I can say with complete and utter honesty, Voice of the Ancient is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This book had me reading on with bated breath chapter after chapter as I eagerly watched Avidan and Keziah’s story unfold.

Connilyn writes with such passion and her extensive knowledge and attention to historical and biblical accuracy is so very evident. I loved that while I was enjoying a beautiful crafted story, I was also learning and gaining a deeper understanding of the culture and customs of this point on the the biblical timeline.

While I am already longing for the next installment of “The King’s Men” series, I also find myself with an even deeper longing for more of God’s word. I think it’s a beautiful thing when an excellent work of fiction can ultimately point readers to the glory of God, and I believe Connilyn Cossette has done just that with “Voice of the Ancient”. This book is a treasure❤️

This is a review for The Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette, book 1 of her brand new series called The King's Men, that will be released on August 15. I have the privilege of being on the launch team for this book as I am a huge fan of Connilyn's books, and this indeed was the privilege I thought it would be because I loved this story! When I read Connilyn's books, I feel like I am actually part of the stories, because the setting and the characters always engage me from the beginning, and it was the same with this book! I got carried away to Bible times, and felt like I got a front seat look into the Israelites' story that included familiar characters of the Levites, Samuel, King Saul, but then I also got to meet some new characters, the group of 4 young Israelite men Avidan, Zevi, Gavirel, and the youngest of the cousins, Shalem, who is just 15 years old, all of who are cousins that have grown up together, and who witness the crowning of Israel's first King, King Saul, and immediately want to follow him when he calls the men of Israel to arms! They have no idea what really is in store for them on this adventure! Plus I got to meet Keziah, a beautiful young Israelite woman who must overcome some great obstacles to learn to trust so she can get to safety, and be free. There are other characters too that make this an excellent story, but I will share about the main two, Avidan and Keziah.

So Aviden hears the call to arms to join King Saul along with his young cousins, but he is torn because he is the son of a Levite and a Philistine, and he knows that being a Levite forbids him from fighting or going to war, but he refuses to be left behind! It has always been the four cousins together, and when King Saul calls for aid to help another of Israel's tribes, he decides to go along with his two older cousins, following them to fight in a battle, but they are followed by Shalem, who is not old enough to fight, but who also won't be left behind. Avi takes responsibility for Shalem, telling the others that he will watch over him while they are fighting. Avi tries to keep that promise, but Shalem gets lost in the confusion of the battle, and Avi is determined to find him, and bring him back home just as he promised. That leads him on an adventure that includes war and danger, but also where he runs into a young boy who needs his help, but later realizes that is no boy at all!

We are also introduced to Keziah, a young, beautiful Israelite woman whose father is one of the most powerful clan chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh, and who finds herself forcefully betrothed a man who is only interested in money, and abuses his other wives and son to get his own way. She must flee from him before the wedding, and has to make her way to her mother's people, the Rehavites, who are descendents of Mosheh (Moses), who live in the land east of the Jordan, far from her father's household. The way is dangerous for a young woman whose only companion is her beloved stallion, Sarru, so she dresses as a boy, she must not only escape her betrothed, but try to find safety among her relatives. She gets unexpected help along the way, running into Avidan while he is looking for his young cousin, and they make a pact to travel together.

Along the way, Avi & Keziah will have to work together because they will face many trials and danger. As they are faced with those challenges, they must learn to trust each other, and also trust and rely on the One who is guiding them, Ha-Shem, so they can survive every step of this dangerous journey, and so they will both find freedom and the purpose that Ha-Shem has for each of them!!!

I absolutely loved this story! I learned a lot from these characters! From Avidan, I learned that going out from what God has for you, like Avi leaving his family because he wanted to do things his own way, was what we all do...we have to do our own thing away from God and His plans, and then we also pay the consequences of those choices. Avi paid a high price when he went to war against his parents and God's wishes, but the Lord used that to teach Avi, and show him the plan the Lord had for him, despite his disobedience. Avi realized what he did was wrong, and repented, just like I have done, and then Avi surrendered to God's plan after all, and it was an amazing plan all along.

