Book Reviews: Appointed Adventurer by D.M. Griffin

Greetings, 

While I intended to write a review for another book for this post, which will be coming soon, I remembered that I had this one sitting in limbo throughout the PenWorks of the Wor Blog Tour. 

This review is of another book that I read in September from the Biblical Fiction category. It is another one of D.M. Griffin's books. It's called Appointed Adventurer.   Truth be told, this one has been on my TBR list for at least two years, and I just kept pushing the review off because of other things. 

However, I am super excited to finally get this one out there for you. One of my goals with any review I write is to find the positive information that really stands out to me, and that was not a hard ask with this book. Without further ado, here is my honest review of Appointed Adventurer. This is book 4 of a set of 4 from her Believers Legacy Series.

See you in the pages, 

M.J.E.

~~~

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Overall Description:

He was born the son of a Pharisee. He grew up a Hebrew of Hebrews. Zealous for the Law, Saul of Tarsus could not see the shackles that bound him. He embarked upon a path that would exalt him as a religious leader among his people. Becoming a murderous persecutor was the final step to his selfish ascension. He had not planned for God to intervene. He could not have predicted that God would use blindness to open Saul's eyes. 

The voice of God Almighty appointed him for an adventure that would strip Saul from everything he held dear. Through suffering and trials, God would remake him into Paul, an apostle appointed to a life-long adventure that would free his soul and shape the world. How did Paul endure the suffering appointed to him? How was God going to use this appointed adventurer to mark the world with a believer's legacy that would never die? Book Four of Believer's Legacy Series

My Review of the Book:

Have you ever wondered who Paul truly was and how he became the man we encounter at the close of Acts? D.M. Griffin’s Appointed Adventurer imagines exactly that, offering a thoughtful and unexpected exploration of Paul’s journey, unexpected in the best way possible.

Griffin masterfully blends biblical fiction with historical detail, weaving the two together in a way that made me connect with Paul in a fresh and meaningful way. As an author of biblical fiction myself, I’ve often wrestled with how to portray Paul’s complexities convincingly. I have to admit, Griffin beat me to it.

This isn’t just a surface-level retelling of Paul’s life. Griffin dives deep into his motivations, experiences, and the core identity that shaped him through trials both before and after his transformation. The characters surrounding him feel authentic and relatable, as if they could truly have been part of his world.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is Griffin’s creative take on Saul’s early life. Without spoiling anything, she offers an intriguing reason for his initial avoidance of the Gentiles. It was not what I expected, but it made perfect sense and added profound depth to Paul’s later ministry.

Another striking element is the unexpected theological connection Griffin draws between Paul and Lazarus. This comparison was new to me, and it sparked my own research. I’m still contemplating it, but the idea continues to intrigue me.

Griffin has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her unique way with words captures my attention from beginning to end, regardless of genre. Her descriptive language lingers long after I finish reading, and her biblical fiction consistently motivates me to dig deeper into Scripture and history myself.

Appointed Adventurer is filled with characters from diverse backgrounds whose lives intersect in surprising ways, challenging conventional interpretations while enriching the narrative. The story kept me engaged until the final page, with purposeful twists that made me want to read it again.

As the Believer’s Legacy Series unfolds, Paul’s journey only grows more compelling. His adventures here are powerful statements of the legacy he left behind, and Griffin’s storytelling honors the biblical narrative while breathing new life into it.

For me, the best biblical historical fiction challenges my faith, pushes me to reflect, and encourages deeper study. Appointed Adventurer did all of that. With its devotional questions at the end, it could easily be used in a classroom or study group, but it also stands as a captivating story that lingers in the heart.

This book is a standout, and I’m eager to continue the series.