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Fallen: A Biblical Story of Good and Evil
Love takes action. The Creator God establishes the cosmos and shapes a man. Adam rises from the dust. Envious, the powerful angel Lucifer despises him. Oblivious to the threat, Adam is captivated by his strong, intuitive wife Eve.
In the Garden of Eden, they enjoy abundant food, gorgeous vistas, and intriguing challenges, including their budding love and passion. They have it all!
But Lucifer's deceptive brilliance tricks them into disobeying God. They eat the one forbidden fruit. Their innocence is shattered. Their unity with one another and with God is destroyed. Death will follow.
Lucifer's jealousy threatens mankind's tenuous beginning. But God is merciful. What astonishing promise does He make? How will Adam and Eve survive - broken, shattered, and separated from God?
In the Garden of Eden, they enjoy abundant food, gorgeous vistas, and intriguing challenges, including their budding love and passion. They have it all!
But Lucifer's deceptive brilliance tricks them into disobeying God. They eat the one forbidden fruit. Their innocence is shattered. Their unity with one another and with God is destroyed. Death will follow.
Lucifer's jealousy threatens mankind's tenuous beginning. But God is merciful. What astonishing promise does He make? How will Adam and Eve survive - broken, shattered, and separated from God?
- GenresChristian Fiction
264 pages, Paperback
Published December 17, 2015
24 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Viergever Inman
9 books68 followersRaised on the Oklahoma plains in a storytelling family, Melinda now spins tales from her writer's cave in the Midwest. Her faith-filled fiction illustrates our human story, wrestling with our brokenness and the storms that wreak havoc in our lives. Find her at http://MelindaInman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 29, 2018
I have waited 3 years to read this novel! It had been on my To Be Read list on Goodreads since that time but due to reviewing other authors novels, I have only now managed to get to it now.
All I can say is the wait has been more than worth it! This is a beautiful and tender novel. There are novels where the reader can feel the author pouring herself into it with the utmost passion for writing and the storyline and this novel is one of those. Having read some of Inman Tweets and posts from Facebook and her website, she is passionate about writing, about the art of story creation, expressing her love for God and all things relating to Him. It definitely shows in this novel's construction and forms one of its foundational pillars.
I have not come across a novel where there is so much detail in describing the gaps in the Genesis account of Adam and Eve, their fall from Grace and their life after being banished from the Garden of Eden. Inman has clearly researched this, discussed with other Christians who would be able to provide more insight and expound more on this. Inman has a short reference list at the end of the book that has influenced the storyline and added to her poetic licence to fill in these gaps in this Biblical narrative. This licence does not detract from it but actually is an enhancement without making it more important than what God has included. To me, it reads as if it is a fictionalised account that could be considered the closest to what it could have been that the Biblical narrative does not give account.
It is very much alive this account of Ish/Adam and Isher/Eve. You are transported there; it is almost as if you are part of this narrative and not just reading it. I found myself relating to everything they experienced from Creation to their sin culminating in their hardship and rediscovering themselves and how to relate to each other as a result of their new fallen nature. The way God had created them to be one with each other and with God made me yearn for this when He returns and restores us to Him. Inman shines here in her description of this relationship. Again it is beautiful and tender. Reading this pre-fall account of their relationship only reinforced this oneness of what I have felt towards my own wife since marriage, albeit not to the full extent of what Adam and Eve experienced as these two are the only ones to experience the full relationship of what God had intended.
Inman further shines in her description of how this perfect relationship between them and God is destroyed and what it then comprised as they move forward with the reality of their now sinful and fallen nature. I am sure every married couple reading this, if they are honest with themselves, will relate and even be confronted with some of the emotions, attitudes and behaviour that Adam and Eve now exhibited towards each other. I know I did! And what this did to me was to reinforce what I have discovered that relationships, especially a married one, require more work on every level, physical, emotional, spiritual and on a daily basis in every situation that you are both presented with.
