Dark Hour
Ginger Garrett
Navpress, Jul 2006, $12.99
ISBN: 1576838692

In 868 BC in the Palace of Judah, Baal worshiper Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel, allows her in labor Hebrew "sister" Miraiah a chance to make peace with her on the former's terms. Though in severe pain and unattended with no midwife or servant present, Miraiah refuses to bow to Athaliah praying to the Mothers of her religion, Sarah and Rachel. Her daughter is born, but a dead Miraiah stands up and reaches out towards her adversary, stating "this child will be your doom". Athaliah blames the death on Miraiah's refusal of help to their spouse, the future King of the Jews, Prince Jehoram even as she laughs off the curse because the offspring is a mere female.

Years later, Jehoram is dead and his heir, Ahaziah, the child he begat with Athaliah, is assassinated during a state visit to Israel most likely by his maternal uncle. Athaliah takes over the throne of Judah and soon Baal becomes the prime religion of both Hebrew kingdoms as the sibling rulers eradicate the House of David. However, a few years into her reign, a child of David surfaces when the high priest Jehoiada proclaims seven years old Joash as the king of Judah. As a rebellion breaks out, Athaliah learns that Miraiah's daughter Jehosheba had saved her nephew's life.

This is a fanastic reenactment of Chronicles 21-23 when the children of Yahweh are in one of the darkest most dangerous period as betrayal and murder have led to a devastating civil war between evil and innocence. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action yet the key players on this biblical stage come vividly alive to the reader. Ginger Garrett provides a compelling novelization of a tiny drop of light during the seemingly all consuming DARK HOUR.

Harriet Klausner