Lilith
Feminist in outlook and tone, Marmery’s well-researched novel relates the creation, banishment, and subsequent wanderings over time of the legendary Lilith, the first wife of Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Carefree and happy in the Garden, Lilith discovers a side of her husband she doesn’t like. In desperation, she appeals to the Holy Mother, Asherah, for help, which makes God so angry that he forces Lilith to leave the Garden. Fleeing to the sea and confronted by angels, Lilith refuses to return to Adam and is replaced by God with Eve. Given Wisdom, Lilith tempts Eve in trying to save her from authoritarian servitude and becomes determined that all should know about the Mother (aka the Queen of Heaven). She travels through centuries and cultures, searching for justice for the Mother and spreading the truth of Creation. In her search, Lilith identifies—in error—women whom she believes could be the prophet foretold, including the notorious Queen Jezebel and Jesus’s follower Mary Magdalene. Lilith herself undergoes enlightenment as she attempts to regain her rightful place in Paradise.
Strong female characters dominate the narrative, and Marmery has made them multifaceted, flawed, and with distinct voices. Her male characters, including Adam and Noah, generally come off less than stellar. The relationship between Lilith and her outcast angel lover Samael adds interest, and Marmery’s skill at weaving in other characters and plot threads keeps the reader engrossed. Imaginative, provocative, and timely in Lilith’s attempts to bring balance into a world based on inequality, this novel both entertained me and was thought-provoking in its subject. Lilith, whether demon, angel, or something in between, is an engaging character in her journey to set things right in the world.
