Book Review: Steel Lily by Megan Curd

Steel Lily
The Periodic Series #1
Author: Megan Curd
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian/Steampunk
Release Date: August 20th 2013
Review Source: Author

Summary: (from goodreads) AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

Spread the word like wild fire – Steel Lily is AH-MAH-ZING. I haven’t read such great dystopian story since Divergent. It captivated my attention since the beginning.

This story takes place in the future, right after WWIII. The war has exposed many to radiation, leaving earth, unlivable.

We meet the main character, Avery Pike; water Elementalist, the strongest among her kind. Avery is also an orphan, her parent disappear, leaving her alone with no one to look out for her. With her ability and no one to claim her at young age, the government took her and provided her a home in exchange of her providing steam to her home, Dome Four. This is the only way for humanity to survive, which is what she is taught.

Avery is tired of people using her for her ability.

A mysterious man offers her a way out, a new home. Yet, when she arrives this place, she realizes is the same, unlivable. This is the place where she discovers the truth about her parent, the truth about the war and most importantly, she finds her real home – in the arms of a charming sarcastic boy.

WOW – let me tell you something. I am amazed at the wonder Megan has created. This is magic! Loved every single word, the way it captivated my attention from the start, loved the characters, AND I FREAKING LOVED JAXON! Any of you read I Am Number Four series? You know how the story plays like a movie? Yeah, Steel Lily is the same. I can pretty much imagine and conduct my own movie with the detail provided.

Moving on to the characters – Avery is badass. I love her character; she’s very strong, independent and most of all she can a great friend. Alice, Avery’s best friend is just as adorable. She’s a pixie with such energy. Now, my favorite character – the one you waited to hear about – JAXON. He is just stunning with his sarcastic and charismatic personality. He will win your over.

One of my favorite part of the book –

“You know, you’re kind of like a lily. A steel lily.”

“Is that a compliment?”

He laughed. “Yeah. At least, that’s how I meant it. I mean, you’re a girl; you’re this beautiful person inside and out, but you hide it. You’re hard, or that’s what you want people to think, anyway. That’s why I think you’re a steel lily. Hard and beautiful, intricate and unmoving. It’s the most puzzling thing I’ve ever seen or experienced. You’re…different.