Much better than I expected, given my dismal record with contemporary-written Christian fiction. The main heroine is more than a little too perfect, who never seems to waver in faith, loving to the extremes unlovable people, the works. But at least she was consistent as a character, and perhaps more importantly, despite her perfection, she seemed to have limited influence over the lives of all the secular Romans/barbarians around her. That made her story believable and a true struggle where any changes enacted in the lives of others were not through her own magical efforts but through a larger plan where she only plays a role. Major characters really take a turn for the worse, and the ugly truths of Roman history is described very well. 
 Normally I might give this book 3 stars, but there was a particular moment that spoke personally to me, especially in regards to achieving faith. The heroine was trying to convince an elderly Roman man on his deathbed about the truth of Jesus Christ and his salvation, but it wasn't working. However, even as the Roman admitted to himself that he didn't really believe in what she spoke about, he did, however, believe in HER, as a result of their relationship and all the good that she had brought to him and his household. And because of that, it was implied he believed in her beliefs by proxy. 
 I felt my own conversion vindicated by that one sentence, that I can gradually become Christian by trusting in the judgment of a loved one rather than having some earthshaking conversion experience. I haven't found this kind of nuance in any modern Christian fiction I've tried.