave girl, and Euodia, the woman spoken of in Acts 16, whose lives were touched by Jesus through Paul. I'm not gonna lie. I have never been a fan of Paul. I just don't think he and I would have gotten along. But seeing him through this book makes me see him in a new light. He did touch many people's lives. How many were changed because of his boldness? His willingness to live as Christ?

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I could picture everything as it happened, and the action and adventure were fabulous! I did not want to put it down. As I say, with so many Biblical fiction books, this book brought the Bible to life for me. I'm just not sure what else you could want from a story.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions were my own.

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Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise

Get a taste of what it might have been like to live in the time of the Apostle Paul. Ms. Hunt educates us about the customs of the first century as she weaves a tale of the woman who deals in purple dyes. As a follower of Yeshua, taught by Paul, Euodia lives in a pagan world and learns to share her faith, free her slaves and search for a slave girl, Sabina.

The setting and well-drawn characters brought the ancient world to life. Widowed Euodia was a great example of a new Christian living out her faith by being a good mistress to her household and employees. She went the extra mile to right a wrong to bring a blessing. Ariston, the servant, shows compassion and loyalty and is loving and brave. Just the right amount of intrigue and romance.

An enlightening, faith-filled story by an excellent wordsmith.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Conny Withay

“Three Philippians whose lives were changed by Paul–a jailer, a formerly demon-possessed enslaved girl, and the woman referred to as Lydia–find their fates intertwined,” the back jacket states in Angela Hunt’s novel, The Woman from Lydia.

The first book in the Emissaries series, this three-hundred-and-fifty-two-page advanced reader copy targets those interested in Biblical fiction during the Apostle Paul’s missions. With no profanity, topics of illness, slavery, sorcery, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. With an explanation about the series and map at the beginning of the book, the ending includes the author’s note, eleven questions and answers, references, the author’s biography, and advertisements.

This story involves a widow named Euodia from Lydia who has come to know the Lord through Paulos (the apostle Paul) and how she is determined to save a young slave girl she had purchased to offer her freedom. While some chapters are written in first person by Euodia as she dyes and makes purple clothing, other chapters cover Hector, a retired Roman soldier who insists on the gods protecting him and his once-profitable property. As the woman tracks down Hector with the help of her friends, it is a race against time to keep the girl from further harm.

I love reading Biblical fiction, especially if it lines up with the Word of God. Having read Hunt’s novels for decades, I felt this one about Euodia is captivating and interesting as it takes you to a few towns where Paul walked while explaining the physical and spiritual differences between slavery and freedom. I appreciated learning about making dyes from snails, handling necromancers, and dealing with slave ownership. The concept of trusting in the Lord above all else shines throughout the story.

Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not like this story of how God always takes care of those He loves. Some may not like reading about witchcraft, animal sacrifices, or being demon-possessed. Others may not like the ample liberties taken writing about a woman only mentioned twice in the Bible.

Since this is the beginning of a series, the back jacket mentions a jailer, yet he was not a focal point of this story, so I hope he will be in the next one.

If you love Biblical fiction and want to know more about Lydia in the Bible, this first book in the series will help you consider choosing who you serve–whether it be something, someone, yourself, or God.

Thanks to Bethany House and Interviews & Reviews for this complimentary book. I am under no obligation to give a positive review.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

The Woman From Lydia by Angela Hunt is a moving reminder of the lengths God will go to find a lost sheep.

If you are unfamiliar with Lydia's story, you can read about it in Acts 16:13-15. I loved how the author took Lydia (named Euodia in her book) and placed her in the city of Philippi using the Scriptures as her guide. Yes, she is from Thyatira, but the Scriptures suggest she lived in Philippi when she met Paul. And they also suggest she was present when the slave girl, possessed by an evil spirit, started harassing Paul. And it is here that the story has its focus. What happened to the slave girl after Paul cast the demon out of her? In The Woman From Lydia, we glimpse "what might have happened."

I always enjoy a novel by Angela Hunt, and I'm never disappointed. I loved how she showed the process for making the purple colour. It was so interesting! And I loved how Euodia listened to God every step of the way as she sought to rescue Sabina.

While I feel the book should have been called The Woman From Thyatira (as Lydia was her name), I still enjoyed this book. You won't want to pass this one up if you like Biblical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review.

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