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Luc and Lila

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The fall of Lucifer. The creation of Earth. But make it a love story.

Lila

Heaven is the perfect place to spend eternity—if you have your own soul, which Lila does not. Forbidden from becoming an architect and created for a partner she doesn’t love, her greatest desire is to leap into the Void and be snuffed out of existence.

Oh, but then there’s the small matter of Heaven’s ‘brightest angel’ and the wondrous new world she’s helping him design. Must he shine so much light in her disappointing corner of the aether?

Luc

Since his creation, Luc has been expected to do great things for the good of all angels, according to a famed prophecy that few have seen. He has always been certain of two Earth will be his greatest accomplishment, and Lila will be his instead of Castor’s.

But there is more turmoil in Heaven than meets the eye, and neither Luc’s prophecy nor his lover may be what they seem. What happens when an ill-discovered secret turns his perception of Heaven—and his place in it—upside down?

Perfect for fans of Rebecca Ross, Holly Black, and V. E. Schwab. If you like slow burn, forbidden romance with a heaping dose of angst and pining, academia vibes, class differences, and morally gray characters, this is the book for you!

This dual-timeline mythology retelling is the first book in a trilogy and will end on a cliffhanger. Content warnings are included in the front of the book and on the author's website under Reading Guidance.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2025

2 people are currently reading
92 people want to read

About the author

JodiMarie Meyer

2 books20 followers
JodiMarie Meyer enjoys toeing the line between the mundane and the magical and exploring the dichotomies of good and evil; she primarily writes love stories, but not always. Definitely someone who got in trouble for daydreaming in class. Definitely someone who scribbles frantic story notes while stirring pasta. She makes her home in the Maryland countryside with her husband and their rabbits Mango and Ollie. Her dog Melanie watches over them from that big backyard in the sky.

She is the author of one short story collection, magic/madness, and one novel, Luc & Lila. Currently, she is writing the second novel in The Chasm Trilogy, Desire & Deceit (2026).

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for M.M. Bartlett.
Author 1 book2 followers
January 20, 2025
Luc & Lila was my first read of 2025, and I am so happy that it was! I was graciously given a spot on the ARC team for JodieMarie Meyer and I was more than excited to tear into this read since I am a big nerd for Milton's Paradise Lost which loosely inspired this re-telling of Lucifer's fall from Heaven.

The world: Seeing Heaven in this way gave it the magical qualities that made me want to see it in real life! The visuals Jodie Marie gives are nothing short of vivid and so real you feel like you're there.

The Characters: Lila has my entire heart. There were themes present in her story that I have struggled through personally, and I really felt represented, and having a character read like this re-establishes why literature is so important; no one is truly alone. The emotions and expressions that Lila takes on definitely made me cry a tear or two.
Luc is so well thought out! Something many authors and storytellers have done in the past is write the character of Lucifer Morningstar, and very few have caught my eye like this one has. This version embodies the trival nature of the character and the drive to create something without limits and how far someone is willing to go to achieve their goals.

This is genuinely one of my favorite books of all time. I may be partly biased in my love of JodieMarie's inspiration, but her imagery, her characters, and her prose are so easy to fall into that you never want to leave.
Profile Image for Jen Woodrum.
Author 4 books113 followers
March 19, 2025
I read JodiMarie's short story collection (Magic/Madness) and was blown away by her storytelling and writing, so I decided I'd read anything she writes 😄 and I was not disappointed.

I loved JodiMarie's tag for this book: "The fall of Lucifer, the creation of earth, but make it a love story." Already SOLD.

And the execution was everything I hoped it would be. I still loved JodiMarie's prose and highlighted lots of lines...

"There were few moments in Lila's existence where she allowed herself to feel all that she wanted to feel, but this was one of them."

"It doesn't have to useful! It can simply be beautiful. Isn't that enough?"

"She'd lost something of herself, and she didn't know what it was, but she knew she couldn't recover it."

