CITIES OF REFUGE (Connilyn Cossette) – Biblical Fiction Series Worth Binging!

Surprised In the Best Way

I love historical fiction set in ancient or biblical times because it feels unique within the genre. Unfortunately, I often find that specific category lacking in quality writing. The characters are poorly developed; the writing is weak; the plot is boring; and the “Bible” setting feels more like a sermon or a lecture than a period of history brought to life.

There are some exceptions to this (Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion and Lynn Austin’s Restoration Chronicles to name them), but as a whole, I am often disappointed and gloss over ancient fiction books for that reason. 

Thanks to a Goodreads recommendation, I picked up Connilyn Cossette’s Cities of Refuge and decided to give it a try. I absolutely fell in love with it and binged the entire series in less than a week.

They were well-written, engaging, action-filled, and romantic with strong characters you rooted for all against the beautiful backdrop of ancient Israel. They were so much more than I was expecting, and each book surprised me in both plot and character development. 

Series Overview

This ancient historical fiction series is set in between the Biblical books of Joshua and Judges. The nation of Israel has been delivered from slavery in Egypt and has been wandering in the desert for 40 years before arriving in Canaan. This is the backdrop of the novels as they open. 

In the author’s note, Cossette explains that the concept of the cities of refuge comes from a passage in Joshua 20. God designated six cities to be a refuge for “manslayers.” Essentially, if there was an accidental death at the time, the next of kin could take the role of Blood Avenger and kill you for the accident. God set up these cities to protect manslayers from vengeance and allow them to be dealt with rightly by the cities’ leaders. 

Okay, context lecture is done. Onto the books themselves.

Book-by-Book Summaries

A Light on the Hill (#1) tells the story of Moriyah, a Hebrew woman who suffered in captivity in Jericho and was branded with a blasphemous mark on her face. After Jericho’s fall, she returns home, bearing trauma and shame upon her shoulders and knowing no man will ever want to marry her. Fast forward a few years, and her father finds a widower willing to marry her. Moriyah desires to do her father’s will, despite her own hesitations, but a dreadful accident ending in two deaths sends her on a run for her life from a vengeful man who vows to destroy her. What unfolds feels very much like a quest, as she – and a young warrior who agrees to help her get to a city of refuge in one piece – travel through the land, dodge foreign kings, evade imprisonment, and fall in love. 

Shelter of the Most High (#2) picks up about 10 years later and introduces us to Sofea, the daughter of a pagan priest. When marauders attack her village, pillaging and burning everything, she and her cousin are taken captive. Back in Kedesh, Eitan has lived within the walls, dutifully obeying the rules that he cannot leave for his own safety. When Sofea arrives at his mother’s inn, Eitan quickly falls for her; but he harbors dark secrets of his past that threaten his safety and anyone close to him. 

Until the Mountains Fall (#3) jumps another 10ish years. We meet Malakhi, Moriyah’s son, now betrothed to his brother’s widow Rivkah (a levirate marriage). He has secretly loved Rivkah for years, but she refuses to submit to the Torah and flees Kedesh and its protection. Her recklessness catapults her into slavery and into the home of a brutish, controlling businessmen. Back in Kedesh, Rivkah’s father pleads with Malakhi to find her before it’s too late.

Like Flames in the Night (#4) is Tirzah’s story. She is the youngest in her family, widowed and barren. She worms her way into the Hebrew forces and becomes a spy in a ruthless Aramean commander’s household. Liyam has taken the role of Blood Avenger for his young daughter and is on the hunt for the Moabite who took her life, when Malakhi approaches him with an offer he can’t refuse. Soon, he and Tirzah are working together to feed information back to Hebrew forces. But his lust for vengeance threatens to derail his entire life and future.

What I Loved About this Series:

• Characters – The characters are all well-developed, flawed, and worth rooting for. The main couples had great chemistry, and their relationships developed in natural and realistic ways. While each novel follows new characters, they are all related in some manner to previous characters, so we never completely leave the ones we just grew attached to.
• History & Setting – Compared to our current culture, the setting of ancient Israel is stark. Everything from the patriarchy of the family to religious beliefs to cultural rhythms is very different from what most of us experience today. However, I felt like Cossette managed to write that culture with honesty and transparency and make it understandable to present-day readers. 
• Clean Romance – The romance in the book was the perfect amount of steamy without being spicy!
• Action & Plot – There were overarching plot themes and a surprising amount of action. Each book had something pretty intense, from running for one’s life to breaking free from slavery to being a spy. The backdrop of the series is the tumultuous nature of Israel’s time in Canaan (constant warring tribes and battles over land), and this is very present in the novels. It came together to make the books much more gripping than other similar reads. 
• Faith & Family – There was this glorious element of familial love, support, and selflessness throughout the series. I loved seeing this healthy picture of a growing, expanding, imperfect family despite experiencing hardship and suffering. The faith element was present just the right amount – not thrown in your face. It was appropriate considering who the characters were, where they came from, and what their nationality was. In that way, all belief systems can appreciate these books, even though they’re set in “Bible” times and about a Jewish family.
• Writing Style – Cossette’s writing style easy to read but not boring. There were a few times where I felt like she used the same adjective too frequently across the board. Her writing was engaging, and I really didn’t come away with critiques or dislikes.

Would You Like this Series?

If you enjoy:

• Action-packed plots
• Clean romance
• Non-preachy but faith-based books
• A series to lose yourself in for a while

Then this may be the next historical fiction series for you!

Final Thoughts

This was a long review, but I had a lot I wanted to say! Cities of Refuge is one of only a few Biblical fiction reads that has really grabbed me. I enjoyed it from start to finish and felt immersed in the time and culture. I definitely recommend Cities of Refuge for lovers of historical Christian fiction. It’ll capture your attention for a few weeks (or days!). 

Content Rating: Moderate

for action, romance, intense themes at times

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Copyright Connilyn Cossette and Bethany House. Image from Amazon.