From Keziah, I learned to trust the Lord's love and care more. I saw how God didn't always make things easy for Keziah, but through her trials and tribulations, she learned to trust God, and others. She could've just settled for that forced marriage, but she was brave enough to get away instead of just settling, which would've been very dangerous for her. Trust is a slow process, but with God's help Keziah learned to trust, to love, and to be loved, and that was a beautiful process to watch unfold in this story!

I learned more, but I don't want to spoil this book. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was engaging from the start, exciting, unpredictable, wonderful characters that all fit together in a great way, and a great story! I highly highly highly recommend it! Get your copy now for 40% off!

Connilyn Cossette’s Voice Of The Ancient inspired me to look at the beginning of King Saul’s reign with new eyes. She painted a rich depiction of the life and mindsets of the different tribes of Israel during this time in Biblical history.
I took a journey into the past, walking with Avi as he and his three cousins sneak away to join Saul’s army. Things don’t go quite as he expects but the God Who Sees makes His presence known through Avi’s experiences. He finds not only his call to be a storyteller, but also gains a wife, and a new perspective of God Himself and His people.
I loved the relationship between Avi and Keziah, showing the kind and compassionate man he was, and how his sharing the stories of old helped her find her way to truth.
This book was superbly written and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. This is my honest opinion.

Voice of the Ancient by Connilyn Cossette
Publication Date: August 15, 2023, by Bethany House Publishers
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Ancient History Fiction,
5+ Stars!

Voice of the Ancient exceeds a 5-star rating! If possible, I would rate it 10+ stars! It is perfectly written with well-developed characters (some loved, some despised), brilliant story, descriptive settings, and exquisitely incorporated Biblical truths.

Readers who enjoy the writings of Tamera Alexander, Mesu Andrews, Julie Klassen, Jill Eileen Smith, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and Elizabeth Camden will fall in love with the pace and writing style of this incredible novel.

Connilyn Cossette, Christy Award and Carol Award winning author, wonderfully weaves stories of love, forgiveness, marriage, trust, family, friendships, hope, and fears together with spiritual and emotional panoramas -- for the complete immersive experience! This author challenges us to be warriors for Truth.

This five+-star book details in numerous ways that calling out to God, surrendering all to Him, and moment-by-moment obeying Him are choices we need to make. This is all necessary if we want to have a close relationship with Him and meaningful relationships with those around us. Listening to His voice and obeying God is always worth it!

Voice of the Ancient certainly stirs up countless emotions and as the reader steps into the pages of the ancient world. This reader thoroughly enjoyed being carried away to another time and place and connecting with Keziah and Avidan. As I try to wrap up this review without including any spoilers, I saw myself in both main characters. Cossette’s writing has a way of doing this via each of her books.

Sometimes my ears are so overwhelmed with the noise of this world, that I allow that racket to drown out the Voice of the Ancient One. May it never be so again as I actively cherish and cultivate my “setpart-ness” to Yahweh, the One True God.

I received an eARC of Voice of the Ancient from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley.com. I am not required to write a positive review nor am I paid to do so. The words above are my honest review of this life-changing book. Within 30-days of Voice of the Ancient’s publication date (08.15.23), I will post this review to Goodreads, Amazon, ChristianBooks.com, Scribd, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, my social media platforms (@DevotedToHope), and my blog (Blog | Devoted Hope (Reviews | Devoted Hope (luannabubbles.wixsite.com)).

#VoiceoftheAncient #NetGalley #bethanyhousepublishers #ConnilynCossette #ChristianFiction #Fiction #Historical #AncientHistoricalFiction #excellentbook #greatbook #fantasticbook #wonderfulbook #highlyrecommendedbook #highlyrecommned #christian #OneTrueGod #Yahweh #keziahandavidan #sarru

This book was a great start to a new series, following a half-Philistine, half-Levite Avidan on an adventure to fight for newly appointed King Saul that ends up being more than he bargained for in bad and good ways. The story was great, the characters were interesting, the peril was real, and God's power was manifest. Can't wait for the next installment!

After staying up way too late to finish it last night, I now want to read anything else I can get my hands on for this time period!
I read this book because I love the author, not realizing it was a branch off from a prior series. It still made sense without reading the other series though!

I loved the two main characters and thought she did a great job fleshing out their backgrounds and personalities. I especially liked how she wove the history of the Israelites throughout the story in a way that flowed seamlessly with the plot.