"Was it worse to have no words? Or to hear the words of your heart claimed by another?"

So. Many. Beautiful. Lines! And images! The worldbuilding! Creation! War! It was all beautifully done, compelling, and unique. Lila was incredibly lovable and empathetic, and Luc was fascinating and lovable in his own way. This will be a 2025 favorite.

Can't wait to read more from JodiMarie 😊
Profile Image for Jeannette Davis.
259 reviews11 followers
March 20, 2025
This origin story of creation was so well done. The plot and story flowed so well and the world building was on point. Also the angst was great and I am a big sucker for angsty books! Excited for book 2!

ARC Review
Profile Image for Kylie.
115 reviews1 follower
March 19, 2025
“If you don’t like this world, I’ll build a new one. I’ll build it so far away that no one will ever find it. I’ll build it so that no one can cross over there, even if they want to. No humans. No Creator. No Council. Just us.”

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖
“Luc and Lila” by JodiMarie Meyer (The Chasm Trilogy #1)

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: ❌
Fun rating: ☀️☀️☀️
Sad rating: 💧💧💧
Content warnings ❗️: suicidal thoughts, referenced non-consensual sexual situations, sword violence, death, infidelity, classism, emotional abuse, sexual innuendo, cursing

Feelings:
I LOVED this. I love the “let’s tell the story of Lucifer but also make it a romance”. Every little one of the details kept me enthralled and I wanted to see what Luc was going to do next. I wanted Lila to choose him immediately. But I also like the burn. This book hasn’t even officially come out yet and I’m already dying for the next one!

Read if you like…
✨ Forbidden romance
✨ Dual timeline
✨ Dual POV
✨ Mythology retelling
✨ Former classmates
Profile Image for Em Mabrouk.
77 reviews2 followers
March 19, 2025
✨This was such an enjoyable read! I am so excited to see how JodiMarie Meyer develops the series as finishing this book left me wanting more! I highly recommend this to anyone who loved any of the following, Divine Rivals, Assistant to the Villian, or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue! ✨

⭐️ARC READER⭐️
Profile Image for Amanda’s Reading Corner.
24 reviews
January 18, 2025
For a book dealing with biblical themes (which I usually stay away from), the book was incredibly enjoyable. The authors ability was take our conception of creation and the fallen angels and fill in the holes, making it more fantasy based. I loved Lucas’s ambition and Lila’s turmoil with her obligation. The world building alone was fantastic in what is supposed to be to be this small island in the aether. My biggest hang up was the constant switching of the timeline, as it made it slightly hard to get into at the start.
Profile Image for briebriereads.
171 reviews
January 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🫑

Release date: 3/19/25

HIGHLIGHTS:
✨Lucifer and Lilith
✨Excellent world building
✨Easy to follow story telling
✨Timeline jumping
✨Forbidden love
✨Mythology retelling

This is an origin story for creation and for Lucifer & Lilith. I devoured this book in such a short amount of time. The story telling flowed so well. The character development was great. And it left you on such a cliff hanger, I can’t wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Sarah Clem.
17 reviews5 followers
March 12, 2025
***ARC Review*** NO SPOILERS

Tropes: Star-Crossed Lovers, Mutual Pining, Class Difference, Dual Timeline, Mythology Retelling, Closed-Door Romance, Morally Gray MMC, Former Classmates

The realm of romantasy is not usually where I find myself as a reader. I’m generally a rom-com girl to the core, but when I saw the blurb that JodiMarie Meyer posted for “Luc & Lila” I knew I had to sign up for the ARC. She had me at Lucifer. I love a good myth retelling, and I’ve always been fascinated by angels.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book is that the world building didn’t feel like too much. Sometimes in fantasy books the world building takes over, and I’m left wishing I had more of the actual storyline at the end of the book. Meyer did a wonderful job of weaving her world building into the storyline in a way that gave the reader an understanding of the world without leaving us wondering what it has to do with the story.

