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Rise of the Ardent #1
The Lotus Effect
An improbable partnership. An unforgettable love.
Lily Emerson, daughter of the Head of Council and Mistress of Science, has lived a privileged life. It’s Lily’s 18th nameday, the day she is to follow in her mother’s footsteps, becoming the next Mistress of Science—the most powerful woman in all of City Prosper. The Architect and designer of Prosper’s future.
During the night of her Coronation, the corruption of the Council spreads before her . . . opening her eyes to the cruelty that resides in the Council, even within her own parents. Lily realizes now the title of Mistress only comes with superficial power, that to truly save the citizens—she has to fight.
Fight in the Barrage—the mechanical gladiatorial tournament in which one chosen pair of volunteers from each Sector fights, armor-clad and as a team, utilizing unique weapon the Gatling gun, the Cestus, Klaives, Crescent Knives, mechanically engineered beasts—in the hope to win the right to change the Law. A law that has remained unchanged since its creation almost eighty years ago.
The tournament that Xander, Engineering Blacksmith and Lily’s partner, believes she has no business being in.
But Lily’s different. And she sets out to prove just that.
Lily Emerson, daughter of the Head of Council and Mistress of Science, has lived a privileged life. It’s Lily’s 18th nameday, the day she is to follow in her mother’s footsteps, becoming the next Mistress of Science—the most powerful woman in all of City Prosper. The Architect and designer of Prosper’s future.
During the night of her Coronation, the corruption of the Council spreads before her . . . opening her eyes to the cruelty that resides in the Council, even within her own parents. Lily realizes now the title of Mistress only comes with superficial power, that to truly save the citizens—she has to fight.
Fight in the Barrage—the mechanical gladiatorial tournament in which one chosen pair of volunteers from each Sector fights, armor-clad and as a team, utilizing unique weapon the Gatling gun, the Cestus, Klaives, Crescent Knives, mechanically engineered beasts—in the hope to win the right to change the Law. A law that has remained unchanged since its creation almost eighty years ago.
The tournament that Xander, Engineering Blacksmith and Lily’s partner, believes she has no business being in.
But Lily’s different. And she sets out to prove just that.
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First published July 18, 2013
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About the author
Bridget Ladd
5 books33 followersBridget Ladd never quite grew up. She's most likely to be caught carrying a pocketful of souvenir rocks and shells (to the washer's dismay) and gets excited over trivial things like colorful ponies and raiding tombs alongside her longtime favorite video game pal, Lara Croft. The smell of freshly turned dirt and the sea air are her favorites, and she isn't above doing twirling spins barefoot in the grass on a beautiful day in her yard. Her books are her shields and she will admit to having her head in the clouds more times than she probably should . . . but she doesn't let any of this bother her too much, remembering her favorite quote by Le Guin, and knowing that the creative adult is indeed the child who survived.
She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 3D Computer Animation/Interactive Design and minored in Art History at East Carolina University. Living her life solely as an artist and illustrator after school was not enough--knowing that a picture was only worth a thousand words--she felt she needed more. She had to get the trapped stories, the vivid, sometimes adventurous, sometimes terrifying dreams, out of her head. Like the authors, artists, musicians, scientists, peaceful warriors who inspire her, she too wishes to share her worlds with others, let them escape into the unknown. Let them know that like her, it's okay to be different.
She graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 3D Computer Animation/Interactive Design and minored in Art History at East Carolina University. Living her life solely as an artist and illustrator after school was not enough--knowing that a picture was only worth a thousand words--she felt she needed more. She had to get the trapped stories, the vivid, sometimes adventurous, sometimes terrifying dreams, out of her head. Like the authors, artists, musicians, scientists, peaceful warriors who inspire her, she too wishes to share her worlds with others, let them escape into the unknown. Let them know that like her, it's okay to be different.
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February 18, 2015
You can read this review and more on my blog:
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like I am all over the place with my thoughts on this book, but there is just so much to talk about and I don't know what to focus on. I mean this was a fairly long read so there is a lot of content that I could comment on, but I don't know how to start! But the main point that I want to get across is that this book was a feast for the imagination. I have not read many books that could rival this one when it comes to beautiful and well thought out descriptions. The author painted a picture with her words, but the picture wasn't abstract and difficult to interpret. When a book is full of world building, I need to be able to easily imagine the world that is being described or my eyes will glaze over and I will become bored.
