The first part of this story was probably the best, with the parts about the Pilate family and their move to Judea, and Claudia’s (Pilate’s daughter’s) attempts to educate herself. After the first few chapters, however, I felt it degenerated to the level of a TV or modern Hollywood ‘Biblical’ drama.

In a way, it’s one of those books that seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. The character’s outlook was way too modern for it to feel truly historical, and there were far too many sex scenes for it to be accepted in the mainstream Christian market, though I understand with was not the author’s intended audience.
The characters, including the main ones, seemed became ‘stock’ characters, with the pretty girl trapped in an unwanted marriage falling for the handsome rake trope, and there was a lot of telling instead of showing. In the end, most of them came across as a bit vapid and shallow, even in their brushes with the supernatural or biblical figures. It’s like they were trying too hard to maintain a modern, sceptical objective worldview, which did not fit in with the period.
On the plus side, some of the settings were well described, but I did not feel ‘transported’ back to the period with this novel.

I requested a copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley for review. I was not required to write a positive one and all opinions expressed are my own.

Pilate's Daughter was slow to capture my interest but as the book moved forward the story became a bit more interesting. The main female character, Claudia Lucretia, is created by the imagination of the author as well as the male character Judah ben Hillel. I won't give the total plot away but Hillel was a key participant in the demise of Jesus.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

Could not get into or care for the characters. I made it to 30 percent and could not make myself go any further. The setting of first century Judea was interesting but the romance felt rushed and fake. Too much sexual info on the secondary characters as well. Would not recommend.