Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith

Close up of beautiful young woman with dark hair wearing scarf over her hair


Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Revel (February 18, 2024)

Review by Mae Clair

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell Books for my ARC.

Jill Eileen Smith is one of my favorite Christian authors, so when I saw Dawn of Grace available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. This is Smith’s first venture into writing a story set during New Testament times vs. Old Testament. Her novel, The Prince and the Prodigal remains one of my all-time favorite Christian reads, so naturally I was looking forward to Dawn of Grace.

Smith went straight to the heart of difficulty in tackling the story of Mary Magdalene. There has been much speculation about Mary’s backstory and how her life intersected with that of Jesus. Of the women who populate the New Testament, she is certainly the most notable (with the exception of Jesus’s mother, Mary).

In Dawn of Grace, the reader meets Mary Magdalene as a young child, then becomes witness to her life as it unfolds. From her possession by demons to being set free by Jesus, following him during his ministry years, to witnessing his crucifixion and resurrection, Smith allows us to experience events through Mary’s eyes. Carefully considered fiction weaves with historical elements, but the blend feels seamless, and Jesus’s teachings are delivered as written in the four Gospels. Those parts are much like reading scripture.

I liked the inclusion of many of the women of the New Testament—Susanna, Joanna, Martha, and Mary—to name a few—but some characters are more fleshed out than others. Given the scope of territory the novel covers and the amount of people who populate it, the author did well in bringing familiar moments (and settings) to life. Faith elements are strong, especially as related to Jesus. I got a true feel for how it must have been for the Jews of the time, expecting their Messiah to be a conquering king, questioning if Jesus was going to deliver them. Even his own disciples had doubts.

If I have one quibble, it’s the lack of emotional attachment I usually feel to the lead characters when reading one of Smith’s novels. The book skews more plot-driven than character-driven, which is perhaps why I felt a smidgen of detachment. I DID ache for Mary, especially in her fear for Jesus, and her dread that he might someday leave her.

“Where will you go?” My heart pounded with each rushed breath.

“I am here to do my Father’s will. My kingdom is not of this world, Mary. In time you will understand, when I return to my Father. I cannot explain it to you now as you cannot yet bear to hear it.” He held my gaze and I wanted to weep.

Dawn of Grace, Jill Eileen Smith

Overall, this is a well-presented blend of plausible fiction and Biblical history woven into an uplifting tale of faith, hope, and devotion to our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, you’ll find this novel well worth your time.

I give Dawn of Grace four fish, and recommend you pre-order now or grab a copy on release day, February 18, 2025.

composite image of four drawn fish from the British Museum on unsplash

I received an ARC of Dawn of Grace from NetGalley.

34 thoughts on “Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith”

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  1. I heard that Dawn of Grace would be releasing this year, so I super appreciate your review, Mae. The pull quote you selected just about broke my heart. It must have been glorious but very, very difficult to be a follower of Jesus when he walked the earth. Great review!

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    1. I’m amazed by those who walked with and followed him, Priscilla. It’s wonderful that there were people with open hearts, but I know those hearts were broken–then filled with joy at his resurrection.

      Jill Eileen Smith is one of my favorite Christian authors. I’m sure this book will have a great reception.

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    1. I’m in awe of those authors who can write Biblical fiction, Grant. I would love to be able to do the same, but know I would fall short on the historical and scripture areas. I can’t imagine the research that goes into novels like this, and then to be able to turn characters (both real and fictional) into full-fledged life.

      Smith has another winner on her hands.

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  3. Ah. I was ready to buy until you said it’s more plot-driven than character-driven. A story like this (to me) needs to be character-centric. I’ll have to think about it. Thanks for the candid review, Mae.

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    1. Smith is such a talented writer, Staci, and I’m sure it was hard for her to find that perfect balance of plot and character. I did enjoy the book, but when I compare it to everything else I’ve read by her, I just didn’t feel the same connection to the characters. I still recommend it as a good read, but my personal preference slants to her Old Testament fiction.

      Maybe check out some of the other reviews. I could be in the minority.

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  5. Thank you, Mae, for your excellent review. I have a great love for Mary Magdalene and turn to scripture scholars to better know her. I admire Jill Eileen Smith’s courage to write about Mary’s life, but I am not inclined to read the story.

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    1. I do think it took Jill a good deal of courage to write about Mary. It must have been difficult to struggle for that balance of historical fact and fiction.

      I completely understand if this book is not for you, Gwen. This was Jill’s first attempt at New Testament fiction (I have loved all of her OT fiction). It will be interesting to see what she writes next.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts today!

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  6. Fascinating story idea. I’m not a huge reader of Biblical fiction but I think a story about Mary Magdalene would be very interesting. Thanks for your thoughtful review, Mae.

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    1. As I mentioned to Staci, I might be in the minority on my opinions, Joan, but this book just lacked the extra connection I felt in Smith’s other work. It was still intriguing, but much of it read like an unfolding of scenes from the gospel. She told them well, but that’s where the plot vs. character emotions was most notable.

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    1. I’m excited you have the Prince and the Prodigal, Denise. I LOVE that book!

      Jill Eileen Smith told Mary Magdalene’s story with care and attention to detail. It’s a good novel, just not quite on par with what I’d expected.

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  10. Prince and the Prodigal Son has been sitting too long waiting for me to read. Thanks for the reminder. I’m more of a character driven story fan but may check Mary out too

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    1. Hi, Teri! I am such a huge fan of Biblical fiction, and truly admire authors who are able to handle it so deftly. As you said, the amount of research must be monumental.

      Jill Eileen Smith is so dedicated in that respect. She’s truly talented, and her love for Biblical fiction shows in this book. It’s not my favorite of her work, but it will surely have a strong audience.

      I hope all is well with you! 🤗

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    1. Hi, Michelle! Thank you for stopping by to check out my review. Jill Eileen Smith is a talented author, and it shows in her work. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, I think you’d enjoy Dawn of Grace.

      I fully understand about those lists of books to read, LOL. Mine is sprouting tentacles! 🤣

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    1. Hi, Jacqui. I found the fictional parts of this novel as intriguing as the historical/Biblical parts. The Bible doesn’t tell us a great deal about Mary Magdalene, but Jill Eileen Smith did an admirable job fleshing out her character and building on what might have been. Thanks so much for commenting.
      I hope you are doing well!

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  14. An interesting review, Mae. I know almost nothing about Mary Magdalene, and the stories I have heard are all over the place. I prefer character-driven novels, but I can imagine that there’s a fine line when it comes to biblical fiction and how much fiction can be inserted into an accepted storyline. Thanks for the thoughtful review.

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    1. Hi, Diana. You’re absolutely right about that fine line with Biblical fiction. It’s even stronger when authors venture into the New Testament and have Jesus speaking and interacting with others in scenes.
      Jill Eileen Smith did an admirable job with this book, even if I didn’t find it as character-driven as her Old Testament stories.
      Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope all is well with you!

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    1. Hi, Robbie. As a child, I always confused her with the woman who the Pharisees brought to Jesus in the hopes he would say they should stone her.
      She is such an amazing woman of faith. Although this book was a bit different than Smith’s other work, it truly reflected her love of Christ.

      I hope you are well, my friend! 🤗

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