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Do you enjoy historical fiction? Ever tried Biblical fiction?

I discovered this new author through some book blurbs which interested me, and although I hadn’t read this genre before, I became hooked by these engaging stories.

Connilyn Cossette weaves gripping tales set in Egypt prior to and soon after the Exodus with Moses. From the first page, I admired her writing gift, how she brought in all the elements to interest the reader. Soon I was immersed in the story, always wanting to know what would happen next, always reading just one more chapter until it was getting late. I was taken back in time learning about things that I had never really considered. I found myself caring very much for the people. Cossette’s details made me feel like I was getting a true glimpse of what it was like living during this time.

Her Out of Egypt series contains two novels, so far: Counted with the Stars and Shadow of the Storm. Counted with the Stars, is a story about Kiya, an Egyptian sold into slavery to pay her father’s debts. In Counted with the Stars, the story is told from Kiya’s point of view. She was a privileged Egyptian prior to being sold into slavery so we watch her transform her view of the Hebrews from contempt to respect. It is also interesting to view the plagues from the viewpoint of the Egyptians. Shadow of the Storm, is a story about Shira, an Israelite, wrestling with accepting and learning to use her gifts as a midwife to save lives. Shira is also learning to stand firm in speaking the truth in dangerous situations. In Shadow of the Storm, the story is told through Shira’s point of view and through Dvorah’s point of view. Dvorah, half Hebrew and half Egyptian, is disgusted with Moses and the Levites and doesn’t care who she hurts to get what she wants. It was interesting living in the camp with these people while some are punished for worshiping the golden calf idol, while Moses brings down the Ten Commandments, and while the believers construct the tabernacle and install the Levites to their positions. I had never considered that there might be hostilities in the camp from people resisting Yahweh. Everyone is learning about how to follow God in this new nation.

Both novels were published in 2016 by Bethany House. I am looking forward to the third book, Wings of the Wind, to be released on May 2, 2017, and to future books from this talented author.

Have you read other Biblical fiction? What was your favorite?