Backing Books: The End of the Magi Tour and Giveaway

The End of the Magi
By Patrick W. Carr
Christian Historical Fiction
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 384 Pages
November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

Centuries before the magi arrived in Bethlehem,
a prophecy sets a young magus on his path . . .

Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel calls forth a select group of men who will count down the calendar until the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day draws near, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are slain by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Equipped with very little, in haste Myrad escapes the city and, searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is keeping secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable asset, an epic journey filled with peril, near captures, and dangerous battles begins.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget, and the promise that the world will never be the same.

Praise for the Book

"Carr retells the story of the Magi in this bustling biblical adventure . . . . Myrad's divine vision of the star and his arduous trek battling his own physical problems to pay homage to the Messiah capture the majesty of biblical narratives and will appeal to Christians well versed in scripture."--Publishers Weekly

"Patrick Carr brings us a captivating tale in The End of the Magi. Based on the Holy Bible, he weaves a fictional tale of the adventures of a group of magi from the east looking for the Messiah. Myrad is a strong main character even though he doesn't see himself as strong. He has great character traits and these help him find triumph over tragedy. . . . The End of the Magi is a great holiday read and gives us much to think about in our journey to know God better."--Fresh Fiction

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My Review

I've been a fan of Patrick's writing for a number of years now, and so was surprised when I discovered he had written a Biblical Fiction novel when all of his past published works have been fantasy. However, I read and love Biblical Fiction just as much. As with his other works, Patrick was able to pull me into Myrad's story. I enjoyed following along on his adventures and wondered how it would all tie into the story of the Magi visiting Christ in the end.

What surprised me was the path the story took. Whereas I had expected the narrative to be far more focused on following the star, the journey Myrad takes is far more complicated and he has other motivations beyond single-mindedly following a prophecy. At times, this meant that the story seemed to wander in other directions, though it did all lead Myrad to the right place in the end.

For those who love Biblical Fiction, I will say that this does not read as many others in the genre. The narrative focuses more on the adventures Myrad has on his way to Christ than it does on his personal transformation. For that reason, it might appeal to different readers. However, it is still an engaging story that is perfect for this Christmas season.

I have provided an honest review after receiving a copy of the book through the author and Prism Tours.

About the Author

Patrick W. Carr is the author of the acclaimed fantasy series The Staff and the Sword. A Cast of Stones won the 2014 Carol Award for Speculative Fiction and the 2014 Clive Staples Award. A Cast of Stones and The Hero's Lot were both finalists for 2014 Christy Awards. He teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his incredible wife, Mary, and their four sons.

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