Strong-willed Tirzah wants to join her people in driving the enemy from the land of Israel and undergoes training for a secret mission inside the stronghold of Shechem. But soon after she has infiltrated the ruthless Aramean commander’s kitchen, she makes a reckless decision that puts her and her allies in grave danger.Fresh off the battlefield, Liyam returns home to discover his beloved daughter … beloved daughter is dead. After his vow to hunt down her killer leads to months of fruitless pursuit, his last hope is in a family connection that comes with strings attached. Strings that force him to pose as a mercenary and rescue an infuriating woman who refuses to leave her mission uncompleted.
When an opportunity to pave a path to a Hebrew victory arises, can Tirzah convince Liyam to fight alongside her in the refuge city of her birth? Or will Liyam’s thirst for vengeance outweigh his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he’s come to love?
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Like Flames in the Night is an engrossing read. It pulled me in with an immediate ease, and the excitement doesn’t let up until the end. The plot is just so fun and exciting, full of adventure and tension at many points in the story. Cossette makes the idea of a female spy a plausible one, due to Tirzah’s life circumstances, as well as her position as the sister to Hebrew spies and soldiers. I appreciate that both of these characters, Tirzah and Liyam, are more mature characters. They have already experienced tragedy and been impacted by war, and it makes their interactions as well as outlooks on life different from someone younger and with less life experience. There are some lovely spiritual truths found here; the theme of forgiveness is especially powerful. The story works well as a romance, too, with a lovely chemistry between the two of the lead characters.
Cossette does a unique thing as well with how this book brings the series full circle by having the characters joyfully return to the place that once seemed to be a prison to the family matriarch, Moriyah, who was the main character in the first book. It is such a fitting conclusion. This family has been a joy to follow throughout each book, and the tie in to the Out from Egypt series is such a special Easter egg to discover in this story.
I highly recommend this entire series, and do yourself a favor by starting with book one. It makes it all that much more poignant to see how everything takes place. I highly recommend this novel, and the Cities of Refuge series.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. A positive review was not required; this review is my honest opinion.
WOW!!! 5 Stars ALL the Way! Connilyn Cossette does it again & again!
Like Flames in the Night was a hands down page-turner! I started this book in the afternoon and finished it only hours later (375 pages). For readers who want action – it has plenty, for those who want intrigue – you’ll find it throughout – and of course there is also a beautiful love story that grows out of pain & loss. “Old Friends” from the City of Refuge series are revisited and what a joy that is – when you fall in love with those from the pages, it is nice to get a glimpse of what happens after you close the book.
Tirzah’s story is so powerful! Her love for her people and the strength she carries from within is beyond inspiring! You will find yourself on the edge of your seat wanting to see what will happen and if Tirzah will be caught and if so – will she survive the horrific scenes that are playing out in the lands.
NO matter what type of reader you are – this story is for you! Open the cover and be ready for the journey!
“I’d slipped into places far more dangerous than Liyam’s broken heart.”
Like Flames in the Night is the arresting conclusion to Cossette’s Cities of Refuge series. This is by far one of the best biblical fiction stories I have had the pleasure to read. The author paints extraordinary word pictures.
“She was like wine to my blood and breath to my dead bones.”
Wow. So many times I had to stop and just soak in the beauty of the words I was reading. Overflowing with rich history and vividly drawn characters that encircled my heart, I couldn’t hold back my tears in the last chapter. They fell fast and silent.
“Justice without mercy was tyranny, and mercy without justice was lawlessness. Yahweh had created both to work together, for his glory and for our good.”
I highly recommend this book (and series) to fans of historical fiction intertwined with Truth, romance, adventure, forgiveness and redemption. Cossette’s commitment to giving her fans the best she has to offer shines forth “Like Flames in the Night”. 🙂
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. No review was required. All opinions are my own.
Connilynn Cossette consistently brings us novels of Biblical times that draw the readers in and make us believe that we are part of the ancient world she has flung open like a door. Like Flames in the Night is a tale of the nation of Israel as it is terrorized by the cruel Arameans, with Othniel leading the resistance. More specifically, we meet brave, bold Tirzah, who yearns to do her part to free the Hebrew people. Liyam is a warrior who loses his faith when he loses his dearest possessions. Somehow these two are key players in Israel’s struggle to be free.
