Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook.

Lilith's description caught my attention long before it was longlisted for Aspen Words Literary Prize.

"After her son, Lydan, suffers traumatic injuries in a school shooting, single mom Elisabeth Ross grows enraged at men in power. If they won’t do anything to help end this epidemic of violence, she will. Believing it’s her destiny, she sets out to awaken the world to the cowards these men are and commits her own shocking act of violence."

I don't know about you but every time an awful school shooting takes place, and some NRA idiot inevitably starts showering the grieving parents with "thoughts and prayers" on TV, I think this might actually happen. That is, I am actually shocked that it has not happened YET. A grief crazed parent taking up arms and claiming their "2nd amendment rights" by shooting up some good ole' NRA boys. Honestly? This seems entirely possible where I live.

Another interesting point: the main female protagonist in Lilith is a teacher. In fact the book begins with what ought to be one of the most disturbing descriptions of the school shooting in the history of the literature. Precisely because the focus is on what's going on in the teacher's mind in this situation. The intensity is palpable. The idea of a person in this state of mind being armed is actually almost as disturbing.

According to www.usconcealedcarry.com "an impressive 32 states allow teachers and staff to effectively protect children by carrying a firearm on campus." There is a lot to be said about how "effective" that might be. The author of the article goes on lamenting on how "it is unfortunate that not all 50 states permit this form of defense against active school shooter situations". He (or she) then proceeds to describing multiple shootings that took place from 1999 to 2018, focusing on the time from the beginning of the shooting until the arrival of the law enforcement, zeroing in on the fact that the help basically never arrives fast enough. The author never addresses the root cause of the problem: how and why did the weapons capable of such destruction in such miniscule periods of time get into the hands of the shooters in the first place? All this beating around the bush...proposing that arming teachers is a good idea because, supposedly if a teacher draws a gun, the perpetrator is likely to shoot himself immediately anyway 🙄 As always, in the author's min there seems to be a clear divide into "us" - the good, sensible folk. And "them" - the crazies. It's not the guns that shoot people. It's the crazies. Right?

But what if the teacher went...well, crazy? I mean...schools are very stressful places to work at. Even without mass shootings. And as The Joker famously said in the The Dark Knight movie: "Madness is like gravity. All it takes is a little push.".🃏

To clarify, the organizations such as US Concealed Carry do not advocate for more mental health checks, or really, any type of checks for teachers before arming them. Only for passing more laws that allow firearms on school grounds.

There are many reasons why arming teachers is a bad idea, from the fact that no one, not even SWAT teams (!) can, with 100% accuracy, decipher the chaotic active shooter situation, and that therefore, the armed teachers are much more likely to accidentally shoot their students, and/or get shot themselves by the law enforcement than to effectively neutralize the shooter. To the fact that the teachers simply CANNOT be expected to shoot and kill someone who is potentially their current or former student in cold blood. To the simple, scientifically proven fact that more guns ALWAYS equal more violence. If you want to learn more I suggest you check out resources and recommendations on www.everytownresearch.org.

Lilith focuses on one of these reasons, mainly the fact that as things currently stand, no one can guarantee that only teachers with 100% clean bill of mental health will be allowed to bring arms to schools. Or, for that matter, that none of them will go on to develop mental health issues after receiving such permit. Do with this information what you want. Mental health is not a "given" and is not constant. Dividing humans into "good" and "bad" because of their mental health struggles is a sticky business. If for nothing else, I think Lilith deserves the nomination for bringing to light this very important point.

There is no doubt that Lilith is very "relevant", especially considering the fact that at least for the next 4 years (probably longer) nothing will change in the US with regards to passing more sensible gun laws. I do wish that the author focused more on the toxic gun culture in the US, and less on feminism. Yes, most of the shooters are males. And yes, patriarchy is poison. But...sadly as it relates to guns, there are plenty of women in the US who are ridiculously and inexplicably "pro-guns". Unfortunately, I think Lilith looses focus a bit by trying to do too much and going off on a tangent about toxic male masculinity. That should have been a topic for a separate book.

