Heart of a Lion

Starred review from January 1, 2003
The indefatigable Morris, who has tackled everything from westerns to science fiction, tries his hand at biblical fiction in the first installment of Lions of Judah, a series featuring the lineage of Christ. "Heart of a Lion "begins with a lively account of Noah's boyhood, when he struggled with his feelings for a young woman who worships Baal. Eventually, after conquering a number of demons, Noah settles upon a monastic carpenter's life while he awaits directions from the Ancient One. The gathering of animals and the Great Flood could hardly fail to be entertaining, and they are, though it's hard not to recall John Huston's rather more earthy rendition of Noah in "The Bible."

(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)