I also love the angsty push and pull of Luc and Lila’s relationship. I could really feel the tension between them. I was left with a feeling of wanting to yell, “Oh my God, just admit you love each other already!” To me, that’s how I know it’s good.

This is the first in a trilogy, so we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. I was pretty annoyed until I remembered that we have two more books coming. I can’t wait to see where Meyer takes their story next, and you better believe I’ll be on the lookout for the ARC sign up so I don’t have to wait until the release!
Profile Image for brie.a.e.
11 reviews
January 18, 2025
First of all, I would like to thank the author for my very first ARC opportunity!

Though this is not a religious story, it is inspired and loosely based off the fall of Lucifer and the creation of Earth. There have been many different retellings of these subjects, but everything about this one is absolutely alluring and... just so beautiful. Even if you already know the basis of how this happened, Meyer offers a brand-new twist on this myth.

As if reading a history book, we are taken through the timeline that lead to the Great War of Heaven. Embedded in this, we also get to read about two star crossed lovers, fated to not have an easy road, and how they contributed to this dilemma in Heaven.
The book isn't necessarily centered around the romance of Luc and Lila, but the war definitely seems to be- we are given enough to feel the same longing that they feel for each other no matter what separates them. You can feel the angst, the desperation, and the desire for something they can't have. It left me begging for more of them, rooting for their love despite their situations, kicking my feet and giggling at their shared scenes- and sometimes whining and growing frustrated with their stubbornness.

The characters are easy to relate to, painted in such a light that they feel so human despite the thought that angels are supposed to be superior beings. If you've ever longed for freedom, for love, and/or for success, you already have something in common with our main characters!
Meyer's writing is very descriptive, easy to form the world you are reading about within your own imagination. However, with how lavish Meyer described Heaven, I think a map would have been a beautiful addition to this already amazing story- I've often seen many fantasy books provide a visual of its world and I think seeing a blueprint of Heaven and Earth would have enhanced the reading experience.
The pace of this book is pretty quick, but it definitely does not feel rushed. It progresses well enough to keep you hooked the whole time. At first, I was a little worried because of the non-linear timeline (for the most part, each chapter alternates between the present timeline and the past) but it is not as confusing as I expected. Meyer made sure the reader could follow, and she connected the chapters in a way that any questions you might have, could get answered within the next one.

Overall, I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with Luc and Lila, their relationship, their friends, the plot. Everything about this book had me in a chokehold, making me want to savor this book. I can't wait to get a physical copy for myself and annotate it and I DEFINITELY cannot wait to read parts two and three of this trilogy- The Chasm Trilogy.
Profile Image for Cosmic_artist.
129 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2025
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this lovely novel.

This story is the beginning of a angel romance story. We have Lucifer and Lilith (Luc and Lila) who are secretly in love while trying to be something else outside of the confines of soulmate bonds and what is expected by the council. Together they come up with the concept of Earth while stealing kisses. And where is the Creator in all of this?

I ate this up! It's so hard to find angel romances that satisfy my cravings and this one delivered! Following the angels from youth to current was definitely something I was enjoying. A nice mix of romance, angels and action swirled into a book. I felt comfortable in this version of angels. It wasn't too preachy or too religious. The angels were depicted in a very nice way. I also love the worlds the author depicted in this story. I'll be needing some more of this series pronto after this ending. Thank goodness this is a trilogy!

And also can we talk about the aesthetic of this cover? What a beauty!

I recommend this lovely read to anyone looking for a unique angel romance story with a twist.
Profile Image for Bee's Book Nook .
32 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2025
OMG. This book! It has me in a chokehold! So good! The character development 👏 the twist on the story of the creation 👏 Uhmm I will be telling everyone about this book for weeks to come! I will say, though, if you are looking for a feel-good book with a happy ending, this is not it. Lots of playing with your emotions, and then it's just over leaving you craving a second book to fill in these holes in your heart!
Profile Image for Rachel.
67 reviews
December 28, 2024
I received an ebook ARC of this book and devoured it on the same day I received it! I'm not normally a fan of books told in different timelines, but this book executes it perfectly!!