This book was detailed when it came to so many different things so not only did it hold my interest, but I believe it would hold the interest of many different types of readers as well. I was more drawn to the animatronics, action, and politics than the machinery, buildings, and weapons; but all of these things and more were given plenty of time and effort by the author.
I have always enjoyed and been slightly creeped out by animatronics, and the ones in this book really spoke to my inner child. The idea, of something that is basically made up of all the same parts as a clock or a wind up toy being able to behave like a person or animal, has always been a pleasant one. It is difficult not to smile while imagining a little man mage of springs and sprockets dancing around and flirting with pretty woman. Lily also had a soft spot for these machines. On more than one occasion she felt sympathy for the hurt "feelings" or "pain" that it would seem these things appeared to be suffering, and I have to admit that I had a few moments of sympathy for them myself. I knew that it was irrational because they felt nothing at all and were just programmed to behave as if they were alive, but I think it is a testament to the writing that even with this knowledge, I still had a soft spot for the mechanical creatures.
The entire experience of reading this book was very immersive. It felt like opening the top of one of those old-fashioned doll houses and watching as everything played out for me. Only instead of a doll house it was an entire world that I was able to enjoy. I loved the way that Victorian fashions and manners were mixed in with futuristic weapons and machinery. There were also elements of Science Fiction and Dystopia that were weaved seamlessly into the story.
Considering you are reading this review, chances are that you also read the synopsis for this book. One thing you may have noticed were the similarities between this story and The Hunger Games. The main character is a young woman with an incredible ability to survive, and she enters a tournament where she has to fight for her life against other young people. I actually described this book to someone as a Steampunk version of the Hunger Games before I really got into the story because that is honestly what it seemed like. After completing it though, I see how wrong I was.
Yes the similarities that I mentioned are there, and I wouldn't be surprised if The Hunger Games was an inspiration while writing this novel, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Pride and Prejudice was an inspiration either. This novel was so much more than just another Dystopian trying to capitalize off of the trend. There are bits and pieces of several different things that make up this story.
Although I was very impressed with the world building, the thing that I enjoyed most about reading this is the same thing that I always enjoy about books where romance is not the focus. I enjoyed the action and suspense!
I really don't like it when a story builds and builds to one or two big action scenes and the rest is just preparation and filler. I love action, I need action, action is what makes reading these types of books worth while for me, and it is so hard to find fun and inventive action scenes these days because it seems like everyone is more focused on Love triangles and heartbreak. Sometimes female writers get a bad reputation for not being able to write great action scenes as well as men, and female readers get accused of caring more about romance than action, but books like these prove that is a bunch of crap. It is possible to write a book that is filled with action and still manages to incorporate some lovey dovey every now and then.
Just when I thought that Lily and Xander would be given a moment to heal and prepare for their next trial, something would explode or they would be attacked by a giant animatronic beast! It seemed like Lily and Xander had a constant target on their backs. At one point or another almost everyone they came in contact with either attempted to murder them or succeeded in injuring them. Lily was bludgeoned, blinded, deafened, strangled, and pummeled, and poor Xander survived the type of beatings that Rocky would have been scared of. But no matter what they went through, they kept fighting because they knew that if they did not then the world they lived in would not change. They had a strength and determination that was very admirable and easy to cheer for because the weren't just fighting for their survival, they were fighting for the rights of a nation.
The winners of the tournament that Lily and Xander entered are to be given the ability to rewrite the laws that govern the people, and both Lily and Xander desperately want to win so they will be able to change the way things are done. At first they both have some very personal reasons for wanting the laws to change. They have suffered a lot because of the way the world is run, but as they fight, they begin to fight for a cause that is bigger than just the two of them and their personal pain.
Lily has been raised her entire life to become apart of the problem. Both of her parents are higher-ups in the government, and right before she entered the tournament, she was going to be named as her mother's successor. She knows that if she were to take over her mothers position as Mistress of Science, her power would be in name only and she would be expected to continue doing things the way they have always been done or risk death. SInce she would rather die than become a pawn, she decides to risk her life in an effort to bring about real change instead.
