I have tried. And tried. Then tried some more.

For two years, I have tried to read and review this book. I have just finished my 7th attempt and every single time, I havent gotten more than 50 pages in. I think at this ppoint I need to say its definitely the book and not me :-/

Maybe its just not something I will ever enjoy, maybe I will look at it fondly in 5 years time, staring at me from is shelf and suddenly I will find it to be the most fantastic book I've ever read. Unfortunately at this, time its a no from me

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A fantastic and thought-provoking that had me really guessing in some places.

I'd recommend this to anyone wanting something that will sit with them for a while.

I started reading this book and found that it was not for me. I didn't want to review a book that I didn't finish.

this was such a well done fantasy novel, the characters were great and I enjoyed going on this journey. The cover was beautiful and I'm glad I was able to read this.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the e-Arc! My rating is in star form and will be included with this review. I may go back to more extensive reviews in the future, but while I am catching up on everything, they will continue to be stars only. Thank you so much!

“ I can’t sleep. If I sleep, I’ll die, and I’ll wake up dead.”


Birds of Paradise is a refreshing retelling of the Bible's Adam and Eve story that is likened to American Gods. Together with its summary and gorgeous cover, it made me curious enough to check this book out. Having read and enjoyed American Gods, the similarities between them were definitely present, and it was even uncanny to read how the books' elements were almost comparable. But of course, Birds of Paradise had its own set of unique twists that made it entirely different from American Gods.

Set in a world wherein the Garden of Eden is real, and Adam has been living many different lives for the past millenniums, he suddenly finds himself in an unexpected journey together the remaining original animals from God's creation, and restore the Garden of Eden. It definitely took heavy roots from the Biblical story, but it wasn't overwhelming and overpowering in its religious core.

This beautiful dark book is just full of grief, loss, yet still has smidges of life, hope, loyalty, and friendship woven into it. The themes, tone, and atmosphere of the book were such a match to the story, and the writing style was almost lyrical in a way. There were a handful of times that it felt a bit clunky to me, but it didn't really stir me further away from the story.

My only critique for this book would probably be the way the pacing of the story was handled, and how I felt like the climax and ending parts were too rushed. I would have really liked if some portions of the book were fleshed out a bit more, and to make it an even more well-rounded story. If that certain scene was nailed a tad bit more, I would have enjoyed it so much.

Nevertheless, this book was a pretty entertaining read, and I would still recommend this to any readers, especially for those who are fans of Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

The books sets up a fascinating world and mythology with a lot of potential but unfortunately doesn't quite live up to it. The characters and writing are great but the story feels repetitive. I'd gladly read further books set in this world in the future though, in the hopes that all the kinks get ironed out.

I really wanted to like this book, especially considering how high the ratings were. It sounded like such an interesting concept and I jumped right into the book, however I felt really detached from the book. Usually when I'm engaged with a read I feel like I'm a part of the story itself. I don't really have a reason as to why, the book just didn't seem to gel with me.

2021 is going to be a glorious year. It's March when I am writing this, and I have already added two books to my BEST OF list.

It's long been an idea in fiction that Lazarus, who was raised from the dead once, perhaps never needed to die again and is still hanging around someplace. BIRDS OF PARADISE looks back farther, to the beginning, and asks: What happened to the beings of Eden, who were made before death entered the world?

Author Oliver K. Langmead tells us that it took a decade to write this book and I can believe it. I think it is wonderfully well written, a great idea well executed. Semitic heritage literature that is not religious. A myth that is thematically complex.

Adam the Gardener. Lover of plants and animals but also a warrior and soldier in addition to blacksmith and every other occupation you might try in 4000 years. While he's a bit put out by the modern world, Adam still gets a thrill from the natural world. Luckily he's got this fortunate quirk of forgetting, remembering bits and pieces of his long life, but not everything all at once. Memories may return when prompted by an artefact or a person, but mostly he lives in the present.

