Adventure, Historical Fiction

Birth of the Maccabee (previously titled The Eleventh Horn)
A peaceful populace put to the sword. One bloody sacrilege too many. A hammer that strikes for freedom. Judea, 168 B.C.E. Judah Maccabeus carries rebellion in his heart. And though his father insists he study the priesthood, deep down he aches for a chance to break the escalating violence of the Greeks toward the Jews. But he reaches his breaking point when he hears of gruesome atrocities against Jewish communities and rejects his parents' pacifism to prepare for war. Seeking out the aid of a former Roman soldier, he inspires the young men of his village to take up arms against their oppressors. And when an enemy captain abducts his brother’s betrothed, the determined resistance fighter musters his fledgling army and leads a daring mission to mete out justice. Will Judah shatter the chains of suffering and lead the charge to liberation? Painstakingly researched and deftly told, The Birth of the Maccabee chronicles the events that forged one of ancient Judea’s greatest heroes. From Judah’s passion to protect his people, to his rise as a champion, J.D. Sonne renders an epic account of the circumstances leading up to this pivotal moment in Jewish history. Birth of the Maccabee is the breathtaking first book in The Judean Revolt historical fiction series.

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