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In Heaven's Garden
A fantasy tale in a young Heaven where Jiva and Lucifer are madly in love and live with their three little angels--Beelzebub, Gabriel, and Oshun.
Lucifer, their mother, becomes bored with Heaven and wants more.
Jiva, their father, doesn't understand.
Through playful gardens and dark deeds, a host of angels and gods are forced to choose sides.
It ends in an epic battle in which Jiva is forced to cast Lucifer out of Heaven.
Lucifer, their mother, becomes bored with Heaven and wants more.
Jiva, their father, doesn't understand.
Through playful gardens and dark deeds, a host of angels and gods are forced to choose sides.
It ends in an epic battle in which Jiva is forced to cast Lucifer out of Heaven.
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 24, 2024
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 11, 2025
Thank you to the author for this eARC.
I will preface this review by saying I was not the target audience. If you enjoy mythos, and quick pace, then this might be for you.
In the book, Heaven’s Gardens, we follow Jiva and Lucifer, who reside in heaven. They have three children together: Oshun, Beelzebub and Gabriel. The beginning of the book follows their wanderings and tampering with the world, it gives glimpses into how certain things in the universe were created. As time progresses, Lucifer becomes bored with her life and adopts a new form, one in which she reaps destruction on the land. This book gives us a brief insight into how the world was created, and how the different gods interacted with one another.
Honestly, while the writing style was nice, this book was boring to me. By trying to make the Gods more relatable to us, their characterization is a lot shallower. Some of the dialogue felt forced and I wasn’t interested in it. Ultimately, I just didn’t like how the characters were fleshed out, it was like looking through a mirror and observing everything happening. You didn’t really get much in the way of fully fleshing out the characters, you are kept at arm's length.
I found the plot to be a bit all over the place, with the introduction of more gods, and getting little slices of their lives.
As someone who enjoys 1. world building 2. strongly fleshed out characters this just wasn’t the read for me.
I will preface this review by saying I was not the target audience. If you enjoy mythos, and quick pace, then this might be for you.
In the book, Heaven’s Gardens, we follow Jiva and Lucifer, who reside in heaven. They have three children together: Oshun, Beelzebub and Gabriel. The beginning of the book follows their wanderings and tampering with the world, it gives glimpses into how certain things in the universe were created. As time progresses, Lucifer becomes bored with her life and adopts a new form, one in which she reaps destruction on the land. This book gives us a brief insight into how the world was created, and how the different gods interacted with one another.
Honestly, while the writing style was nice, this book was boring to me. By trying to make the Gods more relatable to us, their characterization is a lot shallower. Some of the dialogue felt forced and I wasn’t interested in it. Ultimately, I just didn’t like how the characters were fleshed out, it was like looking through a mirror and observing everything happening. You didn’t really get much in the way of fully fleshing out the characters, you are kept at arm's length.
I found the plot to be a bit all over the place, with the introduction of more gods, and getting little slices of their lives.
As someone who enjoys 1. world building 2. strongly fleshed out characters this just wasn’t the read for me.
February 13, 2025
LUCIFER IN DISNEYLAND
The Christian creation story goes thus: God made man and all else – including the Forbidden Fruit and fell from grace. But the serpent, the evil one, had tempted man by asking him to disobey a clear command not to eat the fruit.
But who was the serpent? Who was the evil one? In Hubert Twiddle's In Heaven's Garden, the answer to this question is shocking. Shocking enough to be considered blasphemous by more than one organised religion.
The serpent was God's – (who he calls Jiva in the book) – love. God's wife. Further, the serpent was the mother of God's children such as Zeus, Gabriel, Beelzebub, Isis, Baal, etc. And how did God have these children? By the same copulatory exercises by which humanity has continued its existence.
The book is published by Christian Faith Publishing and Mr Twiddle is versed in the minute details of the bible: he knows the head that was offered on a platter and the role that a party spirit had had in the business, and he knows why the lilies do no worry like petulant humans.