I was really hesitant for this one because of the triggering content but it was so well done. So emotional. Definitely a difficult subject but I think the author did a really great job with this one.

3.5 ⭐️ stars

Thought-provoking, fast-paced, and unfortunately timely given the unending rash of school shootings, and the strongly held mixed views on how to address them.

We all know the current cycle: a school shooting is followed by an outcry of pleas for stronger gun control, or a thoughts and prayers response with a push to train and arm teachers. And not much changes. But what if extreme action was taken by a teacher/mother whose son was a victim in the school where she taught? Would it have the desired effect, or escalate things even worse?

I read it all in one day, so it’s definitely a quick read that held my attention. My quibble would be that the female rage came off a bit masculine, like how a man *thinks* a woman would feel/react rather than ringing true.

The audiobook narrator, Brittany Pressley, is one of my favorites. She has a “Julia Whelan” quality to her voice, and gives just as good of a delivery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

*Lilith* by Eric Rickstad offers a powerful and gripping portrayal of the trauma a mother and son endure after a shootout. As someone who has never read much on this topic before, I found the story immensely satisfying. The narrative pulls readers into the journey with Elisabeth, the mother, making it hard to judge her actions—any mother might have reacted the same way. Her character shines as strong and courageous, willing to go to any length for her son.

The book challenges readers with questions on every page, prompting deep reflection on morality and choices. I particularly enjoyed the tug of war between good and bad that carries throughout the story, keeping me on edge. The climax is fast-paced and intense, so much so that it made my heart race. Without a doubt, *Lilith* deserves 5 stars for its emotional depth and compelling storytelling.

Perfect for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with strong emotional undercurrents, this book stands out.

I have to admit, this book is not what I thought it would be. This is my first read by Eric Rickstad and so I didn't really know too much of what to expect. Eric brings us a real zinger of a story line. One that isn't unknown here in America, and yet not falling in line with the typical story either. Modern media focuses on the voice or intention of the deranged. Eric's story focuses on the victim and the very real and yet not talked about aftermath of these events. We follow Elisabeth as she tries to make sense of her new reality, answers that don't come and people willing to point fingers and lay blame without any type of ownership. It's an unnerving story of old, but told in an entirely new light that will leave a lasting impression and uncomfortable but necessary conversation.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley and really appreciated her tone and pacing as she brought you deep into the story. Also well done!
*I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

🖤 Lilith - Eric Rickstad 🖤

“I find no comfort in it, eternity, everlasting life. When I am dead, I will be gone, and I will never know I existed. I will not know I ever was. Just as when I am asleep, I do not know I exist or ever existed.”

This isn’t the first book I’ve read on the utterly tragic and senseless US gun violence and school shootings - but it’s one of the best I've read, and one that will stay with me for a very long time.

What’s different about this one? The author gives absolutely NO voice to the shooter. Focusing rather on giving value to bringing characters to life, walking us through the horrific aftermath of another devastating act of brutality. Giving voice to reality and all its ugly while highlighting the blurry line between perceived right and wrong. I felt a wide range of emotions listening to this book. Sadness, empathy, anger; all from gun violence, the devastating loss of innocent lives and the cruel patriarchal treatment of the MC - Educator and single mum, protecting her most treasured gift(s).

I don’t understand why there aren’t tougher laws around gun control, it makes no sense to me - but, I’m so incredibly lucky to live in a country where human life is valued above that of guns!

It’s tough read, with many trigger warnings … but one I feel needs to be read and talked about no matter how hard. It’s a timely and important read.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“What is war if not chaos and mass death?”

Huge thanks to @blackstonepublishing @netgalley and @ericrickstadauthor for an ALC 🎧 The narration by Brittany Pressley was phenomenal. Pressley bought Elisabeth to life in a way not many could! Highly recommended!

Dear Lilith,
I am not really sure what to say to you. You are deep, and dark and utterly unforgettable. You are a scathing commentary on how easily violence is accepted in American culture and how devastating the effects of it can be. You take the fallout from a school shooting to a place that I could never have imagined. You are a dark and horrifying story of a world that is a very real future for our world. Deeply powerful and completing disturbing.

