Lilith by Nikki Marmey is the story of Adam’s first wife and her journey to rescue the Queen of Heaven and spread Her message of Wisdom across the world.

The story itself is very compelling. The first chapters are filled with the vibrant gardens of Paradise, Adam’s heart-wrenching betrayal, and the arrival of Eve. After Lilith’s exile, it turns to a fantastic historical fiction as she explores the ancient world—Lilith interacts with many religious and historical figures, from God and Adam and Eve to Noah and his family on their arc to the Queen of Ancient Israel, Queen Jezebel.

Nikki Marmey’s writing style is very “Madeline Miller,” with rich prose, amazing quotes, and beautiful descriptions. When I annotated it, I felt like I was underlining every sentence. It was STUNNING.

This book is also VERY feminist; the oppression/power of women is what drives the plot. I personally loved it, but the absorption in that theme and the prose-like writing definitely distracted from the characters’ emotions and made the story feel a little more artificial at times. That being said, if you’re interested in feminist literature, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

ALSO. It should’ve been sapphic. Sorry, I know I’m biased. But when books are all about female power and epic women and then she falls in love with an annoying, mediocre man, it breaks my heart. Lilith had a million times more chemistry with people like her “beloved” Jezebel than she did with her love interest. But I’ll look past it, just this once. :) 

In conclusion, this book is a stunning work of art, with vibrant descriptions, a bold feminist plot, and many interesting historical and religious characters/stories. If you’re looking for a good historical fantasy, check this one out!

(NOTE: For best reading experience, listen to Hozier and/or Paris Paloma while reading)