The plot is driven by the personal quest of Daniel, who lose his
father and uncle to the Romans and is seeking revenge. Daniel wishes to help the bandit leader
Rosh build an army to drive the Romans out of Israel; as the book continues, Daniel's hatred is
tempered by his interactions with Joel and Thacia. Thacia in particular helps Daniel to
understand more about his own emotions and the power of love instead of hate; she is a student of
the preacher Jesus, who is not yet revered as the son of God.
When the Romans were defeated and the last of them had
gone, he would come back. He would build a good house for his grandmother and Leah, and there
would be plenty to eat, and a good life for them at last. And there would be no more giving way
on the road and looking over their shoulders before they dared to whisper, but everyone would
walk free.
(Speare, The Bronze Bow, Google
Books)
Daniel's quest is stalled by
his return to his childhood home and the necessity of taking care of his sister, Leah, who has
suffered severe mental trauma. He balances his personal war with his shifting morality and
loyalties, until he learns that Rosh is only working towards personal profit, not towards the
cause of Israeli freedom. With his beliefs challenged and feeling himself at rock-bottom, Daniel
finally accepts the teachings of Jesus into his heart, and embraces love; he cannot drive out the
Romans by himself, but he can drive out his hatred and make the world a better
place.
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