A Sacred Echo Through Time

Splendor of the Land

Written by Connilyn Cossette

Series: The King’s Men, Book 3

Published by Bethany House Publishers

Release Date: 08.05.25

Genre: Ancient Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Christian Historical Fiction, Inspirational

5+ Stars!

Some stories pass through the mind. Others settle in the heart. But Splendor of the Land breathes into the soul and remains a sacred echo of truth, beauty, and belonging. The dust, the weight, the wonder of it. These pages carry the hush of holy ground. With each step through the ancient landscape, we are invited to witness the ache of humanity and the glory of God woven together. This is a call to behold the One True King moving in every moment, then and now.

Connilyn Cossette tells stories that honor Scripture with holy imagination—writing not to embellish but to illuminate. Gavriel and Zahava may not be in the biblical record, but they could have been. And that’s the power of her gift: she writes the forgotten margins of history with such conviction and care that our hearts believe these lives matter. Because they do.

Zahava … gentle, gifted, hidden … is a character who will remain etched in memory. Her strength is not in spite of her limp but forged through it. Her hands craft gold, but her spirit reflects something more precious: the image of El Shaddai. And Gavriel … flawed, proud, broken … staggered with his transformation. His redemption arc made hearts beat faster, not from emotion but from conviction.

“Because only a man on his knees can see what he is lacking most.” This burns deep. This is not surface-level redemption. This is the truth told through desert winds and starry skies and the trembling choice to surrender.

One of the most powerful scenes in the book was Zahava’s memory of her mother’s lullaby. The one that named her for the golden star overhead. The words, the legacy, the reminder that we are made of stronger things than what wounds us … “elements far stronger and more precious than pure gold”… tears came without permission. Because don't we all need someone to sing that kind of truth over us?

This story pulsed with danger and tenderness. Sleep slipped away, and it was worthy of sacrifice. No moment felt wasted. Every step these characters took carried purpose, pain, and providence. And the way Connilyn paints the setting? The dust still clings to our feet. The forge can still be smelled. The tremble of battle still lingers. The breath of Yahweh heard in the quiet.

The romance moved deeply but it speaks of more than love. It speaks of legacy. It reveals the holy mystery of being seen and known by God and one another.

For those who have doubted worth, questioned God’s timing, wrestled with surrender, or wondered if broken things can still be called beautiful … Splendor of the Land meets us there.

This book was closed with reverence. With joy. And prayers that our lives would be lived as wholly, as fearfully, as splendorously as Zahava’s.

“Then you know that the Creator fashioned you from elements far stronger than iron and infinitely more precious than diamonds, my love.”

This isn’t a story to rate. It’s one to encounter. It marks the soul with splendor, wrestles with doubt, and leaves us kneeling in awe. It lingers as a holy reminder: Yahweh is faithful, sovereign, and near. And in His presence, we are known, redeemed, and called to live for His glory.

I received a digital version of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the excellent writing and story’s amazing content, ensuring transparency and reliability.