by Jeet Thayil
First published 2022
The women arrive at the cave before dawn, expecting to find the body of their teacher. The tomb stands empty. Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, and thirteen other women who walked with Christ now speak their truths. They stayed when the male disciples fled. They witnessed the crucifixion when others turned away. They carried his message forward when the church tried to silence them. Each woman reveals how following Christ transformed her life and threatened the established order. Their voices weave together to tell the familiar story from an entirely different perspective. These women understood that Christ's teachings made them equals, not servants. They knew their testimonies posed a danger to those who would reshape his radical message. Together they reclaim their place in the most important story ever told.
Genres: literary-fiction, christian-fiction, historical-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: alternate-perspective, found-family, reclaiming-history
Setting: Bethany, Cave
Period: Crucifixion, Early Christianity
192 pages · Paperback · Vintage