The cover indicates this is Book One of a trilogy, but it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. You can read this book and not have to worry about that unfinished feeling at the end.

Storyline: 4.5/5 stars
Romance: 1/5 hearts
Spice: 0.5/5 peppers
Profile Image for Britney.
51 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2025
I wish to thank the author for sending me an electronic copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Before I start this review, I want to say, reading this book really felt like it was made for me. Yes, it's silly to feel that way, since I'm just a random speck in the universe, but that's how this book connected with me.

To start out, the pacing was brilliant. Yes, the timeline is not standard, and the story is technically not told in linear time. While at first glance it might seem as though the time progression bounces between two times, it does not. However, with it not being from minute to minute, it still follows a moment to moment style that reveals just enough information with each skip that it is impossible to put the book down.

The world was incredibly clear and the important parts were reiterated just enough times to not be just a passing thought. The structure of the setup was wonderful. More of the world could have been explored, but because of who the book follows, it makes complete sense for what all was revealed. There were sections that I thought more could have been done with, one being the crystal section, but it is still a solid book without those inclusions.

This is one of the better romances that I have read as both love interests are separate people who live separate lives apart from each other. The world goes round while they are away. Each has friends, wants, needs, and many other human characteristics that make them feel more than just love interests. The hunger and desire from them was real. My only complaint for the two main leads was that more time could have been spent with them working together. There was a good amount of them interacting already, but more of their bond together could have been seen instead of just told. It would have made more other parts more heartbreaking.

Minor Spoilers.

The fall of Lucifer and the creation of Earth was such a wonderful path to follow. Each step towards the end broke my heart. First the creation and the hurt that came from it and finally the fall, both needed each other to be able to happen. It was handled with so much care that every bit paid off in the end.

Overall, this was a wonderful book. I highly recommend it to all those who hunger for things they cannot have and have such strong desires. I also recommend it to those who would be interested in reading the fall of Lucifer.
Profile Image for BAM xo.
109 reviews4 followers
July 4, 2025
I just binge read the whole book, it was actually fantastic!

While I expected romantasy, like it was listed, this book is so far from that, that it blew me away.
Think fantasy, ethereal beings, and mythology and mayhem amongst the masses.

I never really considered myself to believe in any religion, but if I did, this is exactly how I imagine the whole thing went down.

Was very interesting devouring the novel, only to find I had been underestimating the MCs, the story revolves around a half soul angel, who's life would be gone without the second part of the soul, she is living a life where she has no choices in any aspect of her world and is resentful, but loyal. Who btw, finally stands up for herself at the end, amidst shame, guilt and relief at her new circumstances. Her journey was hopeless until she gained her sense of self worth, and anyone that's been in a repressive, and belittling relationship will understand her plight.

The second MC is the lovely Lucifer.
Depicted in many historical and modern works, this book blew me away with giving him a backstory and glimpse into hell on the final pages. I especially loved that the book kept me guessing, I mean I knew given the blurb that is was about our little demonic fallen angel, but to me, his whole life had been built up in this smothering and overzealous way, I was left reeling on the realisation that the whole war could have been prevented, had it not been for the life long lies and mistreatment from his superiors.
Basically, he was pushed to it.

I was disheartened that there was no follow on from Lila, I would have liked to see how she ended up, and some conclusion to the souls in the aether.

Overall, it was very satisfying and an exciting read.

I regret that I have only just began to start catching up with my ARCs, and if it hadn't been for my worsening health, I'd have absolutely devoured this book in a breezy timeframe.

Was definitely worth the wait for me.
I thoroughly look forward to reading more of Meyers work.

5 shiny shimmery stars from me!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shindi.
29 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2024
I received an early access e-book version of this novel in return for my honest review.

I found myself sucked into this story from the beginning. The start was very gripping, and I could not put it down. I had to read it until the end.

