Publisher's Weekly Review

Army veteran and chaplain Graham (Call of Duty) draws from deep research and experience in war to write about the fascinating and underdocumented stories of the biblical "Mighty Men" of King David. In a tale set in the ancient Near East, the author provides the history buff a biblically based story that is not preachy but is actually quite gruesome, as a ragtag band of men from different countries serve a soon-to-be-king. Readers patient enough to plow through lengthy and repeated descriptions of setting and weather can find dozens of characters who help to paint a rare picture of life three millennia ago. Most of the story is told from the perspective of Benaiah, one of David's Mighty Men, who help David take his rightful throne. Otherwise provocative transitions are awkward ("Then it all changed earlier that evening"). What the story lacks in tension and discernibly individual characters, it more than makes up in developing characters' longing for a homeland and seeking power in a well-drawn ancient world setting. This war novel has additional dimensions that make it unique in Christian fiction. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.