Review: "Shelter of the Most High" by Connilyn Cossette

I don't read a lot of biblical fiction, but there are a few authors I can't pass up. One of them is Connilyn Cossette; I loved the first book in her Cities of Refuge series, and I was eager to continue the story with Shelter of the Most High.

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The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a city of refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood, yet chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Can they uncover the betrayal in time to save their lives and the lives of those they love?

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Connilyn Cossette has written another fascinating biblical fiction novel that focuses on an aspect of the Old Testament that we (or at least I) don't often think about—the Levitical Cities of Refuge.

Shelter of the Most High is the story of Sofea, a young woman from Sicily who ends up in Kedesh with her cousin after the slaughter of their people. As Sofea slowly learns the language, she comes to learn the Israelites' God is nothing like the gods her people worshiped ...and she also grows close to Eitan, the son of her hosts.

I did feel like the story dragged a bit in the middle, but once the danger truly threatened Eitan and Sofea (no more info than that to avoid spoilers!), the pace picked up considerably. The first half of the novel is good; the second half is simply outstanding.

In the first book, I loved Darek, the man who ended up marrying Eitan's mother Moriyah. He gets even better in Shelter of the Most High, even though he's only present in a small portion of the book. And it's Eitan's relationship with Darek that I found most moving in the novel.

Though this is the second book in the series, it stands alone. I would recommend reading the first book, though, as it gives a better understanding of why Eitan and Moriyah must stay in Kedesh. This is a wonderful series, and Shelter of the Most High is a great second installment. 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Cossette's A Light on the Hill (4-1/2 stars) & Wings of the Wind (4-1/2 stars).

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When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), bestselling author Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure, out-of-print history books. There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus. Her novel Counted With the Stars won the 2013 Frasier Contest and was a semifinalist in the 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest. Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas. Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links; this means if you click the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small commission. 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."