Ashes Like Bread: A Biblical Novel of Lamech and His Two Wives (Thrones of Genesis #1) by Jean Hoefling

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The story takes on the wives of Lamech, the first bigamist in the Bible. It centers around the 2nd wife, Zyla, who is much older than her sister.  Lamech is the worst sort of man and uses women to further himself without actually doing any work. Personally, I found Zyla to be selfish and self-centered. All she wanted was to be loved for her gift to see the future, only Lamech tempts Zyla by promises of being a great seer in the city. She steals Lamech's affections and marries him with her sister, all for the promise of a seer's chair. It takes many years for her to see all the damage she has done, and returns to her people on the mountain for forgiveness. The writing is strong, but the story loses all momentum quickly after the climax. It's a story of redemption and happiness is not found in our dreams and expectations, but in what God desires for us to become.