Adam has been hired by Rook, one of the partners of the law firm Corvid and Corvid, to find Magpie who seems to be spending a lot of money recently. Not that the money is a problem, but why is he spending it now? Owl, Pig, Crow, Crab, and Butterfly tag along. That may sound like a comedy sketch but it is not. Adam finds Magpie and through him a bunch of evil. vindictive people who hate him and all of the Edenic kin.

The book nicely weaves in some Old Testament lore and even though there are some terrible losses, offers a hopeful look into the future.

*Much thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for granting me access to an ARC of this book*

Why I Read It: This title had been floating around and I finally read the synopsis. The idea sounded cool, taking biblical origin stories and giving them a modern twist in the same vein as American Gods. While I don't like American Gods, I like the idea behind it so I was curious to see how I would feel about this one.

What It's About: After his removal from Eden, Adam continues to aimlessly walk the Earth as a shadow of his former self. One day, he gets recruited by his former animal companions in Eden to find the missing pieces of Eden and reassemble them, however, they are not the only ones looking.

Cons: All the people in this story, I didn't like. The side characters are so minor, I couldn't give any sort of description about them outside of their names. The protagonist, Adam, and the villains, were the only ones that stood out, and not in a good way. While both fit their roles well, Adam being a centuries old, world weary, psychopath and the villains being from old money, that doesn't mean they are enjoyable to read from. On top of the characters being unpleasant, there is also a general lack of story drive. Despite the high stakes, there is a lack of urgency for 2 reasons, that the story almost entirely takes place in the United Kingdom where only 2 pieces are retrieved, and that there is more time spent focusing on Adam's brooding and violent outbursts, in a non productive way. This unlikeability of characters mixed with a general absence of plot makes for a rather unsatisfying ending.

Pros: There were small scenes just about gardening, because that brings peace to Adam, and I found those to be serene and wish there was more of them. Adam's relationship with Eve felt very raw and genuine, and their scenes together were also ones I enjoyed, except for the reveal about Eve at the end. Also, there was the subtle theme of racism scattered throughout the narrative, in who the antagonists address Adam and who they view themselves as superior and entitled to Eden. Unfortunately, this wasn't a major story line in the narrative.

Finishing Thoughts: I think this book had epic aims, and did stand out with a unique premise, but this ultimately ended up being about nothing and for no one.

“Birds of Paradise” by Oliver K. Langmead

**Free copy received from NetGalley and BookBuzz in exchange for an honest review.

“Watching a film is like watching someone else’s idea of how a story should look, and he prefers the pictures he makes in his mind.” (Langmead, 2021)

Story: 16%
Oliver K. Langmead presents a distinct picture of the first man, Adam, and the creatures and plants of the garden of Eden in “Birds of Paradise.” Centuries after the fall of man and his banishment from Eden, Adam hides in plain sight amongst his descendants. As another life and alias falls apart, Adam is dispatched to find out what Eden’s own Magpie has been up to. On his journey, Adam reunites with many of Eden’s first creatures, including Owl, Crow, Butterfly, Pig, and Crab. When Adam catches up to Magpie and discovers that he has been collecting the lost pieces of Eden, the two join forces against the fanatic collecter, Frank Sinclair. A deadly battle for paradise ensues, bringing Adam one step closer to the man he once was.

Admittedly, this is one of the most fascinating novels I’ve ever read. The concept of Adam’s continued existence, along with the creatures of Eden, offered endless questions that were explored throughout the story. In essence, this was an existentialist view of the Biblical creation story. Although I can't entirely agree with many of the conclusions Langmead drew, I did enjoy his exploration of the question of creation, paradise, life, and death through Adam’s eyes.

Writing Style: 16%
Langmead demonstrates a strong use of imagery from beginning to end. Beyond his perception of Adam and Eve, the descriptive language used in their actions and the characterization of the world around Adam is remarkable. Further, Langmead’s use of imagery gave the story a lyrical quality that was charming and delightful. There is a great deal of simile and metaphor within the work that was creative and stimulating. The only drawback was the pacing, as the novel seemed to drag on at certain parts.

