Book Review: The Bronze Door

Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez

A fortitude of imaginative prose—an immersive historical atmosphere

Simon returns from The Lighthouse as a primary character in The Bronze Door, but this time we also get the thoughts of Valerius, his sister Rachel, his wife Aurelia, and others. 

In this sequel, Valerius has been appointed the governor of Syria by Caligula, the emperor. Despite swearing loyalty to Caligula, Valerius is given an order that complicates his morality: he must either escort a statue of Caligula to Jerusalem and force it to be erected in a temple or defy the emperor. Defiance means certain death, but to carry out the order would lead to the deaths of the local Jewish population, who oppose the abasement of the statue. 

While this is occurring, Simon’s wife Aurelia begins to gravitate toward Christianity. Simon refuses to accept her rationale and causes a major rupture in their marriage. Rachel’s romantic love for Valerius and her desire for peace complicate her own personal life much more than she’d imagine. With constant fissures creating distance amongst families and lovers, they must learn to open the door to understanding and empathy to begin healing. 

The Bronze Door is one of those reading experiences where you hold your breath until you know what’s coming. In so many cases, I found myself completely submerged in the text and feeling emotional. There’s a stronger focus on developing multiple characters in this one, and it pays off wonderfully. Rachel in particular is the strongest and most memorable point of view, as she has to wrestle with a ton of trauma. I particularly enjoyed her romance with Valerius—a star-crossed, effulgent love. 

Although there are many characters and conflicting thoughts, Karin Ciholas structures the story in a way that makes it flow easily. I could chart out the relationships of multiple characters and stay aware of the implications behind each relationship at each turn. Ciholas does a wonderful job with the little details that reaffirm a character’s role—an overall seamless novel to read.

Due to its setting, this book is also able to platform some really interesting discussions about gender, politics, religion, and grief. The value of a human life is a point of contention for many of the characters, with no clear consensus. They also have to function under an problematic government with little to no advocacy. Valerius and Simon are often at odds and present two distinct beliefs, which allows us a full understanding of what is at stake. The text highlights a lot of issues that are still relevant now, from religious persecution to unconditional loyalty. 

The Bronze Door is a well-researched, sagacious novel—all I could have asked for out of a second book in a series. I can’t wait for the finale.

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