Name: Shield of the Mighty
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

Connilyn Cossette

The King’s Men

Shield of the Mighty

 by Connilyn Cossette is another outstanding story. As with her previous novels, 

 is another well-researched, great character-in-relatable-conflict story, and a clear illustration of the depth of Cossette’s faith in Christ. The most relatable aspect of this story is Zevi’s retribution-to-surrender arc. I would bet that most of us have all been there. We’ve been hurt in the past. Like really, really hurt. Many of us have probably felt vengeance burn in our veins. “If we could just get them back for the injustice they did against us our lives would be better” we tell ourselves. If we are Christian and know God’s Word, then we know that we can’t actually exact vengeance ourselves because 

 tells us that vengeance is God’s and God’s alone. In the right time, His time, revenge for wrong doing will occur and it will occur swiftly. Logically, Zevi is fully aware of this principle; his father has taught him well. BUT understanding this at a heart-level takes time and life experience. Watching Zevi traverse the complicated emotions of this principle, the frustration of feeling all the anger and rage at the person or people who have hurt you but having to let God be God, was the best part of this timely story. I feel like this emotional journey is the most realistic journey I’ve ever seen a male character go through. Being a strong, capable soldier who literally has the innate skill to take out bad guys, but who cannot use any of those skills and must wait on God…it’s got to be so hard. But it’s the way it MUST be for our own peace and well-being. Man, this aspect had me feeling all the feels on Zevi’s behalf.

In addition to this vengeance issue, I also really appreciated how Cossette dealt with the tribal issues of the Israelite people during king Saul’s time. Zevi is a Judahite who was taken as a captive as a child by the Philistines who was then rescued and raised by a Levite community. All of this experience gives Zevi a unique perspective not really shared by the majority of Israelites of the time. During Saul’s reign, the tribes were very separated. Zevi understands that for Israel to be a successful nation, Israel needs to be unified. What I like about this topic in the story is that Zevi is YEARS away from this actually happening, but he gets this is what needs to be done. Cossette ends her novel with beautiful historical honesty: Cossette doesn’t give Zevi a false resolution to this problem because it would be disingenuous. This narrative integrity is why I keep coming back to Cossette’s novels. It’s so real-life: people who pay attention may see solutions years, decades before the solution can come to life. If we are God-fearing people, then we know everything in due time…God’s due time. This is the repeating theme of 

. God is with all of His kids. He sees all. He knows all. And one day, He will take care of it all. God is consistently on time. It’s a comfort to Zevi by the end of the book, and it is the comfort I’m taking from this outstanding story.

 is a great Historical Romance. I cannot recommend it enough. I’m walking away with a great sense of peace that the God of king Saul’s time is still in control and He is still in charge. If you’re in need of this reminder, and you’re in the mood for an action/adventure that will keep you turning pages well into the night, then Cossette’s book is definitely the book for you.

I purchased a copy of this eBook edition from Amazon on August 19, 2024. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Nicole Santana

Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette is another outstanding story. As with her previous novels, Shield of the Mighty is another well-researched, great character-in-relatable-conflict story, and a clear illustration of the depth of Cossette’s faith in Christ. The most relatable aspect of this story is Zevi’s retribution-to-surrender arc. I would bet that most of us have all been there. We’ve been hurt in the past. Like really, really hurt. Many of us have probably felt vengeance burn in our veins. “If we could just get them back for the injustice they did against us our lives would be better” we tell ourselves. If we are Christian and know God’s Word, then we know that we can’t actually exact vengeance ourselves because Deuteronomy 32:35 tells us that vengeance is God’s and God’s alone. In the right time, His time, revenge for wrong doing will occur and it will occur swiftly. Logically, Zevi is fully aware of this principle; his father has taught him well. BUT understanding this at a heart-level takes time and life experience. Watching Zevi traverse the complicated emotions of this principle, the frustration of feeling all the anger and rage at the person or people who have hurt you but having to let God be God, was the best part of this timely story. I feel like this emotional journey is the most realistic journey I’ve ever seen a male character go through. Being a strong, capable soldier who literally has the innate skill to take out bad guys, but who cannot use any of those skills and must wait on God…it’s got to be so hard. But it’s the way it MUST be for our own peace and well-being. Man, this aspect had me feeling all the feels on Zevi’s behalf.

In addition to this vengeance issue, I also really appreciated how Cossette dealt with the tribal issues of the Israelite people during king Saul’s time. Zevi is a Judahite who was taken as a captive as a child by the Philistines who was then rescued and raised by a Levite community. All of this experience gives Zevi a unique perspective not really shared by the majority of Israelites of the time. During Saul’s reign, the tribes were very separated. Zevi understands that for Israel to be a successful nation, Israel needs to be unified. What I like about this topic in the story is that Zevi is YEARS away from this actually happening, but he gets this is what needs to be done. Cossette ends her novel with beautiful historical honesty: Cossette doesn’t give Zevi a false resolution to this problem because it would be disingenuous. This narrative integrity is why I keep coming back to Cossette’s novels. It’s so real-life: people who pay attention may see solutions years, decades before the solution can come to life. If we are God-fearing people, then we know everything in due time…God’s due time. This is the repeating theme of Shield of the Mighty. God is with all of His kids. He sees all. He knows all. And one day, He will take care of it all. God is consistently on time. It’s a comfort to Zevi by the end of the book, and it is the comfort I’m taking from this outstanding story.

Shield of the Mighty is a great Historical Romance. I cannot recommend it enough. I’m walking away with a great sense of peace that the God of king Saul’s time is still in control and He is still in charge. If you’re in need of this reminder, and you’re in the mood for an action/adventure that will keep you turning pages well into the night, then Cossette’s book is definitely the book for you.

I purchased a copy of this eBook edition from Amazon on August 19, 2024. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Shield of the Mighty The King’s Men

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