A fantastic exploration on the after effects of a school shooting. Elizabeth's son Lydan is injured in a school shooting and left "damaged" scarred for life physically and emotionally. This book explores the after effects on Elizabeth and her actions in the aftermath. Going by the name Lilith, she sets out to commit an act of violence as revenge against men in power …and posts a video which goes viral.
Lilith is now being sought after by the FBI and Elizabeth must keep her identity hidden if she wants keep being able to care for her son. This book is impressive and inspired me, it is a book I keep going back to and that I keep thinking about.
The audio was very well done and I was glued to my headphones.

With Lilith comes a story from the side of school shootings that we have not yet heard. What happens if a parent decides to take action to end the madness? Should someone be punished for breaking rules when that results in many lives being saved? Is it okay to take lives in the pursuit of protecting lives?

Wow, what a ride. This listen was great, I'm actually going to relisten to it. I thought the characters were well developed and the points he made were poignant.

This is the second novel I’ve read by this author. I don’t think this author is for me. The writing style is very slow. Not enough dialogue. Too many details that aren’t really necessary. And too many mentions of the authors stance on gun laws.

“I find no comfort in it, eternity, everlasting life. When I am dead, I will be gone, and I will never know I existed. I will not know I ever was. Just as when I am asleep, I do not know I exist or ever existed.
I am not saddened or frightened. It is this that brings me comfort. Confidence. Confidence to do something now, in this life, with my life. This one and only life of mine.”

This is an important book and handles such a sensitive topic. It is realistic in emotional turmoil it puts the characters through but it is not realistic in how it deals with it. What happened in the book can not happen in real life. A primary teacher can not take a revenge on a powerful man, a man who is going to run a huge campaign soon. That's just not possible. And the way the incidents happen one after the other, it just felt too far fetched. Too good to be true. Frankly it felt like a movie script. A woman, no a mother scorned and she takes revenge by punishing the man responsible.

The inner monologues were painfully long and the characters I don't know it just didn't work out. No matter it is wonderfully written. I don't really have complaints there. It was heartbreaking and it made my blood boil a lot many times when patriarchy showed its ugly head.

But the thing is that the plot isn't strong enough, it's not realistically thought out. But even as I mention all the negatives about this book I really liked it. I enjoyed listening to it except when the emotions where supposed to be at peak.

Now coming to the audiobook, Brittany Pressley's emotions are sometimes to annoying. Like her voice takes a annoying high pitch and becomes so animated that I couldn't really listen to her in that particular frame of time. And that reminded me I have heard her previous audiobook - reminders of him and I had same experience with that audiobook as well. Overall get narration is quite good except parts were the emotions are to become overwhelming.

Narration - 3. 5 stars
Book rating - 3 stars

Thank you Netgally and Blackstone publishing audiobooks for the audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Omg this book. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going in but I freaking devoured this one. It was heart wrenching, amazing and I could not get enough

Wow! This was a lot and terrifying b/c I could totally see this happening today...in fact many parts of it are. Lilith did what many would like to do but don't b/c ultimately it's wrong and we are afraid. This was a great read and my 1st by Eric Rickstad. I am adding all of his books to my TBR!

#Lilith
#NetGalley

This book was incredibly intense, dark, and gut-wrenching to get through. I listened to the audiobook, and Brittany Pressley's narration was emotionally charged. She did an amazing job of bringing this difficult story to life. I'm not used to her narrating something so dark, and at first, it felt surprising, but it worked very well for me.