Inman is very clever at describing this. Reading how Adam and Eve were before their sin and after, reads like a relationship manual. The thought struck me that she has included all there is to identify in dealing with relationship conflict and resolution, learning about each other and in relation to each other and overcoming this by referencing it back to God for His guidance in what He required of them in their situation. It is here that they learn how to effectively communicate, the art of listening, of honesty, forgiveness and in understanding each other's point of view. They also learnt about dealing with anger, bitterness, regret and resentment. I even thought that every engaged couple or those wanting to be married should read this novel just for these insights! They are rich and powerful. If any reader approaches this novel with a teachable spirit, they will pick up some valuable relationship gems to apply to their lives and be strengthened and blessed by it. And all the while honouring God in the process seeing He is the force behind these insights.
One of the most powerful insights I found from this novel and that is reinforced in the Bible and what I have applied in my marriage, is that as Adam and Eve, before their sin, placed each other first and would lay down their lives for each other. It was the opposite story after their sin. Sin changed this attitude and behaviour of looking out for the other to only looking out for themselves. Placing the other first is now what we have to learn and apply to our lives and it is no wonder that Jesus stressed this to us in His example of what a married relationship needs to be. Just as He laid down His life for us, He has specified that we need to lay to lay down our lives for each other in marriage. I stated this as a condition for my future son-in-law that he could marry my daughter only if he was prepared to lay down his life for her and place her first in everything, just as Jesus had done for us! It is what I have based my marriage on and can vouch for its success. It was also what I based my Father of the Bride speech at their wedding!
Where Inman shines again, is her description of the creation of Ish/Adam and Isher/Eve and the Garden of Eden. Compared to other novelised accounts which can be dry, and very matter of fact, Inman evokes your curiosity through Ish's as he wonders in the flora and fauna, his naming of them, and in the natural workings of the environment and world that God has created. This also adds to the mystique of this part of the novel, it is not a bland description that makes you want to gloss over but encourages you to be in the same wonderment that Ish had about every aspect of this created world. And it is this description that shows more of the nature of God and the depth of relationship that He has toward His creation, the highlight being Ish and Isher. Inman's depiction of God/Creator is very relational and not just as a hierarchical being but one that is intimately involved with His creation, especially towards Ish and Isher.
Inman has dealt with the sexuality of Ish and Isher very appropriately and respectively and I believe as close as possible to how God planned it. These two are the only ones who have lived to have experienced sex how God created it to its fullest (before their sin) and how it was different afterwards. Pre their fall, it was an integral part of their oneness with each other and towards God. Post their fall, it was fragmented and not so integrated as before. Tiredness and the effects of conflict between them altered to some extent this oneness and enjoyment of it between them. And the human race since has only experienced sex and sexuality through the effects of sin and our fallen nature. Even today, sex and sexuality in the media, education and many other areas, including families are not promoted as an expression of love and oneness towards each other within the confines of marriage but just a physical act, a relieving of one's sexual urge and expected behaviour in relationships. And the perversion of it is just becoming more so with each passing year under the new attitude of it being normal and healthy. And sadly, even in Christian marriages and amongst Christian singles, the adherence to the Bible's principles of marriage, sex and sexuality are challenged, modified and in some cases suppressed and rejected. I applaud Inman for showing and being daring to do so in today's world of political correctness to include this in this novel. She shows faithfulness to God's standards and not man's in this regard. May all Christians follow her example and stand up for what is correct in God's eyes!
Years ago, when I examined why I love Christian fiction, I identified some key points and it is these that I love to see in a Christian novel (and can be found in the Why Christian Fiction? tab in this blog):
-it has entertained me immensely,
-it has encouraged my walk with God,
-it has not deviated from biblical doctrine, and it will not, I believe, lead a non-believer astray or
promote false doctrine,
-it honours God,
-it does not encourage worship of the created (eg angels) instead of the Creator (God).
Well, Inman has more than succeeded with these criteria in this novel! She has encouraged not only my walk with God but has encouraged me to continue to place my family first and them above myself.
And since I started reading and reviewing Christian fiction, I have identified that this area of fiction across all its genres, deals with the following issues/doctrines:
-relying on God through difficult and trying circumstances,
-the nature of God, developing faith and trust in Him,
-encouraging others,
-spiritual warfare,
-demonology,
-angelology
-being true to yourself,
-standing up for what is right,
-Godly romance,
-sex and sexuality.
and all these are in this novel, in varying degrees! Now, I realise that these are included in the biblical account of Adam and Eve/Genesis and elsewhere in the Bible, but I applaud Inman for being faithful to the Biblical account and to God in these areas and through the use of poetic licence.
