A Light on the Hill

4.5 stars
A very well-written and researched book set in the early days of tribal Israel, in the first decade after the crossing of the Jordan and fall of Jericho, dealing with settling into the new land. The details are beautifully researched and engaging, never dragging despite the wealth of historical detail.

Moriyah is an engaging character. While her life is very difficult, it's easy to like her and root for her because of her tendency to put others first and her pleasant voice as a narrator (the story is written in first person from Moriyah's POV). The descriptions are lush and nearly visible from the reader's seat. Honestly, two comparisons (robin's-egg blue sky and “barged into”) were intrusively regional/modern, but aside from those, the narration is pretty flawlessly ancient-culture in flavor. Comparisons are to local plants or events and the cadence of the story easily evokes the feeling that the reader has stepped into the past.

I'm not much of a “biblical fiction” reader because I feel like so many authors are presumptuous with their portrayal of Bible characters and I can't turn off the argue switch and agree with their interpretations. This story, while set in Biblical times, does not attempt to reimagine Biblical figures, but instead is set as a true historical fiction in a historic culture. It's simply older than most of my reading generally is! Shout-out to Andrea for suggesting Connilyn Cossette as a good author to try!

Thanks to Bethany House Blogger review program for a review copy. A favorable opinion was not required.