Title: Thief of Corinth
Author(s): Tessa Afshar
Published by Tyndale House Publishers
Year: 2018
Pages: 379
Format Read: Kindle
Language: English
ISBN: 9781496428677
I aimed to read a novel from the biblical fiction genre since, surprisingly, I don’t recall reading a novel from that genre. I found this book which is still considered biblical fiction, but most of the main characters are not known biblical characters. However, the setting is New Testament times and the story takes place mostly in Corinth. This is the first book I have read by this author. I read the novel’s blurb on Amazon, and the story sounded so intriguing. Ever since Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, I have wanted to find another novel written in first person with an ancient world setting.
This book is labeled Christian fiction; I expected Christian characters from the story’s beginning, but the Christians do not appear until probably the last 3rd of the book. The book mostly covers the main character Ariadne’s life after she escapes her grandfather’s home in Athens with her foster brother Theo to return to her father’s home in Corinth. Years prior, the mother divorced the father because of his secret, and she took the kids with her to her father’s house. I thought the secret was that he became a Christian since they are pagans but no, it’s that she discovers he is a thief. This plays a huge part in the novel’s development. However, before the Christian faith is even introduced, there are actually times that I assumed that a character was secretly a Christian because they do something randomly virtuous or show lots of mercy like how Theo rescued Delia or when Justus stopped his steward from beating another servant. The plot demonstrates the characters’ development. Familial love, rejection, acceptance, honor, and faith are main themes.
Also, this novel is a coming of age story for Ariadne and covers her life from around 16 to early 20s. She is a cool, witty, active first person narrator who gives historical or background information in a helpful way that is not too technical or long-winded. Reading the book is like a diary of her thoughts and feelings. There are mysteries and twists in the plot which make the storyline somewhat unpredictable. We have a sense she will accept Christ, but her life continues afterwards, and it is dramatic, full of weighty decisions and tests of faith. She’s very reflective on her life before and after she becomes a Christian, perceiving God’s sovereignty and his mercy and grace and how she fell short.
Several New Testament characters are mentioned and/or introduced in the novel such as Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila. If I’m not mistaken, the author also has Christian fiction books about these characters and others. Paul and some traveling companions such as Timothy are eventually introduced; it’s very charming, historical, and biblical how the author does it. Ariadne’s brother, the stoic philosopher, is the first to be introduced to Paul’s speaking. I really liked Paul’s characterization, but when I think about it, this may be the only book I’ve read with a fictionalization of Paul’s life. I wrote a play in Creative Writing in high school about some events in the book of Acts, but it’s fantastic to read another characterization. Anyway, most of the main characters become Christians by the end of the book. This could be considered young adult fiction. I would probably give this book hard PG, light PG-13 due to some of the topics, mild violence and romance. It is a satisfying read.
Dates Read November 25 to December 21 2021
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