Tirzah is a highly relatable character because she has several brothers and is very comfortable competing against them. Many female readers will either relate to the idea of competing with brothers or just wanting their contributions to be as valued as men’s. Some may say that women leaders were unheard of in Israeli history, but we can easily recall names of heroines such as Miriam, Deborah the judge, or Esther. I love how Tirzah slowly recognizes that Yahweh Himself has spoken through her outspoken personality. God uses us as we are.
Ah, Liyam. Heartthrob, spy, blood-avenger. He looks so good in his protective role, one might actually think he can let go of his blood-lust. What a tension this creates as Tirzah’s family tells their own history, and multiple friends urge the angry Hebrew to pursue life, not death. But is that even possible for Liyam?
I almost forgot Odeleya. She will worm her way into your heart and find a permanent spot.
If you like Biblical fiction, you need to add this last book in Cities of Refuge series to your collection. You could read this book as a stand-alone, but the series is too great. You will want to read all four books in Connilynn Cossette’s series.
So many “notable quotables.” I will keep them to just a few.
“Has Yahweh disappeared? Or has the power that split the sea diminished since the Arameans took control? Or have we simply forgotten who we are?”
“What they cannot understand is that the words of Yahweh, along with the renewed spirits of our people, are more dangerous than any weapon they might have taken from our hands.”
“…where the black shadow of Har Ebal stood, and at its peak, the altar of Yehoshua. “A fire will burn there again soon. And when it does, be assured that it was your iron strike against our flint hearts that created the first spark.”
“But it is our duty as men consecrated by Adonai Most High to speak truth. We have hidden too long in our homes, cowering, keeping His Words locked in our hearts instead of on our tongues.”
“If the people of Yahweh rise up and remember who they are, nothing will stop our armies from being victorious over the Arameans this time. Nothing.”
“Who was I to speak to the mind of the Eternal One? Or to turn my face away from the gifts he’d given me? Perhaps even the trials I had endured were gifts in a way, making me stronger, wiser, more prepared to accomplish his purposes.”
“By the time I was empty of prayers… there was just me and the God Who created me.”
“Justice without mercy was tyranny, and mercy without justice was lawlessness.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook-Multnomah and the author. This in no way influenced my opinions, which I am voluntarily leaving. I am solely responsible for these opinions.
This was an amazing novel! Sadly it’s the last one in the “Cities of Refuge Series” but I was happy to know that Connilyn Cossette has a new series in work so this amazing biblical stories will keep delighting us readers!
There is so much expectation for the conclusion of a series, especially after three incredible stories that bring two generations of fictional biblical characters to life. And I can truly say that you will not be disappointed with this final book. I wasn’t, on the contrary, I think it surpassed my expectations.
Tirzah is the youngest and only girl of Darek and Moriyah. We have seen her eldest brother’s stories in the previous books. Tirzah married Eliyah, suffered the loss of her newly conceived babies, and later became a widow in a very painful way. After a couple of years of her loss, she’s more than eager to join her father’s –now directed by Malakhi- spy network and add to their efforts in driving the enemy –namely the Arameans- from the land of Israel. She’s has grown with men and has developed useful skills for the battle since she was young. Now alone, her desire to do something to aid the cause to free her people grows stronger. After months of training, she convinces her brother to send her on a secret mission in Shechem where she will try to infiltrate in the kitchen of the commander’s house so she can overhear their enemy’s plans and secrets and alert Malakhi’s spy network about their next moves. The hebrews are gaining hope and force with the leadership of Othniel (one of Israel’s historical judges). Little does she know that a small mistake in her mission will put put her people and herself in jeopardy, leaving her stranded and in danger of being uncovered in the enemy’s household.