How did God's love leave Heaven's Garden in Mr Twiddle's book only to appear in Garden of Eden to tempt man – the very image and likeness of God? God – Jiva – gives the answer in In Heaven's Garden: Lucifer – later called the devil by Jiva himself – does not understand the essence of power.
At the start of the book, Lucifer is a woman; she ends the book as a man. Jiva is a man at the start; she ends the book as a woman. But what about this fluidity of genders? In Lucifer's case, a quest for lordship over another kingdom apart from heaven; in Jiva's case, the need to have a mother figure created nature.
In Heaven's Garden is a strange book. It is crispy written by one who has an expansive breadth of knowledge. Innocent sentences are loaded with meaning that would be passed over by the uninitiated eye. There is no telling how many of such sentences I may have passed over myself.
I can think of it as a Disney film. Gabriel is a musician. Angel Michael is a dog. Zeus keeps a beard. Jiva – God – drinks coffee and wine, and lately discovers whiskey. I can think of it as a fantasy film – here I am thinking of something like The Hobbit.
There is a showdown at the end of the book. This showdown takes place in heaven. The gods fight. But there were happier times. When parties were held, babies were had, drinks were made, and new plants were invented. The forces of darkness align with Lucifer and those of light align with Jiva.
How would this fight end? Its end would mean a fresh start for the world.
The Christian creation story goes thus: God made man and all else – including the Forbidden Fruit and fell from grace. But the serpent, the evil one, had tempted man by asking him to disobey a clear command not to eat the fruit.
But who was the serpent? Who was the evil one? In Hubert Twiddle's In Heaven's Garden, the answer to this question is shocking. Shocking enough to be considered blasphemous by more than one organised religion.
The serpent was God's – (who he calls Jiva in the book) – love. God's wife. Further, the serpent was the mother of God's children such as Zeus, Gabriel, Beelzebub, Isis, Baal, etc. And how did God have these children? By the same copulatory exercises by which humanity has continued its existence.
The book is published by Christian Faith Publishing and Mr Twiddle is versed in the minute details of the bible: he knows the head that was offered on a platter and the role that a party spirit had had in the business, and he knows why the lilies do no worry like petulant humans.
How did God's love leave Heaven's Garden in Mr Twiddle's book only to appear in Garden of Eden to tempt man – the very image and likeness of God? God – Jiva – gives the answer in In Heaven's Garden: Lucifer – later called the devil by Jiva himself – does not understand the essence of power.
At the start of the book, Lucifer is a woman; she ends the book as a man. Jiva is a man at the start; she ends the book as a woman. But what about this fluidity of genders? In Lucifer's case, a quest for lordship over another kingdom apart from heaven; in Jiva's case, the need to have a mother figure created nature.
In Heaven's Garden is a strange book. It is crispy written by one who has an expansive breadth of knowledge. Innocent sentences are loaded with meaning that would be passed over by the uninitiated eye. There is no telling how many of such sentences I may have passed over myself.
I can think of it as a Disney film. Gabriel is a musician. Angel Michael is a dog. Zeus keeps a beard. Jiva – God – drinks coffee and wine, and lately discovers whiskey. I can think of it as a fantasy film – here I am thinking of something like The Hobbit.
There is a showdown at the end of the book. This showdown takes place in heaven. The gods fight. But there were happier times. When parties were held, babies were had, drinks were made, and new plants were invented. The forces of darkness align with Lucifer and those of light align with Jiva.
How would this fight end? Its end would mean a fresh start for the world.
February 13, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this incredible masterpiece by Hubert Twiddle. The story was engaging, and the author's exploration of creation and divinity was thought-provoking and insightful.
The author's imagination is truly remarkable, and it's very clear that a tremendous amount of creativity and thought went into crafting this unique story. One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to captivate the attention of its reader. I found myself drawn back to the book again and again, driven by an insatiable curiosity about what happens next. The author's skillful storytelling made it impossible for me to put the book down for long. I really appreciate the way the story flowed smoothly from one chapter to the next.
However, I did find that the author's descriptions of characters and settings sometimes failed at painting vivid mental pictures. There were a few moments where I struggled to visualize the scenes or characters, which occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. For example, during Lucifer's transformation into a male, it was challenging to conjure a clear image of what he transformed into.
