I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman must wrestle with her family and her destiny in author Donna D. Conrad’s “The Last Magdalene: Book One of the Magdalene Chronicles”.

The Synopsis

The Last Magdalene does for the New Testament what The Red Tent did for the Old Testament.

The temple of Asherah has existed in Jerusalem for hundreds of years, disguised as a benevolent society for widows and orphans. Within the sheltering walls, priestesses are taught to honor the goddess through rites of passion passed from mother to daughter and from priestess to priestess. Into this world, Miriam of Bethany, is born.

Miriam longs to become The Magdalene, High Priestess of Asherah, as her mother and grandmother before her, but learns she is to marry an obscure rabbi from Galilee, Yeshua bar Yosef. Determined to control her own life, she runs away and is brutally attacked in the streets of Jerusalem. Broken in body and spirit, she resigns herself to her fate.

Yeshua, hailed as the Messiah, teaches love and acceptance, and places Miriam in the forefront of his followers. Together they find the courage to face the hostility of the priests and the brutality of Roman occupation. But Rome is a power unlike any the world has known, and Rome deals harshly with those who oppose its rule.

The Last Magdalene is an exquisite story of passion and love, and the lasting power of one woman’s voice which refuses to be silenced.

The Review 

The author really did an incredible job of creating a wholly unique and engaging story while also leaning into the history and culture of the narrative. The story captured a time when the concept of gods still held, and getting to witness both the beliefs of this ancient civilization and the politics and inner workings of life within the temple made this such a compelling story.

Yet the family dynamics around the protagonist and the themes of fate, sacrifice, and our connection to those around us ultimately played a significant role in the protagonist’s journey. The emotional journey that the protagonist had will resonate deeply with readers as she confronts her place within the only life she’s ever had and the destiny that awaits her.

The Verdict

Tense, heartfelt, and engaging author Donna D. Conrad’s “The Last Magdalene” is a must-read political and spiritual historical fiction meets women’s fiction novel. The shocking twists in the protagonist’s story and the detailed imagery in the author’s writing made this a compelling read. If you haven’t yet, preorder your copy today, or pick up a copy on April 9, 2024.

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Donna Conrad is an award-winning author, journalist, activist, and teacher. Her core values revolve around the concept of individual empowerment, a sustaining ideal running through the books she writes. Her writing interests are varied and include articles for fine-art periodicals, memoir/narrative non-fiction, as well as historical, flash, and paranormal fiction. She is a regular presenter at writers’ conferences.

Her first published book, “House of the Moon: Surviving the Sixties,” is a memoir that explores life in the tumultuous decade that changed the world.

Donna’s life is as varied as her writing. She embraces change as an exciting adventure. She has studied writing with the likes of Alan Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Jack Whyte.

Her upcoming four-book historical fiction series, The Magdalene Chronicles” has been acquired by Cold Creek Press. Book One, “The Last Magdalene,” will be released April 9, 2024.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their three cats. When she’s not writing, you can find Donna cruising the back roads in her black-on-black Miata MX-5, Maya – named for one of her favorite poets, Maya Angelou.

Visit me at https://DonnaConrad.com