Book Review: Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead

Book Review: Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead

Let me begin by saying I have read this book at least 4 times. I have it in a dilapidated softcover but found a cheap hardcover version of it on Amazon for 5 bucks and decided to get it. This seems to me a book meant to be read as a hardcover. The dust jacket is beautiful and adds to the reading experience. Beware, at 646 pages this work of historical fiction is not a short read but I enjoyed almost every minute of it. It is my favorite book by this Christian fantasy author and I’d love to see it made into a movie someday.

The story is about Aidan, an Irish scribe who is chosen to go with a group of his fellow monks to deliver a great gift (The Book of Kells) to the Emperor in Byzantium. Aidan’s ship is then attacked by Danish Sea Wolves and he is captured and taken as a slave to Daneland. Through a series of tragedies and adventures Aidan eventually find himself taken to Byzantium where he experiences the intrigues of the courts of the Emperor. He is betrayed and in his search for justice his faith is shaken to its core. Finding himself eventually in the land of the Arabs, Aidan has many more adventures which culminate in him eventually returning to Byzantium to confront his destiny.

Every time I read this book I get something different out of it. There are deep questions within the story – what is God’s place and ours in finding our destiny? Why does God not act when he could? Why does he allow us to suffer? Lawhead does an excellent job of seamlessly working in historical facts and Celtic Christian tradition in a way that adds to the tapestry of the story without distracting from it. I recognized many Celtic sayings and prayers and reflected upon their meanings as I was reading. There are only a few books in my collection that I would say I’d say I couldn't live without, but this would be one for sure. Highly recommended, I rate this book 4.8 ninja stars out of 5.