She is the beginning and the end.
She is peace and chaos.
She is terror knocking at the gates.
Estranged from her powerful family, Lilith Leviathan finds refuge in Nineveh, a district in the city of Eden devoted to sin. There, she uses her magic to steal for a living, attracting the attention of the five governing families as well as the church, which expects women to remain pious and silent. When Lilith comes into possession of a beautiful blade, she thinks all her worries are over…until her usual buyer dies while inspecting it.
Frantic, Lilith turns to the only man who can help Zahariev, head of the Zareth family and ruler of Nineveh. His currency is information, and his power is extortion, though he’s always had a soft spot for Lilith. But when the dagger appears, he isn’t sure he can protect her from what’s to come.
Together, they embark on a mission to discover the true power running their world. As their lives intertwine, Lilith realizes Zahariev is more than just a friend, but their devotion to each other is a threat—to the truth, to the church, and to those who want to tear it all down.
- Author: Scarlett St. Clair
- Release Date: July 8, 2025
- Genre: Romance, Urban Fantasy
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
- Spice🌶️🌶️/5
Get Terror at the Gates
To the women who were told they must submit to the dominance of man
I absolutely loved this book. If you are someone like me who is obsessed with Supernatural and Lucifer , the aspect of angels and demons and a different take on biblical stories this is your book! Also Scarlett gives us a pronunciation guide for all the people, places and things! Finally I’m not having to make up names in my head for what I think the name would be 🤣
I honestly can’t get over this book and all the easter eggs/ references to real life/biblical stories. I have no words for how good it is. The ending had me almost throwing the book because I did not want this story to end. Do we know when book 2 comes out? I needed it yesterday. I loved the different relationships and the found family Lillith finds for herself. Be prepared for rollercoaster of a ride as I went through all the emotions reading this book
In a world where men are the ones in power who rule over Eden with the help of the church, where women are more like puppets than people. Having to do everything their father or husband says or does, Lillith finds the courage to run away from her family and the rights they believe they have over her.
Spoilers Ahead
Genesis
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities against powers of this dark world…
Ephesians 6:12
I think the reason why I loved this book so much as I was a girl who grew up believing in a higher power, the stories about angels I’ve been told how they protect us, and the story of Adam, Eve and the original Lillith. I also questioned things about the church or high power as I still don’t understand why good people are given a terrible hand at life. It just doesn’t make sense to me if there is a higher power why would they do this to us.
I really enjoyed the take of Eden, the differences between districts and the names of some of the bars or stores. Like Sons of Adam took me a minute to get even with the owner’s name being Able
“Good girl” he praised, his voice low and rough. He sat back, crossing one leg over the other. “Now dance for me.”
Sorry I’m still fanning myself off with this one. God damn is this man everything a girl wants.
Ahh we all love a morally grey man and Zahariev is my new favorite. A dark hair, tall like a tree, tatted, hot as fuck man who would end anyone who hurt his girl. We do love a little bit of an obsessed man who would do anything for her. Zahariev is the head of the Zareth family who rules over Nineveh the district in the city of Eden completely devoted to sin and the place Lillith finds refuge after running away from home.
I won’t lie, I had no idea that Zahariev was inlove with Lillith for a decent part of the book. I thought he was more of an older brother kind vibe, until I got a little further and his feelings started to come through the page more.
I’d rather be a sinner than a hypocrite.
❤️Lilith may be one of my new favorite FMC, she’s strong headed, knows what she wants (even when she is scared to take it), fights for the ones she loves and what she believes is the right thing to do. Growing up in a very religious household led by the wants and needs of the church. Even then Lillith knew that the ways of the church were not for her, as they put women down and made it so men held all the control over their wives and daughters.
⁉️Are you ready to find out what the Terror is at the gates?
Favorite Quotes
Forgiveness is an invitation to sin. It will be our ruin
Beware she who bleeds, bound in chains.
Beware the exile, the young wing beast, who dances unafraid before fire.
Beware the woman with many names, the maiden, the whore, the scarlett serpent. Beware the temptress who whispers in the dark.
She is the beginning and the end.
She is peace and chaos.
She is terror knocking at the gates
How did I just understand this riddle? Holy eff, when you read the ending and come back to this riddle it will make sense. Seems like the cliffhanger of the ending comes into play more than we would have thought.
“The gods,” he said, his voice firm and unwavering. “Can’t you hear them? They are knocking at the gates.”
In a world where there is supposed to be the one and only God, who could these Gods?! I’m excited to see what becomes of Lillith
Beware, goddess of night,
Mother of the moon.
There is poison on your tongue,
Venom in your blood.
Lie upon my altar,
Bleed upon my steps.
Release me from these bindings,
Break down these carmine gates
Again with the fcking riddles. This one I’m not too sure about and will probably make more sense throughout the book. Or at least I hope so.
Oh look another freaking riddle
Dark mother,
Reverent queen,
Wear your darkness like a shroud.
Make you descent through crimson caves,
Coil at their tangled roots.
Drink sweetly from the grail,
The holy blood, the venom, the ecstasy of night.
Awaken the sacred fire and rise to strike,
Unleash your fury, your eternal wail.
Break these chains, these binding gates
“Keep the cat,” he said. “Learn to let someone love you.”
“The god your church worships, the one they call the Messiah, he is an invader.”
“Your church would call us witches, but the magic we practice is no different from the magic they steal from the Elohai. It is only witchcraft when it does not serve the archbishop.”
Well that hit close to home
“I would go to war for you,” he said again. “I would fight endlessly to keep you if that’s what you wanted.”
Favorite Scenes
“To Lily,” said Esther, lifting her glass when she finished “Congratulations on your new job.”
Gabriel stuck his hand out, blocking Esther’s glass. “It’s bad luck to toast with water.”
“Well, I can’t have alcohol,” she said.
“Here.” He rose to his feet and ran into the kitchen for another glass. When he returned, he poured some of his cocktail into it for the toast.
”You and your superstitions,” Ester said.
“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” he said “All right. To Lily!”
“To Lily”
I absolutely love Gabriel and Esther. Everytime I read about them I had a smile on my face, this scene I feel is a perfect insight into this amazing couple. Gabriel may work for Zahariev and do his dirty work in otherwords but he didn’t seem to let that get to him as he seems to be the sunshine of a guy. And Esther is just pure magic, the big sister Lillith never had.
His expression softened. “It’s okay to not be okay.”
“It doesn’t feel that way,” I said. I let my hand rest against his chest.
His laugh was quiet. “That’s because you do not like to be contained.” He paused and then added, “Most wild things don’t.”
“I’m not worth everything you would lose, Zahariev,” I said.
“You are worth it,” he said. “But I’ll wait until you ask.”
✨Tropes✨
- 🩶Morally Grey MMC
- 🔪Touch her and ☠️
- ❤️🔥Slow Burn
- ❣️Frenemies to Lovers
- 🖤Mafia
- 💛Age Gap
- ✝️Biblical Retelling
- 🩵He Falls First
- 🐈⬛Neo-Noir Vibes
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