A riveting, deeply evocative novel of the highest caliber. Set against the backdrop of the Second Temple, with the Romans poised for all-out war and destruction, this historical work tells the tale of heroic devotion to Temple worship and to God, despite Herculean challenges. A young man's forced marriage to a mute girl is but one link in a fascinating chain of events that begin with his pious grandfather’s horrific death, and culminate in a dazzling array of bittersweet triumphs. Woven through with beauty, mysticism, blood-curdling battle cries, and true-to-life characters, this novel truly raises the bar. A very appropriate reading for the Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av — this sobering book brings to mind the horror and devastation of the Churban.