Liyam is a hebrew warrior. But his loyalty to the cause crash down when he, now a widow, returns from the battlefield to discover her seven year old daughter was ran over and crushed to death by a reckless man driving his horse-drawn wagon through town. He’s more than enraged, on the verge of going crazy, and he swears he will not rest until he avenges the murderer by killing him with his own hands. He cannot see beyond this self imposed mission and will not be swayed. That is, until he arrives to Ishai’s vineyard during his search and meets Darek and his sons; there’s a sweet connection to this family (I loved that part!) and he had been there when he was a boy. Darek has just learned of Tirzah’s role in the mission and the danger she’s in and he and his sons beg Liyam to go to Shechem, as he has red hair and does not look like a hebrew and could pass like a Moabite, and get himself into the commander’s house and rescue Tirzah and bring her back. He resists but when Malakhi offers in Exchange his help to trace his daughter’s murderer, he agrees. Oh wow, the way he gets in the commander’s house, the show he puts on to get close to Tirzah was unique!! What he doesn’t expect is for Tirzah to be such a fierce and corageous woman! Not only that, but she doesn’t want to go back home until she has achieved more to help her people… Will Liyam agree to Tirzah’s plan? Will he be able to protect her? Will Tirzah’s love of the Almighty bring light and hope to his darkened soul? Will he allow himself to love again or will his revenge step between his chance at true love and happiness? Will the hebrews finally triumph over their enemy?
These are all questions you’ll have to read this story to find out! I don’t want to spoil it, so I’ll stop here about the plot. I’ll just say that the plot was great, it was fast paced and had unexpected twists that will keep you captivated until the end. The historical detail was so enriching. It really amazed me how much she knows about the Hebrews way of living, their culture, their battles, etc. It really transported me to those times slimly described in the Sacred Scripture. It was like traveling through time, the descriptions so detailed that it was easy to imagine each scene and the characters in them.
The characters were the best part. I loved to see how the previous characters in the series were faring. But Tirzah and Liyam were awesome. Tirzah was such a strongwilled, independent and selfless woman, her passion for her God and people so strong she was willing to lay her life for them. She was also compassionate and with a heart of gold. The love and unity in her family was beautiful to watch. Liyam was a more complex character, and his losses had affected him in a bad way. He lost his zest for life and thrived only for his personal revenge, even if in his daughter’s honor. I loved how Tirzah melts his defenses and slowly moves him to question his actions and way of thinking. She will be the instrument to help him recover his faith in God and to think beyond of others beyond his personal vendetta. It will be hard for him to forgive, but it was a touching sight to behold when it happens. I loved how he changed for the better because of a strong woman that loved him broken as he was and helped him see the light over his misguided passion.
The story has an inspiring message about trusting God above all and His deliverance in His due time. And trusting Him means learning His ways are often different from our ways, but always so much better than what we could ever wish for. I loved how Tirzah wanted to give Him glory through her life. Loved this quote from her: “I had to trust that Yahweh would take all my efforts, even those I’d made wrapped up in my selfish desire and pride, and use them for his glory”. Her humbling attitude touched me!
It was sad to finish this series, but it was a very satisfying ending! Hope you’ll read it! This book can be read as a standalone, but it is so much richer if you read the series in order because you get to see the characters grow in the different stories, and they are all family related. So if you haven’t started the series, you should read “A Light on the Hill” first! It’s the story of Tirzah’s parents!
“Justice without mercy was tyranny, and mercy without justice was lawlessness. Yahweh had created both to work together, for his glory and for our good.”
Tirzah, a young widow, works towards freedom for her people by infiltrating the Aramean leader’s kitchen with two others in her team who unfortunately are tortured when they are found to be spies. Now what does she do? A young widower, Liyam, is talked into helping Tirzah get out of the area by posing as a mercenary hired by the enemy; in exchange for information he needs to revenge a family death.
What happens when the attraction between the two could override their ultimate mission: to help free their people from tyrannical rule?