Characters: 16%
While all the creatures depicted in this novel are fascinating and embody a unique equilibrium between human and animal, none are more captivating than Adam. From his uncomfortably large frame and dark brown, scarred skin to his failing memory and lack of empathy for his children, Adam presents quite an enigma. On the one hand, Adam is “the great gardener,” nurturing plants and making anything grow. While on the other hand, he openly admits his apathy for humanity and acts violently towards them. Adam grapples with a tremendous amount of grief built up through all his lives and the missing pieces of his heart. As he comes to terms with his grief, Adam finally encounters Eve and regains his purpose in life.

Supporting Elements: 16%
The fantasized world where Adam lives life after life aided by creatures of Eden in disguise is supremely creative. Langmead reimagines Adam and Eve’s time in the Garden, including plenty of detail but leaving space for the reader to envision it for themselves. Likewise, the excerpts of their different lives in various times and countries were fascinating and insightful. Langmead avoids any distinct thesis but touches on religion, grief, humanity, and acceptance while exploring the premise of Eden and its scattered remains. The recovered pieces of Eden each in some way represent Adam in his immortality and vibrance. As these pieces are retrieved, Adam regains bits of himself lost along the way. Moreover, there is a continued reference to Eve that makes you look for her appearance, making the revelation of her fate particularly acute in the end.

Expectations: 15%
I chose to read this book because the premise sounded intriguing. I’ve never read a book about the search for the Garden of Eden and thought this one would be captivating. On that front, I would have to coincide that it was engaging in its perceived version of Eden. Unfortunately, and this may have nothing to do with the book itself, I just struggled so much getting through it. I think the pacing was slow throughout, and although the writing was good, the story didn’t captivate me. In a way, I believe Langmead was trying to embody the perfect idea of Eden in an imperfect world through his writing style. Perhaps he did, and that’s why I feel weird about this book.

Total Rating: 79% / 100%

This book is a whimsical story of the first man, Adam, having been alive this whole time until the present day whose only joy is found in the task of gardening. He's grown detached from the people he deems as his children (us). The animals that were first named are still hanging out in the world as well and are supporting characters in this story.
This does feel very YA despite the deaths but its very charming and was a pretty quick read at roughly 300 pages. I would be remiss at not mentioning how this feels very much so like a Christian-washed version of American Gods. That isn't a complaint in the least as I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this novel.

Birds of Paradise carries a spin on Adam, Eve, and the Garden of Eden unlike most I have seen. While in many ways, the comparison to Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is apt—and it carries a similar skilled tone and movement across locations—Langmead’s characters are not manifested based on the perceptions of those in the country these first animals appear in. They are the originals, with memories spanning their long lifetimes, and have humanizing, down-to-earth hobbies that are very humanizing for the characters. Adam himself, while recognizing the wars he’d fought in and deadly experience in a fight, adores gardening and finds joy in his moments working with seeds and soil. All of the animals have similar moments, ranging from running businesses to art studios, that help the reader form a kinship with them. These sweet moments are a clear intention in Birds of Paradise, which has a drastically different tone from other works of Langmead.
The antagonists of the book are individuals the reader sees up close rather than a faceless, flat villain some stories have. Readers meet them relatively early in the story, in a context that shows more of their personalities and motivations while still withholding enough to explore as the story progresses. These characters are not Adam’s only enemy: he and the animals of Eden carry memories and traumas they have faced since Eden’s dissolution, including losses and desires that have clung to them over their immortal lives.
It is a fantasy that does not forget to include a slice of life that brings the readers more intimacy with Langmead’s characters. Birds of Paradise is well-thought out and certainly worth the read by the talented Oliver Langmead.

I fell in love with the cover of this book, then I read what it was about and I fell in love again, all within seconds and it took me a lot of time to finally read it and I fell in love with the story, and the characters.

It is violent, too violent sometimes, but it is also poetic and beautiful.