Also, the introduction of the children floating in the sea (page 60) was intriguing, but unfortunately, this plot thread remained underdeveloped and unexplored, leaving me curious about their fate and the relevance of the scene to the overall narrative.
Despite these criticisms, the book's strengths outweighs its weaknesses, and I appreciate the author's unique perspective and storytelling style.
Overall, I would highly recommend 'In Heaven's Garden' to readers who enjoy mythology and fantasy. The author's imagination and creativity make this book a truly unforgettable read.
The author's imagination is truly remarkable, and it's very clear that a tremendous amount of creativity and thought went into crafting this unique story. One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to captivate the attention of its reader. I found myself drawn back to the book again and again, driven by an insatiable curiosity about what happens next. The author's skillful storytelling made it impossible for me to put the book down for long. I really appreciate the way the story flowed smoothly from one chapter to the next.
However, I did find that the author's descriptions of characters and settings sometimes failed at painting vivid mental pictures. There were a few moments where I struggled to visualize the scenes or characters, which occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. For example, during Lucifer's transformation into a male, it was challenging to conjure a clear image of what he transformed into.
Also, the introduction of the children floating in the sea (page 60) was intriguing, but unfortunately, this plot thread remained underdeveloped and unexplored, leaving me curious about their fate and the relevance of the scene to the overall narrative.
Despite these criticisms, the book's strengths outweighs its weaknesses, and I appreciate the author's unique perspective and storytelling style.
Overall, I would highly recommend 'In Heaven's Garden' to readers who enjoy mythology and fantasy. The author's imagination and creativity make this book a truly unforgettable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2025
They say love conquers all. But the love that they once shared couldn’t conquer Lucifer’s need for independence from her other half, Jiva, which grew from harmless to evil with the abundant passage of time.
In Heaven’s Garden is a reimagined account of the beginning of the world garbed in fantasy and mythology. It is presented as the first-ever love story: a romance between two gods, Jiva and Lucifer. Along the plot, we see the creation of everything: from figs and honey, to the stars and the moon—a two-in-one gift from Jiva to Lucifer, to music and politics, to other gods, and so on. We see as Jiva creates with Lucifer’s help, we see Lucifer crave for something...more, and we see that craving turn into a twisted desire to conquer everything good.
When I started In Heaven’s Garden, I quickly saw similarities between it and the Creation story. But as I read on, I realised that this is a well-fleshed out reimagination such that while it draws some insipiration from Biblical accounts and concepts, it also draws from other theologies and has a concrete mind of its own.
Things I particularly enjoyed:
- The detailed explanations of how different things were created.
- The genderswapping: I love how there was good reason for it and it wasn’t just written to be quirky. And I love the deliberation such that to create a balance, Jiva was genderswapped as well.
- The Isha/Gaia and Neshama/Abdiel side plot.
Things I didn’t quite enjoy:
- The dialogue: It occasionally felt a bit out of sync.
- The many side plots: I couldn’t keep up. I also noticed Gabriel’s side plot that commenced at the beginning was never completed.
Overall, I’m so grateful to Mr Hubert Twiddle for the chance to review his book. I enjoyed the read.
In Heaven’s Garden is a reimagined account of the beginning of the world garbed in fantasy and mythology. It is presented as the first-ever love story: a romance between two gods, Jiva and Lucifer. Along the plot, we see the creation of everything: from figs and honey, to the stars and the moon—a two-in-one gift from Jiva to Lucifer, to music and politics, to other gods, and so on. We see as Jiva creates with Lucifer’s help, we see Lucifer crave for something...more, and we see that craving turn into a twisted desire to conquer everything good.
When I started In Heaven’s Garden, I quickly saw similarities between it and the Creation story. But as I read on, I realised that this is a well-fleshed out reimagination such that while it draws some insipiration from Biblical accounts and concepts, it also draws from other theologies and has a concrete mind of its own.
Things I particularly enjoyed:
- The detailed explanations of how different things were created.