Inman is adept in outlining God's plan for salvation and redemption, and I appreciated how she integrated this through the fall of Adam and Eve, what the this then meant to them and future generations until, through their lineage, one would come to crush the serpent's head and become the Saviour of mankind, restoring/reconciling man back to God. It was such a joy to have Inman include the reasons why God knew Adam and Eve would sin and how He had prepared a solution from the beginning which is where the doctrines of redemption and salvation come from. So much of this is omitted from similar Christian novels that leads to the plotline being thin and watered down. These two doctrines are, in some Churches just not taught today. I applaud Inman (yet again!) for doing this and showing how fiction can be used mightily by God to educate and uplift one's faith or sow a seed concerning biblical truth and principles. I loved how Adam and Eve began to identify these motives from God in response to their sin and fallen nature and integrated it into their newly forged relationship with each other and God. In doing so they also learnt more about the nature of God, His mercy, goodness, patience, forgiveness, "restoring lovingkindness" (to quote the author), His unfailing love, his Omniscience and that He will never forsake them.
Inman also shows valuable insights into the spiritual warfare side of the fall of man relating to Lucifer's rebellion, banishment from Heaven and bondage to Earth. Despite his revenge enacted through his attempts to destroy everything relating to God's human race, represented here by Adam and Eve, he underestimated who God is and His Sovereignty. Inman provides a valuable biblical truth here, as Lucifer (now named Satan since his sin and rebellion) experiences first hand how the power of God's love for Adam and Eve and their love for Him, makes their relationship with each other and with God "fireproof" while the Spirit of God remains working in and through them. Inman's description of this account is a powerful read and gives the reader a solid basis of God's commitment to us that can be seen in John 3:16 as the fulfillment of this commitment and love towards us while further illustrating that nothing we do will separate us from His love as the apostle Paul expounds in Romans 8: 35-38, the latter being my favourite Bible verse.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Refuge, over the next few weeks. This series is truly a blessing. I would recommend this novel to any Christian but especially to new Christians. This would definitely give reinforcement to their newly found faith and supplement the basic tenets of Christianity. I highly recommend the study guide at the end for this purpose as well.
Inman has definitely allowed the Spirit to use her talent, imagination and creativity to craft a novel that is very much God-honouring and faith strengthening. As one of my author friends states, if you are a Christian author and you believe God has mandated you to write, then write for Him. I can see that Inman definitely does this.
Highly recommended.
The three ratings below are based on my discernment:
World Building 5/5
Characters 5/5
Story 5/5
The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System
For rating books by David Bergsland:
Spiritual Level 2/5
Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
All I can say is the wait has been more than worth it! This is a beautiful and tender novel. There are novels where the reader can feel the author pouring herself into it with the utmost passion for writing and the storyline and this novel is one of those. Having read some of Inman Tweets and posts from Facebook and her website, she is passionate about writing, about the art of story creation, expressing her love for God and all things relating to Him. It definitely shows in this novel's construction and forms one of its foundational pillars.
I have not come across a novel where there is so much detail in describing the gaps in the Genesis account of Adam and Eve, their fall from Grace and their life after being banished from the Garden of Eden. Inman has clearly researched this, discussed with other Christians who would be able to provide more insight and expound more on this. Inman has a short reference list at the end of the book that has influenced the storyline and added to her poetic licence to fill in these gaps in this Biblical narrative. This licence does not detract from it but actually is an enhancement without making it more important than what God has included. To me, it reads as if it is a fictionalised account that could be considered the closest to what it could have been that the Biblical narrative does not give account.
It is very much alive this account of Ish/Adam and Isher/Eve. You are transported there; it is almost as if you are part of this narrative and not just reading it. I found myself relating to everything they experienced from Creation to their sin culminating in their hardship and rediscovering themselves and how to relate to each other as a result of their new fallen nature. The way God had created them to be one with each other and with God made me yearn for this when He returns and restores us to Him. Inman shines here in her description of this relationship. Again it is beautiful and tender. Reading this pre-fall account of their relationship only reinforced this oneness of what I have felt towards my own wife since marriage, albeit not to the full extent of what Adam and Eve experienced as these two are the only ones to experience the full relationship of what God had intended.
