Splendor of the Land

Cossette (Shield of the Mighty) returns to the barren landscapes of ancient Israel for the enthralling latest in the King’s Men series. Gavriel, a Hebrew soldier and weapons-maker, has dreamed all his life of fighting for his tribe. After his impulsiveness lands him in one too many ill-advised tussles, Yonatan, the son of King Saul, orders him on a diplomatic mission to evacuate an allied tribe of Kenites from a future battle site. Gavriel’s reckless behavior on the mission results in him being forced to marry Zahava, a Kenite chieftain’s daughter and talented metalsmith who’s been passing off her work as her father’s. Despite their differences, Gavriel can’t help but fall for the confident weapons-maker. But as the Kenites and Israelites travel back to safety in Be’er Sheva, word spreads of the mysterious Kenite metalsmith in their party, and Gavriel must decide how far he’ll go to shield his new wife from those who wish to exploit her skills for their own gain, including a fearsome Philistine king. Cossette weaves heart-pounding adventure with the enchanting central love story, and leaves plenty of loose threads to whet readers’ appetites for the next installment. Series fans won’t be able to put this down. (Aug.)