This book was beautiful and haunting in the best ways. I will be sure to recommend it when it releases on October 17th. The cover art is gorgeous and the writing matches!

I have never supported Lilith more than I do now!!! Screw Adam and Eve! This woman has gone to hell and back and has to sit by and watch God ruin her life.

The concept of Lilith finding Eve and Asherah (God's Wife) to restore the balance in the universe (ultimately that women are meant to be in power not men) is so thought provoking and inspiring. This woman is shrouded in hate in our history and scripture and this novel gives so much light to her.

I HIGHLY encourage you to read this and rethink what men have written and told us for thousands of years. You might start to believe that they were the bad ones the whole time.

DNFing 7% in. I know that this is not very far into the book. But I really don't enjoy how it was written. I didn't expect it to actually sound like the bible. The writing is very "I did this and then I did this. I felt like this." To me it is just a bit dull.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I struggle with deciding what to rate this book because I really loved it but I also found parts of it a little slow and tedious to get through. It sparked a lot of conversation with my coworkers at work because of things I had read; not just from this book, but from the research that it inspired me to do. Overall, I think I’m going to give this a four-star on Goodreads but it’ll actually be about a 3.75. And that is literally only because there were some slower parts that I struggle to get through. But that also has I think I want to do with my Personal religious trauma. I love the overall message of this book, but I am sure that this book will get a lot of backlash from the religious community. I love that the story includes the story of Mary Magdalene and Jezebel. This book just really inspired a lot of curiosity about what really happened during those times. This is a fictionalized book, but as we know, history is written by the victors in this case men. It makes me wonder if this is a more accurate portrayal of Jezebel, Mary Magdalene etc. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of written historical fact about women in general, but especially from this time period. So this fictionalized account may be the closest we can get to these women’s stories or maybe the truth is somewhere between this accounting and what is written in the Bible/Quran/Torah etc. The author did a great job with research, especially considering what little there was to work with.

I really love these type of stories, re-imagined familiar tales written in a "how it really went" kind of way. This one, too, initially grabbed me, but ultimately dragged on for too long. I had to throw in the towel at 65%

Before Eve, there was Lilith....

The mythology/folklore lover in me adored this novel. It's a variation on the theme of Madeline Miller's Circe, from the perspective of Lilith and spanning all the way to present day. It also reminded me of Mists of Avalon at times -- a feminist epic and one of my favorite guilty pleasure novels. I wanted this to be longer (which is rarely the case!) Some of the major historical moments she touches on are so glossed over - barely blips. Bonus points for a super robust notes section! The academic in me was geeking out.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a wonderful story of Lilith. How she not only escaped the hands of Adam, but was a fear e and curious woman. I loved this retelling of her story. I was completely immersed into this storyline, I read it in one sitting.

Lilith takes a long windy journey through the traditional biblical stories.

From her relationship to Adam to visiting Noah’s Ark and more, Lilith presents a different perspective on classic stories.

It took me a really long time to finish this book due to the long, windy nature of the writing.

If you’re looking for an alternative take on bible stories, this might be interesting for you.

ARC kindly provided via NetGalley

This is a story for feminist ex-Christians and fans of Madeline Miller. It's the opposite of the TV show Supernatural in the best way possible - all the best characters are women, it's very well-researched, and Lilith is integrated throughout the story in a way that makes sense. Marmery clearly did a lot of research, so a background in religious studies, biblical history, and bronze age archaeology enhanced my reading pleasure but is not necessary. There were a few things I didn't like: the portrayal of Peter (in the author's note she acknowledges that his villainy isn't really found in historical sources), the occasional tilt towards misandry, and the time jump from the Roman empire to modern day with nothing in between. Overall, though, fascinating.

Interesting concept with lots of potential. I wanted to like Lilith, the first feminist, but found her to be dull and slow-witted. Yahweh was immature and sneaky. It would have been great if Asherah had stormed in and ‘fixed everything’. I liked the authors notes at the end the best, with notes to biblical text and banned books.

Thank you for Netgalley for the e-arc review.

I will not be reading this book upon learning more about the story from a trusted reviewer.
Please look up reviews from Jewish readers to learn more information on where this story falls short and the harm the author does to telling Jewish stories - when they are not in fact jewish.

Lilith is a thought-provoking and ambitious story inspired by ancient tales and repressed texts, with expressive literary language and a magnificently captivating heroine.

This is a retelling of the Hebrew tradition of Lilith, the first woman exiled from the Garden of Eden because she refused to lie beneath Adam. This book discusses how religion was used to persuade women into becoming subordinate to males rather than equals, and how the goddess Asherah was mostly ignored. I love how the feminine story reframes something so uniquely female, like creation, into something that was transferred into a male being constructed in "his" image.

The story follows Lilith from her banishment from the Garden of Eden to the current day, sharing stories of Noah, Jezebel, and Mary Magdalene without ever feeling disconnected.

A goddess' power comes from those who worship her. Without prayers, sacrifices, and incense, which serve as both their air and food, gods cannot exist. They are made by belief and undone by disbelief.

Lilith's journey is to triumph over the Father who had banished and replaced her, who had cursed all women with inferiority. To make things right, to start over for all women. To find a lost harmony; man and woman as equals.

Her inner wisdom grows and changes as she moves across space and time. There is no god who is above nature. There is no male above the female. We are neither above nor distinct from the world that sustains us. We are one.

Such is the curse of Wisdom. We are free to make our choices. We pursue our own will. But we must live with the consequences.