I wish there was a book for each surviving Eden inhabitant telling their lives before Birds of paradise. I wish I could read about Adam's lives.

I will be frank I don’t quite know what to think about this book. Is it a vegan novel? Is it nothing such, and more maybe of a religious fantasy book?

I really don’t know, and I don’t even know how I feel about it now I finished.

So what does that book about?

Imagine if the first man still walk to the earth with all the animals of Eden. But they don’t quite look like animals, and eternal life isn’t exactly what it’s cracked out to be. In fact Adam has trouble remembering anything but remembering might be the only way to save all his animal friends.

The writing is alright, clear, fast paced, some of it is nicely evocative. But I felt uneasy towards Adam, the main character.

I guess when you have lived that long it is normal to care little about everything. But Adam does care about his old animal friends and about vegetation a lot, people on the other hand is something else. And I guess that’s what made me uneasy. All the main characters in this book give very little value to human life, contrary to all the others. It’s strange. And I guess I could’ve understood it as being a slow transformation of people with an eternal life growing more and more calloused and uncaring as loss grows and grows around them. But that’s not the case, we see a flashback earlier on of Adam killing his first person while he was still in Eden - the reason is explained and we feel for him… but at the same time it didn’t make sense next to all of his caring attitude towards little gestures of people, it just felt out of character somehow.

The violence as always being a part of him made him feel like a static character that had never changed in thousands of years.

I think my biggest problem, though, was probably linked to the fact the story was extremely focused. There is only one problem and while it is a good idea and root issue, I missed side plots and just more complexity, more things growing out of that idea. I feel like the plot was just too clean and bare. I like the winding roads and the clutter and interesting concepts that are just touched on and give food for thoughts in the back of the mind. Somehow I think this story would have worked more as a film than as a novel.

I do think people who loved American Gods will enjoy it, there is definitely enough similitude, but I’m afraid it hasn’t got the same impact.

I cried, loved it, rooted for the characters and felt a lot of different emotions.
I requested this arc because I'm a fan of Gaiman and I got more than I bargained because it's excellent and unique.
A great and poignant story, excellent world building and character development.
It's a book that I strongly recommend because it's so brilliant.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I cannot deny that this stunning cover drew me into this one - and then the description, with comparisons to Neil Gaiman's American Gods, further cemented by interest in this debut fantasy novel.

Told from Adam's (yes, that Adam - as in the Garden of Eden) perspective, this book opens up with him working as a Hollywood security guard. Created before death, Adam and the rest of the Garden's original inhabitants are resistant to aging and illness. After Adam gets himself into a bit of trouble, Rook (the creatures from the Garden may also take on human forms at will) sends Adam on a bit of a mission - to see what his brother, Magpie, has been spending so much money on.

With lush writing and a unique perspective as Adam navigates the modern world while being haunted by fragments of memories of his own long life, this really is a unique read. The villains, unfortunately, cross the line into a bit cartoonish - though they are certainly detestable. Adam isn't always easy to connect with, though, and I do wish that some other perspectives had been included in the narrative - I think this would have given this one a more epic scope. Also, for a book about the Old Testament, there's some violent vengeance but otherwise, it's remarkably not too religious. It's an engaging and well-written book that makes for a strong debut!

A gorgeous, almost dream-like meditation on dissociation, love, belonging and grief, punctuated by flashes of violence and pain, Birds Of Paradise follows the first man, Adam, as he's making his way through modern life. When a Hollywood security gig goes awry, he's hustled out of the country by Rook, who along with several other of the first birds have formed the legal company Corvid & Corvid to secure the interests of the original inhabitants of Eden. The first animals can all switch seamlessly to human form and, like Adam, are undying.

