Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette

VOICE OF THE ANCIENT by Connilyn Cossette
SERIES: The King’s Men #1
GENRE: Historical/Biblical Romance (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2023
PAGES: 331

“A stunning coming-of-age tale.”–MESU ANDREWS, Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter

As the eldest son of a Levite and a Philistine, Avidan is torn between his duty to his family legacy and the desire for something more. After an enemy attack strikes close to home, he takes the opportunity to fight with his cousins for the newly crowned King Saul. But when one of the cousins goes missing during the battle, Avidan refuses to leave him behind.

Keziah is the daughter of one of the most powerful clan chiefs in the territory of Manasseh. On the brink of a forced marriage to a loathsome man decades older than her, she has no choice but to run, hoping to find sanctuary with her mother’s family.

United during their journeys and battling to survive the dangers that surround them, Avidan and Keziah make a pact to travel together. As challenges pile up, they must not only rely on each other to stay alive but also learn to trust the true and eternal King of Israel to guide their every step.

“Only Yahweh knows the end from the beginning.”

Oh, readers… you are in for a real treat when you read Voice of the Ancient, the latest beautifully written Biblical-era fiction from Connilyn Cossette.

Avidan is the son of Ronen and Eliora, whom readers first met in To Dwell Among Cedars, but don’t worry if you haven’t read that duology yet (I haven’t). You won’t be lost at all; it’s simply a nice reunion for those who have. Avi is ordained by birth to be a Levite, the ancient version of a worship minister, but he would rather be doing almost anything else. Which is how he finds himself heading off to fight the Ammonites with his cousins, directly disobeying his parents and his place among the tribes of Israel… and running into more trouble than he bargained for. I loved how Cossette orchestrates Avi’s coming of age journey on these pages, how she uses the events that unfold to help him grow up in both responsibility and calling, shouldering the consequences of his decisions and finding the grace of God over his life. I saw a lot of myself in Avi, despite our very different circumstances, a testament to the author’s talent in characterization.

Like Avi, in just a few short days Keziah’s world is turned upside down. If not for her trusty horse (who I absolutely loved – his personality is so tangible and the source of some of the humor in this book), she would be all alone. On the run from a would-be forced marriage to an evil man, grieving the loss of someone she only just fully knew, and at the mercy of the unforgiving countryside, Keziah’s only hope is that the goddess Asherah will intervene. At least, until she meets Avi and joins her journey to his… and begins to learn about the One True God who loves her more than anyone else ever could. I found myself fascinated by Keziah’s religious background, the author’s detailed research evident in every aspect of this book but especially here. I loved Keziah’s spirit, her sense of humor, her kind heart, and her bravery … and I really loved watching her and Avi fall in love.

Bottom Line: Connilyn Cossette’s Voice of the Ancient is rich in compelling characters, vibrant settings, emotional storylines, and impeccable research. Avidan and Keziah drew me in from the moment I met each, and their romance is pitch perfect in its blend of sweet and swoony (the swimming scene!!!). Honestly, I hung on every word of this story. It’s emotional and, in many ways, tragic – yes. But it’s also warm and uplifting, full of deep friendship and sacrificial love, with dashes of humor at just the right times. I am so intrigued by where the other books could take Avi’s cousins, and I’ll definitely be along for the ride!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3+ / will forget to breathe on occasion

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Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award and Carol Award winning author whose books have been found on both ECPA and CBA bestseller lists. When she is not engulfed in the happy chaos of homeschooling two teenagers, devouring books whole, or avoiding housework, she can be found digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible to discover gems of grace that point to Jesus and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Although she and her husband have lived all over the country in their twenty-plus years of marriage, they currently call a little town south of Dallas, Texas their home. Connect with Connilyn at her website.

Bethany House is offering a print copy of Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette?