The Many Lives of Lilith Lane

by E.V. Anderson

Seventeen-year-old Lilith Lane has a hunk of a boyfriend, a wicked tongue, and a talent for solving the mysteries that pop up in her small home town of Mirabalis. But when her little sister goes missing in the middle of the night, both Lilith’s detective skills and her recall of sophomore year physics are put to the ultimate test. To save her sister, Lilith must race against the clock with the help of Dr. Hammer, a mad scientist who pushes Lilith off the edge – literally – of his reality-bending skyscraper. Lilith’s world is turned upside down by her sister’s disappearance, and a skyscraper that is also a portal to a parallel universe suddenly doesn’t seem that surreal. With Dr. Hammer’s help, Lilith must put her girl detective skills to the test and try to save her sister. A dashing snail expert, a scheming beauty queen, and the heir to a great advertising fortune are just a few of the unforgettable characters who round out the cast in this rollicking tale of love, loyalty, and multiple Earths.Episode List
This book was initially released in episodes as a Kindle Serial. All episodes are now available for immediate download as a complete book. Learn more about Kindle SerialsEpisode 1: Released on September 6, 2012. 35 pages. When popular high school senior Lilith Lane's sister goes missing, Lilith thinks it's the end. It turns out, it's not even the beginning.
Episode 2: Released on September 20, 2012. 40 pages. Lilith has 24 hours to piece together the rules of world-jumping and the rules of a killer who is sure to strike again.
Episode 3: Released on October 4, 2012. 36 pages. Lilith has to save someone else close to her – and begins to tighten the net around an unlikely killer.
Episode 4: Released on October 18, 2012. 32 pages. Lilith thinks she’s narrowing in on both love and her missing sister – but are both just bringing her closer to danger?
Episode 5: Released November 1, 2012 (Final Episode). 40 pages. The final showdown atop Hammer Tower doesn’t go as anyone expects.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

E.V. Anderson is the author of The Many Lives of Lilith Lane, which first appeared in serial form as one of Amazon's original Kindle Serials. He spent more than thirty years in New Jersey, before arriving in San Francisco with no job, no place to live, three suitcases and an insatiable hunger to write. He now lives in Oakland, California with his diabolical cat, Emma, and his tolerant and talented girlfriend, Julia. E.V. holds fond memories of New Jersey, and misses his mother and Wawa coffee the most.

Reviews

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should probably say that I chose this book because 1) it was a new author, 2) the cover, 3) the title, 4) free on kindle, and 5) because I signed up for WAY too many reading challenges for this month.

I don't know why but this year (and month) I have just been obsessed with two things: read books from new authors and demolish my god damn TBR. I want to read from new authors because I need to broaden my horizon. I feel like I just keep reading books from the same author which I'm not complaining about their writing whatsoever. BUT there are only so many books that authors write that I will need to eventually find new interest somewhere down the line. So.. why not start at the beginning of 2018? Then there's the whole TBR situation - which has gotten out of control. I don't even know what my number is at right now but it's probably still over 2300 books. I just keep adding books without regret but I need to get rid of the books I added like 2+ years ago.

Now about this book. It started off really good - but that could be due to the fact of me listening to it on audible instead of reading it from my kindle... but who knows? I sure as heck don't. I just read to read people. I get very bored very easily and reading will never be boring to me. Unless I hate the character or I keep rereading the god damn same storyline in the ENTIRE series or from the same author. Then, yes, reading will get boring to me. HENCE, the new authors people!

Okay, I apologize I got off topic - back to this book! I really liked The Many Lives of Lilith Lane by E.V. Anderson. The one thing I didn't know was that in was released in episodes.. but then again I did get this book in 2018.. and it came out in 2012. Either way I didn't have to wait for parts to be released so I got to listen/read the whole book. I liked everything about it. The whole time jumping was awesome. Saving the sister kind of reminded me Ruined by Amy Tintera because the MC's sister was kidnapped and she went on a mission by herself to save her.

Overall, enjoyed this book. I loved how it was written and I really enjoyed the characters. I'm going to look for more books by this author and I hope I enjoy them just like I enjoyed this book.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Many Lives of Lilith Lane is a set of serialized fiction that recently came out from Amazon and Plympton, billed as a literary studio for serial fiction. Serialized fiction is not a new idea. I believe that several of Charles Dickens' novels were serialized. That being said, serialized fiction is not a common idea for the present day. I love this idea. How cool would it be to get a piece of new fiction every week? I am anxious to see how this idea pans out.

I was intrigued by this book initially because of the premise. Mad doctors? Parallel universes? Lost sisters? Some sci-fi? Young Adult fiction? It all sounded really good to me.

Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. I had several issues with the book. First off, it was billed as Young Adult fiction and yes, the main character, Lilith Lane, is 17, which makes her a teen. This book is definitely a good example of why simply having a teen in a book does not a Young Adult fiction book make.

The subject matter in this book is way heavy and way too much to be called Young Adult fiction. There are a lot of very mature themes in this book. There are affairs, sex, sexual abuse, romantic relationships between teenagers and adults, some violence, etc. that are really way beyond what should be in Young Adult fiction. I don't disagree that Young Adult fiction can tackle really tough topics but it really depends on the treatment of the subject matter. In this book, the treatment sort of fell flat for making any of it a teachable moment or anything that really needed to be in a Young Adult fiction book. All that being said, I do not believe this book is for younger Young Adult fiction fans.

The writing was a mixed bag for me. The author definitely has a hand for writing intriguing conversations. They sound real and like actual conversations that one would have. This is what the second star is from. It made me willing to perhaps try other things that the author has written.

I didn't care for how the character of Lilith was written at all. She is supposed to be 17 but at times seems much younger (she has Harriet the Spy-like ambitions)and much more immature. I could not tell whether or not that was intentional. If it was intentional, I was not sure what the motivation behind that was. I would have liked to have seen a stronger main character.

Bottom line: Flat.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a firstreads giveaway. I wasn't entirely convinced it would be very good, but since it was a free book I decided to read it.

I picked the book up one night intending to only read one chapter and to then go to bed, but after I read the first chapter I couldn't put it down. I ended up reading half the book before finally forcing myself to go to bed so I would be able to function the next day. I finished the book the next day because I couldn't concentrate on anything until it was finished. Needless to say, I found the book to be awesome!

I thought this book had the feel of less annoying Bridget Jones's Diary since I actually liked Lilith because I found her to be both smart and funny, unlike Bridget. Also, Lilith doesn't base her entire existence on her weight, sex, and whether men are attracted to her or not. Even though the book involves the kidnapping and murder of a little girl, I found it too be quite light reading. It was a nice change of pace from books I normally read-which usually have more serious overtones.

My only complaint is that I wish the book was longer, so it could explore the relationship because Lilith and her love interests more. The ending suggests that there could be more books coming and I really hope there are!

[Josh Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept of this. Universe jumping (which in this case is actually a literal jump)is a fantastic concept, and I really liked how Anderson did this here. The only thing I actually regret in this is that they didn't jump MORE. Jumping just between the two is a great idea, but then you leave the reader with the tease of many more multiples of universes available, and the reader is going to want to see those universes. That's the only reason I couldn't give it a five. Otherwise, it was a fantastic and quick read. Plympton made a fantastic choice in this story to publish, and now I'm excited to read their other serial fictions.

[Kay Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and fast-paced. Heroine is a high-school girl with a less than ideal home situation and a boyfriend who wants to have sex or break up. As if that wasn't enough, suddenly her little sister disappears. The rest of the book is her trying to solve the crime. It's not boring stuff though. There's a mad scientist, a portal to an alternate universe, and many other surprises. I recommend that you give it a try!

[Melissa Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan of this book. The only bad thing I can say is that I didn't want to put this book down (my tablet that is). Because of this I read it so fast that I was disappointed to find out at the end that it was a continued story. So now I'll be waiting for the next book to come out. Otherwise this story definitely kept my attention.

[Reggie_Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is marvelous. Lilith is a fresh of breath air for me. A great, young, female character that is smart, funny, and daring. I was excited to change the pages and find out what happens. If some of the language wasn't a bit excessive, I'd share it with my 11 year-old. I hope we get more, and I can't wait to find out what's next.

[Christine H · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever been disappointed that one of your favourite TV series has been cancelled (prematurely, in your humble opinion) despite the fact that it has great writing, decent acting, a plot with lots of potential, and a loyal band of merry followers (think Joss Whedon’s Firefly or ABC’s Eli Stone), then you’ll really enjoy Plympton’s ground-breaking concept of serialized fiction. In short, The Many Lives of Lilith Lane is the beginning of a potentially never-ending series (think NBC’s Days of Our Lives, which is about to air its 12 000th episode this month) that grabs you by the horns and whisks you up 40 stories only to have you careen towards the ground and land on … a bed … in an alternate version of your life. E.V. Anderson has laid the framework for a well-plotted, intriguing story about the life of teenager Lilith Lane from the moment it is confirmed that her younger sister, who had been missing for two weeks, is dead. As she strives to find Beth’s killer, Lilith discovers more about her little town of Mirabilis and its varied citizens, though her discoveries are not always welcome. Mixing with her grief is the hope that Beth is still alive in the alternate world, and, yes, let’s get back to that … Thanks to her new friendship with the eccentric Dr. Hammer, Lilith is able to jump off his building and enter an alternate life—one in which the characters are the same, but the personalities are very different. For every mystery Lilith solves, two more pop up in their place. If you like YA novels, mysteries, and the idea of never having to say goodbye to a literary friend, pick up The Many Lives of Lilith Lane!

Story & Pacing: 9
Of course people who are not fond of time-travelling or alternate-universe stories will be wary about reading this, but those are simply two elements of a very interesting plot. There is so much that can be done with the conflicts that Anderson has given to his characters (and he plops down red herrings and loose threads galore) that you can’t help but want to see how it all ends. Anderson’s pacing is good and, at 138 pages, Lilith is an easy read. Even sceptics probably won’t even have time to think too hard about the logistics of it all.

Characters: 9
In Lilith Lane, Anderson has created a likeable protagonist. She is not overwhelmed by teen angst though she experiences the typical problems of peer pressure and drama that are typical of that age. In fact, I admire her tenacity in trying to solve the little mysteries in her town and do right by her father (despite his many disappointing ways) and sister. Her first-person narrative is reliable and her dialogue is sprinkled with witty one-liners that make her quirky but not annoying. I also like that Lilith sometimes seems much older than 17 (in some of the issues she has to face) and, at times, much younger than it, too (in some of her thought processes and behaviour), because this is exactly how the teenagers in my classes are: too old to feel like kids but still too young to be seen as adults.

Setting: 8
Mirabilis is a small town, perfect for a story like this in which we can get acquainted with a slew of people. At some point, I think I’d like to see a map of the place to be able to really picture Lilith running back and forth between her house, school, the Hammer building, etc. I would have liked to have known more about some of the other places mentioned in the story, too.

Style & Writing: 8
Anderson’s writing is pleasing. He has a variety of sentence lengths and types, which I always appreciate. He has taken care to give a very discernible voice to Lilith and some of the other characters, though some characters did blend in with each other. I am glad that the book is divided into five episodes rather than one long episode, with the divisions occurring at appropriate cliffhanger moments, as this seems more akin to serialized shows. My copy had a handful of typographical errors, which became irksome towards the end of the book as they increased in number!

Learnability & Teachability: 8
In general, this is a nice quick YA read. It’s also a great story to study in a writing class.

POTENTIAL TEACHABLES
Alternate universes and how to handle them; creating alternate worlds with characters that seem like believable versions of themselves; creating and maintaining voice in characters; writing believable characters that are completely foreign to the writer; developing back stories from current stories full of purposeful details; cliff-hangers; red herrings; loose threads; story arcs, including introductions and pay-offs.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thanks again to E.V. Anderson for sending me a copy of this book I really enjoyed it!**

This book wasn't my favourite book but it was good! The book is quite short so I managed to finish it in probably a few hours but it was a very fun read. The plot was actually really interesting, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next, and the writing was good. I found the novel quite descriptive it was easy to picture the world Lilith lived in. I really loved Michael he seems so fascinating and would love to know more about him, maybe even a whole side novel about him.

There was two things that really bothered me about the novel, one being that Lilith didn't really seem like she was 17 years old maybe more like 25; I suppose one could argue her circumstances forced her to mature more quickly however. The second wasn't something wrong with the novel in and of itself but more how they classify it as YA when much of the subject matter is very mature and the language can be quite crass at times, I feel the novel wouldn't be very appropriate for young adults around the age of 16 or 17, just because Lilith is 17 doesn't make this a young adult novel. Yes YA often deals with difficult subjects but they tend to finish with some sort of teaching about the matter and how to get through things, this is something The Many Lives of Lilith Lane lacked, the difficult subjects were included in the book but the book wasn't about that, it didn't address the issues or provide teaching. If I had a teenager I wouldn't want them reading this novel.

I was very pleased with the ending of the novel and I hope E.V. does write a sequel maybe one that's a bit longer so the book doesn't feel as rushed! I'd love to know what becomes of Lilith and Michael, as well as Dr. Hammer; his business is unfinished setting the book up for a sequel and one I'm looking forward too.

Overall I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a quick and fun read!

[Julia Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i originally read this as a kindle serial. waiting 2 weeks to get the next installment was a little torturous because i just couldn't wait to see what happened next, but it did teach me to have some patience, & i was handsomely rewarded each week with another amazing kindle-turning installment!

yes, some of the topics like extramarital affairs is a bit more mature than the usual YA affair, but unless you've been hiding under a rock, teens are a lot more in-the-know than adults give them credit for and are a whole lot smarter and worldly these days. case in point, one of the most popular YA novels out today is "hunger games," a story about kids killing other kids. when i was a teen, the books that intrigued me most were the ones that challenged me as a reader, taking me into worlds beyond just schoolgirl crushes and the fear of getting bad grades. "many lives of lilith lane" does just that. it is a witty, fun novel about a young girl's coming-of-age, her love for her little sister, and oh, yeah, a mad scientist and jumping through parallel universes. what more can you ask for?!

since i'm not partial to any particular genre and really just enjoy reading a great story, i found this book, the perfect blend of sci-fi, mystery, and love. i certainly hope that this author is working on his next installments because i'm seriously suffering from lilith lane-withdrawal!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to thank the publisher for sharing a copy of this serial fiction with me as I definitely enjoyed the experience. I have been looking for something to do (other than work) during my lunch hour so this introduction to serials was enough to get me hooked on the idea. Although the story presented some interesting concepts and had great suspense and cliffhangers, the story really doesn't offer a lot of depth. But, this actually makes it the perfect distraction for a weekday lunch hour. You walk away satisfied and looking forward to the next episode but not so heavily involved that you can't get back to work.

The overarching themes such as the multiverse concept, were definitely a strong point of the story but will need more time (assuming there are more installments in the works) to develop more fully. There was also a darker side of the work that readers should be aware of. The ideas of child abuse and regilious cults were ubiquitous but (thankfully) not explored in any depth. The shorter single episode story lines fit nicely into this theme providing the right blend of entertainment and intrigue. Plus, being able to read this on my computer made it look like I was really hard at work! I will definitely be seeking out more serial fiction in the future.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this since it's a new concept of serial writing, similar to what radio shows use to be like from week to week. The idea is interesting but it has the same problem that I find when reading novellas: a lot of information at one time that can feel like info dump. While this story starts out interesting and had me getting into it, BAM! I get a bunch of info dump to help bring along the mystery that is meant to get me wanting the next episode. For some, this will be a great concept, especially those that like novella style writing. I, however, am probably not the target audience that truly enjoys full length novels. The end felt rushed to me and a lot of information that didn't fit the flow of the beginning of the story.

[Jennifer Layte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. I read the review where the reader felt some of the themes in this book were inappropriate for YA, and I understand the concern, but let's face it--this isn't a sanitised world for most of today's kids, and each theme objected to is something teens I know have had to face and deal with. (Well, minus the sci-fi element, but, you know.) I can vouch for the fact that, as a teenager, this wouldn't really have been my cup of tea, but . . . I'm not sure, first of all, that it's meant to be a "cup of tea" exactly, and secondly, I really DO enjoy it now. So I'm 25 years older than the target age. I read it, didn't I?

[Stephane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was first released as a Kindle Serial title. I love how the serialized mode makes the story advance at a fast pace and I love the cliffhangers at each end of an episode. It makes for a 'page-turner' kind of reading experience. Looking forward to other serialized titles.

As for the story, Lilith is a teenager who's younger sister has been kidnapped and killed. Well, that would be in this universe. She meets a mad scientist that helps her travel to a parallel universe where she may be able to save her sister from certain death...

The parallel universe setting and the sarcastic comments made by Lilith along the way makes for a fun ride, full of action and shocking revelations.

[Lisa Forsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compulsively readable. I was intrigued by the idea of a serialized story, but was actually grateful that all portions were available when I downloaded the story. I can't imagine having to wait for each installment! The narrator had a unique and genuine voice. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Jamie Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and easy read- liked the serial concept. Writing and story weren't anything amazing but I didn't dislike it.

[Shannon Davison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was given the opportunity to read this as an ebook on goodreads.com. Wow is all I can say. How long do we have to wait for the next of her many lives to come out? I want to read more and soon.

[Halston Seabolt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much for sending me the book! I got to read the ending and I loved it! The writing flows and it grabbed my attention from beginning to end. I'm excited to see what you come out with next.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. What can I say? I'm a sucker for time travel books.

[Stephanie Bonde · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a good concept, which intrigued me from the beginning. The execution, however, was not great. The book abounds with cheesy quotes and problems with problems within the logic of the rules that govern the exception world that Anderson has set up.

As a main character, Lilith was very confusing. She is 17 years old, but vacillates between high intelligence and the vapid musings of a 12-year-old. For example, when talking about one of her fellow townspeople, she thinks, "I almost kissed him, but then I remembered he had just had a birthday two weeks earlier, and thus was super old, I think like forty or something".