The relationship between Lily and Xander definitely had it's cute moments, but because this book isn't really a romance, I wasn't wowed by it. They start out butting heads a bit, but even when they fought they still had respect for one another, and they fought with caring. I enjoyed their relationship a lot more once they stopped fighting their attraction for one another because it enabled them to focus on their more important task of surviving and winning the tournament. Once they learned to be open with each other, they were able to trust one another completely, and you need to be able to trust your partner especially when life and death are involved.
At first Lily spent a lot of time fighting Xander and trying to prove that she could take care of herself, and that annoyed me. Xander did border on overprotective at times, but he also put her in situations that were dangerous because he knew she could handle them. He respected her ability to take care of herself, he just wanted to insure that she was equipped to handle things. And when he was able to spare her harm by stepping in and fight alongside or even for her, he did. Not only did he have strong feelings for her, she was his teammate, and teammates are supposed to watch out for each other. That's not something you should get angry with someone for. Lily does learn this eventually and, and I started to like her more when she stopped fighting Xander and let him be the who he was. He is built to look out for the people he cares about.
This book was incredibly imaginative and entertaining. It was longer than I wanted it to be, but nothing about it was boring. I liked the characters, the world that the author built was beautiful, and the details were intricate without being monotonous. I really can't find anything to complain about.
The ending set the table nicely for the next book in the series. Lily is a lot more extraordinary than even I imagined, and I have a feeling that the trials she and Xander face in the future will be more difficult than the ones they faced this time, and that is saying something. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, and I'm going to make sure that I give myself more time to enjoy everything when I read it because if it is anything like the first, it should be read leisurely so I can enjoy all of the little details. Just like a work of art. :)
The book is appropriate for ages 10 and up, but the reading level is more suited to ages 12 and up. If your kid is a confident reader, than don't worry about content and language.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like I am all over the place with my thoughts on this book, but there is just so much to talk about and I don't know what to focus on. I mean this was a fairly long read so there is a lot of content that I could comment on, but I don't know how to start! But the main point that I want to get across is that this book was a feast for the imagination. I have not read many books that could rival this one when it comes to beautiful and well thought out descriptions. The author painted a picture with her words, but the picture wasn't abstract and difficult to interpret. When a book is full of world building, I need to be able to easily imagine the world that is being described or my eyes will glaze over and I will become bored.
This book was detailed when it came to so many different things so not only did it hold my interest, but I believe it would hold the interest of many different types of readers as well. I was more drawn to the animatronics, action, and politics than the machinery, buildings, and weapons; but all of these things and more were given plenty of time and effort by the author.
I have always enjoyed and been slightly creeped out by animatronics, and the ones in this book really spoke to my inner child. The idea, of something that is basically made up of all the same parts as a clock or a wind up toy being able to behave like a person or animal, has always been a pleasant one. It is difficult not to smile while imagining a little man mage of springs and sprockets dancing around and flirting with pretty woman. Lily also had a soft spot for these machines. On more than one occasion she felt sympathy for the hurt "feelings" or "pain" that it would seem these things appeared to be suffering, and I have to admit that I had a few moments of sympathy for them myself. I knew that it was irrational because they felt nothing at all and were just programmed to behave as if they were alive, but I think it is a testament to the writing that even with this knowledge, I still had a soft spot for the mechanical creatures.
The entire experience of reading this book was very immersive. It felt like opening the top of one of those old-fashioned doll houses and watching as everything played out for me. Only instead of a doll house it was an entire world that I was able to enjoy. I loved the way that Victorian fashions and manners were mixed in with futuristic weapons and machinery. There were also elements of Science Fiction and Dystopia that were weaved seamlessly into the story.
Considering you are reading this review, chances are that you also read the synopsis for this book. One thing you may have noticed were the similarities between this story and The Hunger Games. The main character is a young woman with an incredible ability to survive, and she enters a tournament where she has to fight for her life against other young people. I actually described this book to someone as a Steampunk version of the Hunger Games before I really got into the story because that is honestly what it seemed like. After completing it though, I see how wrong I was.
