Review: Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette

When I wrote my list of Top 10(ish) Auto-Buy Authors, Connilyn Cossette made the top of the list. And now I’m reminded why!

Until the Mountains Fall is Connilyn’s 2019 release and book three in her award winning Cities of Refuge series. In case you haven’t read any of this series yet, it centers around the Levitical cities of refuge, namely Kedesh. These cities, governed by the Levites, served as asylums for people convicted of manslaughter, where they could be safe from retribution by their victim’s next of kin while still living a fairly normal life. The catch? They could not leave the city without risk of death until the current High Priest of Israel died, which would allow their crimes to be pardoned.

See any similarities to the death of The High Priest whose blood atoned for ALL our crimes (sins)?

Anyway… I loved the first two books in the series, but I have to say this one is the best yet! And one of Conni’s best works to date. If this book doesn’t win an award, as the previous two books did, I will be SHOCKED!

Here’s the official blurb:

Recently widowed, Rivkah refuses to submit to the Torah law compelling her to marry her husband’s brother and instead flees Kedesh, hoping to use her talents as a scribe to support herself. Without the protections of her father, Kedesh’s head priest, and the safety of the city of refuge, Rivkah soon discovers that the cost of recklessness is her own freedom.

Malakhi has secretly loved Rivkah for years, but he never imagined his older brother’s death would mean wedding her himself. After her disappearance, he throws himself into the ongoing fight against the Canaanites instead of dwelling on all he has lost. But with impending war looming over Israel, Rivkah’s father comes to Malakhi with an impossible request.

As the enemies that Rivkah and Malakhi face from without and within Israel grow more threatening each day, is it too late for the restoration their wounded souls seek?

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It’s been a while since I just could not put a book down. I found myself reading this story every chance I got. On Christmas Eve, I read for four hours straight (such a luxury for me these days!), and after that, I read while cooking, while mopping, while waiting for my shower water to get hot, at family events, etc… It’s just that good.

Connilyn’s characters never fail to come alive on the page, but Rivkah and, especially, Malakhi were exceptionally well-developed. They start out as young, immature individuals, and end up as strong, wise adults with a love that’s hard won and true. Malakhi’s unconditional, steadfast love for Rivkah, despite everything that unfolds, makes him a seriously swoon worthy hero.

Based on The Prodigal Son parable told by Jesus, this prodigal daughter story is breathtakingly profound. The author mentions in her note at the back of the book that she was once a prodigal herself, wandering far from God and those who loved her. Her personal experience with this type of situation shines through, lending the story an emotional depth it may not have had otherwise. I was moved to tears as I was reminded that, like Rivkah’s father, our heavenly Abba (Father), is always standing on the rooftop, waiting and watching… Calling for us to come home, and poised to run to us with open arms when we do.

Until the Mountains Fall strikes that special place in your heart that few books do. It’s not only entertaining; it’s deep and thought-provoking, with an emotional impact akin to Francine Rivers classic novel Redeeming Love—lofty company, indeed!

If you’re a fan of Conni’s or have never read one of her books, I strongly encourage you to give this book and this series a try! You don’t have to have read the previous books to understand Malakhi and Rivkah’s story, BUT in order to fully appreciate most of the secondary characters and an important subplot that ties the series together (which reaches a tear-inducing conclusion in this story!), it would be best to read the books in order.

Until the Mountains Fall earns a well-deserved 5/5 Stars! I can’t wait to see how Connilyn resolves this excellent series in the upcoming book four, Like Flames in the Night!