This story starts from the very beginning, the beginning of it all. A very unique way to start the story, as I have never read a story that starts quite like this way. I enjoyed the way the author starts from the characters’ childhood yet does not put too many details, just enough for future chapters to come *foreboding*. Another twist the author puts is the reversal stereotypical gender role between Luc and Lila, where Luc is the scholar-type whilst Lila is the warrior-like that dabbles in everything.

There is another part of the story that is heartbreaking. We usually romanticize the soulmate type relationship. However, what if your fated, other half is not what you wanted? What if they were an asshole? Would you still be blissfully happy and content to be in that relationship? No, and this is what this novel portrays as. It’s very heartbreaking. I almost had tears in my eyes reading this part in the novel. We, as humans, can freely choose who our other half is and stay in that relationship. We have the right to choose. We truly are lucky as humans. The longing felt within this novel is heart-wrenching. I love every word of this novel. It's so good.

The way the author weaves the story with her words and chapters. It all comes together and creates an intricate yet fragile story. The slow pacing of the novel, and slow burn grips as you can feel the intense emotions from the characters. I did not want to quickly read this story and wanted to savor it slowly.

I implore you all to give this book a try, as I’m sure you will thoroughly enjoy reading this. I am so glad I gave this book a read. It truly is a diamond in the rough, especially being the author’s debut work. I look forward to her future works. I am impatiently waiting for the next release of the second book within this trilogy.
Profile Image for Faerie Therapy.
56 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2025
On one hand, I enjoyed the author’s writing style and how descriptive she was with the characters and settings. I liked the idea for the structure of the story - jumping back and forth in time - and felt like it would be interesting to watch play out in a movie or TV series, although there were times I forgot “when” we were in relation to certain events. I also loved and identified with certain aspects of Lila’s character. As the first in a trilogy, I think this book introduced us to someone who could be really interesting as her story continues.

On the other hand, I have to admit I wasn’t super engaged until about 40% of the way in when the story picked up more. By the end, I was a little confused about a couple plot points and I felt like certain details weren’t totally thought through or maybe fell flat for me.

Lila did have some major religious guilt, but early in the book she notes confusion over not being attracted to or appreciative of Castor, when he’s actually been SA-ing her and verbally abusing her (not a spoiler since it’s in a quote that’s been posted and you know pretty quickly he’s sort of a villain). Although I get people can have conflicting feelings about an abuser, it came through more as an inconsistency in the book than a character struggle.

I also didn’t feel like there was much to the love story of Luc and Lila. Yes there was mutual pining, but it never came to fruition and there was never really a declaration of feelings that made the big argument fit their narrative or made me believe either one is super distraught over the other.

I wanted to feel a bit more sympathy for Luc too - I think I was hoping he was going to have an Elphaba moment and actually be the good guy fighting against the oppressor - but certain things played into the religious narrative that I was hoping would take a different tone.

Overall there were some really strong aspects of this book, and I’m betting these characters are going to get more fleshed out in books two and three, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Profile Image for SpiderMam.
169 reviews6 followers
March 19, 2025
This was an interesting story and a different take on the heaven/hell/ earth creation and the war of the angels. The book does time jump a lot which was a little confusing for me but I have a terrible concept of time so I usually have issues with this. Doe the most part, I kept up.
The storyline felt real. I kept thinking that maybe this was what really happened. It’s an interesting take on as a person who isn’t a follower of organised religion.
I do enjoy different stories of Lucifer and what made him the devil he has been made out to be. The way this was written allowed us to see a different side to him and why he became that way and the factors that created him.
I liked the way he and Lila created together and developed a love that would last through the ages. I was happy to see some sapphic representation!
There is definitely no happy ending here, it’s not wrapped up in a cute bow to leave with with a smile, but this book leaves you guessing a little, wondering what may have happened. Maybe that’s an opening for a second book or it’s just left to force us to use our imagination and dream up what their futures or endings may be.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Aricka Shively.
98 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2024
This is one of the best books I have ever read in my life and has quickly become one of my favorites to date. JodiMarie Meyers told a beautiful story about the creation of Earth, the abandonment of Heaven by its Creator, and the inner workings of Heaven and angels as we know it. This retelling of the fall of Lucifer was fascinating, and the way she built this world was phenomenal. I appreciated the dual pov between Luc and Lila because it gave us different perspectives on what it was like to be an angel and how different their lives are from each other: Luc being the golden child and Lila being in the shadow of her soulmate, Castor. We got a thorough understanding of the inner workings of Heaven: how decisions were made, how the creator was involved, the importance of staying to the status quo. The world building was so thorough, there was little that we didn’t understand by the end of the book, besides what the angels themselves could not explain. This is one of those books that I believe few people will not be obsessed with. It completely captivates you and you cannot put it down! I hope we get more of Luc & Lila in the future and I am so excited to read more from JodiMarie Meyers!
Profile Image for Katarina Petzold.
95 reviews
March 19, 2025
📚✨ "Luc & Lila"✨📚

