AS SURE AS THE SEA by JAMIE OGLE

Publication date 11/2/25

AS SURE AS THE SEA by JAMIE OGLE is a beautifully written novel in which the author immerses us into the early church in Myra in 310AD, which had been started by the apostle Paul two decades earlier. Her characters are beautifully portrayed as they serve the Lord and one another, battling against an insufficiency of food and the fear of capture and execution. There is a sense of family amongst the believers as they meet together in secret, taking communion and remembering what the Lord did for them on the cross, and reading the scriptures together, agaiinst the background of pagan feasts and rituals and the fear of betrayal.

Demitria and her brother Theseus are divers working for Mersad, the “self proclaimed jeweller of the seas”, eking out a living as best they can along the Lycian coast. I love the descriptions of the sea and the surrounding beauty, and the very relevant scriptures on which the God fearing characters base their lives.

Nikolas arrives from Patara as a replacement pastor, and, as a cover, teaches latin at the boys’ school where Titus and his family live and lesd the church. Both Demi and Nikolas have feelings of guilt and struggle to forgive themselves and feel God’s forgiveness for things they have done in the past. Will they stand strong when their lives unravel and their faith is tested? 

I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you. 

I was so engrossed in the story that I could not put the book down. I cannot recommend this exciting and inspirational read strongly enough. It is the first of this author’s novels that I have read and it most certainly will not be the last!

I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.