I wasn't sure about this one, and it's always interesting (yet, also slightly risky) to go from an authors latest/most recent books, all the way back to the beginning as one reads through their backlist as well... Such was the case here. I loved some of her more recent books, and have wanted to read her earlier books for a couple years now. After finally reading Lukio's book (Between the Wild Branches) and having the immense pleasure and honor to read her newest book a little early this year, I knew it wad time to read some of her earliest books as well, which led me to this one and her Out of Egypt series.

With that said, for any author who you (or at least when I) read many of their books, eventually there's always a 'favorite' and a least 'favorite' or just one that didn't quite hit the level of the beloved book. This might be that one for me. It was good! I loved Connilyn Cossette's writing and her style is one of my favorites. Compared to anything else, and this one would still rate highly, just not as high compared to the Connilyn Cossette stories I've grown to love. There are a few reasons for that, but in part it's likely because this was one of her first stories, or at least a lot earlier than the most recent ones. So, there has definitely been some major life events (including some health scares) that have added to her faith and therefore contribute to her stories as well. Likewise, practice just makes things better, so with each new book I love seeing her continue to hone and stretch her skills, trying new things, taking on unique challenges, and just seeing where the stories take her (and adoring readers, like me) along the way.

There is also the fact that while it's probably true for each of us, or at least many of us, I can only speak for myself, but certain characters and even some personality types speak to me differently that others. Some I'm instantly drawn to, others I'm instantly annoyed with... This one was also a bit harder to enjoy, since I have grown used to her dual-POV and struggle to connect with the male love interest without it, especially since Kiya's POV and personality were so-so for me personally. She was fine, and did a good job as far as giving us a narrator or point from where we see the story play out, but she doesn't add a whole lot to the story herself. A pretty typical female-lead, especially from around the 2016 period. (So much has changed since then! Honestly back then, and 2016-ish me, would have probably loved this one and adored Eben and even thought this was the greatest story ever... So, it's still a good book, if I was able to enjoy it so much today!)

Eben, I wanted to like him, and did. But not nearly as much as I would have preferred, and not enough to save the story for me. He had so much to offer, and I do see glimpse of that in some of Cossette's newest books, Ronan with the music, a few of her others with the broody glares and introverted/silent tendencies to show affection without saying a word. In their protective glances, caring concern, or unannounced gifts. I loved that here too, and would have loved to see his POV, but I did enjoy his role regardless. Cliché? Maybe a little, but I still enjoyed his character. (Clichés are a thing for a reason, right? Because they work! lol)

Kiya...wow, she has some rough times where the males in her life are involved...I mean, all the women/females in this story have it rough, but yikes. I do know that it would have (and still is) common, but she was also a bit...naïve? (Again, when I was around 18, this would have probably not be something I noticed or thought about. but still...)

There were also a few...liberties taken about the plagues and the crossing that I wasn't completely comfortable with. In one place, it's said that the strong wind we see in scriptures was cold. So cold, that it froze the water so that the Hebrews could cross on dry land...We do see there is a strong wind and that the land beneath where the water walked and crossed was dry, but nothing is stated about freezing... There was nothing that really took away from the story, or anything heavily concerning or problematic, and for the most part Cossette did a wonderful job telling a story that we only see a little of in scripture, and from a time long ago with little by way a records surviving today. I'm also not sure if we know much about who was Pharaoh and how many Pharaoh's there were during Moses' life and during the time between his birth and his role in the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt...?

The story was good, but between those things, plus the fact that through a good portion of the book we are being told more than actually connecting with the characters. We see the things happening, hear about the characters going through the things, and/or hear how the things might be affecting other characters or areas unseen, but... We aren't getting any of the actual emotional or deeper themes happening. Yes, things are happening, and we do see Kyia's suffering and likely feel bad for her and her situation, but not beyond surface level. ( )

I have loved everything I've read from this author. As a Torah Observant believer in Yeshua, it's so great to have these Biblically based books written about Older Testament times. Lots of scope for the imagination! Can't wait for book two! ( )

I’ve been wanting to read this book for years, and thankfully, it didn’t disappoint me! Even as a debut author, Cossette has had a knack for writing solid Biblical fiction. I’ve always wondered what it must have been like to be an Egyptian at the time of the Exodus, and she gave me an excellent picture of that in this book. There were one or two things that made me wonder if they really would have happened at that time, but overall, this closely followed the Biblical account. A satisfying read; highly recommended!

*Story does include some violence. ( )

This is the Exodus story told from a unique perspective: an Egyptian who joined the Hebrew people as God led them out of Egypt.

Sold into slavery to pay for her father’s debts, Kiya experiences the devastation of the plagues that the Hebrews’ unseen God brings down upon Egypt. As her friend Shira tells her the history of her people and how Moses was chosen to be their deliverer, Kiya realizes the only chance of survival for herself and her family is to escape from her master’s household and join the Hebrews as they journey to their Promised Land. But she would never imagine that such a powerful, foreign God would care about the fate of an insignificant Egyptian slave girl.

I found this to be such an interesting perspective from which to tell a familiar story! I don’t often think about what it must have been like to be one of thousands in the crowd that followed Moses out of Egypt into the desert, much less an Egyptian suffering through the plagues and then taking that leap of faith. The daily lives and beliefs of both the Egyptians and Hebrews were portrayed really well, and I liked seeing how different people interacted, based on their motives, decisions, beliefs, stubbornness, love and loyalty, fear and courage.

I will definitely be reading more by this author! ( )

3.5 Stars

Clever title and a great idea for a story, but the delivery left me wanting a little more. The development of relationships and plot seemed to just fizzle out in the end. Some of the character's dialogue and reactions to traumatic events did not ring true to me. I genuinely liked all the characters and I appreciated that the book was not bogged down by excessive internal dialogue like so much of today's Christian fiction. Overall, I enjoyed the book enough to continue on to the sequel. ( )