🌌 "The fall of Lucifer. The creation of Earth. But make it a love story."

"Luc & Lila" is a mesmerizing blend of mythology and romance that captivated me from the moment I dove into its pages. Set against the backdrop of Heaven and the creation of Earth, this story is anything but your typical love tale.

💔 Lila longs for the freedom of her own soul but finds herself trapped in a world where her desires are overshadowed by duty and expectation. Forbidden from pursuing her true passion, she contemplates a dark escape into the Void. Enter Luc, the ‘brightest angel’ whose destiny seems intertwined with hers. Their connection sparks a slow-burn romance filled with angst, pining, and the weight of divine prophecy.

The dual-timeline narrative adds depth to the story, though I found myself a bit lost at the beginning. It took me about 40 pages to fully grasp the intricacies of the narrative, but once I did, I was hooked! The world-building is rich and immersive, and the characters are beautifully complex, each wrestling with their own desires and societal expectations.

If you enjoy morally gray characters, academia vibes, and a love story that defies the odds, this book is a must-read! And just a heads up—prepare for a cliffhanger that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Overall, "Luc & Lila" is an intriguing start to a trilogy that promises to explore love in all its complicated forms. I’m definitely on board for the next adventure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
41 reviews
January 16, 2025
"Luc & Lila" by JodiMarie Meyer: A Fallen Angel's Love Story

Okay, buckle up, because "Luc & Lila" is a wild ride. JodiMarie Meyer has this incredible ability to weave a world so rich, you almost forget you're reading. Angels, demons, forbidden love… she throws it all at you.

Luc and Lila? Forget the "good guy/bad guy" trope. These characters are complex, flawed, and utterly captivating. They're not always likable, but you can't help but root for them (most of the time).

A Few Things to Note:

Time Jumps: The story jumps around a bit, so pay attention!

Dual Perspective: You get to see things from both Luc and Lila's points of view. It's like getting a front-row seat to their messy, complicated lives.

Overall:

"Luc & Lila" is a captivating and unconventional reimagining of the Lucifer mythos. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you love a good dose of angst, complex characters, and a world that feels truly alive, you'll be swept away.

