The queen of Biblical Fiction still reigns supreme!
To Dwell Among Cedars is a fascinating look at a rather obscure portion of the Samuel-era of the Bible and the ancient Philistine culture. Connilyn has a way of taking events from the Bible, whether well-known or barely known, and making them come to vivid life. This strength is beautifully exhibited here, as I was sucked into Arisa/Eliora and Lukio/Natan’s world from the very first chapter.
Eight years ago, when the Philistines stole and then surrendered the ark of the covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora left her Philistine homeland to follow the ark to the community of Kiryat Yearim. There, the family she was adopted into has guarded the ark at the top of a mountain in seclusion.
Ronen is a Levite musician determined to secret away the ark to a more fitting resting place, watched over by priests who would restore the Holy of Holies. He never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he’s tasked to deceive.
As Ronen’s attempts to charm Eliora lead them in unexpected directions, betrayal leaves Eliora with strained family ties and Ronen questioning his own loyalties. Ultimately, Eliora and Ronen are caught up in the battle for the soul of Israel and its future under the leadership of Samuel, the last judge before the era of the kings begins.
It was fascinating to learn about Philistia, an ancient kingdom still very much shrouded in mystery. And while I knew of the story of the Ark of the Covenant being stolen by the Philistines and then returned by a cart pulled by two cows with no driver, this wasn’t a story I’d ever given much thought to. After seeing it through the lense of this book, though, I’m completely fascinated by the story. What a strange sight that must have been!
I loved how Conni used Eliora and Lukio’s Hebrew slave/caretaker, Azuvah, as not only a way for them to learn about Yahweh, but as the impetus for their flight from Philistia. The life of this sweet, old servant lays the foundation for the entire story and in fact, much of it hinges on the impact she has on the hearts of the characters. She was by far my favorite character of the book.
There were other excellent characters as well, though–Eliora, Ronen, and Lukio. Each of them are very different from the other, but each struggling with different aspects of being grafted into new families. Eliora feels thankful for those who have adopted her as their own, but she feels like she has to constantly prove herself in order to belong. Ronen is trying so hard to be a part of his uncle’s family, not realizing that in doing so he is running farther and farther from who he really is inside. And Lukio… poor Lukio. I grew frustrated with his constant anger and rebellion, but in the end I could see and understand just how broken he is. He has wounds deep in his soul from childhood that keep him from truly joining himself to the family that has welcomed him with arms wide open. His underlying fear of being abandoned by everyone he cares about struck me right in the heart, and now I am anxiously awaiting book two, Between the Wild Branches!
Speaking of book two, I feel like there are so many questions I need answered and storylines I want to see play out. I am hoping Connilyn will show us how Eliora and Ronen’s life unfolds following the events of the final chapter of this book, and of course, I am eager to see what happens to Lukio after that cliffhanger ending… But since book two starts TEN YEARS after this one, I have a feeling things won’t go quite like I expect. However, Connilyn’s storytelling is always brilliant and I’m sure I and other reads will end up satisfied in the end.
While I wasn’t quite as invested in this story as I was with some of her previous books (I think this was more the fault of the Christmas holidays and my reading time being limited, and not so much the book’s fault) the fascinating Biblical history and the depth and beauty of the message of being grafted into the family of God makes this book a can’t miss read for Biblical fiction lovers. 5/5 Stars!
PS: That subtle tie in to the Out From Egypt series is EVERYTHING! **insert all the heart-eyes and cry-faces** Fans of that series, be on the lookout for this so you don’t miss it!!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review, but was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.**
