Book Review of “Like Flames in the Night” by Connilyn Cossette
Cities of Refuge Series–Book 4
First of all I must say that this is the fastest I have ever read a book, and it is not because this book was short because it wasn’t, nor was it because I just skimmed through it, no…it was because this book was so very riveting I just could not stop reading it!
I have read other books that have been page turners, as the others in this Cities of Refuge have been, but none quite captivated me as much as this book did. Where one adventure ended, another began and it seemed I was gripped with excitement on every page. It was not a book where you could guess what would happen next, or predict the ending, no, this book kept you on edge until the very last page.
“Like Flames in the Night” is the fourth and concluding book in Connilyn Cossette’s “Cities of Refuge Series.” If you have been blessed to read the first three books in this series you will find this book most pleasurable as you follow Tirzah, Darek and Moriyah’s youngest daughter, on several breath-taking secret adventures as a spy in Aramean enemy territory. Plus, you will also be following Liyam, son of Moriyah’s best friend, Alanah, who is a warrior out for vengence in the death of his young daughter. When Tirzah and Liyam meet in Shiloh, will they be able to work together to accomplish the mission they have both been sent to do? This is a question you will ask yourself as both of them are strong-willed and have their own agendas to deal with as well as the mission at hand.
This book tells a parcially imaginative story of how, because of Israel’s disobedience to the Lord and their following other gods, they fell into captivity for eight years to Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram Naharaim and how the people suffered under the cruel treatment of the governing commanders and soldiers, how their cities were taken over and destroyed, and how the true believers were no longer able to worship Yahweh freely. However, as scripture tells us, because of the faithful prayer and cries of the true believers, the Lord did rise up a Deliverer who was Othniel, son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who led Israel to fight and overtake their enemies and regain their cities and freedom once again. Though there are not many factual accounts of this time, in this book Connilyn Cossette takes us through how that time of deliverance may well have happened and introduces us to consider how many people, men and women and children, stayed strong in their faith in the face of adversity, and how their bravery and trust in the Lord brought eventual victory for Israel as the people turned back to the One True God and repented.
This book shows us the terrible results of apostacy and how people suffer when they turn away from God and follow idols and false religions, letting their minds be influenced by the world instead of the truth of God’s word, they fall into complacency and eventually captivity that leads to their destruction. This is evident in our world today, just as it was back then so many years ago, and it is good that this book brings that to light.
This book not only was entertaining, it was historical, biblical, inspiring, romantic and full of faith and truth. I recommend it highly.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All comments are my own.
–Leona J. Atkinson