Rook needs a favor from Adam, whose many millennia of existence have trained him in all manner of skills including fighting and survival. While each of the Corvids are individually wealthy, Magpie has started spending more of his brother's money than usual, and has proven difficult for the busy Rook to track down. With Crow, Adam is sent to Edinburgh to find Magpie and find out what's going on. But Scotland is also where Eve is, and Adam doesn't know if he's ready to face her again. As Adam traverses the British isles, he discovers both wondrous news and a grave threat to the scattered inhabitants of Eden. How far is he willing to go to get to the bottom of it all, and how much of his own long and painful past is he willing to face?

For being about an immortal -- hardly the most immediately relatable situation -- this book is such a mood. Adam is the ultimate survivor, and it's taken an extraordinary toll on him, one that he wears like a buffering suit against the world. He is often baffled by modern life and modern people, so far removed from the simplicity of the original garden, when his life was one of tending to his charges and living in harmony with them and with his beloved. While Eve through the ages chose to study the human pursuits of medicine and architecture, Adam was content to garden and provide what necessary labor, for fighting or building, that their situation required. While Eve chose to actively engage with her descendants, Adam preferred books and to live at a remove. So the scenes where Adam is forced to interact with great numbers of his children should feel weird but instead come across as almost magical, whether it's at a Pride parade in London or with a group of football-playing kids in Manchester. Positive social contact, especially for someone as singular and alone as Adam, is depicted as a gift, a reason for Adam to keep choosing to stay amidst humanity despite the horrifically negative contact he'll occasionally encounter.

I don't really want to say too much about the rest of the book for fear of giving the plot away, but I must say that the entire concept of dominion was really, really well handled here. Oliver K Langmead pulls no punches in his critique of certain aspects of Christian society -- the kind that think that being white and wealthy conveys an innate superiority over everything else -- so the clash between modern evil and a timeless, necessary violence feels cathartic to those of us unwilling to submit to an oligarchy that views the out-group as being lesser or even less than human. BoP is a bold fable rooted deep in religious mythology that holds up a mirror to modern society for all our good and evil, touching on climate change and inclusion, and urging stewardship over dominion, all wrapped up in a beautiful, sad parable for the ages.

We've been given the opportunity to interview Mr Langmead, so look out for that April 9th!

Birds Of Paradise by Oliver K. Langmead publishes today March 30th 2021 by Titan Books and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781789094817">Bookshop!</a> Want it now? For the Kindle version, <a href="https://amzn.to/3u1KfLl">click here</a>.
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The nitty-gritty: Another beautifully written, carefully crafted tale from Oliver K. Langmead, Birds of Paradise is an imaginative glimpse into what became of the Garden of Eden.

Oliver Langmead is such an underrated author and he needs a wider audience. Every time I read one of his books I’m reminded of how talented he is, and I’m so happy I have another opportunity to rave about him! I’ll have to admit I was a bit hesitant about Birds of Paradise when I heard it was about Adam and Eve, since I’m not that keen on religious themes and stories. But if you’re like me, don’t let that stop you from reading this book. Langmead does use some Biblical imagery at times, but mostly this is a poignant and heartwarming story about friendship and loyalty, beautifully written.

The story revolves around Adam—yes, the first man—and his very long life after he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. In the present day, Adam finds himself reluctantly pulled into a quest to find and gather pieces of the original Garden, scattered all over the world and hiding in plain sight. After running into his old friend Rook—who runs a law firm with his brother Magpie called Corvid & Corvid—Adam agrees to Rook’s odd request: to locate Magpie and find out why he’s spending so much money. Adam’s journey to Edinburgh, Magpie’s last known location, leads him to a miraculous discovery. Magpie has been scouring the earth, looking for scattered bits of the Garden of Eden, and buying or stealing them to rebuild the Garden, now located in an abandoned sports arena in Manchester.

But Magpie’s latest target—a beautiful rose that never dies—sets off a series of events that could threaten their carefully preserved existence. The rose in question is being held by a man named Frank Sinclair and his wife Ada in their large complex, tucked away in an impenetrable greenhouse, and that’s not the only piece of the Garden that Frank has acquired. Along with their loyal friends—Crow, Butterfly, Pig, Owl and Crab—Adam and Magpie find themselves embroiled in a war to save the last miraculous pieces of the Garden.