*SPOILERS*

Cheesy quotes abound, and the characters have some strange reactions to the situation they find themselves in. Lilith jumps from a 40-story building even though she doesn't believe the doctor's mad claim that she will be jumping into another world. Basically any person who Lilith trusts you can count on to turn out to be an awful human being.

Lilith's dad cheats on her mom. A lot. At one point, he tells her about how he got one of the women he cheated with pregnant, then botched her abortion so bad that she could no longer have children. Lilith's reply? A flippant "Oh Dad, you're such a terrible doctor". This startling admission is revealed to Lilith in the span of a paragraph, and has no bearing on the overall plot.

The ending is wrapped up way too conveniently. When Lilith and the doctor travel to Other Earth, it is revealed that they always wake up in bed (apparently the morning after they jumped?), but in the end Jeremiah, the "bad guy", somehow crashes through the ceiling in his house and dies instead of waking up in his bed. Also, every other time they have jumped, it has been between the original Earth and Other Earth; at the end, however, there is a different reality that they are mysteriously able to jump to.

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from first reads.

I'm thinking of giving it 2 1/2 stars. It was an ok book, but not my favorite. It's something that I would probably only read once or twice.
It's good for a first time read because of the whole mystery and finding out who took her sister. That kept me intrigue and made me glad that I had the whole book instead of waiting for the next episode.
I also liked the idea of the two alternate universes and jumping back and forth between them. This was the first book that I had read that included something like that.
The characters didn't really stick out for me. They seemed like they were just there for the sake of the book. Lilith had an important part through the whole book. Hammer seemed like he belonged for parts of it and Michael near the end. The others just felt like fillers.
But I thought it had nice rounded ending.

[Natasha den Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather enjoyable for a short story. I'm thinking Stephen King crossed with a b-movie detective film with a hint of sci-fi. For all of that it was a lot of fun. Lilith isn't very likable but her one redeeming feature is the love she has for her sister that causes her to cross worlds to find her. Her issues and self-centredness were rather nice to read because that is what most teenagers are like - the absolute assumption that nothing anyone else says can be better/worse than what they may be currently going through. The serious issues covered - cults, abuse, murder are deftly handled in a light but not flip way.

I'm looking forward to more instalments - more importantly I just like that this book reminds me of that 90s classic TV show - Sliders!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the first-reads giveaway. This was a good little quick read. It had a little bit of everything wrapped up in one little story. Sci-fi, murder mystery with a little bit of romance. Lilith Lane is on a mission to find out who killed her sister when she meets someone who can travel to alternate worlds. She discovers that even though she solved the mystery in one world, she still has to solve it in the other world and it has a completely different outcome. I liked this story for the creativity and it was fairly well written, but found it lacking in some aspects and wishing there were a little more depth to the story. Overall, this was a good read.

[Myriad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of this book from the author.

The story is interesting, and the writing style decent though not exceptional. The premise was intriguing, and it was interesting to see how events played out the same or differently in different worlds - which versions of which characters made which choices. I'm interested to see where the story goes, but not hanging on the edge of my seat; I didn't get very emotionally attached to Lilith or most of the other characters, which lessens my enjoyment of the story some.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of the protagonist -- she didn't seem very much like any teenage girls I know and sounded more like 30-something man. The overall story was interesting (with plenty of plot twists and multiple worlds), but I never grew to like any of the main characters much. And I was a little surprised by the over-the-top sordid story line at points -- it seemed unnecessary.

[Lisa Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. The story was very different and kept me interested.
I read this book in one sitting. Couldn't put it down because I wanted
to see what was going to happen next.
The end is a bit of a cliffhanger, but you know that there will be a
sequel. Just adds another book to your to read list. LOL
All in all, I would recommend this book.

[Rachelia (Bookish Comforts) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Episode 1: a LOT of telling vs. showing, and backstory. All happened really really quick. I don't really have a hold for any of the characters or favourite them. Sometimes a bit TOO much like Veronica Mars for my liking (alcoholic mother, father/sheriff feud, friend/sister missing & murdered)

[Kirsten Yvette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoying to the ninth power. No one girl can have as many problems as Linlith Lane. It has a lot of cussing and other stupid stuff I won't mention in case you actually want to read this. Needless to say I didn't like it.

[Pam Pho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story wise. I felt the writing was a big off. Fun way to read serialized fiction.

[Bookphile]

This book is being classified as YA, but I don't think it really fits into that genre. It started off strong, but had a really strange and disappointing finish and, in general, just felt too rushed.