Inman further shines in her description of how this perfect relationship between them and God is destroyed and what it then comprised as they move forward with the reality of their now sinful and fallen nature. I am sure every married couple reading this, if they are honest with themselves, will relate and even be confronted with some of the emotions, attitudes and behaviour that Adam and Eve now exhibited towards each other. I know I did! And what this did to me was to reinforce what I have discovered that relationships, especially a married one, require more work on every level, physical, emotional, spiritual and on a daily basis in every situation that you are both presented with.
Inman is very clever at describing this. Reading how Adam and Eve were before their sin and after, reads like a relationship manual. The thought struck me that she has included all there is to identify in dealing with relationship conflict and resolution, learning about each other and in relation to each other and overcoming this by referencing it back to God for His guidance in what He required of them in their situation. It is here that they learn how to effectively communicate, the art of listening, of honesty, forgiveness and in understanding each other's point of view. They also learnt about dealing with anger, bitterness, regret and resentment. I even thought that every engaged couple or those wanting to be married should read this novel just for these insights! They are rich and powerful. If any reader approaches this novel with a teachable spirit, they will pick up some valuable relationship gems to apply to their lives and be strengthened and blessed by it. And all the while honouring God in the process seeing He is the force behind these insights.
One of the most powerful insights I found from this novel and that is reinforced in the Bible and what I have applied in my marriage, is that as Adam and Eve, before their sin, placed each other first and would lay down their lives for each other. It was the opposite story after their sin. Sin changed this attitude and behaviour of looking out for the other to only looking out for themselves. Placing the other first is now what we have to learn and apply to our lives and it is no wonder that Jesus stressed this to us in His example of what a married relationship needs to be. Just as He laid down His life for us, He has specified that we need to lay to lay down our lives for each other in marriage. I stated this as a condition for my future son-in-law that he could marry my daughter only if he was prepared to lay down his life for her and place her first in everything, just as Jesus had done for us! It is what I have based my marriage on and can vouch for its success. It was also what I based my Father of the Bride speech at their wedding!
Where Inman shines again, is her description of the creation of Ish/Adam and Isher/Eve and the Garden of Eden. Compared to other novelised accounts which can be dry, and very matter of fact, Inman evokes your curiosity through Ish's as he wonders in the flora and fauna, his naming of them, and in the natural workings of the environment and world that God has created. This also adds to the mystique of this part of the novel, it is not a bland description that makes you want to gloss over but encourages you to be in the same wonderment that Ish had about every aspect of this created world. And it is this description that shows more of the nature of God and the depth of relationship that He has toward His creation, the highlight being Ish and Isher. Inman's depiction of God/Creator is very relational and not just as a hierarchical being but one that is intimately involved with His creation, especially towards Ish and Isher.
Inman has dealt with the sexuality of Ish and Isher very appropriately and respectively and I believe as close as possible to how God planned it. These two are the only ones who have lived to have experienced sex how God created it to its fullest (before their sin) and how it was different afterwards. Pre their fall, it was an integral part of their oneness with each other and towards God. Post their fall, it was fragmented and not so integrated as before. Tiredness and the effects of conflict between them altered to some extent this oneness and enjoyment of it between them. And the human race since has only experienced sex and sexuality through the effects of sin and our fallen nature. Even today, sex and sexuality in the media, education and many other areas, including families are not promoted as an expression of love and oneness towards each other within the confines of marriage but just a physical act, a relieving of one's sexual urge and expected behaviour in relationships. And the perversion of it is just becoming more so with each passing year under the new attitude of it being normal and healthy. And sadly, even in Christian marriages and amongst Christian singles, the adherence to the Bible's principles of marriage, sex and sexuality are challenged, modified and in some cases suppressed and rejected. I applaud Inman for showing and being daring to do so in today's world of political correctness to include this in this novel. She shows faithfulness to God's standards and not man's in this regard. May all Christians follow her example and stand up for what is correct in God's eyes!
Years ago, when I examined why I love Christian fiction, I identified some key points and it is these that I love to see in a Christian novel (and can be found in the Why Christian Fiction? tab in this blog):
-it has entertained me immensely,
-it has encouraged my walk with God,
-it has not deviated from biblical doctrine, and it will not, I believe, lead a non-believer astray or
promote false doctrine,
-it honours God,
-it does not encourage worship of the created (eg angels) instead of the Creator (God).
