"Regulus, the king star. Circling Jupiter, the king planet, like a crown. All of it inside the constellation of the lion. It signifies that a great king has been born in the land of the Jews."

I don't know what all I was expecting when I picked up Star of Wonder by author Tracy Higley. That is, I figured The Incense Road trilogy would be the road leading to the birth of Christ, but besides that, my space for expectations was pretty blank.

I was unprepared for the stirring adventure this story on the sands of Arabia becomes, something bringing Aladdin and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark to my mind. With the principal characters of Misha, a young mage, Reza, a general of the Persian king, and Kamillah, an Egyptian princess, this is a story of heritage and the need for acceptance, of intrigues for power and position. Along the way, the focus of the journey naturally shifts as the ultimate search for a Savior takes precedence.

I'd recommend this trilogy to readers who'll appreciate adventure and intrigue woven with deep matters of the heart, as well as to anyone who'd like to experience this story in a broader context, beyond a baby in a manger. ( )