The message is the same: respect women since they give and sustain life. Women discover their own value via exploring, freeing themselves from restrictions, and reclaiming their bodies and power.

We are entitled to the origin narrative that existed before mankind came up with the idea of a single, male god. We are entitled to a holy, strong, and equal woman. We deserve Lilith.

She is an empowered, dignified heroine who will not be subjugated. A strong, moral woman who stands up for the female sex and the environment and vows to exact justice on those who have wronged her.

Powerful and marvelous reading. Highly recommended.

This book haunts me. If you’re currently going through your “finding myself” phase as a woman or trying to understand your place with the patriarchy, it’s one that will haunt you as well.
As someone who grew up in Christianity, it was freeing to look into the mythology of another religion. Through the lens of the first woman, I was delighted to see why Christianity would want to erase Lilith. A woman who is head strong, self-assured, and intelligent. Exactly the woman I was not taught to be. At one with her decisions and her sexuality, I enjoyed her character even when she questioned herself and her actions.
I read this book as an ARC (advanced reading copy) from NetGalley, but this will definitely be one that I go and purchase to put on my shelf.

This book is fascinating. It's an epic historical fantasy on par with "The Mists of Avalon". Nikki Marmery does a tremendous job covering the entire scope of history. Her commitment to doing this well is obvious as one reads the notes at the end. I would actually encourage people to read the notes first as it helps clarify some of the text and also what Marmery is intending to do.
Definitely a fascinating read. It is a bit long so be prepared for that.
One other note is that readers, especially those who grew up within major world religions religious traditions need to be prepared to read this with a very open mind.

This is the female origin story. And it is wonderful. It takes the tales of so many of our biblical women figures (Eve, Jezebel, Mary Magdalene) told by Lilith. This books to reclaim the notion that Eve is responsible for sin, and all the following things through "religious"' texts that made women property and second class citizens. It's powerful and empowering.

I received this ARC from Netgalley (thank you very much!) in exchange for an honest review!

"There was a line [Maryam] returned to again and again, that sang like a chorus throughout:

I am the woman crying out, cast upon the face of the earth.

It moved me to silent tears every time. For it was me [Lilith]. I was that woman.
I had cried out for what I had lost. I was cast aside. I walked the face of the earth for millennia.
This was, as she put it, her life’s work. For me, it was so much more than that. It was everything I had striven for. The overturning of all that had happened in Eden so long ago, when female divinity and Wisdom were banished, so too all balance and harmony, and a new and horrifying creed was born: of male supremacy; hierarchy, domination of women and the earth; judgment and control.

It was the correction and repudiation of Adam’s course, sanctioned by his god. This was the work of countless lifetimes."

"All others were paired male with female, two by two. I completed myself. I didn’t need to produce new life. Instead, I carried an idea."

Absolutely brilliant, this resolved my religious trauma originating from having grown up a woman in a relatively catholic environment.
Reminds me a lot of Circe and Madeline Millers writing in general.

I will recommend this to everyone I ever meet.

This book was incredible. As a child my family dabbled in Sunday church visits but I myself never enjoyed the stories in the Bible. This book sparked so many questions and personal research as I read through the different biblical accounts as told by Lilith.

What an incredible read! Lilith is a feminist retelling of the Hebrew creation story featuring a host of characters you might already be familiar with, such as Adam, Eve, Jezebel, and more. Marmery masterfully wove Lilith’s journey through history, covering millennia in less than 350 pages. The story flowed nicely, and the short sections helped break up the dense writing within each page.

Marmery’s use of wit and subtlety interjected modern-phrasing was one of my favorite things about this entire novel. These comments added just the right amount of humor to provide some relief from the serious nature of the book. Did I mention how exquisite Marmery’s writing is? From the descriptions of food to the detailed sights of Paradise, it was impossible not to fall in love with the book. Nikki Marmery is being likened to Madeline Miller for good reason! Besides, just take a look at that divine cover.

If you’re feeling daunted by a book of this topic, I highly implore you to give it a try. Whether you are familiar with the story of not, this book might just give you a new perspective. Easily one of my new favorites, I gave Lilith 4.75 starss and will be thinking about it for a long time to come. Lilith releases on October 17, 2023, and I highly recommend picking up a copy as soon as it becomes available.

Thank you to NetGally and Alcove Press for this ARC of Lilith by Nikki Marmery!

Whew! This book is a wild ride. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

As a Jewish woman I was intrigued with this retelling of the old testament biblical character Lilith. This book turns the myth of a demonic, baby stealing, man-hating first woman into the story of a woman who longs to remind the world of the power and importance of women.

We follow Lilith from her fall in Eden, where she refuses to be subservient to Adam, through the millennia. It kind of reminded me of Forest Gump - she just happened to be there during all the major upheavals in history, from stowing away on Noah's arc, to befriending the misunderstood Jezebel and Mary Magdalene and onward. Lilith falls in love, becomes a mother herself, travels to hell and back, all because she believes that women have an equal place in our world and in worship.

The writing was very contemporary and well-researched, which honestly left me a little unsettled at times. There are a lot of ancient references that I Googled. But once I got past like the first quarter of the book I found the author's rhythm and enjoyed the story more. I'm not sure this book is for everyone but it was definitely interesting.

So, I enjoy the story of Lillth. If you are religious or if you are into lore, this is a good book for you. I am just not religious at all and this book is heavy with Christianity concepts. Not my thing.