Yes the similarities that I mentioned are there, and I wouldn't be surprised if The Hunger Games was an inspiration while writing this novel, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Pride and Prejudice was an inspiration either. This novel was so much more than just another Dystopian trying to capitalize off of the trend. There are bits and pieces of several different things that make up this story.
Although I was very impressed with the world building, the thing that I enjoyed most about reading this is the same thing that I always enjoy about books where romance is not the focus. I enjoyed the action and suspense!
I really don't like it when a story builds and builds to one or two big action scenes and the rest is just preparation and filler. I love action, I need action, action is what makes reading these types of books worth while for me, and it is so hard to find fun and inventive action scenes these days because it seems like everyone is more focused on Love triangles and heartbreak. Sometimes female writers get a bad reputation for not being able to write great action scenes as well as men, and female readers get accused of caring more about romance than action, but books like these prove that is a bunch of crap. It is possible to write a book that is filled with action and still manages to incorporate some lovey dovey every now and then.
Just when I thought that Lily and Xander would be given a moment to heal and prepare for their next trial, something would explode or they would be attacked by a giant animatronic beast! It seemed like Lily and Xander had a constant target on their backs. At one point or another almost everyone they came in contact with either attempted to murder them or succeeded in injuring them. Lily was bludgeoned, blinded, deafened, strangled, and pummeled, and poor Xander survived the type of beatings that Rocky would have been scared of. But no matter what they went through, they kept fighting because they knew that if they did not then the world they lived in would not change. They had a strength and determination that was very admirable and easy to cheer for because the weren't just fighting for their survival, they were fighting for the rights of a nation.
The winners of the tournament that Lily and Xander entered are to be given the ability to rewrite the laws that govern the people, and both Lily and Xander desperately want to win so they will be able to change the way things are done. At first they both have some very personal reasons for wanting the laws to change. They have suffered a lot because of the way the world is run, but as they fight, they begin to fight for a cause that is bigger than just the two of them and their personal pain.
Lily has been raised her entire life to become apart of the problem. Both of her parents are higher-ups in the government, and right before she entered the tournament, she was going to be named as her mother's successor. She knows that if she were to take over her mothers position as Mistress of Science, her power would be in name only and she would be expected to continue doing things the way they have always been done or risk death. SInce she would rather die than become a pawn, she decides to risk her life in an effort to bring about real change instead.
The relationship between Lily and Xander definitely had it's cute moments, but because this book isn't really a romance, I wasn't wowed by it. They start out butting heads a bit, but even when they fought they still had respect for one another, and they fought with caring. I enjoyed their relationship a lot more once they stopped fighting their attraction for one another because it enabled them to focus on their more important task of surviving and winning the tournament. Once they learned to be open with each other, they were able to trust one another completely, and you need to be able to trust your partner especially when life and death are involved.
At first Lily spent a lot of time fighting Xander and trying to prove that she could take care of herself, and that annoyed me. Xander did border on overprotective at times, but he also put her in situations that were dangerous because he knew she could handle them. He respected her ability to take care of herself, he just wanted to insure that she was equipped to handle things. And when he was able to spare her harm by stepping in and fight alongside or even for her, he did. Not only did he have strong feelings for her, she was his teammate, and teammates are supposed to watch out for each other. That's not something you should get angry with someone for. Lily does learn this eventually and, and I started to like her more when she stopped fighting Xander and let him be the who he was. He is built to look out for the people he cares about.
This book was incredibly imaginative and entertaining. It was longer than I wanted it to be, but nothing about it was boring. I liked the characters, the world that the author built was beautiful, and the details were intricate without being monotonous. I really can't find anything to complain about.
The ending set the table nicely for the next book in the series. Lily is a lot more extraordinary than even I imagined, and I have a feeling that the trials she and Xander face in the future will be more difficult than the ones they faced this time, and that is saying something. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, and I'm going to make sure that I give myself more time to enjoy everything when I read it because if it is anything like the first, it should be read leisurely so I can enjoy all of the little details. Just like a work of art. :)
The book is appropriate for ages 10 and up, but the reading level is more suited to ages 12 and up. If your kid is a confident reader, than don't worry about content and language.
April 3, 2014
Honestly, people cannot write dystopian books without being compared to The Hunger Games nowadays. I suppose that that is inevitable, but it does irk me; especially as The Lotus Effect is definitely one of the better dystopian stories.