I was able to read this book early thanks to an advance readers copy thanks to NetGalley!

After reading “Voice of the Ancient” by Connilyn Cossette I’ve decided this is her best book yet! Set in the time of King Saul being crowned in the Bible I was intrigued to read it. I was not disappointed it was very well done. I loved the descriptions of the locations, characters and action going on. I was surprised there was not more of King Saul in the book, but it felt more like you were someone living at that time watching what was going on. As there are more books to come I’m sure he will play more of a part later since this is just the very beginning of his rule. The story also gives you more of an idea how life was like at that time from the view of one of his subjects. The main characters Avidan and Keziah are very well played out as he goes off to war defying his priestly duties and she is being betrothed to a man older than for father. Their stories are wound together with the story of the prophet Samuel and King Saul going off to war as a new king. The story is wonderfully done and I would highly recommend it to anyone! I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!!

This was a wonderful book telling of the adventures of our primary characters during the beginning of the reign of King Saul of Israel. It is a coming of age of the 2 primary characters (from different places and backgrounds) as they seek family members and come to understand what they want in life and where they think their place is. Faith is a thread wound through the whole tale. The story was peopled with characters that spanned the political and religious spectra of the time. All the characters are realistic and behave in ways that make sense in the given situation. There is a tremendous sense of place and I felt immersed into the setting of the story, as if I were traveling with them. Everything, from the depiction of battle to the various locations, felt very real and natural. Would recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction of ancient peoples.

"His strong leadership was perfectly balanced with his humility, and although he was certainly not perfect, he never forgot who sat on the throne of the heavens."

Every book by Connilyn Cossette I have read is perfection, deserving of the Carol and Christy Awards they have received, and this inaugural book of her new series is no exception. The author knows how to masterfully weave the reader into the era and culture of her story, with plenty of adrenaline-filled action, a touch of sweet romance, and rivers of spiritual and practical wisdom. She's a gifted storyteller who joins first-person voices of Keziah and Avidan to take us on an adventure that crosses to eastern side of Jordan during the early years of King Saul. I learned so much about how different tribes of Israel may have lived during that time and also saw these Bible stories through a different lens, as if I were truly living within the events. I will never read Saul's anointing, the battle at Yavesh (Jabesh), and Saul's coronation the same way again. I had always known that the infant Israel of this time was fractured and fragile but the author's vivid painting of the dissident political and spiritual landscape was eye-opening.

Avi's kind, compassionate, loyal heart made me love him almost immediately. His growth in faith and maturity made me love him even more. His ordained talent of storytelling and his passion for reminding others of Yahweh's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness through stories made him the best kind of hero. Keziah with her tender, bruised heart was easy to love and her acceptance of the One True God was delightful to see.

It's one of my favorite books of 2023! I am so happy that this series continues the lineage of families I loved in the author's previous series The Covenant House. This book (and series) can definitely be read as a stand-alone but having the background to Avi and his cousin Zevi's parents will make the story a richer experience. I received the book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

The more I read the more I liked it! I haven’t read this author before but I’m going to start on the Covenant House books next. I felt like I was living in that time with the children of Israel.

Avidan was restless & decided to go to war with his cousins. When one of them gets lost he tries to find him. Instead he finds Keziah (who’s escaped from an evil man she was supposed to marry). Avi & Keziah travel together, Keziah learning that her pagan gods are nothing compared to the God Who Sees, the One True God. A great reminder to the Lord’s people to search out our idolatries & surrender all to Jesus, our High Priest at God’s right hand.

I loved the time period, the characters & their flaws & strengths, the sweet love between Avi & Kezi (& how she loved her amazing horse). There were enough twists & turns to keep me interested; the book got better the more I read! I’m looking forward to seeing what happened to the other boys, especially Shalem.

The author’s note was beautiful. Knowing she went through chemo & surgeries while still writing this awesome book is so inspiring. I’m definitely a big fan now & plan to read all her books. I highly recommend this book! Five stars.

This is my honest review of the digital copy I received. Thank you!

