In an ancient city carvedfrom stone, one desperate young woman searches for peace—in the calm before theRomans attack.

In AD 106, a single mother can be certain of onething—destitution. So Cassia and her six-year-old son flee to Petra, seekingrefuge in the loving arms of family.

But the great stone city is not what Cassia imagined. Andfamily cannot be trusted. When a secret reveals her son's true bloodline, theboy becomes the target of a royal conspiracy. He's snatched from Cassia'sgrasp.

In her darkest hours, Cassia finds herself surrounded byfollowers of the Way, a subversive new religious group whose disciples are frequentlysentenced to arenas with starved lions and blood-soaked sand. Why would theyseek out more danger by helping her? And what kind of religion gives freely andasks for nothing in return?

Roman soldiers soon surround Petra, immersing the city inpanic and further endangering Cassia's son. She realizes he cannot be saved byhuman efforts alone. Her only hope lies with the followers of the Way . . . andher willingness to trust their One True God.

Reading Group Guide Included

"Higley's meticulous research enhances readers'understanding of the daring lives of the first Christians." —RT BookReviews, of City on Fire

"If you liked Francine Rivers' A Voice in the Wind,you'll love Palace of Darkness! It grabbed me from page one and neverlet go." —Colleen Coble, USA Today bestsellingauthor