- The genderswapping: I love how there was good reason for it and it wasn’t just written to be quirky. And I love the deliberation such that to create a balance, Jiva was genderswapped as well.
- The Isha/Gaia and Neshama/Abdiel side plot.
Things I didn’t quite enjoy:
- The dialogue: It occasionally felt a bit out of sync.
- The many side plots: I couldn’t keep up. I also noticed Gabriel’s side plot that commenced at the beginning was never completed.
Overall, I’m so grateful to Mr Hubert Twiddle for the chance to review his book. I enjoyed the read.
July 4, 2025
In Heaven's Garden is one of those books that straddles the line between mythology, theology, and speculative fiction, offering a reinterpretation of biblical origins that is as daring as it is disorienting.
At the center of this cosmic reimagination is Jiva (a gender-shifting stand-in for God) and Lucifer, not merely the rebellious angel we know from Christian lore, but Jiva’s consort, the mother of gods like Gabriel, Zeus, Beelzebub, and Isis. The book opens with harmony in Heaven's Garden but soon descends into chaos as Lucifer's desire for dominion leads to war, betrayal, and transformation.
Jiva begins as male and ends as female; Lucifer, the inverse. It's an ambitious exploration of fluid identity, power, and creation, and it’s clear the author is deeply knowledgeable about religious texts. There’s even a whimsical undertone as Gabriel is a musician, Michael is a dog, God drinks coffee and whiskey, that almost makes it feel like a surreal Disney animation for adults.
While the premise is intriguing and the writing often crisp, I found the storytelling to be inconsistent. The pacing jumps, the plot meanders with brief vignettes of godly lives that don’t always tie together cleanly, and the characters, while conceptually interesting, often feel underdeveloped. There’s a sense that we’re watching gods through a pane of glass which is fascinating, but distant. Emotional depth takes a backseat to grand ideas.
A bold experiment of a book – sometimes brilliant, sometimes baffling. Worth reading, but not for everyone. So if you enjoy mythology blend, theological reimagination and a good dose of fantasy, this book is for you.
At the center of this cosmic reimagination is Jiva (a gender-shifting stand-in for God) and Lucifer, not merely the rebellious angel we know from Christian lore, but Jiva’s consort, the mother of gods like Gabriel, Zeus, Beelzebub, and Isis. The book opens with harmony in Heaven's Garden but soon descends into chaos as Lucifer's desire for dominion leads to war, betrayal, and transformation.
Jiva begins as male and ends as female; Lucifer, the inverse. It's an ambitious exploration of fluid identity, power, and creation, and it’s clear the author is deeply knowledgeable about religious texts. There’s even a whimsical undertone as Gabriel is a musician, Michael is a dog, God drinks coffee and whiskey, that almost makes it feel like a surreal Disney animation for adults.
While the premise is intriguing and the writing often crisp, I found the storytelling to be inconsistent. The pacing jumps, the plot meanders with brief vignettes of godly lives that don’t always tie together cleanly, and the characters, while conceptually interesting, often feel underdeveloped. There’s a sense that we’re watching gods through a pane of glass which is fascinating, but distant. Emotional depth takes a backseat to grand ideas.
A bold experiment of a book – sometimes brilliant, sometimes baffling. Worth reading, but not for everyone. So if you enjoy mythology blend, theological reimagination and a good dose of fantasy, this book is for you.
October 18, 2025
In Heaven's Garden" by Hubert Twiddle is a story that seems to expand on the biblical account of creation and the fall, focusing specifically on Lucifer's rebellion and his eventual fall from heaven. The book delves into the motivations behind Lucifer's actions, exploring themes of pride, envy, and the idea of free will. Key characters include Lucifer, who is portrayed as a beautiful and powerful angel, God, who is presented as the ultimate source of creation and other angels such as Gabriel and Michael who remain loyal to God. The narrative seems to explore the conflict between good and evil, the nature of sin, and the possibility of redemption.