Connilyn Cossette does it again. She's newer to the Biblical fiction scene than some of her predecessors, but I think she's my favorite. She has such a skill for painting a picture of the culture, making the Bible stories I know well come alive in a new way. I also love how she always seems to draw parallels to today's society. Something that hit me in this book was that the tribes east of the Jordan river completely forgot their history and their true God, choosing instead to intermingle with the pagan nations around them. As a parent, it's a haunting reminder that one generation's decisions affect all the following generations.

"Those songs don't teach us about ourselves, son. They teach us about the God who freed us. Because if we forget who Yahweh is, if we let ourselves slide down that slippery slope, then we are no different from the nations around us."

The romance was beautifully done, and I enjoyed the growth we saw in the characters throughout the book. Something else Cossette does so well is show how the way God cherishes women was so countercultural in the time of the judges. Keziah's story is heartbreaking, because it was commonplace in that time.

"I took one last look at the man who'd made me feel seen, and cherished, for the first time in my life, then I turned and walked away because if there was anything I'd learned from Avi's stories of Yahweh, it was that love was nothing without sacrifice."

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

“And some of us are like Saul, appointed to do great things for Yahweh but so entangled in our own desires that the Voice grows fainter and fainter with every passing day, and we squander our time on earth building our own kingdom instead of His.” (From the author’s notes.)

The Voice of the Ancient is the first of Connilyn Cossette’s work I’ve ever read, but it absolutely won’t be the last. It was GOOD!

This book had so many wonderful elements. Boyish camaraderie, as well as loveable characters, a first hand witness feel of the time period, exciting plot, relatable struggles, very sweet love story, and most of all a compelling and personal portrayal of Yahweh that can only be born from an author who has experienced for herself that only He knows the end from the beginning, that He sees, He hears, He’s involved, and He’s trustworthy.

After finishing the story and the author’s notes I felt this phrase summed up both Avidan and the authors work: To know Him and to make Him known. Avidan, like many of us began this story with the head knowledge of who God is, but as he found the heart knowledge through his journey he discovered his purpose and longed to go and make God known to those who had forgotten Him or did not know Him. It just shines through out the story AND the author notes (read them!) that the author herself knows Him and strives to make Him known.

All in all, this story was so well done. I enjoyed Keziah and Avidan’s story of falling in love with each other and Yahweh so much. I will be awaiting the next book and look forward to following up with Shalem, Zevi, and Gavi. Thanks to Connilyn Cossette for a compelling, inspiring, and enjoyable read! Thanks also to Bethany House and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read it in one night and was so upset!!!

Connilyn Cossette is an auto-buy author for me and I had been anticipating this book since the second I finished her last. The storyline: From the moment Avidan and Keziah are thrown together as two (semi) defenceless strangers who can help each other out, there is chemistry. They were such likeable characters, both on complementary journeys of God- and self-discovery. There were so many twists and turns in this fast-paced action that was a perfect mix of biblical fiction with everyday emotions and experiences. It truly did not disappoint, which is why I was so mad that instead of savouring this book, I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours!!!

If you enjoy biblical fiction with some meat on its bones: action, plot twists, solid and clean romance, personal growth and powerful truths about God, you will LOVE this book.

Once again, author Connilyn Cossette delivers an engaging and inspirational book with Voice of the Ancient.

I am in awe of Connilyn's writing and research. This is a stunning achievement considering what she went through while writing it. I feel like I have travelled back to witness history.

Avidan's story was fascinating as he desired something more than what God had planned for him. Don't we all? How God brings him to the realization of the gifts he was given was spiritually uplifting. Sometimes we must be reminded that God has better plans for us than we could imagine.

Avidan's sweet love story with Keziah and her journey from idol-worshipper to finding the One True God is inspiring. I look forward to reading more in this series.

If you love Biblical Fiction and seeing the Bible come alive before your eyes, you will enjoy Voice of the Ancient.

I love good Biblical Fiction, and this is one of the best Biblical Fiction novels that I have read. It references scripture and stays true to the Bible. The characters are multilayered and become like friends. I love seeing names of past ones crop up in new books.

I was immediately captivated in the story and lives of the characters. Through the excellent writing and research the author had done, I was able to feel like I was walking and living in ancient times. There was much I learned as the author brought the Bible to life in her novel.