With a Masters concentration in church history, I always approach Biblical historical fiction with a grain of salt. It often is true to form, but this, the fourth and last book in the Cities of Refuge series, Connilyn Cossette has definitely proven me wrong…. This is a marvelous story wrapped in biblical history rooted in the Old Testament; something often difficult for people to get interested in. Having never read any other of Cossette’s work I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn into a cracking good read. Highly Recommended 5/5
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and chose to read and review it]
I couldn’t post reviews on Kobo or Google Play because it was “bigger” than they accept (for the first time in years)
I had a hard time getting into the book, in part because of the new to me genre, the unusual names, and the fact that I had so many things going on I couldn’t sit down to immerse myself in the book. I quickly got engrossed in the book and wanted to keep reading to be able to know what was going on. This book is the fourth book in the Cities of Refuge series but the only one of them that I’ve read, and while it gives some explanation of things that happened in previous books, I felt like I was missing part of the story many times. I would highly recommend reading the books in order to know what was going on. I was intrigued by the time period of biblical history just prior to the judges and seeing what life might have been like for them as they fought to overthrow their oppressors. Many of the names are not the familiar spelling and I’m not sure if this is the more accurate. It was most noticeable on major people — Mosheh, Calev, Avraham (Moses, Caleb, Abraham). Other names I just took as being unique names but later realized they were also names that I knew–Yitzak, Yaakov, Rivkah (Isaac, Jacob, Rebekah). I found the book to be well written and had good biblical truths. The characters also learned and grew through the story. I look forward to reading more of Connilyn Cosssette’s books.
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
A stunning conclusion to the series!
Intrigue. Spies. Mercenaries. Vengeance.
Like Flames in the Night is an amazing story that kept me thrilled from the opening sentence to the final period. As Tirzah followed her calling from God and infiltrated the house of the Aramean commander in Shechem to spy out his secrets, I was fascinated. Imagining what it would have been like for this godly woman to be exposed to the debauchery of the people subjugating her land and yet serving them humbly in order to not call attention to herself. Then, to add to her dilemma, saw the wives as just that. Women. Not enemies. And knew that the intelligence she was gathering could result in the death of their husbands. I loved Tirzah’s strong faith, courage, and determination! She had such a strong sense of competition as well.
Liyam was quite strong and brave as well, yet he was so broken by grief and a desire for revenge. He knew he had the right to seek the blood of the man who killed his daughter and had every intention of shedding it. Until he learned that mercy is greater than justice.
One of my favorite images from this story was when Tirzah was speaking to the Levites and showing them how a single flame, when joined by hundreds of others, could create a fire that is unstoppable. Not only was this a wonderful picture for those men of what things could look like if they banded together and allowed the flame of their faith to be kindled and grow, it was an amazing picture of our faith as well. We should not hide our light or allow it to burn alone. . .
I am sad to see the end of this series. At least what I assume is the end.
If you have not read any of the stories in the Cities of Refuge series, I encourage you to read them first. While not entirely necessary, it will give more context and depth to Like Flames in the Night. Besides, they are so good you won’t want to miss them anyway!
Read my review of Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
I can’t think of any better way to describe Connilyn Cossette’s newest novel Like Flames in the Nights than to call it fabulous, amazing, heartwarming, incredible, etc!!
Throughout the book, Cossette seamlessly weaves an ending to this series that flawlessly ties into her first series, Out From Egypt. We are reunited with characters from her previous 4 books and it gives me goosebumps to read about all four heroines from this series being on the same page!
Tirzah is my favorite main character so far personality wise. I still love all of the other characters, but Tirzah is truly amazing and believable.
When I started reading the part that majorly related to the title of this book, I was deeply moved. We are called to be light, but it is much easier when there is more than one shining brightly!
While I am sad to see this series come to an end, I am deeply satisfied at the way Cossette was able to end the series. Cossette is a brilliant storyteller, and I cannot wait to read her next novel!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Expertly plotted, Cossette fleshes out stories that are briefly mentioned in the Bible, expertly blending fiction with spiritual truths. Cossette’s beautifully written tale of Tirzah’s and Liyam’s journeys of faith in Like Flames in the Night, are compelling. The hero/heroine are both strong characters- each willing to sacrifice their own lives for the sake of the Hebrew people, fighting for God’s promises in the promised Land. I love how they encouraged others to embrace and fight for God’s eternal truths.
Like Flames in the Night concludes the epic Cities of Refuge series. While it is not necessary to read the entire series to enjoy this book, one can better appreciate the underlying theme of justice and mercy that is present if one reads all of the books. One of my favorite quotes of the book pertains to this theme: ” Justice without mercy was tyranny, and mercy without justice was lawlessness. Yahweh had created both to work together, for His glory and for our good.”
