Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story

Written by Jill Eileen Smith

Narrated by Leah Horowitz

When the greatest joys she has ever known are stripped away, the first woman must find the courage to face an unknown future

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on one whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to another like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as
they explore Eden. Her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Then everything changes.

Through one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future—the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the only home she has ever known. Perhaps
worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but also with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling an epic story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705084182

Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of many biblical novels, including her first series, The Wives of King David. Her newest book, A Deeper Well: The Story of the Woman at the Well, will be released in February 2026. After twenty years of closed doors, she has since published twenty-five fiction and nonfiction books. She loves Jesus and His Word and all things related to learning more about the women God has immortalized in Scripture. Jill has been married to the love of her life for forty-eight years and counting and lives in a quiet neighborhood in southeast Michigan. Learn more about Jill at JillEileenSmith.com.

Reviews for Daughter of Eden

[bevfuller · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won a copy of "Daughter Of Eden on LibraryThing Early Reviewers. I've never read any of Jill Eileen Smith's books before and now I want to read all of them. "Daughter Of Eden" is wonderful. Jill makes the story of Eve so real and so relatable. I read the Bible every morning and Jill's book has added so much for me to think about. God has blessed Jill with an amazing ability to tell a Bible story. I loved this book.

[tea58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Christian beginning of all beginnings is beyond the imagination. In "Daughter of Eden, Jill Eileen Smith.takes us straight to the garden in (Eve's Story). What is great about the book is the sketched and painted descriptions. As the mind wonders and wanders through the beautiful park it is easy to become a child again. Just listen as the Adams swim by a waterfall. Their tomorrow is a desire to visit another beautiful place filled with gold. Most exciting is their talks and walks with God. Both of the Adams feel free in sharing what they have done during the day with Him. There is no shame until Lucifer comes by with a wicked laugh. His desire is to destroy their love of God. It's like reading a book from the Fantasy section of your library. Tension fills the pages as Lucifer sells the fact that they can become equal with God, and they will never die. The author also peaks our curiosity about what type of fruit did Adam eat. Was it the dear old apple, or was an....? It definitely is a splendid novel.

[khoyt-43756 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have enjoyed reading a novel that explores Eden and the first humans. The author, Ms. Smith, did an exceptional job of imagining the place and time, showcasing what it was like for the first humans, and the consequences of the Fall. She based her vivid descriptions on Scripture, including verses from the Prophets such as Micah 6:8, to demonstrate the continuity of God's Word throughout human history. The story was entertaining, enlightening, and informative. The Gospels' message to repent and turn away from sin was a significant part of the last half of the book. Nonetheless, the primary message conveyed was that God loves each one of us, no matter what, and He will never abandon us.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novel has fantastic descriptions that transported me to a fictional telling of the true story of Eve. I felt her emotions and her struggles as she went from the perfect Eden to a scary sinful world. I was struck for the first time, despite reading her story many times in the Bible, of the crazy circumstances Eve must have faced as one of two of the first humans on earth. Despite the realistic sin told in the novel, there is a thread of hope in the book, especially since we know that the enemy has already been defeated. I really liked the perspective of this book and once again, I felt like this author made the Bible come alive in a new way for me. I highly recommend this book to those who love Biblical fiction and also to those who want to give Biblical fiction a try!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am a fan of Jill's. I thoroughly enjoy her books featuring the various women of the Bible. Both famous and not as famous women. Her books bring to life the Bible stories in a different way. This story is an intriguing take on the original "OG" woman, Eve.

I did find it interesting how Jill envisioned Eve's life back then with Adam prior to the actions of Eve. In ways, I could see her story being very relatable to present day and relationships. Therefore, I connected with her. Although, I have to admit that it did take me a little while to connect to the overall story in the beginning. Yet, once I did i really got into the story and found the rest of the book to be a fairly fast read.

[coverloverbookreview · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I knew I’d love Daughter of Eden: Eve’s Story before I ever read a word, because it’s written by Jill Eileen Smith. I’ve loved every single book I’ve read authored by this brilliant storyteller. Her Biblical fiction is astonishing, making scriptural characters and events come to life. In this story, the opening scene of the creation of the angels, sets the tone for the rest of the book so nicely.

I’m delighted to meet Eve in a new way, seeing and living life though her eyes and experiences. Especially when she and Adam felt separated from God. What an emotional time. There are several points of view throughout, but I connected deepest with Eve and empathized with her doubt, guilt, and shame.

