Title: To Dwell Among Cedars (The Covenant House #1)
Author: Connilyn Cossette
Pages: 364
Release Date: December 1, 2020
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Format: eBook (also available in paperback)
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
As they fight for the soul of Israel, will they find healing for their own?
Eight years ago, after the Philistines surrendered the stolen Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora and her brother left their Philistine homeland to follow it to the community of Kiryat-Yearim. Though they both were lovingly enfolded into a Levite family that guards the Ark, Eliora can’t stop feeling like she doesn’t belong.
Meanwhile, a faction of discontent Hebrews finds Kiryat-Yearim to be an unfit resting place and believes that the sacred vessel should be in the hands of the priests who mean to restore the Holy of Holies in a new location. Under the guise of gathering Hebrews to worship together for the festivals, Levite musician Ronen has been sent by his uncle to find where the Ark has been hidden and steal it back. But Ronen never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would not be part of the very family he’s tasked to deceive.
Ronen’s attempts to charm Eliora into revealing the location of the Ark lead them in unexpected directions, as they must battle betrayal and fear to help establish Israel’s leadership for a better future.
My review:
This is a wonderful biblical fiction book.
I was fascinated by the look at what life may have been like in the Philistian city of Ashdod. I understand from the author’s note at the end of the story that there isn’t much known about them. I had never considered that Hebrew individuals could have been taken there as slaves.
The development of the story was great. The way that Arisa/Eliora and Lukio/Natan’s lives changed after they followed the ark to Israel was very dramatic.
The characters are incredibly well developed. I was especially drawn to Eliora, Yoela, and Ronen. Both Eliora and Ronen had very intense emotional journeys that they had to travel during the story. I was caught up in them and enjoyed seeing who gave each of them counsel along the way.
I did find the spelling of a number of the actual biblical figures’ names confusing. The author chose not to use the ones that are in English translations of the Bible. I’m not sure where she got the spellings she used. This isn’t covered in her note.
I’m giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