I will miss the endearing characters that have filled the pages of this series. This is one of my all-time favorite series in the biblical fiction genre.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
Connilyn Cossette is a master at her research. I can’t imagine taking a few verses from the Bible and crafting four complete stories out of them. Cossette has done a fabulous job with her Cities of Refuge series. I adore the cover for her fourth and final novel, Like Flames in the Night. It is breathtaking. Tirzah finally gets to have her say in the story. She is a tomboy who puts her life on the line for her family. She is brave and finds love too. The story captured my attention in the beginning and the end, but the middle dragged A LOT. I had a hard time staying focused. My mind kept drifting to other things. While I enjoyed the other three, this addition didn’t quite feel as exciting to me. Fans of Biblical Fiction might totally disagree with me and that is okay. Overall, I can’t imagine the type of research Cossette does to create a believable story for her readers.
I received a complimentary copy of Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This was an awesome story of trusting God even when the outcome wasn’t sure but believing He would bring them out of it. Looking forward to the next book by this author
Like Flames in the Night is Connilyn Cossette’s fourth and final book in the Cities of Refuge series. It is an amazing and remarkable conclusion to the series. Biblical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, and this book (and the whole series!) went way above my expectations. Cossette is an expert storyteller and has woven a magnificent story of the Hebrews’ fight to free themselves from the tyranny of Aramaean occupation and the struggle to maintain their way of life under the Torah and to survive as a nation. The characters have depth and reality, and their emotions and strengths and failures resonate well with readers. Tirzah, a childless Hebrew widow, boldly insists on being involved in the fight for freedom, despite the danger and threat of capture or even death. Liyam, a stoic, deeply wounded man, is a man on a mission of vengeance. Odeleya, a sweet child, is caught up in the ugliness of captivity and war. How the author weaves their stories together is almost magical and certainly captured my heart. The descriptive scenes take readers right back to the ancient days and places and put them right into the story. Cossette skillfully wields her pen into the creation of beautiful imagery–“a nightingale warbled farewell to the stars from the heights of a nearby cedar, the mournful sound dissolving into the icy breeze that lashed a few brown leaves across my path”. As the story moves at a fast pace toward an exciting climax, there is suspense and action, deception and death, and, on the softer side, family and friendships, loyalty and love, and faith. It is the kind of faith that allows one to reach out to God in the darkest moments of life and find overflowing mercy. Don’t miss this marvelous book, it will hold you spellbound until the end and then leave you wanting more.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher, Bethany House. A favorable review was not required. The opinions are my own.
Wow, what a great conclusion to the series, Cities of Refuge. Connilyn has the unique ability to make her characters leap off the page and walk right into our lives and sit down with us as we read their story. It was so nice to spend time with characters we had previously met. And for their story to continue was the icing on the cake. In this story we see that even though the Israelites turned from God and worshipped other gods, that when they repented and turned back to Him and depended on His power and grace, that they triumphed.
If you haven’t read Connilyn’s books, I would highly recommend them. They are powerful and always show how our sin can be forgiven. They demonstrate our human frailties and how our disobedience does have consequences; however, with his forgiveness and dependence on Him how these circumstances can be overcome. Loved the book and its sweet story.
” . . the woman standing before me now, . . . .was no cowering shadow. She was magnificent.”
Tirzah was determined to make a difference. Convincing her older brother Malakhi to train her as a soldier spy, she left home equipped with the necessary skills to infiltrate the stronghold of Shechem, prepared to become a conduit of information; confident that she could glean enemy secrets tossed out among careless conversations around the commander’s table, where she would serve as a dutiful servant. Heartbroken after a careless mistake, Tirzah finds herself alone in the city and at the mercy of a Moabite mercenary, whose fierce appearance and hostile attitude is equal to his strong grip and barbaric plans for the use of his coveted “prize”.
Liyam never expected to play the role of a cruel, ruthless soldier, but when Tirzah’s brothers convince him to rescue their sister in exchange for vital information, Liyam finds himself squarely within the crosshairs of Barsoum himself. Convincing the Aramean of his false credentials was one thing; convincing the vibrant beauty, stoically standing before him, of his true identity was quite another, for ” . . . courage was written on every line of her intriguing face”.
