As they fight for the soul of Israel, will they find healing for their own? Eight years ago, after the Philistines surrendered the stolen Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora and her brother left their Philistine homeland to follow it to the community of Kiryat-Yearim. Though they both were lovingly enfolded into a Levite family that guards the Ark, Eliora can't stop feeling like she doesn't belong. Meanwhile, a faction of discontent Hebrews finds Kiryat-Yearim to be an unfit resting place and believes that the sacred vessel should be in the hands of the priests who mean to restore the Holy of Holies in a new location. Under the guise of gathering Hebrews to worship together for the festivals, Levite musician Ronen has been sent by his uncle to find where the Ark has been hidden and steal it back. But Ronen never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he's tasked to deceive.Ronen's attempts to charm Eliora into revealing the location of the Ark lead them in unexpected directions, as they must battle betrayal and fear to help establish Israel's leadership for a better future."Cossette introduces siblings caught up within early biblical conquests in the excellent launch of her Covenant House series. Cossette's propulsive biblical drama has moments of high suspense and intrigue.

Fans of Tessa Ashfar should take a look." --Publishers Weekly "Cossette's ability to bring Biblical times and its rich cultures authentically to life is, in a word, glorious. This is a beautiful exploration of the ancient past that will resonate with modern readers." --Historical Novels Review.