I love the title, storytelling style, beautiful messages, and the gorgeous cover art! This is Biblical Fiction at its finest.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

[rocketgal · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Interesting concept, but not my cup of tea. (In fairness, I'm not a particularly religious person, so I may not have been the target audience.) I was hoping this would read like a novel while providing more illuminating insight into the basics of the Bible story, but there really just wasn't much in the way of character development, interesting dialogue, or engaging plotlines. Eve's the main character, but she doesn't seem to have much going on in her head beyond "I really miss being with God in Eden" and "I wish Adam wasn't still mad at me about the apple." The other characters are similarly simplistic and I had trouble caring much about any of them. I understand that you can't tell this story without talking about God, but probably 90% of the paragraphs in the book included some mention of adoring God, which seemed awfully heavy-handed. Overall, a slow and not particularly enjoyable read for me, though it was excellent for putting me to sleep at night.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love biblical fiction and I consider Jill Eileen Smith to be one of the premier authors of this genre. In this book, she weaves fiction and the first book of the Bible into an engrossing tale that centers around Adam, Eve, and many of the others mentioned in the early chapters of Genesis. Smith helps us to imagine the views of Cain, Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Methuselah, along with the intriguing thoughts of Archangel Michael and Lucifer! What I especially loved is that she gives Eve the human traits of so many of us women! Wives who wonder if their husbands are losing interest and mothers who fear for their children's physical safety and pray for their spiritual health. From the time that she realizes that she's pregnant, Eve worries that her actions in the Garden will hinder her children's relationship with God! She experiences many "What ifs" and often questions if she has been truly forgiven? Yes, I know that these are fictional details, but they make her so very relatable!

Smith's descriptive powers helped me visualize the beauty of the Garden and feel the overwhelming peace that Adam and Eve experienced in that holy place. A peace that was shattered by their disobedience, along with the beautiful innocence that was forever destroyed! Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story is the painful story of being separated from God but a wonderful affirmation of the redemption that is available to all mankind. It is a beautiful story that clearly demonstrates God's gift of salvation!

Believers will certainly appreciate this book but it's a story for all readers to enjoy and savor! I pray that it spurs us to refer to the Bible for the original story, and I believe that it would be a wonderful addition to a women's study group.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

[sdbookhound · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My sincere thanks to Revell and Library Thing Early Reviewers for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Daughter of Eden is a Biblical fiction novel telling the story of Eve as envisioned by author Jill Eileen Smith. Prior to reading, I was very interested in how the author would go about telling the story of Adam and Eve because even though we know their story, there is so much that is not told in the Bible as far as what it truly must have been like to start a civilization after their banishment from the Garden of Eden. I really didn't know what to expect. While I think that the author did an admirable job, and I didn't exactly dislike the book, I didn't love it either. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a fictionalized retelling and then I was okay. It was just far from what I always imagined from the times I have read and been taught Genesis throughout my life. I am going to share this with a few others and get their thoughts. 3 stars for now.

[cyncie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daughter of Eden, Eve's story, is a work of fiction, a fascinating take on the well-known story of Creation. It incorporates what we know of the Creation story in Genesis and explores what might have been after the fall, as Adam and Eve live with the sad effects of allowing sin into what had once been perfect communion with God, and former lives of peace and harmony. Now, they are cast out into a land fraught with danger, very different from Eden, where there is struggle for survival, marital discord, evil forces, struggles to obtain food and shelter and continuing questions of faith. The book covers several generations after Adam and Eve, the murder of their son Abel by brother Cain, and it's ramifications for their children and grandchildren. The book includes well-known characters from the Old Testament that would have been born while Adam and Eve were still alive.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this biblical fiction that brings Adam and Eve to life. I love how this story tells what happened in Eden and what happens after Eden. I found it so interesting to see one way of seeing how one area of the world was populated. I cried for Adam and Eve when they thought they lost Gods love. I love how this story was told. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Created to be the perfect partner for her husband, Eve’s life in the garden was idyllic . . . until her choices allowed sin to enter the world and change everything. Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith explores all the what-ifs of the first man and woman. Faithful to the scriptural record, Smith fictionalizes the account to perhaps ask more questions than she seeks to answer. I loved how she portrayed Adam and Eve in all their innocence — an innocent and pure, and yet intimate relationship between each other and the special bond they had with their Creator — before all was shattered. The book explores what might have taken place following their expulsion from Eden — the need to find shelter and food, the need to make useful items for their household, and the beginnings of a family. One thing this novel stresses is that though estranged from God by their sin, He never truly leaves them alone. They are His despite their disobedience, pride, and willfulness. A good reminder for modern day readers too. Regret over her decision to disobey God stalks Eve, especially when her children repeat her mistakes in a variety of ways. Adam and Eve lived a long time, so the story doesn’t end with the birth of Seth, but with the ways the world was shaped by their descendants. Cities are built, traditions are established, and sin lives on. But hope is never too far away, as Eve looked for the one who would redeem her mistakes. This work of Biblical fiction made me think, made me consult scripture, and made me examine the consequences of my own actions.

With what must have been an enormous undertaking, Smith brings forth a very plausible storyline that’s a pleasure to read, not a dry philosophical tome. I very much liked Daughter of Eden. As a leader of a combo Bible study/Book Club, I would not hesitate to use this novel as a companion to a study of Genesis. If you are a fan of Biblical fiction too, give this one a look.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[sbmc-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"So we make the choices that are ours to make and leave the rest to God."