The plot centers around the character of Lucifer, a once-favored angel who develops feelings of envy and resentment towards God, believing that he deserves equal glory or even more. This envy leads to his rebellion, where he attempts to persuade other angels to join him in overthrowing God. The central themes revolve around the nature of evil, the power of free will, and the dangers of pride and ambition. It also explores the concept of redemption and the idea that everyone has an opportunity to choose between good and evil.
The way the preview ends, with creation about to begin and the story of Lucifer's rebellion not fully resolved, it definitely does suggest the possibility of a continuation or further installments.
The plot centers around the character of Lucifer, a once-favored angel who develops feelings of envy and resentment towards God, believing that he deserves equal glory or even more. This envy leads to his rebellion, where he attempts to persuade other angels to join him in overthrowing God. The central themes revolve around the nature of evil, the power of free will, and the dangers of pride and ambition. It also explores the concept of redemption and the idea that everyone has an opportunity to choose between good and evil.
The way the preview ends, with creation about to begin and the story of Lucifer's rebellion not fully resolved, it definitely does suggest the possibility of a continuation or further installments.
February 11, 2025
First of all, this book reminds me about my fantasy image of "Heaven". The description of the beautiful garden is the most prominent thing about Heaven itself. The first 30 pages are a warm and entertaining introduction, I almost forgot about the conflict that was coming.
I was amazed by the change in Lucifer when all the problems started to climb to the top. Quite epic but I was a bit confused when Jiva changed too, I thought I missed Jiva's moment.
The unusual thing that made me jump a little in surprise when enjoying the dialogue presented—it turns out the author tried to invite all Gods from various beliefs in this universe. Reminds me of the moment "Avengers assemble". For this one, I feel the narrative is not so solid and not perfectly formed so I still don't feel their attachment to preserving the universe. However, I enjoyed the humorous scene between Zeus and Krishna who innocently asked for a jug of butter.
I can understand that In Heaven's Garden is an interesting fantasy read with a well-written narrative and quite exciting conflicts. It's just that the ending is a bit ticklish because it's hanging, but this is one of the interesting things about this book!
I was amazed by the change in Lucifer when all the problems started to climb to the top. Quite epic but I was a bit confused when Jiva changed too, I thought I missed Jiva's moment.
The unusual thing that made me jump a little in surprise when enjoying the dialogue presented—it turns out the author tried to invite all Gods from various beliefs in this universe. Reminds me of the moment "Avengers assemble". For this one, I feel the narrative is not so solid and not perfectly formed so I still don't feel their attachment to preserving the universe. However, I enjoyed the humorous scene between Zeus and Krishna who innocently asked for a jug of butter.
I can understand that In Heaven's Garden is an interesting fantasy read with a well-written narrative and quite exciting conflicts. It's just that the ending is a bit ticklish because it's hanging, but this is one of the interesting things about this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2025
In Heavn’s Garden by Hubert Twiddle is a crazy, thought-provoking ride through the heavens, hells, and everything in between. It’s got God, Lucifer, and a bunch of gods being way more interesting than you’d expect. The whole good vs. evil thing gets flipped on its head, and you end up questioning a lot about life, death, power, and all the messy stuff in between.
What’s cool about this book is that it doesn’t give you the usual “God is good, Lucifer is bad” storyline. Both of them (and all the other gods) are way more complicated than that. It’s all about power, who holds it, and what they do with it—kind of like a weird cosmic social commentary.
The world Twiddle builds is totally out there, but it’s also oddly relatable. The gods are a lot more like us than you’d think. The humor is spot on, but it also makes you think—about life, about society, about what’s really going on behind the scenes. it's a very fun reaad and i cant stress it enough
What’s cool about this book is that it doesn’t give you the usual “God is good, Lucifer is bad” storyline. Both of them (and all the other gods) are way more complicated than that. It’s all about power, who holds it, and what they do with it—kind of like a weird cosmic social commentary.
