Steel Lily - Megan Curd

So guess what I did this week?  I finally finished a book!  It's been so long since I have actually finished reading a book, I almost forgot what it feels like.  I began reading "Steel Lily" by Megan Curd immediately after returning from UtopYA in June.  That was a really long time ago.  I was so pumped about this book.  After meeting the author and purchasing the book for her to sign, I was ecstatic to read my first steampunk book; however, at the time, it wasn't really what I was in the mood to read, so I moved on to other things and came back to it this week.  I'm really glad that I did.

The first thing I want to brag about on this book is the cover.  I know you can only see the picture of it, but I wish you could feel it.  It's my favorite type of cover.  It's got that smooth, soft texture that I love holding in my hands.  Does that make me a weirdo?  Probably.  But I love books and I really don't care.  I also think the cover is really pretty.  I like the way the colors blend together and the silver letters of the title stick out against the gold and bronze background.  I definitely judge books by their covers.

"Steel Lily" takes place in a future where the world has been destroyed by war.  Everyone lives in domes.  The main character, Avery, is an Elementalist of water, which means she can create the steam that keeps her dome running.  She is the most powerful water Elementalist and if she is unable to do her job, it is likely that her dome will run out of energy and everyone will die.   She hates this life.  She's alone without her parents.  She has no idea if they are alive or dead.  She has very few friends.  The government uses her.  

One day, a strange man comes to offer her a way out without using up all of her steam power.  She's intrigued enough by the thought of leaving her corrupt government but isn't sure if she should do it.  By happenstance, she ends up in the new dome anyway and finds out that her new life isn't as good as she thought it might be either.  She makes new friends who help her uncover the truth about the war and the domes and what is really going on in her new home.  Oh, and she also meets hunky Jaxon who just happens to be the cocky son of the man believed to be the mastermind behind the new dome.  Avery tries to keep her distance from Jaxon because of who he is, but once she gives him a chance, she finds out who he really is inside versus who she perceived him to be.

Once I got back into this book, I couldn't put it down.  I had to force myself to go to sleep each night rather than stay up and read.  The beginning was a little slow for me, but once I got into it, it went quickly.  I haven't read anything similar to having characters manipulating the elements into a form of survival, so I thought that was pretty neat.  The world building of the domes was great.  All in all, I really enjoyed this book.  

I bought a Kindle copy of the book so I wouldn't accidentally damage the signed copy I have.  I have a bookshelf full of signed copies of books that I refuse to let anyone touch.  But anyway, I recommend either getting a copy of the book or even finding the author at an event she attends and chatting her up.  She's really very awesome.  

Links:

Amazon:  Steel Lily

Barnes & Noble:  Steel Lily

P.S. Megan, if you ever read this review, I promise I did not use your book as toilet reading.