Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette Book Review
If you’ve ever wanted to read a romance set in biblical times, Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette is the perfect book for you. It’s full of hope, overcoming obstacles, learning about where you come from, and love.
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Voice of the Ancient
Author: Connilyn Cossette
Pub. Date: Aug. 15, 2023
Series: The King’s Men book 1
Genre: Adult Biblical Historical Fiction
Pages: 336
Rating: 4.5 stars
Spice: none
Content Warnings: war, death of a parent, violence, assault, robbery, kidnapping, misogyny
Synopsis:
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. When Ammonites attack the city of Yavash-Gilead, 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 stays behind to search for him in hopes that he’s still alive.
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. Dressed as a boy, she takes her horse and heads for the south, hoping to find sanctuary with her mother’s family.
Battling to survive the dangers surrounding them, Avidan and Keziah make a pact to travel together. As Keziah’s true origins are revealed and Avidan’s search for his cousin becomes increasingly futile, they must not only rely on each other to stay alive but learn to trust the true and eternal King of Israel to guide their every step.
Spoiler-Free Book Review
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and Bethany House Publishes for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
This was my first time reading biblical fiction, but it won’t be my last! I have been hesitant in the past to read biblical fiction because I don’t want to confuse fictional stories with the truth told in the Bible. After reading Voice of the Ancient, I am confident that authors (at least Connilyn Cossette) can write stories in this time period without diminishing the Bible.
What I Liked
- The way that faith was woven throughout the story without being preachy
- The sweet romance that began as friendship
- Seeing the characters grow in maturity and spiritually throughout their journey
- The storytelling aspect of Avidan’s character and how he used it to further the knowledge of God
What I Didn’t Like
- The story started off a bit slow
Final Thoughts
While it’s not a cliffhanger, the way the story ended definitely makes me excited for the second book in this series.
Overall, I would recommend this book and encourage you to read from 1 Samuel in the Bible to learn more background on this story.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase a copy of this book at the following retailers:
Bookshop.org (supports independent book stores) [affiliate]
Amazon [affiliate]
Books a Million (BAM) [affiliate]
Libro.fm (get a free audiobook when you start a membership) [affiliate]
Have you read Voice of the Ancient or any other books by Connilyn Cossette?
I would love to hear your thoughts! Comment down below.