Connilyn Cossette Books in Order

Introduction to the Connilyn Cossette Biblical Universe

Connilyn Cossette is one of the most celebrated voices in modern Christian historical fiction. With Christy and Carol Award-winning novels to her name, she has built a reputation for breathing rich, emotional life into ancient biblical accounts. Rather than simple retellings, her stories immerse readers in the dusty roads, cultural tensions, and spiritual journeys of ancient Israel, focusing on themes of redemption, identity, and divine grace.

What many new readers do not realize is that her major series are not entirely standalone. They are woven into a single, cohesive biblical universe that spans centuries. Characters from one series reappear as mentors, elders, or ancestors in subsequent series, creating a grand generational saga. To help you navigate this beautifully detailed world, this guide outlines the recommended reading path, details the series connections, and addresses publication versus chronological orders.

The Recommended Reading Order: Where to Start

While you can read each series independently, the absolute best way to experience Connilyn Cossette's work is in publication order. Because the books are connected by a shared timeline and family lineage, reading them as they were published allows you to discover character links naturally and avoid minor spoilers. Here is the recommended sequence:

1. Out From Egypt Series: Start with Counted with the Stars, then read Shadow of the Storm, and finish with Wings of the Wind.
2. Cities of Refuge Series: Read A Light on the Hill, followed by Shelter of the Most High, Until the Mountains Fall, and Like Flames in the Night.
3. The Covenant House Series: Read To Dwell Among Cedars and then Between the Wild Branches.
4. The King's Men Series: Read Voice of the Ancient, Shield of the Mighty, Splendor of the Land, and Throne of the Heavens, incorporating the companion novellas as supplementary backstories.

Series by Series: Breakdown and Connections

1. Out From Egypt Series

This is the foundation of Cossette's biblical universe. The series begins during the plagues of Egypt and follows the long journey of the Hebrews through the wilderness from the perspective of outsiders who chose to align with Yahweh.

• Counted with the Stars (2016): Follows Kiya, a wealthy Egyptian slave who leaves her homeland during the Exodus, navigating survival and faith in the desert.
• Shadow of the Storm (2016): Centers on Kiya's daughter Shira, dealing with betrayal and rebuilding her life in the shadow of Mount Sinai.
• Wings of the Wind (2017): Focuses on Alanah, a Canaanite woman who finds herself among the Hebrews as they prepare to cross into the Promised Land.

2. Cities of Refuge Series

Serving as a direct sequel and spin-off to the Exodus novels, this series is set during the conquest and early Judges era of Israel, exploring the sanctuary cities established for accidental manslaughter.

• A Light on the Hill (2018): Follows Moriyah, a woman scarred by her past who seeks shelter in the sanctuary city of Kedesh. Readers will recognize Moriyah as a supporting character who first appeared in Wings of the Wind.
• Shelter of the Most High (2018): Set in the city of Shechem, focusing on a young woman named Sofea who is shipwrecked and taken in by a Hebrew family.
• Until the Mountains Fall (2019): Focuses on Rivkah, who flees to the city of Golan to escape an unwanted marriage and protect her young stepson.
• Like Flames in the Night (2020): Concludes the series in the city of Ramoth-Gilead, featuring Liona and a Hebrew warrior fighting against local threats.

3. The Covenant House Series

This duology moves forward in history to the turbulent transition between the period of the Judges and the early Israelite monarchy, specifically dealing with the aftermath of the Philistines capturing the Ark of the Covenant and the destruction of Shiloh.

• To Dwell Among Cedars (2020): Focuses on two Philistine siblings, Eliora and Natan, who flee Ashdod following the Ark of the Covenant into Israelite territory and are adopted into a Levite family.
• Between the Wild Branches (2021): Concludes the duology, following Lukio (formerly Natan) years later as he struggles to reconcile his Hebrew upbringing with his Philistine roots.

4. The King's Men Series

This series acts as a direct next-generation spin-off of The Covenant House, set during the reign of King Saul. It follows four cousins—who first appeared as children in the prior duology—as they leave their home to fight for the new Hebrew king.

• Voice of the Ancient (2023): The first full-length novel, following the cousin Eliab as he navigates battlefield duty, family secrets, and romance.
• Shield of the Mighty (2024): Focuses on the next cousin's trial of honor and faith during the conflicts under Saul's crown.
• Splendor of the Land (2025): Continues the saga of the cousins in the early monarchy.
• Throne of the Heavens (2026): The concluding novel of the main quadrology.

The King's Men Novellas: Cossette has also released several companion novellas, including The Wedding Gift, The Blind Scribe, and The Hidden Warrior. These offer quick, self-contained stories focusing on the early lives of the main characters.

5. Ordinary Women of the Bible (Collaborative Series)

While the local database lists a vast array of books under this header, Ordinary Women of the Bible is actually a multi-author collaborative project published by Guideposts. Connilyn Cossette did not write the entire list. Instead, she contributed three specific, standalone novels to this collection:

• The Healer's Touch: Tikva's Story (Book 2): A story of a woman seeking healing from the Master Healer.
• The Life Giver: Shiphrah's Story (Book 10): Centers on the brave Hebrew midwife who resisted Pharaoh's decree to kill newborn boys.
• Mother of Kings: Zemirah's Story (Book 23): Follows the life of the woman who would become the mother of King David.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Although the publication order is generally recommended, a chronological reading of the main series is also highly rewarding. The timeline moves in a straight line through biblical history:

1. Out From Egypt Series (Exodus / Wilderness)
2. Cities of Refuge Series (Early Judges / Canaanite Settlement)
3. The Covenant House Series (Late Judges / Philistine Conflicts)
4. The King's Men Series (Saul's Reign / Rise of David)

The companion novellas present a minor chronological dilemma. For example, The Wedding Gift is chronologically set before Voice of the Ancient, but reading it first can spoil certain character reveals. The safest route is to read the main novels of The King's Men first, using the novellas as prequel companions once you are familiar with the characters.

What to Know Before You Start

Cossette's books are praised for historical accuracy, but they are works of fiction. She masterfully weaves fictional protagonists into the blank spaces of biblical narratives, allowing readers to interact with real historical events through a fresh lens. To help readers track the complex web of relationships across the generations, Cossette provides a Biblical Universe Family Tree on her official website. Readers are cautioned to consult this family tree carefully, as it contains major spoilers for character fates in earlier books.