Ward Sanford
This is the third installment of the historical series Cry for Jerusalem that follows the Great Jewish Revolt of 66-70 CE against the Roman Empire. The series follows the fate of five friends and family members from different backgrounds that fate brought together. After the initial revolt in 66CE where the Jews kicked the Romans out of Judea and Galilee, our friends find themselves in precarious positions as the Romans plan a counterattack. General Vespasian launches his attack against the fortified town of Yotapta in the hills of Galilee, where Yosef has been put in charge. After a seige of 47 days Yosef survives but is captured and held in chains by the General. Meanwhile Cleo escapes her abusive husband, the antagoinst Gessius Florus, who means to plunder the Jewish Temple of its gold. She flees to Jerusalem to hide out in disguise as a Jew under the name Ya’el. Miriam, Yosef’s younger sister, has joined the secretive group of assassins known as the Sicarri, and is forced to hide out temporarily in David’s Tomb. In Book 3 Jerusalem descends into anarchy as rival factions vie for power. Miriam must avoid the clutches of the sinister assassin, Hananiah, hired by Florus to kill her. She in turn, must decide the fate of her former flame, Ehud. Nicanor, a Roman soldier who has befriended Yosef and Cleo, has been sent to Rome, but then heads to the western edges of the empire to seek out Cleo’s brother and future Emperor Marcus Otho. The Roman Empire descends into a civil war as Otho takes the throne and the Year of the Four Emperors is under way.