Adam is such an interesting character, although I’ll admit it took me some time to warm up to him. His character comes across as apathetic and uninterested in everything that’s going on around him, but little by little the reader comes to understand that Adam is much more complex than that. The story is told from his point of view, and Langmead dips back into the past to show various points in his past, how he fought in wars and survived, how he moved from continent to continent, always searching for something and trying to remember what happened to Eve. And in fact, Eve’s existence is an ongoing mystery. She’s not part of this story, but Adam is forever tied to her, since they exchanged hearts many years ago before the Garden was destroyed (and I mean they literally exchanged hearts!) Adam has many such hurts and mysteries that he’s trying to figure out, and he describes each one as a thorn burrowing into his skull. These “thorns” are part of the reason Adam seems so bitter and sad, and I longed for those times when he would break out of his grief, even if only for a moment.

And then there are the “birds of Paradise” from the title, Crow and Magpie and the other birds and animals, who added so much to this story. Each animal can change to a human form and back again, and in this way the animals have been able to lead interesting lives by integrating themselves into society. But they've only survived so long because they keep their true identities a secret. The relationships between them were so wonderful and sweet, and each one wormed their way into my heart for different reasons. Magpie is the jolly one, always upbeat and funny and positive. I absolutely loved his personality! Crow has a sad backstory and only one leg, and I loved her as well. Then there is Butterfly, who is just what you would expect: colorful, flighty and delicate. Butterfly and Pig have a wonderful relationship, and I loved her devotion to Pig, especially when things get tense later in the story. But not all of Eden’s creatures are still alive, as we find out. Adam is shocked to see Ada Sinclair wearing Fox’s fur around her neck like a scarf—which is the trigger for much of what happens in this story—and we learn of other animals who met their own fates throughout time (more thorns in Adam’s painful “crown”).

I do want to address the Biblical themes in the story, which were beautifully done. I am not religious at all, and I have never read the Bible all the way through, but of course I recognized many of the stories. Langmead infuses Birds of Paradise with such gorgeous imagery, like Adam’s metaphorical crown of thorns. There’s another scene in the story that evoked the tale of Noah’s Ark, but my favorite recurring theme was that of the garden, and how Adam is the original gardener, having been created inside a garden, after all. Throughout his life, Adam creates many gardens, collects seeds and is always trying to make things grow. He reminisces about past events that had an impact on him, like the time he first met Pig because of a peach tree and why the Garden’s cherry tree is so special. Adam imagines that all the seeds he’s collected will be spread across the land by birds, as as way to keep his Garden alive and continuously growing.

But despite these themes, the story itself isn’t religious, so please don’t be turned off by any of the things I’ve mentioned. Adam has become jaded over the years, and he sees God as nothing more than an absentee father of sorts. Ironically, it’s Frank Sinclair who turns out to be the religious zealot, while Adam has seen how awful the world can be and merely wants to live a quiet life among his trees and animal friends.

The story is full of quiet, introspective moments, as Adam delves back into his memories and tries to make sense of his life. This made the beginning very slow to take off, and it wasn’t until about a third of the way in when Adam meets up with Magpie to start the quest that I really became invested. Langmead throws the reader into the deep end without much explanation of what’s going on, but I’m so glad I stuck with the story because the payoff was so good. Adam appears to be a mild mannered man, but he’s also full of rage and unexpected violence, and I was not prepared for some of the scenes in this story! By the end I could really appreciate how well Langmead balanced those quiet moments with bursts of exciting action.

The ending was both emotional and heartwarming, just the kind of ending I love. Langmead wraps up all his loose ends, and yet there is a sense that there are many pieces of the Garden still out there, just waiting to be found. An unending quest, I guess, that brought a smile to my face. That sense of wonder in a book is such a rare delight, and I’m not surprised at all that Oliver Langmead captured it perfectly.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.