Beyond the Desert Gate

Beyond the Desert Gate
by Mary Ray

Beyond the Desert Gate
List Price: $11.95
Our Price: $6.79
You Save: $5.16 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.97 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Mary Ray
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2001-02
ISBN: 188393754X
Number of pages: 190
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Bethlehem Books

Book Reviews of Beyond the Desert Gate

Book Review: Just good
Summary: 3 Stars

Apollodorus is a merchant at Philadelphia in the Decapolis of ancient Palestine. Since the beginning of the Jewish War, his excursions have been more perilous and on his most recent return trip, he has brought back a man left to die by the Romans--a man who has no memory of what happened to him or even his own name. "Xenos", as he is called, is befriended by Apollodorus's young son, Philo--one of three, the others being Conan and Nicanor.

On his next caravan, however, Apollodorus is killed and his sons are forced by financial concerns to lease their property to the Roman garrison. Conan decides to join the Roman federated troops to earn his living while Nicanor steals off to join the Jewish resistance. Philo remains at home to serve the Roman garrison and care for Xenos, who soon recalls his past--a past which goes back to a previous book in this series, The Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.). Events will bring the three brothers back together as each tries to make sense of the war and the suffering of the Jewish people.

In terms of historical research, Beyond the Desert Gate recreates life in Roman Palestine very well. My major gripes with the book are the ponderous plot and insufficient character development. The book is the fourth part of a series of five books and has trouble standing on its own. The description of the siege of Macherus was well done, particularly the climax which was very affecting, and the Christian elements were also appreciated. But over all, I think this book will have trouble holding the attention of the audience it's intended for--older kids ages 14 and up. If you like books about the Christian Roman Empire, a better choice might be Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last.

Religion & Spirituality Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Historical Fiction for Homeschoolers
Nacar, the White Deer ImageNacar, the White Deer
by Elizabeth Borton Trevino, Elizabeth B. De Trevino
Farrar Straus Giroux; Published: 1963-01; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops: $3.95
If All the Swords in England: A Story of Thomas Becket (Living History Library) ImageIf All the Swords in England: A Story of Thomas Becket (Living History Library)
by Barbara Willard
Bethlehem Books; Published: 2000-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops: $12.95
Victory on the Walls: A Story of Nehemiah (Living History Library) ImageVictory on the Walls: A Story of Nehemiah (Living History Library)
by Frieda C. Hyman
Bethlehem Books; Published: 2005-02-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.55
Price in other shops: $12.95
Beyond the Desert Gate ImageBeyond the Desert Gate
by Mary Ray
Bethlehem Books; Published: 2001-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.80
Price in other shops: $11.95
Where valor lies (Clarion books) ImageWhere valor lies (Clarion books)
by Ade?le De Leeuw
Doubleday; Published: 1959; Unknown Binding; Book
Son of Charlemagne (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).) ImageSon of Charlemagne (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).)
by Barbara Willard
Bethlehem Books; Published: 1998-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.22
Price in other shops: $13.95
Beowulf the Warrior (Living History Library) ImageBeowulf the Warrior (Living History Library)
Bethlehem Books; Published: 1995-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.27
Price in other shops: $9.95
Crusader King: Novel of Baldwin IV & the Crusades ImageCrusader King: Novel of Baldwin IV & the Crusades
by Susan Peek
Tan Books & Publishers; Published: 2004-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.48
Price in other shops: $16.50
The Blood Red Crescent ImageThe Blood Red Crescent
Lepanto Press; Published: 2004; Hardcover; Book
Red Hugh: Prince of Donegal (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).) ImageRed Hugh: Prince of Donegal (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).)
by Robert T. Reilly
Bethlehem Books; Published: 1997-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops: $13.95
Similar Books and other products
D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths ImageD'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths
by Ingri D'Aulaire, Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Published: 1992-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.00
Price in other shops: $19.95
Encyclopedia of World History ImageEncyclopedia of World History
by Jane Bingham
Usborne Books; Published: 2003-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.91
Price in other shops: $19.99
The Eagle of the Ninth ImageThe Eagle of the Ninth
by Rosemary Sutcliff
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); Published: 1993-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.33
Price in other shops: $7.95
The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 2: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance, Revised Edition ... the World: History for the Classical Child) ImageThe Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 2: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance, Revised Edition ... the World: History for the Classical Child)
by Susan Wise Bauer
Peace Hill Press; Published: 2007-04-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops: $16.95
Luther: Biography of a Reformer ImageLuther: Biography of a Reformer
by Frederick Nohl
Concordia Publishing House; Published: 2003-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops: $14.99
Mara, Daughter of the Nile (Puffin Story Books) ImageMara, Daughter of the Nile (Puffin Story Books)
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Puffin; Published: 1985-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops: $6.99
Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library) ImageArchimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)
by Jeanne Bendick
Bethlehem Books; Published: 1995-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.08
Price in other shops: $13.95
Hittite Warrior (Living History Library) ImageHittite Warrior (Living History Library)
by Joanne Williamson
Bethlehem Books; Published: 1999-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.27
Price in other shops: $13.95
God King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah (Living History Library) ImageGod King: A Story in the Days of King Hezekiah (Living History Library)
by Joanne Williamson, Daria M. Sockey
Bethlehem Books; Published: 2002-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.29
Price in other shops: $13.95
The Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.) ImageThe Ides of April (Ray, Mary, Roman Empire Sequence.)
by Mary Ray
Bethlehem Books; Published: 1999-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops: $11.95
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories