Wow. Where do I even begin?? After enjoying the first book in the duology, but not LOVING it at the same level I had Connilyn’s previous books, I had really high hopes for book two. And let me tell you, Connilyn managed to surpass all of them! Between the Wild Branches just might rank in my top three fave books of hers so far, and it will certainly be a fave read of 2021!
Ten years ago Lukio fled Kiryat-Yearim, where he’d been adopted by the Levite family who guarded the Ark of the Covenant. Feeling betrayed by everyone, he returned to his birthplace in Philistia to become a famous fighter. Now the champion of Ashdod, Lukio has achieved every goal with the help of his ruthless cousin. But just as he is set to claim the biggest prize of all, the daughter of the king, his past collides with his present in the form of Shoshana.
After a heartbreaking end to her secret friendship with Lukio, Shoshana thought to never see the boy with the dual-colored eyes and the troubled soul again. But when she is captured in a Philistine raid and enslaved in Ashdod, she is surprised to find that the brutal fighter known as Demon-Eyes is Lukio himself.
With explosive secrets and unbreakable vows standing between them, finding a way to freedom for both may cost them everything.
My heart really went out to Lukio in book one, and I loved the threads of his and Shosanna’s relationship that were interwoven there. The ending of book one totally broke my heart and I’ve been dying to know what happened to Lukio after the final chapter. At first, I was upset by the fact that this book picks up TEN YEARS after those heartbreaking events, but once I started reading this book, I realized how perfect of a story choice this was. By the time we see Lukio and Shosanna again, they are very different people, no longer children, but adults who have been through many trials, horrors, and life-changes. This made them even better characters and my heart went out to them even more. Ugh! ? I wanted to just wrap them in a big, comforting hug! Especially Lukio!!! ❤️He’s just the BEST sort of fictional hero!! Strong and tough and a bit rough around the edges, but a total teddy bear on the inside, full of compassion and fierce passion for those he loves and those in need.
As you can probably tell, this book gave me ALL the feels!!! Conni certainly kept me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter until the very last. Never was there a moment when I felt even slightly bored or like the story had fallen into a lull. Conni truly put her poor characters in quite the pickle of a situation and I had no idea how she was going to get them out of it. Everytime I thought I knew how things could be resolved, she pulled the story in a different direction and kept me guessing. She even nearly gave me a panic attack a couple times! Internally, I was breathing frantically into a paper bag! LOL ??
The beauty and depth of the message of the story, which fit so perfectly and naturally with the characters’ stories, touched my heart. This is one of those books that you never want to end, but by the time you reach that inevitable conclusion, you feel so full inside.
There’s so much else I could probably say about this book, but I’ll end with a few random comments that don’t seem to fit anywhere else:
1.) The scene with the forest mural!!!!! ???❤️❤️❤️ Quite possibly my favorite moment in the book!
2.) “We’re bringing him home.” ?❤️ Another favorite moment that hit me right in the feels, and like the one mentioned above, you’ll just have the book to understand what I mean.
3.) Igo!!! I loved Lukio’s dog, especially since he reminded me of my own “gentle giant” Rambo, who is scared of his own shadow but is fiercely protective and loyal.
4.) There are sooooo many beautiful, quotable moments in this story! I saved so many bookmarks on my kindle.
And lastly…
5.) I think Lukio and Shoshanna are my new favorite couple out of Conni’s books! Their love story is just SO SWEET and it feels so real and raw. You can’t help but root for them every step of the way.
As you’ve probably surmised, this is a solid 5/5 Stars for me–I would give it more than 5 if there were such a thing. If you’re a fan of Biblical fiction, or considering giving it a try, do yourself a favor and read this book–but make sure to read book one first, because it would totally ruin everything if you don’t!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