The writing completely enticed me. I fell in love with the world that Ladd created - it was very descriptive and fascinating. The characters didn't disappoint either...
Lily was a kick-ass, empowering main - on par with ever loved and adored Katniss. She made her decisions to suit not only herself, but mainly for others. Thank heavens this wasn't another story whereby the main dives head first into the situation all in the name of "love". I like my main characters with a little more bravery - Lily definitely suited this role.
Xander. You were a very intriguing character, which made me want to love you more. Your romance with Lily was beautifully done - no instalove, it developed from the fact you pushed each other to achieve greatness, and therefore made each other stronger. <3
The storyline in itself was remarkable. Yes, like vampire storylines, there are so many dystopian stories out there, that yes, you are obviously going to get some similarities. But, I loved the overall story. The whole concept captured my attention and I literally devoured each and every word.
Next one is out when?
Also, kudos on the cover. Major cover love!<3
I received a free copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book, and any expressed are that of my own.
The writing completely enticed me. I fell in love with the world that Ladd created - it was very descriptive and fascinating. The characters didn't disappoint either...
Lily was a kick-ass, empowering main - on par with ever loved and adored Katniss. She made her decisions to suit not only herself, but mainly for others. Thank heavens this wasn't another story whereby the main dives head first into the situation all in the name of "love". I like my main characters with a little more bravery - Lily definitely suited this role.
Xander. You were a very intriguing character, which made me want to love you more. Your romance with Lily was beautifully done - no instalove, it developed from the fact you pushed each other to achieve greatness, and therefore made each other stronger. <3
The storyline in itself was remarkable. Yes, like vampire storylines, there are so many dystopian stories out there, that yes, you are obviously going to get some similarities. But, I loved the overall story. The whole concept captured my attention and I literally devoured each and every word.
Next one is out when?
Also, kudos on the cover. Major cover love!<3
I received a free copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book, and any expressed are that of my own.
March 1, 2015
Just so you know, three stars doesn't mean I disliked this book. Actually, it's pretty good, but for some reason, it had trouble holding my attention. Also, I thought more explanation was due the reader for the first part of the book. Secrets and mystery are all well and good, but I got confused.
Still, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes dystopian and unique worlds. Xander is awesome. I loved how it dealt with the moral issues of fighting in an arena.
Younger readers should probably wait on this one, due to the rougher language and some sexually threatening situations. But for the rest of you, definitely check this out for yourself.
Still, I'd recommend this to anyone who likes dystopian and unique worlds. Xander is awesome. I loved how it dealt with the moral issues of fighting in an arena.
Younger readers should probably wait on this one, due to the rougher language and some sexually threatening situations. But for the rest of you, definitely check this out for yourself.
September 29, 2014
This might be the most non-violent violent book I have read.
On starting this I was a little worried over Lily's personality. A whiner, impulsive and too stupid too live, I only decided to persevere when I met Xander. Xander and Lily's relationship is like princess meets outlaw.
Xander is a competent and talented blacksmith/engineer. He is also a deadly fighting machine with cat-like senses. I liked him right away. I trusted his instincts. So I figured if he's the love interest Lily must turn into something likeable for him to love. And she does grow.
In reality, Lily is probably Xander's only weakness. He is indestructible in all other areas.
Xander was intensely focused at all times it seemed.
At the same time, he's very chill. Nothing ever sends him into a tizzy. Even when he falls in love with Lily he doesn't play any games. He's completely calm about it.
Almost as if he was unafraid to hide his feeling for me now, challenging me with his expression, telling me that nothing I will ever say or do will change the way he feels.
He's very sturdy and stern. I do enjoy that in a hero. He especially takes Lily's protection very seriously.
“And you know this by electrocuting me, throwing me down a well, and almost drowning me?” I spat.
I liked that he is so confident while at the same time so shy around Lily when it comes to matters of the heart.
What took me by surprise is that despite Lily's usual recklessness she takes the romance slow. Xander is a couple of years older than her so I'm glad the author acknowledged that a girl in Lily's situation doesn't want to and shouldn't rush into anything. I also liked that Lily gets a permanent scar. Not because I'm a sadist but I just think that it would be inevitable due to her inexperience. It also gives her an edge. She's not the silly girl in dresses anymore.
