Biblical fiction exists at the intersection of historical fiction and supernatural fiction. The line between fact and legend becomes blurred, and, often, we are made to look at the classic stories we thought we knew through a new lens. Such is the nature of works such as Anne Rice’s Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, and it is such a book I am reviewing today: The Leper Messiah by Rob Levinson.
Most of us—especially those raised in a Christian environment—know the story of David and Goliath. Many of us also know David as King David, successor to King Saul and father of King Solomon. But what do we know about his childhood? About his life before he became a king, before he slayed Goliath, before he was revealed to be a great warrior or even a skillful lyre player? That is where the details get fuzzy, and it is these details and gaps which Levinson has used to weave the tale of The Leper Messiah.
David has always been an outcast. Even within his own family, he only seems to have decent relationships with his mother, his brother Shimea, and his mother’s father, Obed. Everyone else, including his own father and his other brothers, seem to fear and avoid him. David is left to feel utterly alone this world, but he does not let that deter him; he knows he is destined for greater things, he can feel it, and he is determined to make everyone else see his potential, too. How far will David have to go to prove his worth? How will the path to his destiny as King of the Israelites be paved? And what sort of connections—human and divine—will he forge along the way?
As I have mentioned in other posts, I am not Christian. If anything, I am agnostic. However, I have been exposed to the religion, including studying the Bible as apiece of literature and the historical bases for its stories. Due to this background, I find biblical fiction absolutely fascinating, and Levinson’s work is no exception. The writing style in particular caught my eye as it reminds me of the style I have encountered in English translations of the Bible. While more detailed and engaging than biblical passages, Levinson’s writing utilizes the same simple language and slightly distant, storyteller tone. Reading this book, I felt as though I had been pulled into the Bible while still being entertained.
The Leper Messiah captured my attention from page one. Levinson throws readers right into the middle of the action by starting the novel with supernatural action and intrigue. Despite being based on a well-known biblical character, this book does not lack in mystery and twists. New characters and locations are constantly added, and one of the greatest incentives to finish the story is to see how everything ties together. Admittedly, though, these additions sometimes confused me. Many of the transitions within the chapters do not occur smoothly and are often so vague that it takes readers a few sentences to realize which characters are involved. Regardless, Levinson’s compelling plot and fast-paced writing will pull readers right back into the story.
I am also impressed with how well Levinson has developed relatively flat biblical figures into well-rounded, very human characters. Most notably, he turns David from a revered king whose only memorable scandal is adultery with Bathsheba into a boy—and, later, young man—with emotional vulnerabilities and desires to both succeed and be loved. However, he is not my favorite character or, oddly, the one I find most compelling. Those titles belong to two other characters: Arlemay and The Scorpion. In my opinion, they have the most captivating stories. They are true lepers by the definition which means “a person who is avoided or rejected by others for moral or social reasons”. Along with David,they enhance the theme of the need to heed outcasts, a lesson which I think a lot of people in modern society still need to learn.
Levinson’s extensive research of biblical stories and figures is evident. Still, the historical side of the book seems less-than-accurate. I am no historian, and I know nothing about this time period for certain, but I still have a sizeable bone to pick here. Namely, at least one of the characters makes clear references to Islam. In particular, she mentions the pilgrimage to Mecca and the Ka’bah, which is the most sacred mosque in Mecca. Historians generally believe that the Islamic religion was established in the 600s CE, whereas David existed around 1000 BCE. Even the belief of the Muslims—that Islam is the original religion for all the prophets—does not explain this mix-up as David has the religion explained to him and, if Islam were the original religion for all the prophets, David’s religion would have been Islam. Theological beliefs aside, the timeline does not match up and caused a lot of headaches for me as I tried to straighten everything out in my mind.
Overall, The Leper Messiah by Rob Levinson is a very entertaining novel with relatable characters, each with compelling stories of their own to tell. I normally do not recommend Christian fiction to non-Christians, but I feel that this book is worth the read for people of any background for the story alone. The elements of mysticism and the involvement of more supernatural events might rub hardcore Christians the wrong way, while others will find that they align perfectly with the traditions of biblical tales. History buffs and historical fiction fans should definitely take all of it with a grain of salt but for the most part, Levinson really transports readers back to David’s time and keeps them there until they reach the end. I recommend it for those with an open mind that like biblical fiction, but keep in mind that this book plays on the darker side of biblical stories and so there are some moments of grotesque imagery, violence, and—yes—lepers.
You can find The Leper Messiah by Rob Levinson on Amazon.
Do you know of a book I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!
Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011