The world Twiddle builds is totally out there, but it’s also oddly relatable. The gods are a lot more like us than you’d think. The humor is spot on, but it also makes you think—about life, about society, about what’s really going on behind the scenes. it's a very fun reaad and i cant stress it enough
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
I honestly really enjoyed this little read!🔥
The mix of multiple theologies and scientific principles was really intriguing and original, Twiddle does a great job in this story making you think about both sides of the coin we call life. I especially loved the portrayal of Lucifers Fall to be more a rebirth and that Hell was a Stimulant to their fall from heaven vs Hell being the aftermath and Lucifers last remaining domain🤌🏼
Loved all the gender swapping because why should gods limit themselves to one being if they don't have to? 🌈
All in all a short enjoyable and thought provoking read that's easy to understand and breeze through ✨
Also read this at the same time Abracadabra by Lady Gaga came out and I feel like that song belongs in this books soundtrack 🔥
The mix of multiple theologies and scientific principles was really intriguing and original, Twiddle does a great job in this story making you think about both sides of the coin we call life. I especially loved the portrayal of Lucifers Fall to be more a rebirth and that Hell was a Stimulant to their fall from heaven vs Hell being the aftermath and Lucifers last remaining domain🤌🏼
Loved all the gender swapping because why should gods limit themselves to one being if they don't have to? 🌈
All in all a short enjoyable and thought provoking read that's easy to understand and breeze through ✨
Also read this at the same time Abracadabra by Lady Gaga came out and I feel like that song belongs in this books soundtrack 🔥
February 9, 2025
In Heaven’s Garden is an imaginative take on celestial life, exploring love, conflict, and ambition in a young Heaven. The story follows Jiva and Lucifer, once deeply in love, as their relationship take a toll due to Lucifer’s growing boredom. Their family—Beelzebub, Gabriel, and Oshun—gets caught in the fallout, leading to an epic and emotional showdown.
The concept is fresh, blending mythology with deep emotional beats. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some character arcs could have been explored more deeply. Still, it’s a unique read for those who enjoy fantasy with a philosophical twist.
I loved how the Gods in this book are relatable.
Would I recommend it? If you’re into celestial drama with a touch of mythological reimagining, give it a shot!
The concept is fresh, blending mythology with deep emotional beats. However, the pacing felt uneven at times, and some character arcs could have been explored more deeply. Still, it’s a unique read for those who enjoy fantasy with a philosophical twist.
I loved how the Gods in this book are relatable.
Would I recommend it? If you’re into celestial drama with a touch of mythological reimagining, give it a shot!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2025
I decided to read this book almost entirely blind. I truly didn't know a lot about it or its story. But as a general idea it's almost a retelling of the story of creation in Twiddles own way. The book really makes you think about the world in a new way. For me I found it somewhat boring until the end of the story. It was very well written just not necessarily something I'm really interested in reading about.
March 1, 2025
It was strange. The story is interesting and provocative, but it's just not my thing. Despite the short length, it took me an extremely long time to read it, because somehow it couldn't completely captivate me. The first pages were interesting, but the development just didn't grab me. The good thing about the book is that it gives a slightly different perspective. I also think that some of the characters could have been a little more developed. Overall, a good story, but not to my taste.
March 14, 2025
I am a fan of the TV show Supernatural, and I was intrigued by the plot of In Heaven's Garden thinking it may be similar. I liked that Lucifer was female, which piqued my interest. I enjoyed the provocative nature of Lucifer and Jiva's love story.
For readers interested in unconventional fantasy, religious reimaginings, or stories that challenge traditional narratives, In Heaven's Garden offers a unique and thought-provoking experience.
For readers interested in unconventional fantasy, religious reimaginings, or stories that challenge traditional narratives, In Heaven's Garden offers a unique and thought-provoking experience.
December 22, 2024
A heaven without conflict could be a dull place indeed, and you just might find yourself feeling a bit empathetic for old Lucifer as you work your way through the first pages of this grab-bag fantasy as Twiddle struggles at first to build a world where nothing ever could be so exciting. The fun really does get rolling though once the doldrums days of perfect eternal bliss get the better of Lucifer and she decides the only escape is to turn heaven on its heels. Into all the fun and celestial escapades Twiddle does manage to weave some intriguing philosophical and spiritual questions, with dashes of social commentary. Speculative fiction at a cosmic level, this was a truly fun read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews