What I’m Reading (Again): The Zion Series by Brock and Bodie Thoene
Every now and then, I return to a story world so rich and spiritually resonant that it feels less like reading and more like stepping into sacred ground. That’s exactly what I’ve been experiencing again as I reread the entire Zion series by Brock and Bodie Thoene.
I’m nearly finished, with just two books to go, and I’m as captivated now as I was the first time.
A Glimpse Into The Series
The Zion series isn’t a single set of books but a collection of interconnected series, including:
The Zion Chronicles
The Zion Covenant
The Zion Legacy
The Jerusalem Chronicles
The A.D. Chronicles
Together, these sweeping novels span from pre-WWII Europe to the early church, telling deeply researched, emotionally powerful stories that explore the formation of modern Israel, the horrors and heroism of the Holocaust, and the lives of early followers of Jesus.
What ties all these stories together is a deep love for biblical truth, a commitment to historical accuracy, and a storytelling style that makes the people of the past feel heartbreakingly real.
Why These Books Matter
One of the reasons I return to these books again and again is the depth of humanity they bring to historical and biblical figures. The Thoenes have a gift for illuminating the people behind the headlines of Scripture - showing not just what they did, but how they felt, what they feared, and how they clung to faith through fearful situations.
These books are:
Historically accurate, with immersive settings and real world events woven into every chapter.
Spiritually moving, drawing readers back to Scripture, giving us fresh eyes to see God’s hand in human history.
Emotionally resonant, filled with characters who wrestle with faith, identity, and courage in ways that feel strikingly relevant today.
How They Inspire My Own Writing
As a writer of biblical fiction, I deeply admire what Brock and Bodie Thoene do so well: they add fictional depth to real people and events without ever detracting from the truth of Scripture. It’s not about rewriting the Bible. It’s about exploring the human experience around the biblical narrative.
I love to do something similar in my own writing—filling in the emotional and relational gaps left between the lines of the Bible. Not to embellish or distract, but to draw people toward the Word, not away from it. To make readers pause and say, “I never thought about what she must have felt in that moment,” or “What if this is what was happening behind the scenes?”
The Thoenes have reminded me, once again, of the beauty and power of stories that are anchored in both truth and imagination. They help us step into another’s sandals, whether it’s a Holocaust survivor, a rabbi in Roman occupied Judea, or a faithful woman trying to hold her family together in the chaos of war.
If you’re looking for fiction…
that feeds your faith, deepens your understanding of history, and gives voice to the voiceless, I can’t recommend this series highly enough.
And if you’re like me - you might just find yourself reading it all over again.
For a comprehensive list of the Thoenes' works and to explore more about their series, you can visit their Goodreads author page.Goodreads+1pioneerbook.com+1
If you're interested in discussing these books further or exploring how they influence my writing, feel free to reach out or leave a comment below!
