This is a good story of biblical fiction. This really goes in to some parts of the Bible that most people do not write about. There is a lot of action and some evil. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

Thus far this has been an incredible year for Biblical fiction! Tessa Afshar’s “Daughter of Rome”, Connilyn Cossette’s “Like Flames in the Night”, Brennan McPherson’s “Babel” (2019, but I read it this year) and “Eden”, and now “Balaam’s Curse” by C.L. Smith. It is a blessing to see more and more Christian authors approaching Biblical fiction without compromising God’s Word. When done well, it encourages the reader and reinforces or perhaps even introduces the Biblical text, inspiring deeper study of the Word. Such was the case for me with “Balaam’s Curse.”

This year I am following a YouVersion Bible reading plan that consists of daily readings from both the Old and New Testaments, and therefore the foundation of this novel is one that I’ve recently read, making my reading experience all the more enjoyable. One technique that I recognized Smith employing early on is referencing other Bible stories that would already have occurred prior to the setting of Balaam’s and thereby demonstrating that the ancient Israelites were aware of previous Biblical history. Similarly, the fact that Moses is recording the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt and through the wilderness further displays the accuracy and eternal longevity of God’s Word.

Told through multiple viewpoints, “Balaam’s Curse” chronicles a fictionalized account of the prophet Balaam, whose story appears in the Bible in Numbers 22. In Smith’s fictional account, Balaam has spoken blessing over the Israelites rather than cursing them, and now he pledges himself to Baal in order to get rid of God’s people so that they cannot enter the Promised Land. Othniel, Acsah, and Rahab all have parts in this saga, as do more familiar characters such as Moses, Caleb, and Joshua, offering readers a panoptic view of this seminal point in the history of God’s people. Ephesians 6:12 encompasses the overall theme of this novel, and it repeatedly came to mind as I read: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” As such, while there are certainly some disconcerting scenes in this book, it is important to remember that other gods such as Baal are false gods and are not real, but the evil of our true enemy, the devil, is very real. Despite the power struggles between good and evil in this story and in our lives today, we need to remember that God is good and that He will always prevail; our victory is already secure in Christ’s sacrifice for us.

A few details that I appreciated and would like to call attention to are the simple map at the beginning of the book, which really helps readers to visualize where the events are occurring, and “The Family of Nations descended from Terah” family tree and List of Characters found at the end of the story. These resources are a great help in understanding the story and in making further Biblical connections. Nevertheless, “Balaam’s Curse” is highly readable and, while containing supernatural elements that may be disturbing to more sensitive readers, is an excellent work of Biblical fiction that explores the transition time between Israel’s 40-year wilderness wandering and their entry into the Promised Land.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Balaam’s Curse is the first in a three-book series, and I have to say I had a hard time getting into this book. The introduction did not capture my imagination or attention. I love reading from my King James Version Bible because the stories seem to flow, but this book seemed dry, choppy, and disjointed.

I tried picking it up and ended up putting it down more times than I wanted to do. I think part of my problem was that it jumped around too much for my liking. Just when I thought I might start enjoying a particular storyline, it seemed to abruptly change to a different character’s story.

I wish I could say I recommend this book, but I can not. What I will say is for you to check it out yourself and form your own opinion. ( )

I am surprised at how much this book kept my attention. Sometimes with Biblical fiction I find myself drifting because I begin to compare it to the story found in the Bible. With this book, the author depicts the characters perfectly and allows readers to see with detail what exactly was going on. The journey was hindered by those who didn’t want the people to succeed.
The introduction of Balaam was one of evil power who would do anything to stop those who dare cross to enter The Promised Land. What I liked about the book was the strength and endurance people showed. I really like reading this story because it introduces me to people I am not familiar with. Yes I will admit I know about Adam and Eve, David, Moses and others. But now I know about someone who wanted to take on a task others would fail at. The details are good and not to wordy. I was able to follow the story without getting lost. I found myself captured by the author’s gift of making a story come to life. After reading the story I took away a new rebirth in my spirit to read the books of the Bible I am not familiar with.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

‘Oh my people, choose life. Forever and always, choose life’

...that you may know the perfection of my mighty acts, and my faithful love toward you - Micah 6:5b

It’s always interesting to read a book based on a Bible story you have known for many years. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into what life was like in those days just before the Israelites crossed into the Land of Promise. After 40 years in the wilderness, the old guard has passed away, but the awesome power of Yahweh has not changed. Moses is transcribing all the laws and experiences of those years, so the young shall never forget. And yet....

There are many enemies that would stop Israel from taking the land. Balaam is a prophet hired first by one king and then 5 kings, all of which want him to curse the Israelites. He is smart enough to realize that the Lord will not let him get away with that, so as he immerses himself in the darkness, he devises a plan to draw the people away from Yahweh and into idol worship. The author takes you right into this evil and I was left wishing I could shake some sense into these people that should know better. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, to see if the Israelites remain faithful to their God and cross into that Land of Promise.

I received this digital copy through Mountain View Press, Redemption Press and CelebrateLit. The comments, impressions and rating are my own and were in no way solicited. ( )