As a parent, I had an extremely hard time with this story. The author truly forces you to think about things no parent wants to contemplate. I know that every day when I send my children to school, a part of me worries for their safety. This book caused me so much anxiety, and honestly, I read to forget about things that make me anxious. I was very tempted to DNF this book, but I'm so glad I didn't because sometimes we need to think about the things that make us uncomfortable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow! What a great book. The premise of this book spoke to me. As an educator, the fear of school shootings is very real and the frustration with lawmakers not making stricter gun laws is infuriating. So I found myself really empathizing with the main character and rooting for her. I love the narrator! I have yet to listen to a book that she has narrated that I didn’t like. She’s just phenomenal and changes voices seamlessly, making it easy to distinguish between characters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Lilith by Eric Rickstad, narrated by Brittany Pressley, is an audiobook that delves into the heart of America’s most pressing and painful issues. The novel is a gripping thriller that not only entertains but also provokes deep thought and introspection.

The story follows Elisabeth Ross, a single mother whose life is shattered by a school shooting that leaves her son Lydan with traumatic injuries. In the aftermath, Elisabeth’s fury towards the men in power who do nothing to end the epidemic of violence leads her to take a shocking step. Assuming the mantle of Lilith—the mythological first wife of Adam who refused to be subservient—she commits an act of violence and posts a video that sends ripples through society.

Rickstad’s command of language is evident in the way he weaves this tale. The characters are richly developed, and the plot is layered with complex moral questions. The narrative explores the roots of violence and the mythology surrounding it, asking whether Elisabeth’s act of defiance makes her a monster or a martyr.

Brittany Pressley’s narration brings an additional layer of depth to the story. Her ability to convey the emotional turmoil of the characters, especially Elisabeth, adds a palpable tension to the listening experience. The performance is haunting and compelling, ensuring that the story stays with you long after the final words are spoken.

Lilith is a reflection on the state of our society. It challenges listeners to consider the consequences of our actions and the pervasive nature of violence. This audiobook is a must-listen for those who appreciate stories that are not only thrilling but also meaningful and thought-provoking. Rickstad has crafted a tale that is tragic, profound, and ultimately unforgettable.

A woman scorned, angered by a school shooting at the very school she teaches at. In the process, the shooter injures her son, who is in another room. The pain of her son’s healing both mentally as well as physically is too much to bear. In a million years she never believed she’d do this. In a million years she never believed she’d have a reason. The very thing she hates, she becomes. Had to take a break at 50% because of how enraged she becomes, to the point of losing her mind & committing multiple murders. Her psyche is so horribly twisted. A man hater. A crazed man hater. Now, she’s plotting revenge. Going after politicians allowing the sale of guns. Hold these leaders accountable. Specifically, Mr. Akers, presidential candidate and the owner of the most famous gun store in the world. Men, and their need for lust and violence and death. Men, and their perceived right to violence.

The narrator?
Her voice inflections and the way she conveys the thoughts/feelings of the characters is very good. The downside is, it sounds like she’s got her head down for the reading and she whistles her S’s which, I am not a fan of.
If not for the gift from NetGalley, I would not have finished this audio book. Wish I had the paperback instead.

Author’s writing?
Very well written. Id like to try some of his other books.

Would I recommend it?
Maybe. I say that based on the topic & her complete disdain for men. Check your trigger warnings.

Mother. Hero. Villain. Killer.

After her son, Lydan, suffers traumatic injuries in a school shooting, single mom Elisabeth Ross grows enraged at men in power. If they won’t do anything to help end this epidemic of violence, she will. Believing it’s her destiny, she sets out to awaken the world to the cowards these men are and commits her own shocking act of violence.

I was pleasantly surprised by this audiobook! This book surrounds a topic we all have become too accustomed to hearing about…school shootings. Single mom and teacher Elisabeth faces what every parent fears… a shooting at their child’s school. When her only child is severely injured this sets her off. Did she do the right thing? You’ll have to read to find out! Thank you to the author as well as Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to this book.

Blackstone Audio ALC
Lilith is one of the heaviest books I’ve ever read. Eric Rickstad has created such a deeply personal look at gun violence in this novel. It does start with a school shooting, so read with caution. However, the author created a compelling story here in exploring guns and gun culture with quite a heavy hand. I was instantly drawn into this little family, and the lengths Elisabeth will go to enact revenge for her son. After reading the book, it’s no secret on where the author stands on these issues but I think it was such a gripping, heavy read. I will definitely will be one I think about for quite a while.