Palace of darkness : a novel of Petra

"Higley amazes us with another of her action-packed feats of storytelling." — RT Book Reviews , 4 1/2 Stars, TOP PICK! In an ancient city carved from stone, one desperate young woman searches for peace—in the calm before the deadly clash of empires. � In 106 AD, a single mother can be certain of one thing—destitution. So Cassia and her six-year-old son flee to Petra, her late husband's birth city, in hopes of finding refuge in the loving arms of family. But the great stone city is not what Cassia imagined. And a secret about her husband reveals her son's true bloodline, making the boy the target of a royal conspiracy.� In her darkest hours, Cassia finds herself surrounded by followers of the Way, a subversive new religious group whose disciples are frequently sentenced to arenas with starved lions and blood-soaked sand. Why would this sect seek out more danger by helping her? And what kind... "If you liked Francine Rivers' A Voice in the Wind, you'll love Tracy Higley's Palace of Darkness! It grabbed me from page one and never let go, Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author. She believed the city in stone could protect her from the past; until it threatened to destroy her future. Cassia, a destitute young widow, seeks refuge for herself and her young son, Alexander, in Petra, the home of his late father's estranged family. The capital of the flourishing Arabian empire, a city carved in rock and still free of Roman control, Petra is hidden away among towering sandstone cliffs. Cassia hopes to secure a future here with Alexander's relatives and enjoy the family life she's never known. But Alexander's father was not the man Cassia thought. He kept a great secret from her; a secret that leads an evil queen to steal Alexander from his mother and plan his destruction. As the plot against her son unfolds, Cassia finds unexpected allies in her new friend, Julian, and the mysterious followers of The Way. These strangers sacrifice everything to help Cassia rescue her son from the dark palace and the pagan queen. And they offer Cassia the love and security of a family, asking for nothing in return. With Roman soldiers poised to invade the city, Cassia learns that it will take more than her new friends to save her son's life. It will take a strength and a power beyond any Cassia has ever known; if she is willing to surrender and trust in the One True God"-- Provided by publisher In an ancient city carved from stone, one desperate young woman searches for peace -- in the calm before the Romans attack. In AD 106, a single mother can be certain of one thing -- destitution. So Cassia and her six-year-old son flee to Petra, seeking refuge in the loving arms of family. But the great stone city is not what Cassia imagined. And family cannot be trusted. When a secret reveals her son's true bloodline, the boy becomes the target of a royal conspiracy. He's snatched from Cassia's grasp. In her darkest hours, Cassia finds herself surrounded by followers of the Way, a subversive new religious group whose disciples are frequently sentenced to arenas with starved lions and blood-soaked sand. Why would they seek out more danger by helping her? And what kind of religion gives freely and asks for nothing in return? Roman soldiers soon surround Petra, immersing the city in panic and further endangering Cassia's son. She realizes he cannot be saved by human efforts alone. Her only hope lies with the followers of the Way . . and her willingness to trust their One True God. Reading Group Guide Included "Higley's meticulous research enhances readers' understanding of the daring lives of the first Christians." -- RT Book Reviews , of City on Fire "If you liked Francine Rivers' A Voice in the Wind , you'll love Palace of Darkness ! It grabbed me from page one and never let go." -- Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author "Previously Petra: City in Stone. In an ancient city carved from stone, one desperate young woman searches for peace?in the calm before the Romans attack. In AD 106, a single mother can be certain of one thing?destitution. So Cassia and her six-year-old son flee to Petra, seeking refuge in the loving arms of family. But the great stone city is not what Cassia imagined. And family cannot be trusted. When a secret reveals her son's true bloodline, the boy becomes the target of a royal conspiracy. He's snatched from Cassia's grasp. In her darkest hours, Cassia finds herself surrounded by followers of the Way, a subversive new religious group whose disciples are frequently sentenced to arenas with starved lions and blood-soaked sand. Why would they seek out more danger by helping her? And what kind of religion gives freely and asks for nothing in return? Roman soldiers soon surround Petra, immersing the city in panic and further endangering Cassia's son. She realizes he cannot be saved by human efforts alone. Her only hope lies with the followers of the Way . . . and her willingness to trust their One True God."--Amazon.com