Well, Inman has more than succeeded with these criteria in this novel! She has encouraged not only my walk with God but has encouraged me to continue to place my family first and them above myself.
And since I started reading and reviewing Christian fiction, I have identified that this area of fiction across all its genres, deals with the following issues/doctrines:
-relying on God through difficult and trying circumstances,
-the nature of God, developing faith and trust in Him,
-encouraging others,
-spiritual warfare,
-demonology,
-angelology
-being true to yourself,
-standing up for what is right,
-Godly romance,
-sex and sexuality.
and all these are in this novel, in varying degrees! Now, I realise that these are included in the biblical account of Adam and Eve/Genesis and elsewhere in the Bible, but I applaud Inman for being faithful to the Biblical account and to God in these areas and through the use of poetic licence.
Inman is adept in outlining God's plan for salvation and redemption, and I appreciated how she integrated this through the fall of Adam and Eve, what the this then meant to them and future generations until, through their lineage, one would come to crush the serpent's head and become the Saviour of mankind, restoring/reconciling man back to God. It was such a joy to have Inman include the reasons why God knew Adam and Eve would sin and how He had prepared a solution from the beginning which is where the doctrines of redemption and salvation come from. So much of this is omitted from similar Christian novels that leads to the plotline being thin and watered down. These two doctrines are, in some Churches just not taught today. I applaud Inman (yet again!) for doing this and showing how fiction can be used mightily by God to educate and uplift one's faith or sow a seed concerning biblical truth and principles. I loved how Adam and Eve began to identify these motives from God in response to their sin and fallen nature and integrated it into their newly forged relationship with each other and God. In doing so they also learnt more about the nature of God, His mercy, goodness, patience, forgiveness, "restoring lovingkindness" (to quote the author), His unfailing love, his Omniscience and that He will never forsake them.
Inman also shows valuable insights into the spiritual warfare side of the fall of man relating to Lucifer's rebellion, banishment from Heaven and bondage to Earth. Despite his revenge enacted through his attempts to destroy everything relating to God's human race, represented here by Adam and Eve, he underestimated who God is and His Sovereignty. Inman provides a valuable biblical truth here, as Lucifer (now named Satan since his sin and rebellion) experiences first hand how the power of God's love for Adam and Eve and their love for Him, makes their relationship with each other and with God "fireproof" while the Spirit of God remains working in and through them. Inman's description of this account is a powerful read and gives the reader a solid basis of God's commitment to us that can be seen in John 3:16 as the fulfillment of this commitment and love towards us while further illustrating that nothing we do will separate us from His love as the apostle Paul expounds in Romans 8: 35-38, the latter being my favourite Bible verse.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel, Refuge, over the next few weeks. This series is truly a blessing. I would recommend this novel to any Christian but especially to new Christians. This would definitely give reinforcement to their newly found faith and supplement the basic tenets of Christianity. I highly recommend the study guide at the end for this purpose as well.
Inman has definitely allowed the Spirit to use her talent, imagination and creativity to craft a novel that is very much God-honouring and faith strengthening. As one of my author friends states, if you are a Christian author and you believe God has mandated you to write, then write for Him. I can see that Inman definitely does this.
Highly recommended.
The three ratings below are based on my discernment:
World Building 5/5
Characters 5/5
Story 5/5
The two classifications below are based on the booklet, A Spiritual System
For rating books by David Bergsland:
Spiritual Level 2/5
Enemy Spiritual Level 3/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
January 30, 2016
I loved this book. There were so many things about it that made me go, “ Of course! That makes sense with everything being brand new,” or, “Wow!I never thought of it like that before!” It challenged my own responses to God's care of me and the guidelines He gives to protect me and make me more like Him. Do I run to Him alone or do I seek to solve things in my own wisdom or out of a heart of fear and distrust? It also reassured me of His perfect plan in light of my broken nature. I cannot surprise Him or screw up too much for Him to withhold His grace, mercy, and love from me. Adam and Eve looked forward in hope for the promise as I look back on God's promise kept. Your perspective will be blown, your heart will be challenged, and your hope in God's faithfulness to pursue relationship with lost sinners will grow immensely. I cannot wait to share it with friends and family!