Tirzah and Liyam’s unlikely alliance barely begins to scratch the surface of this moving, and eventually utterly romantic story; riddled through-out with numerous accounts of courage and bravery against all odds, these characters personally demonstrate that the light of eternal truth can only shine “like flames in the night” when God’s people humble themselves and pray, willingly ridding themselves of idolatrous cowardice, while simultaneously offering themselves up as a living sacrifice to “The One Who Sees” and “The One Who Hears”.
What an outstanding conclusion to one of the best series that I have ever read.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
I never cease to be surprised, entertained, and educated when I read an author Cossette book. This story takes place between the verses of Judges 3:7-10a and 3:10b-11. Taking fictional characters and placing them in such a fixed historical time period really brought the struggles, disobedience, and repentance of Israel in their Promised Land to light.
I have enjoyed every story by author Cossette, but my absolute favorite one is Wings of the Wind. So imagine my surprise and elation when we get to visit these characters again. I was quite happy.
As we begin this story, our main characters, Tirzah and Liyam have already faced challenges and sorrow in their lives; from loss of home, battles, and the death of loved ones. When they meet they have each already experienced much and are very mature characters. The author continues to draw on the reason and purpose for the cities of refuge that have been set up by the law of the land. However, this time the land has been taken over by the Arameans and the Israelites once again are being bound and enslaved.
Not only is the historical setting rich in details but so is the cultural differences that exist in Israel due to the invasion and disobedience. And we mustn’t forget the breathtaking romance that finds Tirzah and Liyam. Also, if you would like to read about what spying might have looked like in ancient times- you won’t be disappointed.
I enjoyed continuing with this family saga and epic Biblical fiction and can’t wait for the new series.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Like Flames in the Night, Cities of Refuge # 4
This book transports you into the middle of intrigue and action from the first page until the last. As the story opens, Tirzah, the heroine of the story, is accosted by a group of Arameans. At this period in history the Arameans have dominated the Israelites for 8 years. This encounter sets Tirzah’s life on a new trajectory. Tirzah is hired on as a cook and able to spy on the Aramean commander but her finds herself in danger over and over again. Central to the story is the faithfulness of Yahweh and the question of will the nation of Israel rise up and follow God? The author masterfully captures the tension of trusting God and facing fear.
Connilyn Cossette is a gifted writer and does a marvelous job of blending fiction and Old Testament history together. This story is from the book of Judges and their commander Othniel. (Judges 3 ) Where the Bible does not give detail, she fills in with story. It makes the biblical narrative even richer and more fascinating. This was a delightful conclusion to the 4 book series entitled, Cities of Refuge. This was a fairly unknown concept to me when I began the series and now I have a concept of what the cities were and how they operated.
If you enjoy Biblical fiction with action and some romance, you’ll enjoy this book.
I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book Review of “Like Flames in the Night” by Connilyn Cossette
Cities of Refuge Series–Book 4
First of all I must say that this is the fastest I have ever read a book, and it is not because this book was short because it wasn’t, nor was it because I just skimmed through it, no…it was because this book was so very riveting I just could not stop reading it!
I have read other books that have been page turners, as the others in this Cities of Refuge have been, but none quite captivated me as much as this book did. Where one adventure ended, another began and it seemed I was gripped with excitement on every page. It was not a book where you could guess what would happen next, or predict the ending, no, this book kept you on edge until the very last page.
“Like Flames in the Night” is the fourth and concluding book in Connilyn Cossette’s “Cities of Refuge Series.” If you have been blessed to read the first three books in this series you will find this book most pleasurable as you follow Tirzah, Darek and Moriyah’s youngest daughter, on several breath-taking secret adventures as a spy in Aramean enemy territory. Plus, you will also be following Liyam, son of Moriyah’s best friend, Alanah, who is a warrior out for vengence in the death of his young daughter. When Tirzah and Liyam meet in Shiloh, will they be able to work together to accomplish the mission they have both been sent to do? This is a question you will ask yourself as both of them are strong-willed and have their own agendas to deal with as well as the mission at hand.
