Steel Lily

Title: Steel Lily (The Periodic series)
Author: Megan Curd
Kindle edition

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 Three: 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 Three. 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, it may make her wonder if she was better off being a government tool than searching for freedom.
Some secrets are better left concealed, but 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.

I received this Advance Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review. As a bookworm, I keep my reviews honest and sincere.

Steel Lily is perhaps the best steampunk-dystopian novel I have ever read. Once again, the author Megan Curd blew me away with her creative and imaginative mind. Not only did she take me to the future, she showed me a whole new world that reeked with greed, betrayal, lies and love.

The story had a futuristic setting (2077 I think) and the events that happened therein were from the aftermath of World War III. The war had caused the Earth to crumple, radiation damaged the atmosphere, caused people to use oxygen masks in order to breathe. We meet Avery Pike, one of the Elementalists who had the ability to manipulate steam that powered the Dome they were living in. She was the reason the people were able to breathe clean air and experience better days. She was the best among the three steam producers and because of that, most people abused or took advantage of her.

She was surprised one day, when she was being followed by an influential man who soon promised her of a better dome, cleaner air, the opportunity to enhance and wield her power and the chance to see her long-lost parents. Although doubtful at first, she consulted her friend Alice about this possibility and soon after, they discovered what it was really about. This was made possible when their savior Jaxon showed up during a Polatzi chase and took them to the mysterious dome.

Cameras everywhere. Holograms covering the ugly truth. A group of other talented people persuaded and gathered for a secret mission.

Such is the situation Avery found herself in. She knew that everything she was offered was too good to be true. It is up to her and Jaxon and their small group of friends to discover the truth and do something right.

I loved Avery! She was, right from the start, a strong, determined and capable heroine. Fierce and loyal, everything you would want in a bestfriend. Jaxon? Ohh, the dreadlocks were to die for! My first time to read something about the main male character having dreads and could still look gorgeous even though he was so annoying and obnoxious. He and Avery were like magnets, exact opposites but definitely attracted to each other. Honestly, my cheeks hurt whenever I read scenes that included both of them. Ha! The other characters were also lovable. I liked Sari a lot. And Legs too!

I enjoyed this book a great deal! I simply cannot compare Steel Lily to anything else because this Megan Curd masterpiece is unique and original. The steampunk-dystopian combo kept me entertained from start to finish. Megan Curd is a talented author who knows her world extremely well; her creative style and uniqueness shone from every page. She had become the Master of Twists and Surprises, a talent I have always admired in Sidney Sheldon and Phillip Pullman (The Golden Compass).

To sum this up, I tell you, this is one book that you must own. I highly recommend this to all steampunk fans, dystopian lovers, YA and even New adults. Basically recommended to everyone! Go put this on your TBR List an get the book when it will be released!

Here's a cocktail toast with 5stars ***** for mega author, Megan Curd and her excellent book! Clearly, Steel Lily is the next book sensation!