January 2, 2019
Have you ever wondered what life was really like for Adam and Eve. Fallen is the story of God's creation of the universe, the birth of Adam and Eve, and their life before and after the fall and up to the birth of Cain.
The beautiful prose of this story is almost poetry, and Inman brings the beginning of Genesis to life in her writing. She shows how much God loves and adores us even when we make mistakes that may change our lives forever. Her word pictures display how disobedience to God separates people from the good in life and can hurt not only the individual but also the people they love. She writes a beautiful story of discovering the intimacy of love between a husband and a wife without being graphic or detailed.
Wonderful way to start off my reading year, and I would definitely recommend this book.
The beautiful prose of this story is almost poetry, and Inman brings the beginning of Genesis to life in her writing. She shows how much God loves and adores us even when we make mistakes that may change our lives forever. Her word pictures display how disobedience to God separates people from the good in life and can hurt not only the individual but also the people they love. She writes a beautiful story of discovering the intimacy of love between a husband and a wife without being graphic or detailed.
Wonderful way to start off my reading year, and I would definitely recommend this book.
June 2, 2016
Fallen
I'm an avid reader and I love supporting authors, every now and then there is a book that comes long that makes me feel like the words that I write in my review are inadequate. Fallen is an experience that cannot be expressed in words, but I will try to convey to you what it was like to experience Creation, Adam and Eve and the Fall .
I'm speechless.
Fallen shows you a glimpse of Creation, the lives of Adam and Eve, before the Fall and their lives after the Fall. It is spectacular how the author is able to show us how much God loves and adores us. She also shows the reader how beautiful sex is between the husband and wife and that God designed it that way. No, there are no graphic sex scenes so don't panic.
This story allows us to see that our separation from God by our disobedience also disconnects us in some way from our spouses. Eve's disobedience was like committing adultery. It caused discord and sin to come into our marital relationships. The story shows how disobedience causes so much destruction that it makes you sad.
When Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden of Eden you can feel all their emotions, it is like you are there with them. You realize how much their sin cost them and us. But, there is so much wisdom and love (God's love) that permeates throughout the book until it is overwhelming. So I'm definitely speechless because there are no words that I can write in this review that are adequate enough to express how excellent, magnificent, awesome and amazing this story was to read.
I'm an avid reader and I love supporting authors, every now and then there is a book that comes long that makes me feel like the words that I write in my review are inadequate. Fallen is an experience that cannot be expressed in words, but I will try to convey to you what it was like to experience Creation, Adam and Eve and the Fall .
I'm speechless.
Fallen shows you a glimpse of Creation, the lives of Adam and Eve, before the Fall and their lives after the Fall. It is spectacular how the author is able to show us how much God loves and adores us. She also shows the reader how beautiful sex is between the husband and wife and that God designed it that way. No, there are no graphic sex scenes so don't panic.
This story allows us to see that our separation from God by our disobedience also disconnects us in some way from our spouses. Eve's disobedience was like committing adultery. It caused discord and sin to come into our marital relationships. The story shows how disobedience causes so much destruction that it makes you sad.
When Adam and Eve are cast out of the Garden of Eden you can feel all their emotions, it is like you are there with them. You realize how much their sin cost them and us. But, there is so much wisdom and love (God's love) that permeates throughout the book until it is overwhelming. So I'm definitely speechless because there are no words that I can write in this review that are adequate enough to express how excellent, magnificent, awesome and amazing this story was to read.
December 17, 2015
Many of us have read or heard the story about creation told in the Bible. We know that God created Adam and Eve, that they lived in the garden of Eden, and that they fell to Satan’s temptation to go against God’s command to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
But have you ever thought about what it would actually be like to live as Adam and Eve? What would it feel like to awaken as the first human created? To be told to be fruitful and multiply without any knowledge of how to accomplish that?
Through story and thoughtful descriptions, Melinda V. Inman takes us into Adam’s and Eve’s minds, hearts, and bodies as they explore the garden, their relationship to God’s creations, their relationship to each other, and even how their bodies function. With beauty and sensitivity, we experience them discovering how wonderful it is to have physical intimacy as God intended.