This tells the story of King Saul and his call to arms. There are some young cousins determined to join the King’s army despite their parents objections. It also tells the story of a young girl given to an older, powerful man in marriage. While the entire book is fascinating, this is riveting.

This is a page turning story filled with danger, romance, intrigue, history, and adventure. After the story is a note from the author and discussion questions. This would make a great choice for a Christian Reading Group.

This gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided from NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

Connilyn as long been a favorite author of mine, so I was excited to learn that she had a new book and series out.

This book is the first in the series, The King’s Men, that takes place after the Israelites asked for a king and Saul was chosen.

The two main characters of the story is Avidan and Keziah. Avidan is rebellious, wanting a different life from the one is called for. Keziah feeling unwanted by most of her family is forced to wed a ruthless man in a deal her father has.

When Avidan leaves home with his cousins to fight on Saul’s behalf, things go wrong and his younger cousin goes missing. He sets out to find him and meets Keziah along the way after she is forced to escape her home to avoid a terrible marriage.

As the two journey, the story takes off and their relationship builds authentically. I really appreciated Avidan’s stories of God’s love for His people and how that love extends beyond the Israelites.

The story was a page turner. From beginning to end, there was intrigue and suspense that kept me wanting to know what happens next. As men were sent to find Keziah, their journey in unknown territory always kept me nervous of what they would run into, and there were many twists and turns their journey took.

The story had a satisfying ending and left the door open for more to follow. Because three more books are proposed, I’m sure the mysteries that were woven in the story will come to light as the series continues.

Any negatives? For me, I didn’t really have any. Every chapter served a purpose and held my interest. The only thing I will say is some of the fight scenes had gore, so this is something to keep in mind.

Overall, I would recommend this story, especially to those who enjoy biblical and historical fiction, as well as character and plot-driven stories.

***This book was given to me by Bethany House and NetGalley for an honest review.***

Voice of the Ancient is the start to the The King's Men series. I loved this wonderful story. It is my new favorite I have read by Connilyn Cossette to day. I am going to give this clean historical five stars.

A beautifully written book that takes the reader on the faith journey of Avi and Kez. The journey is what makes this book so beautiful. Without their journey of faith and discovery, the ultimate destination would not have been as meaningful.

Avi forsakes his upbringing to chase glory with his cousins in a battle under King Saul. After rationalizing his choices, Avi quickly realizes that war is not what he imagined. When his beloved cousin goes missing, Avi is determined to make things right. His search lands him on the same path as Keziah, a young woman on the run from an abusive arranged marriage. In the interest of efficiency and safety, the two join together as travel companions. As their pasts are revealed to each other, it becomes difficult to ignore the power and providence of God.

A nice, digestible foray into Old Testament biblical fiction, for readers who may be unfamiliar with the early days of the Bible. Lots of good food for thought here, fleshed out through imperfect characters in believable scenarios.

This book is broader in scope then some of the biblical fiction I’ve read. We travel beside our characters along trade routes and through the countryside. Therefore, we are able to visit many places and see different ways of life. It provides a level of interest that some “small town” biblical fiction books don’t always have.

This book includes a simple, chaste romance. We also have a loveable animal companion, and side characters who add depth to the setting and culture of the time.

I was a big fan of the pacing. Not breakneck speed but there was always some event happening and it kept me turning pages.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was time well spent! I found the authors note quite moving too.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

I'm so glad to see Connilyn Cossette continuing to write stories about the Israelites in the Old Testament, and highly anticipated this book. Time marches on, and now Israel is crowning their first king as the children from her last series grow into adults. I really enjoyed seeing the effects of some of the country's historical choices on the culture, such as the way the tribes on the east side of the Jordan intermingled more of the surrounding nations' beliefs into their own religion. It was also interesting to me how cousins could live together and belong to different tribes and have different responsibilities.

Avidan is an imperfect hero, discontent with the role God has given him, wanting to be and do things he views as more worthy. In a lot of ways, this book was very familiar, even though the time period and some plot points were new. It read very much like the author's other books, which means that if you like her other books, you'll like this one too. I'm interested in some of Avi's cousins and looking forward to reading their stories.

I read a copy provided by Netgalley for review but these are my own honest, unfiltered thoughts and opinions.