This book tells a parcially imaginative story of how, because of Israel’s disobedience to the Lord and their following other gods, they fell into captivity for eight years to Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram Naharaim and how the people suffered under the cruel treatment of the governing commanders and soldiers, how their cities were taken over and destroyed, and how the true believers were no longer able to worship Yahweh freely. However, as scripture tells us, because of the faithful prayer and cries of the true believers, the Lord did rise up a Deliverer who was Othniel, son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who led Israel to fight and overtake their enemies and regain their cities and freedom once again. Though there are not many factual accounts of this time, in this book Connilyn Cossette takes us through how that time of deliverance may well have happened and introduces us to consider how many people, men and women and children, stayed strong in their faith in the face of adversity, and how their bravery and trust in the Lord brought eventual victory for Israel as the people turned back to the One True God and repented.
This book shows us the terrible results of apostacy and how people suffer when they turn away from God and follow idols and false religions, letting their minds be influenced by the world instead of the truth of God’s word, they fall into complacency and eventually captivity that leads to their destruction. This is evident in our world today, just as it was back then so many years ago, and it is good that this book brings that to light.
This book not only was entertaining, it was historical, biblical, inspiring, romantic and full of faith and truth. I recommend it highly.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All comments are my own.
–Leona J. Atkinson
It took me a little bit to get into this book, mainly because I hadn’t read the others in the series. There was plenty of detail that helped me figure everything out though. I enjoyed this book after that. I liked Tirzah. She was such a strong character. I plan on reading the other books later so I can read this again. I don’t usually read Biblical fiction, but this one was pretty good. I do like the idea of these kinds of books helping us to look a little deeper into Biblical stories.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
What a stunning conclusion to this series! Book 4 in the Cities of Refuge series is about Tirzah, the youngest of Moriyah and Darek’s children. Fans of the series and the “Out of Egypt” series will be glad to see some familiar faces (my favorite character was back!!!!), but there is enough history in this book that if you haven’t read the others, you won’t be lost. I would still recommend reading these in order and reading this series after the “Out of Egypt” series in order to BEST enjoy this one though. That will give you the depth of character history that adds to this story.
Tirzah is young, strong willed and fleet-footed. She feels restless in her lot in life as a woman, until she realizes that as a woman, she can become a spy in ways that her brothers cannot – in the kitchen. As she convinces her brother to allow her to spy behind enemy lines, she finds herself in a predicament and ends up under the protection of Liyam, who is seeking out his daughter’s murderer in order to obtain justice. Because with his appearance, he can pretend to be a mercenary. The 2 of them work well together as they unravel some of the enemy’s stronghold and must go back under cover to Kadesh to aid the armies of Israel once again. This book takes place after the death of Joshua, when the Israelites have been oppressed by the Arameans for 8 years and God raises up the first Judge in Israel. I’ve often wondered how the Israelites could so quickly forget (within a generation) of how God faithfully brought His people to the Promised Land that they would lose it so quickly, but in reading Ms. Cossette’s novels, I’ve been pulled back into those times and seen “with my own eyes” how it happened. This is what I love most about Biblical Historical fiction – that it helps me to better understand the stories within the Scriptures.
One of the things that really stood out to me throughout this book were the uses of the names of God. Tirzah refers to Him very personally based on her circumstances – the One who Sees and the One who Hears, as well as Yahweh and Adonai. Her inspirational speeches to the Levites were convicting to me as well – about becoming dormant in our faith. The picture of flames as a symbol of our faith came up time and time again, making the title a very poignant reminder that we should be like flames in the night to those around us. This was also a book about forgiveness and mercy. I loved all of the side stories that happened. And I found a treasure of unconditional love in these pages as well. So much I gleaned spiritually from this book, all while being entertained. I beleive of the series, this one is my favorite and competes with “Wings of the Wind” as my favorite Connilyn Cossette book! This wrapped up this series nicely and though I’d love to see more of these characters (hint, hint to the author!), I am also excited to see what ventures she takes us to next. I would recommend this book to any fans of Biblical Historical novels, and historical romance in general as well, as the love story was beautifully done. Many romance novels in the same trope as this one will have the characters living in tension for a third of the story as they won’t reveal their feelings for each other because they’re afraid the other person doesn’t feel the same way and it will ruin everything, this one was a breath of fresh air as Liyam and Tirzah are communicative and avoid that tension altogether.
Special thanks to Ms. Cossette and Bethany House Publishers for an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.