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- Verified Buyer
I received To Dwell Among Cedars for Christmas, but saved it in order to savor it. I'm not sure if I would've wanted to read it earlier, but this novel was certainly worth savoring. At first, I thought it wouldn't be as good as other Cossette books; the first half didn't seem quite as deep as I'm used to. But Connilynn crafted a jewel once again.As always, I loved the characters in To Dwell Among Cedars. I commend Connilynn for crafting a story that shows two "grafted branches" having extremely different reactions to being accepted into the family of Yahweh. That thread could've been simplistic, preachy, or both, but it came across as relatable and true to the human experience, whether in first-century Israel or twenty-first century America. Margin note: I didn't know Connilynn was an adoptee, which only adds to the veritas. Again, bravo.Eliora and Lukio/Natan themselves, as well as Ronen, Yoela, Elazar, and the secondary cast, all come through beautifully. Everyone gets the exact amount of page time they need for readers to get to know them, and everyone is three-dimensional. I particularly loved and related to the thread of Eliora trying to earn a place at the table, and hating her identity as a Philistine. When she expressed this to Ronen, I literally put the book down and said, "Oh, sweetie." And then my heart went "boom," because I have felt--feel--the same way she does. May God have mercy on me.In terms of Ronen, I didn't expect him to be a swoon-worthy hero, but he turned into one. What I liked best about him was that his heroism came from spirituality more than physical or mental and emotional prowess. Ronen's character growth is organic and perfectly timed, and his struggles between whether to do the right thing vs. stick with his uncle and cousin's plans, are again as relatable as it gets. I also loved Ronen's journey of rediscovery where music and singing are concerned. Coupled with Eliora's journey, it made a deep impact.The romance between Ronen and Eliora is also wonderful, understated and sweet but also passionate in the best and purest way. Their embrace in the garden was one of my favorite scenes, as was the scene where Ronen coaxes Eliora to uncover her hair. Additionally, I loved that the romantic conflict was not, "We can't be together because Eliora is a Philistine and other people won't approve." Rather, the romantic conflict came from the well-developed personalities of these characters, their spiritual growth, and their need for each other, as well as Yahweh.As for Eliora's Philistine heritage, Ronen and Samuel were right. It makes her witness even more credible and memorable. Again, her conversion could've been too easy or preachy, but Connilynn made it feel natural. I loved watching her learn that her safety came not from the ark or an object in general, but from God Himself. And even though Eliora didn't meet Samuel in person, I loved his inclusion in the story. I admit, at first I thought he might be an angel or even a version of Jesus :)., but Connilynn's portrayal of Samuel was well-researched and clever.As you can see, I could go on all day, but I won't. All I'll say is, Connilynn Cosette is an author you need to read, especially if you want Biblical fiction that stays true to Scripture and perfectly captures the culture of Israel. I'm already looking forward to Between the Wild Branches in the summer.
