Susa, Persia, in the year 473 BC: King Xerxes commands that all Jews in his realm be killed. Ezra, until now a peaceful scholar in Babylon, suddenly becomes the leader in the struggle for survival of the Jewish people. In a time filled with immense risks, he finds in Deborah a soulmate and the love of his life. When King Artaxerxes allows the Babylonian Jews to return to Jerusalem, it seems a dream comes true for Ezra and Deborah. However, this new life brings its own unique challenges. Lynn Austin masterfully breathes new life into the epic narratives of the Old Testament through her characters. She powerfully recounts the tumultuous period of the return of the people of Israel to their homeland and God's faithfulness and mercy.