Jill Eileen Smith has tackled a really difficult part of the Old Testament spanning from Genesis 1 through beginning of Genesis 6. This account starting from creation and ending with Methuselah told in multiple points of view is a fascinating look at the beginning of our faith. Eve is the major contributor to the plot and her guilt, shame, and desire for love and acceptance after the fall are so palpable. Adam, in his anger and frustration at the burden of caring for his family, is relatable. Their marriage shifts and matures during their long years on earth together and it's a very real picture of how God shapes and molds each man and woman individually and as a couple through the years. Other human voices build the plot and we get to meet Cain and his wife Hasia, Abel, Seth, and Enoch. We also hear Archangel Michael and Lucifer's thoughts, which makes for a richer experience as events on earth unfold. This is the most ambitious and creative Biblical fiction the author has penned to date and it made me re-read these Genesis chapters with a new appreciation.

I had hoped for a longer author's note with explanations of her research and reasons for how she addressed the vague areas. Perhaps the author will have a blog post or a newsletter after the book's release to satisfy my curiosity. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

[grammy57 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I won this book through LibraryThing. I am giving this review freely and it is not required.
I enjoyed this book, but it is probably my least favorite by Jill Eileen Smith. I requested this book because of the author. I have really enjoyed her books. It's not that I didn't enjoy this one, it's just not up to her usual writing in my opinion.
It was a slow start for me. I took me a couple of chapters to really get into the story. It was well written and the characters believable and once the story picked up, out of the garden, I enjoyed it a lot more.
It seems it would be hard to write this book as we truly don't know much after they were put out of the garden. It did make me think about how hard life would have been. No home that we're aware of, no food other then what they knew to use from their time in the Garden. We don't know how much they had to learn on their own and how much God actually provided for them. I found her take on how it might have been mostly believable.
I give this a 3 out of 5-star rating. I would recommend it to my friends.

[simmmba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully written account of the author's interpretation of God's creation of the world and of the lives of Adam and Eve. While obviously nobody can give a truly factual account of these events, the author has done an excellent job of recreating a viable narrative of what they might have been like. Honestly, I'd never thought much about what happened to Adam and Eve after they were banished from Eden. This book really made me think about how truly difficult their lives must have been. Highly recommended!

[eamace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a lovely biblical fiction giving us a possible glimpse into the life of Adam and Eve both in the Garden of Eden and then out in the world. If we read the story of creation in the Bible, we also read how, through the enticement of Lucifer, both Adam and Eve died to an innocence they could not define, nor would they ever experience it again.

Sin always follows when we think what we want to do is best and leave God out of our plans.

Banned from the Garden, there was so much to learn. We know that God will not abandon us and I can only believe He did not abandon them either. Unfortunately as we also know, that while sin had entered the world without any fanfare, its insidious work will continue until the Redeemer comes. What a joy and privilege it must have been to walk and talk with God, like we spend time with a friend.

An early copy of this book was received through Baker Publishing Group, Revell and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

[halstead898-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I recently recieved this book from LibraryThing to review. I honestly have only read the first few chapters because I am busy right now BUT I am super excited to keep reading. Already I have been made to think about the way things were for Adam and Eve. I have also had to think a bit about angels and where they came from. I am excited to keep reading and see what else the author brings out that I will think about. I will update my review when I am finished reading

[nx74defiant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eve's story from Creation to Enoch. Some of the time line chooses strike me as odd. She gets pregnant right away after Cain's birth while still nursing. However there is a 30 year gap between the death of Abel and Seth's birth. I would have like to see Adam figuring things out himself once they leave Eden instead of God just telling him how to plant, harvest, etc. They are portrayed as having faith in God and wanting to return to his favor.

[ibjoy1953 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jill Eileen Smith is one of the few Biblical Fiction authors I read because I know I will read a clear account of what Smith's exceptional creative mind tells of what could have been during those long ago, first creation years when there was just Adam and Eve and their family. I thoroughly enjoyed Eve's story, and the early times when Eve didn't need to be ashamed of anything. Then there was the sin that came into the world and it all changed. Smith does a phenomenal very detailed telling of the sin and corruption taking place after Eve gave in to satan. The corruption and division among family was enough to torment Eve for causing it. I have always really wondered about the fact of incest within Adam and Eve's family, because after all, they were all family. Eve didn't leave this out and I'm still thinking about her take on it.

I think it's important to remember, while this book is fiction, Adam and Eve's story is very real. Though the author weaves Bible verses and Biblical facts throughout the book, her deep research and study helps her creative imagination in writing the fictional facts about the family living their actual everyday life. The Bible doesn't tell us a lot about that, you wouldn't be able to carry it. Even though it is fiction, I love, love reading Smith's Biblical fiction and reading what she thinks could have taken place all those years ago. And Daughter of Eden is no exception. This is a stunning story of the first couple, the first family on earth. I'm giving Jill Eileen Smith Five Stars for this amazing book. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, this one is a must.

A special thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[croknot1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it! I could see all the characters, the cherubim and seraphim.. It is how I imagined the line of descendants from Adam and Eve. I also enjoyed the authors notes, and the story at the end of the book.