We also get a glimpse of how Lucifer’s (Satan’s) ego could have contributed to his rebellion against God, his jealousy of the humans, and his consuming desire to take revenge by enticing man and woman to fall from God’s grace.
I love it when a book gives me new insight into stories I’ve heard countless times before, and Fallen has done just that. Melinda Inman has brought this story to life for me and made it more real than anything I’ve encountered before. I’m now able to look at Adam and Eve with a different perspective.
If you enjoy reading biblical fiction, I highly recommend this book.
But have you ever thought about what it would actually be like to live as Adam and Eve? What would it feel like to awaken as the first human created? To be told to be fruitful and multiply without any knowledge of how to accomplish that?
Through story and thoughtful descriptions, Melinda V. Inman takes us into Adam’s and Eve’s minds, hearts, and bodies as they explore the garden, their relationship to God’s creations, their relationship to each other, and even how their bodies function. With beauty and sensitivity, we experience them discovering how wonderful it is to have physical intimacy as God intended.
We also get a glimpse of how Lucifer’s (Satan’s) ego could have contributed to his rebellion against God, his jealousy of the humans, and his consuming desire to take revenge by enticing man and woman to fall from God’s grace.
I love it when a book gives me new insight into stories I’ve heard countless times before, and Fallen has done just that. Melinda Inman has brought this story to life for me and made it more real than anything I’ve encountered before. I’m now able to look at Adam and Eve with a different perspective.
If you enjoy reading biblical fiction, I highly recommend this book.
January 30, 2016
Fallen is a poignant love story of the first two humans, woven alongside the glorious story of love and hope that is offered to all humans by their Creator. The perfection of creation in the Garden of Eden is starkly contrasted with the world outside the Garden after the fall. The author took a story that was very familiar to me, and added new depth and meaning, allowing me to understand my own fallen and sinful nature more clearly. Also highlighted is the immense love God has for us, and the lengths to which He is prepared to go to show us His love.
October 12, 2016
Impressive book by an awesome writer. She has captured the beauty and the danger in Eden, the glory of walking with God daily, and the horror of realizing you just killed your relationship with God. This is one you will grow from.
This is a short review, I know--but I don't know what else to say but "READ IT!"
This is a short review, I know--but I don't know what else to say but "READ IT!"
July 25, 2016
I received this book for free from Goodread's giveaways for an honest review.
This book is Melinda's view of the story of Adam and Eve. The author does a great job of sharing the joys and pains of their journey. God's love is deeply felt. Strongly recommended for a bible study class.
This book is Melinda's view of the story of Adam and Eve. The author does a great job of sharing the joys and pains of their journey. God's love is deeply felt. Strongly recommended for a bible study class.
June 3, 2022
Poignant. Brilliant. A deeply engaging expansion of the first 3 chapters of Genesis, this story does a wonderful fictional job of letting us get to know Adam and Eve, who they were in relationship to the Lord God, and the events leading to the fall. I love the way Melinda weaves this story, adding flesh to the framework we see outlined so beautifully in the first 3 chapters of Genesis. Knowing the contents of Genesis, I was still enthralled with this story and how it gave a sense of humanitys parent's thoughts, feelings and regrets as they committed "original sin". The Trinity is portrayed, and Satan's pride and arrogance is given voice as the story plays out. She also portrays the moment with the serpent as a shared experience by Adam and Eve. Eve fell first, but Adam failed to prevent this deed and protect her. Therefore, when he took the fruit, he bore the guilt and shame for this act equally. Many miss this subtle issue when reading scripture, but ultimately, Adam was also responsible, in some ways, more so than Eve.
Well done!
Well done!
September 15, 2018
This book had so much promise! I was intrigued by the synopsis of the book. However, it was really a cheesy presentation of the story of Adam and Eve's fall from grace. While it was interesting to consider how Adam and Eve handled everything that was a new experience for them...learning to walk, how and why to eat and drink, what things meant, how to deal with the challenges after their fall...a lot of the details ended up being handled in a quirky and silly way.
I was enthralled with the thought of celebrating with God on a daily basis in the Garden of Eden. And the book did have some good "deep" thoughts about God's love for us and how even though we sin, he is still there...waiting for us to return to Him. But, unf0rtunately, that's about the only really positive thing I can say about the book.
