In the Palace of the Great King: a Catholic Novel

The devil doesnt care how much money your parents make. All that matters is that you keep your mind on anything and everything but God. In the Palace of the Great King (348 pages) by debut author Julie Ash reveals how two teens from totally different backgrounds respond to the call to conversion and contemplative religious life in the midst of an often hostile secular culture and a Church in crisis.Julie Ash crafts an iconic tale of demons angels beliefs and the reality of what it means to give ones life to God.D. Donovan Senior Reviewer Midwest Book ReviewWhat if Heaven is everything they say it is? What if its this wonderful place where you can have everything you ever wanted and be happy forever? And nobody told us?Lonely 14-year-old Char Fisher isnt as popular as her beautiful younger sister Kayla. Jealously they bicker and argue. Then a family trip to Cleveland changes everything when their mother has a major meltdown over a pro-life protester.After her beloved Abuelita Isabel dies 17-year-old Tia Esperanza gets uprooted from her childhood home in San Antonio when her mother decides to move them all to Cleveland. Now theyre closer to Tias father but things arent exactly working out. Shell be graduating soon and then what? Shes so busy working and helping take care of her special needs brother while her mother works nights that she doesnt have time to think about anything else. Char and Tia come from totally different worlds but when a chance bus ride in a terrifying storm throws them all together in Holy Angels Monastery something beautiful emerges that even Tia with her Catholic upbringing couldnt have expected. Featuring vivid and detailed descriptions of locations in San Antonio Great Falls Cleveland and Pittsburgh peppered with the popular culture and music of the late 1990s and anchored with quotes from Catholic saints poets writers and religious this fast-paced novel will appeal to spiritual seekers of every age and ethnicity. This true-to-life young adult novel by Julie Ash is packed with gripping adventure heartwarming humor and a stunning conclusion that you wont see coming!In the Palace of the Great King is an engaging prayer-provoking and truly beautiful read... I thoroughly enjoyed every word of it. Catholic Teen Catholic Teen LifeI was astounded by how well-written and enthralling this book was and it is now one of my favorites.Grace Donahue A Catholic Girl Reads