"Shelter of the Most High" by Connilyn Cossette

 


I recently read my first Connilyn Cosette book - and I was hooked! I was thrilled to read this second book in her Cities of Refuge series, and now eagerly await the third one coming out in July. 

Sofea was captured from her home across the Mediterranean Sea when marauders raided their coastal village. She, along with her cousin Prezi, are the only known survivors of the attack. The two girls manage to escape from the pirate ship and wash ashore a Canaanite beach, where they are found by Israelite spies and brought to the refuge city of Kedesh.

Unable to speak the Hebrew language, Sofea and Prezi make assumptions about the Israelites based on the lives they knew on the island of Sicily. Sofea's father was the priest of their people, which further shapes her thinking as she learns of the Hebrews' devotion to their One God. The ways they mistake or misunderstand customs adds a very natural feeling to the story.

Although he is not technically confined within the borders of Kedesh, Eitan is nevertheless bound by actions and promises made when he was a child. He wants to be a soldier and help Israel establish itself in these final years of leader Joshua's life, and eventually he is able to take part in training exercises. A need to be free of his past thunders through his veins.

Danger lurks in this city of refuge - some seen, some unseen. There are people wanting to destroy Eitan and his family, and they are willing to use his growing fondness for Sofea to get to him. Twists and turns mark their paths, and difficult decisions must be made. Cossette once again uses this unique time frame and setting to bring us a wonderful story of hope and redemption. 

If you enjoyed "A Light on the Hill," you'll be happy to know the characters of Moriyah and Darek play large secondary roles in this novel. That was a fun bonus for this reader. I would highly recommend this author to anyone who enjoys Biblical fiction, or would like to add Biblical fiction to their reading repertoire.