Needless to say, I am disappointed.
I was enthralled with the thought of celebrating with God on a daily basis in the Garden of Eden. And the book did have some good "deep" thoughts about God's love for us and how even though we sin, he is still there...waiting for us to return to Him. But, unf0rtunately, that's about the only really positive thing I can say about the book.
Needless to say, I am disappointed.
January 15, 2021
This book surprised me. I was all ready to give this a book 3 stars, but then 1/2 way through things changed. You see, the first part of the book is so vivid, sensual, and euphoric. It felt like the author was trying too hard. AND then the Fall took place, and I realized that her writing that way was purposeful. In the garden there was perfection in every sense, including the physical and romantic relationship between the Adam and his wife, Eve. I'm so glad I stuck with it. It came full circle, which is actually the circle of the incorporation of sin in our lives; sad really. I look forward to reading the sequel.
October 10, 2019
The imagery was fantastic! You could feel the Holy Spirit guided the author to author to fill in the blanks of creation ... so to speak.
The story was so well written it makes you feel as if it was possible truth of what happened between Adam and Eve.
Clear view of GOD’s plan.
The story was so well written it makes you feel as if it was possible truth of what happened between Adam and Eve.
Clear view of GOD’s plan.
February 15, 2016
Melinda Inman tackled a quite a challenge when she wrote Fallen: A Biblical Story of Good and Evil. She has taken her place alongside John Milton with his Paradise Lost and C.S. Lewis’ with his Perelandra.
Inman has written her vision of Paradise in such a way her reader is able to imagine what it was like for Adam and Eve to live in the Garden, in perfect communion with God, animals, and the world. She depicts how lonely Adam was until he met the woman God made for him, and she shows us what joy looks like. The Garden itself becomes a character we enjoy imagining. We also get a glimpse into how deeply Lucifer hates people and God.
Inman has managed to take a too familiar story and make it fresh. Fallen invites the reader to think about what life might have been like before the fall and right afterwards. She vividly shows the heartbreak of losing Eden and close relationship with God right after eating that fruit. The first humans’ shame runs deep and awful, but so does God’s kindness. We see how this first couple struggles to grow their own food, pulling thistles without gloves. Even though Adam and Eve betray God and each other, the novel leaves the reader hoping for mankind. Not only did Fallen make me think, I also looked forward to reading it every evening. I highly recommend Fallen as a great, entertaining read.
Inman has written her vision of Paradise in such a way her reader is able to imagine what it was like for Adam and Eve to live in the Garden, in perfect communion with God, animals, and the world. She depicts how lonely Adam was until he met the woman God made for him, and she shows us what joy looks like. The Garden itself becomes a character we enjoy imagining. We also get a glimpse into how deeply Lucifer hates people and God.
Inman has managed to take a too familiar story and make it fresh. Fallen invites the reader to think about what life might have been like before the fall and right afterwards. She vividly shows the heartbreak of losing Eden and close relationship with God right after eating that fruit. The first humans’ shame runs deep and awful, but so does God’s kindness. We see how this first couple struggles to grow their own food, pulling thistles without gloves. Even though Adam and Eve betray God and each other, the novel leaves the reader hoping for mankind. Not only did Fallen make me think, I also looked forward to reading it every evening. I highly recommend Fallen as a great, entertaining read.
January 29, 2016
What in the world is wrong with people? Why do we act the way we do? Fallen is an unusual book because it answers so many questions about human behavior. Melinda Inman's book is a beautiful story based upon the Bible, the most authenticated book in existence. It brings to life and fleshes out those few verses in Genesis and gives us such an amazing glimpse of Eden that we long for the New Heaven and the New Earth when God restores what was lost. What an enjoyable read about those two people who are the ancestors of everyone on the face of the earth!
December 8, 2019
One of the best historical fiction books I've ever read.
LOVE Melinda's writing style.
She really has a way of wrapping you up in the story and not letting you go.
The characters are vivid and well developed.
The story is intriguing.
I hope she writes many, many more.
LOVE Melinda's writing style.
She really has a way of wrapping you up in the story and not letting you go.
The characters are vivid and well developed.
The story is intriguing.
I hope she writes many, many more.
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