TW: RAPE

Although I didn't hate The Garden, I have to agree with many that this is overall a weak re-telling of the origin myth. In the author's note, Aidinoff states that this isn't a "feminist" novel but rather a retelling "if the bible had been composed by a less patriarchal society." And it's clear that Aidinoff is trying to appease the masses with this statement and the novel. When Adam and God rape Eve, the serpent protects her from her attackers, but later tells Adam and Eve that God is not evil for having forced Adam onto Eve. A disgusting apologist sentiment in my opinion. For a creature who so longs to protect Eve, he seems very willing to forgive her attackers. He then later attempts to drug her and rapes her in her sleep. While many would read this as a love scene between the two, it is non-consensual and therefore another rape which Eve undergoes. The characters aren't well-rounded; Adam is like a puppy who follows wherever Eve goes but it's not quite clear why he follows so willingly. The Serpent is teacher/parental figure and then later in an almost incestuous way a lover and we never learn its origin and true relationship with God. God is simply angry and unloving. Eve herself seems too dependent on the Serpent and the moment that changes, it doesn't seem to change her enough--the writing is far too subtle.