Lillith has always been a different child. She just wants to be able to play freely under the oak tree and see visions without being looked at awkwardly. However, this seems to be an impossibility as she has a father who believes that women are meant to be subservient, to be seen and not heard. She does not get the support of her mother either. Adam comes into the village and Lillith's father is enthralled by him. Lillith catches Adam's fancy, and he is determined to marry her at all costs. Before the marriage arrangements are finalized, Lillith has a vision about Adam where it is revealed that Adam is a monster. What happens next? Will Lillith be able to free herself from the shackles of family and societal expectations? Find out in this suspense-filled novella, The Fool: Lillith by Van Kell.

Reading The Fool: Lillith fills you with different kinds of emotions, the most prominent being rage and sadness at the patriarchal society in which she lived. Women were treated like second-class citizens and as those who had no say in how their lives should pan out. I love the societal issues the story brings up. The beautiful and descriptive writing by Van Kell makes the story come alive through imagery. Readers also learn new words, thereby improving their vocabulary, and have more to look forward to as this series continues. The suspense is nerve-wracking! I look forward to reading more from Van Kell and do not doubt that other books will be as excellent as this one.

The Fool: Lillith by Van Kell is a short story that follows the adventures of a young woman in pursuit of freedom. Lillith, a seventeen-year-old, lives in a quaint little village with her mother, father, and younger brother, Uranus. Lillith's parents expect her to do household chores, be obedient, and eventually marry a man with a significant amount of money. However, Lillith is a dreamer who enjoys her walks to the majestic old oak tree on top of the hill. When a mysterious stranger named Adam arrives in the village and asks Lillith's father for her hand in marriage, he is only too happy to give away his daughter. Soon, Lillith and Adam set off toward the Garden of Eden. Lillith realizes Adam's deception but is hopeful for a new beginning.

Whimsical and ambiguous, The Fool: Lillith plays out like a fairy tale sprinkled with some valuable life lessons. The protagonist, Lillith, is inspired by the first card of the Major Arcana tarot deck, The Fool, which symbolizes embracing new possibilities and trusting one's intuition. Throughout Lillith's journey in this story, she finds herself in situations that test her faith in the world. However, she holds the darkness at bay by being true to herself in the face of adversity. I loved Lillith's bond with her brother, Uranus. The narrative is captivating as Van Kell's immersive storytelling style has you hooked all the way through. The ending leaves some things open for interpretation, which I felt suited the story. Overall, this was an absorbing read, and I recommend it to all short story lovers.