Recommendation: Perfect for anyone who enjoys a good mythological twist and isn't afraid to dive deep into a character's psyche.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Katelyn Delone.
132 reviews10 followers
December 28, 2024
This book was definitely a whirlwind and had its hooks into me by the end I shed a few tears. The story of Luc and Lila was just amazing. To see how everything played out just threw me for loops and really took me on a journey but I loved the journey nonetheless. This was just a masterpiece and a whole different take on the story that we know but the way Jodi wrote this and to see how and why Luc became how he is known was so real and I just love Luc at the end. I loved all the characters well except for Castor 😅 everyone else was top tier. I look forward to diving into the next part of the story to see how it unfolds because I’m rooting so hard for Luc and Lila, I’m excited to see where this goes next especially seeing as how much time has passed when we get to that last chapter. I need to know. Furthermore I need everyone to read this when it’s released! I hope everyone enjoys the story as much as I have and falls in love with Luc and Lila’s story just as well! Please go read I promise the story is worth it! 🥰
Profile Image for Rachael.
217 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2025
This retelling of Lucifer was a fantastic and vivid read I will surely continue to think about for a long time! JodieMarie writes with such attention to detail that I was able to picture the scenes perfectly in my mind. I loved the way she described the characters as well and gave them such rich personalities.
Lila was so relatable. I felt she had so much to offer and was rooting for her! As someone who struggles with mental health and anxiety, I felt JodiMarie incorporated representation into this novel well and respectfully. She truly created a wonderful, strong, beautiful FMC for this novel!
Luc's artistic talents, imagination, and creativity really drew me to his character (pun intended). I admired how he wanted to create a world, specifically with animals, just for the sake of creating them. I loved the idea of just wanting to make something beautiful.
I enjoyed this imaginative retelling from beginning to end! It was fascinating to read JodiMarie's interpretation of Lucifer with a romantic twist.
Profile Image for Book Dragon Mama.
191 reviews8 followers
March 15, 2025
"The fall of Lucifer, the creation of earth, but make it a love story," made me intrigued from the start. The concept of retelling the story of Lucifer with a romantic twist is both refreshing and captivating. The world building, creation, and portrayal of war were all executed with finesse. This book is an origin story that intertwines the creation of Earth with the tale of Lucifer and Lilith. Lila is an incredibly lovable and empathetic character, while Luc remains a fascinating and endearing figure in his own right. The narrative takes readers through the timeline leading to the Great War of Heaven, with Luc and Lila's love story woven into the larger conflict. The emotions of longing, desperation, and desire are palpable, drawing readers in and making us root for their love against all odds. This book left me eager to own a physical copy for annotation and eager for the next parts in The Chasm Trilogy.
Profile Image for Amanda.
18 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2025
So this one took me a couple of chapters to get into, but once it got going, I was hooked. It's an interesting fantasy novel about the angels and their lives in Heaven before the creation of Earth or the universe. And their small, idyllic, sheltered world is definitely not everything it appears to be.

Luc (Lucifer) is the young, creative prodigy that all of the elders dote on but who is outcast from his peers - until he forms a connection with Lila, the ambitious classmate who isn't afraid to put him in his place. She's the one thing he can't have, but he's determined to get her anyway.

They're both kind of arrogant snobs sometimes (especially pampered Luc), which sometimes made it difficult for me to connect with their characters, but it was a fun, inventive story with some good twists and great worldbuilding. I would definitely read more of Meyer's work in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Carolyn Schaeperkoetter.
231 reviews2 followers
January 22, 2025
Thank you Book Sirens and JodiMarie Meyer for the opportunity to read this ARC. 
WOW!!!! I was completely blown away by this stunning, fast-paced, darkly imaginative imagining of the creation of Earth as well as the origins of Lucifer. If you grew up in the church, it's a story everyone would be very familiar with but told through a very fresh perspective. This very thought-provoking tale brings you inside the minds of angels, each who has their own agendas, some incredibly selfish, but ultimately, very relatable, very flawed, and oh so very human. The author did an incredible job in characterizing the angels as well as the set up that you know is about to happen when the Hell itself is created. Although arrogant and self-serving, I found Lucifer to very likeable and actually sympathetic prior to him becoming the darkness and creating Hell itself. His internal struggles as well as his desires and wishes are easy to understand. Even as you watch his terrifying transformation, you understand as a human complete with flaws and a propensity for wickedness (because let's face it, we ALL ARE), but you know how story ends, and at the end, I do feel sad for the angel Luc was once and for the love he had for Lila even though he became nightmare and terror in the flesh.

