Book Review: Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette

About the Book:

Strong-willed Tirzah wants to join her people in driving the enemy from the land of Israel and undergoes training for a secret mission inside the stronghold of Shechem. But soon after she has infiltrated the ruthless Aramean commander's kitchen, she makes a reckless decision that puts her and her allies in grave danger.

Fresh off the battlefield, Liyam returns home to discover his beloved daughter is dead. After his vow to hunt down her killer leads to months of fruitless pursuit, his last hope is in a family connection that comes with strings attached--strings that force him to pose as a mercenary and rescue an infuriating woman who refuses to leave her mission uncompleted.

When an opportunity to pave a path to a Hebrew victory arises, can Tirzah convince Liyam to fight alongside her in the refuge city of her birth? Or will Liyam's thirst for vengeance outweigh his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he's come to love?

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My Thoughts:

Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette engaged my attention immediately with Tirzah who easily claimed the spot as my favorite character. As a leader, she’s strong and brave. As a spy, she’s skilled and confident. As a human being, she’s imperfect, yet tenacious. In short, she’s the kind of woman I aspire to be! I loved that Liyam respects and affirms her as a valued, gifted warrior-leader.

With romantic tension, constant danger, and hard issues, the storyline of Like Flames in the Night moves steadily. I enjoyed the characters’ personal development as the story progressed. Liyam, like Raviv from the first novel in the series, is a Blood Avenger. Liyam’s pain, struggle, and duty dictate many of his actions, but the last chapter is a potent masterpiece displaying the novel’s themes and Liyam’s character development. I wanted to cry and cheer.

Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette stands as the fourth and final installment in the Cities of Refuge series. While this novel can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the novels in order as nearly all the characters from previous novels in the series, plus, some from Wings of the Wind, reappear in Like Flames in the Night. Truly, the epilogue created a satisfying conclusion to both this novel and the series as a whole. I will likely read the series in its entirety again in the future.

Learn more about Like Flames in the Night in this interview on my blog with Connilyn Cossette or read an excerpt on the publisher's website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.