3.5 stars out of 5.

I wasn't sure what this book was about going into it. I read it solely because of the cover and a I read a sentence or two of the synopsis. The story was pretty good. I found the beginning part of this book annoying and confusing. I wasn't sure what, exactly, was going on. I almost DNF'd it, but decided to persevere because I felt like it had potential to be a great story. I also felt like this book was kind of preachy. I'm not a religious person, and often squirm when I feel like I'm being preached to (no matter what religion). It seemed to back off a little as the story went on, but it was a continuous thing throughout. Though that shouldn't be surprising, given that this book involves the story of Adam and Eve. Or maybe I just got more used to it as the story progressed. I don't know. The way the author wrote it, though, was very interesting. It definitely was different.

I had a hard time connecting to the main character Lilly, though. She is a 15 year old girl who has been through some bad things in her life. But I couldn't emotionally connect to her at all, except for a little towards the end. As the reader, you are supposed to believe that she really feels the negative things she keeps saying about herself, but I just didn't. It almost seemed like the author had her repeat these things over and over to make up for the fact that the emotional impact of those feelings wasn't there.

That being said, I did end up liking John, the man who finds her. I also thought the way the story was told was interesting and so was the concept. I would imagine that someone who is a church going Christian would really enjoy this book. Unless you don't like how you interpret the Bible to be challenged. I found a lot of what the story talked about and mentioned really interesting. I've not studied the Bible much, so I don't know if the story that Young told about the Genesis story is something that most people accept or not. But the way it was presented made me think not. If nothing else, I certainly understand the Genesis story a little better now because of it.

Ultimately, I really liked the way the story was presented, even if I couldn't connect to Lilly and found the preachy aspect a little annoying. This book made me think about the Creation story in ways I never had before and I really like that. Just those two things about the book are why I knocked my rating to 3.5 stars. Really a good read over all.

An interesting concept for sure

I hate to say anything negative at all about this author. His book The Shack is in my top 5 books ever read. Loved it! And his book Crossroads I loved as well. This book just didn't pick up for me. I get the underlying idea if where he was trying to go, or wanted to go. I just didn't feel he was able to get there. This book fell way short for me. And it really pains me to say that because I have a lot of respect for this author.

I loved The Shack, but had no idea what was going on in this book.

I Loved this book!! It challenges, in the best way, our conception of our wonderful triune God, of sacrifice, of Love, of humanity. I loved Lilly, the broken, beautiful girl at the center of the story, and I loved the artistry in the telling. Wm Paul Young is a treasure to the Church and to the world.

May Eden expand as it was meant to, in face-to-face-to-face Union between Man and Woman and God. May the Great Dance be enjoyed eternally, as the Bride joins with the Groom in everlasting pleasure.

This book was so interesting!! I would've never even picked it up if it hadn't been for a recommendation from my MIL & I was hesitant bc of my assumptions about the author - I attempted the shack but quit partway through 1) bc it's really hard for me to read/watch violence against children 2) I remember not liking the dialogue. After finishing Eve and really enjoying it I am probably going to have to give the shack another try!

I will start with what I didn't like about the book - but first, there are two main storylines. 1) A girl named Lily is washed up on the shores of a futuristic, non-earth world where she is cared for by humans (and non-human spirit beings) as she tries to remember her traumatic past & discern her purpose in this new world 2) Lily travels by dreams & visions to the Beginnings of the universe and is a Witness to the creation of the mankind (the garden of Eden, etc).

I didn't particularly like the story line #1. It was pseudo sci-fi but sort of vague and hard to follow and the characters (mostly the peripheral ones) were not very convincing or compelling. I liked the allusions to biblical characters and the spirit beings were interesting (reminded me of Philip Pullmans trilogy!) but the dialogue was really rough at times - cheesy or just hard to follow.

With that said, I reallllly liked the #2 story line! Lily's story was so interesting and her visions of creation and the mythology were beautifully written. The descriptions reminded me of a mix of C. S. Lewis & Philip Pullman (in other words, wonderful). His take on the trinity was also fantastic - creator, energy & spirit, with plenty of feminine/maternal qualities. The narrative of the fall was also a very creative and thought-provoking take on the original myth and I really enjoyed all of it - without spoilers the dialogue, motives, and even the consequences of the Turning are not what you'd expect. Although the sci-fi story was a little hard to get through at times, the story of creation was enough to keep me turning pages (late into the night) and it gave me very beautiful imagery for not only God but creation, humanity and myself.

My review (as published at Read, Run, Ramble)

Thank you, Howard Books via Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

I’m sorry to say that this novel was a struggle for me. I spent most of the book quite confused and bored.
Eve was a weird book. The Shack was weird too, but I read and enjoyed it because it took normal theology and gave it character, personalization, familiarity – it helped it make sense and feel comforting. Eve didn’t do that for me. The book felt confused to me – bouncing between the time of Creation and some futuristic state as well as current day. The bouncing in time made everything feel disjointed and I had a hard time just understanding exactly what the book was trying to do or tell me.

I’m not sure if the lack of character depth and my inability to connect with any of them (including what should have been a protagonist that stole my empathy and heart right off the bat) was also due to the chaotic story line or not, but I was also less than impressed with the cast.

I will say that the alternative view of theology is interesting. Because the story fell so horribly flat for me, I don’t really have any strong feelings about it, but it wasn’t off putting. Though, I do imagine biblical purists won’t necessarily like what Young presents. I do think the difference just added to the confusion though – readers are jumping all over in time, reading a mix of traditional theology and alternative ideas from the author, while also trying to keep up with a plethora of names for God (many I’d never even heard…YIKES).

There were a few things about Lilly (protagonist) that were briefly mentioned, but never fully disclosed or explained. These items left me wondering and wishing they had been explored. Without giving too much away (no spoilers!!) I will say that there is a DNA storyline and a betrothal storyline that are both mentioned in relation to Lilly, but nothing more…literally nothing. Both are mentioned in ways that leave readers thinking it means something, but when nothing else happens, it just leaves questions and confusion.

Honestly, I thought about giving up several times. I did not and I’m glad that I finished because some things did get a little clearer by the conclusion of the story; however, it wasn’t until the last 10% or so. For that reason I’m sticking with 2 stars – this book just wasn’t one I enjoyed.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.

This book has one redeeming quality - just one - and that is that it is a quick read. Aside from this, it defies catagorization. Like some other reviewers, I don't know if this is SF, fantasy, paranormal or what the author might be aiming for. The beginning of the book is a confused mess and when I finally realize where it is all going - a retelling of the story of creation - I am already seriously fed up.

The author is so full of himself it hurts. He really thinks he has something amazing going and stumbles over his own feet to try to deliver the message quickly enough. The message gets lost in the mud. This is probably the worst book I've read all year. I can't understand how this book got on my radar in the first place, much less passed my initial screening. Well, full score for poor judgement on my part. Can't win them all. At least I can rest assured that my next read will be better.

So weird. Nothing like The Shack. I didn't enjoy all of it but the end hit home strong. Thumbs up and tears of joy for the retelling of a story we all know in a different way.

Simply put I loved it as much as the Shack. I've read other reviews that picked apart details of the book and with some of them I agree. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every bit of it and didn't want it to end.