Needless to say, I can't wait to read the second part of this trilogy and look forward to see what the author comes up with next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Amy.
13 reviews
January 30, 2025
Thank you so much JodiMarie for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for the first installment of The Chasm Trilogy: Luc and Lila. I was so pleasantly surprised with how well the biblical themes of creation and the fall of Lucifer were able to transform into a romantasy retelling. Luc and Lila were such dynamic characters and together they make such a formidable pair. JodiMarie does a seamless job in toggling back and forth between different timelines, which added a unique twist to the overall story. One of the main messages to come from this first book was the importance of having a woman’s voice heard, and in knowing that she is more than the extension of a man. The emphasis on being viewed as an equal is such an important takeaway. I’m so excited to continue this trilogy the second book can not come soon enough!!
Profile Image for Brittney Speeney.
55 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2025
If you love angsty romance with a dash of politics and class differences, this book is for you!
Lila, created without a soul and stuck in a relationship she doesn’t want, finds herself drawn to Luc, Heaven’s brightest angel. Together, they design Earth, but secrets begin to unravel, shaking their entire world. Their love is filled with longing, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

Why You Should Read It:
-Angsty romance with tons of tension!
-Unique twist: Reversed gender roles with Luc as the scholar and Lila as the warrior.
-Heartbreaking: The reality of fated love, even when it's not what you want.
-A slow-burn story with beautifully woven writing and complex characters. Can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy!

If you love slow-burn romance and morally gray characters, you have to read this one!
120 reviews3 followers
November 27, 2024
Not often do you get a story on Lucifer that starts with him as an angel before his fall.

The world building truly brought you into the story, starting with only Heaven and the Void, moving into the creation of earth and Hell. The characters were so well written that you could really feel their struggles. A few of them I hated and yelled at as I read.

This story is such a unique spin on Lucifer, and it just drew me in and kept me turning the pages. It did jump between time periods so at the start I did find myself having to turn back to the start of the chapter to figure out what time period we were in, which I quickly remembered to focus on since it was clearly titled at the start of each chapter.

I can't wait for the next chapter to see where Luc & Lila go from here!
Profile Image for Teresa Silva.
178 reviews3 followers
February 1, 2025
I received a digital ARC of this book from the author after coming across it on Instagram & loving the plot of the book. However, I didn't really care for it. There were some parts that were okay or interesting. The end got pretty good, but for the most part, I didn't like it. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the writing. The way it was delivered was sometimes odd & confusing. Just the whole scene of Heaven could be confusing at times. & I didn't feel the connection between the main characters. I had so much trouble getting into this book & reading it that eventually I turned on the assistive reader so that it could read to me rather than me reading it myself. This book is part of a trilogy, & I will definitely NOT continue reading it. Sorry, but I guess it just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Jayme Ball.
324 reviews
March 19, 2025
Alternative creation story but make it fantasy...
in an academic setting...
with heavenly political uprising...
closely guarded prophesy...
and Lucifer's fall

From his creation, Luc(ifer) has expectations of doing incredible and special things on his shoulders. He dreams of creating a new Heaven that he is constantly working on from a young age. Luc typically ignores his classmates as they are beneath him... but Lila... there's more to her than meets the eye.

Lila is told that she is the half of another, Castor... and as such, she is merely created to complete him and to care for him. Her own interests and passions are of little import and regardless of her drive and her skill, she is to support and stick with her other half... her sole purpose is to be Castor's other half. Until she discovers someone that will treat her like an individual with valuable opinions and appreciates her hunger for knowledge.

This book is nonlinear timeline. It did take me a little while to settle into the back and forth.
I think Luc and Lila are well written but was expecting a bit more romance.
HOWEVER, I do fully understand Lila's struggle with being an individual with thoughts and feelings vs. conforming to what she was made for.

One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"It doesn't have to useful! It can simply be beautiful. Isn't that enough?"

I wouldn't say this ends on a cliffhanger, but I was fully invested in the story and am curious where it will go from here. It's one of those series where book 2 has the potential to be better than book 1.

I am grateful for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy from the author and share my opinion.
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