Lily needs a lot of saving. But she comes up with enough smart ideas that I can forgive her damsel-in-distress tendencies.
Dex is the “gentleman” friend who really isn't a gentleman. He's just Xander's weirdo best friend and illegal supplier.
Dex - “You are quite an odd box of oats I tell ya, Lily.”
Xander peered around me towards Dex with an incredulous look. “What does that even mean?”
“Oh, I dunno. Just made it up. Sounds fittin’—Ya’ know there’s always that one box you get from the Warehouse that’s all misshapen and warped and it always leaves ya thinkin’, ‘an’ what the hell happened to this one?’ But then you get to thinkin’ some more, ‘Well at least I bet it’s got an interestin’ story unlike the rest of the lot.’ So in my mind, with its unique history, it’ll probably end up tastin’ better—that’s what I’m tryin’ to get at, I guess.”
P.S. I'm a music geek and I always have to point out musical inaccuracies. So let me say this. The words “deep” and “tenor” do not go together. Bridget, perhaps you were looking for the word “timbre”?
Towards the end, the book really takes a different turn so I'm not sure if I'll go onto the sequel. I was quite liking the non-paranormal dystopian thing.
On starting this I was a little worried over Lily's personality. A whiner, impulsive and too stupid too live, I only decided to persevere when I met Xander. Xander and Lily's relationship is like princess meets outlaw.
Xander is a competent and talented blacksmith/engineer. He is also a deadly fighting machine with cat-like senses. I liked him right away. I trusted his instincts. So I figured if he's the love interest Lily must turn into something likeable for him to love. And she does grow.
In reality, Lily is probably Xander's only weakness. He is indestructible in all other areas.
Xander was intensely focused at all times it seemed.
At the same time, he's very chill. Nothing ever sends him into a tizzy. Even when he falls in love with Lily he doesn't play any games. He's completely calm about it.
Almost as if he was unafraid to hide his feeling for me now, challenging me with his expression, telling me that nothing I will ever say or do will change the way he feels.
He's very sturdy and stern. I do enjoy that in a hero. He especially takes Lily's protection very seriously.
“And you know this by electrocuting me, throwing me down a well, and almost drowning me?” I spat.
I liked that he is so confident while at the same time so shy around Lily when it comes to matters of the heart.
What took me by surprise is that despite Lily's usual recklessness she takes the romance slow. Xander is a couple of years older than her so I'm glad the author acknowledged that a girl in Lily's situation doesn't want to and shouldn't rush into anything. I also liked that Lily gets a permanent scar. Not because I'm a sadist but I just think that it would be inevitable due to her inexperience. It also gives her an edge. She's not the silly girl in dresses anymore.
Lily needs a lot of saving. But she comes up with enough smart ideas that I can forgive her damsel-in-distress tendencies.
Dex is the “gentleman” friend who really isn't a gentleman. He's just Xander's weirdo best friend and illegal supplier.
Dex - “You are quite an odd box of oats I tell ya, Lily.”
Xander peered around me towards Dex with an incredulous look. “What does that even mean?”
“Oh, I dunno. Just made it up. Sounds fittin’—Ya’ know there’s always that one box you get from the Warehouse that’s all misshapen and warped and it always leaves ya thinkin’, ‘an’ what the hell happened to this one?’ But then you get to thinkin’ some more, ‘Well at least I bet it’s got an interestin’ story unlike the rest of the lot.’ So in my mind, with its unique history, it’ll probably end up tastin’ better—that’s what I’m tryin’ to get at, I guess.”
P.S. I'm a music geek and I always have to point out musical inaccuracies. So let me say this. The words “deep” and “tenor” do not go together. Bridget, perhaps you were looking for the word “timbre”?
Towards the end, the book really takes a different turn so I'm not sure if I'll go onto the sequel. I was quite liking the non-paranormal dystopian thing.
May 17, 2015
Seriously the only bad thing about this book was that it ended.
What can I say? I have so much to say, but I don't know if I could make sense of it all!
Lily is the next Mistress of Science in City Prosper. On the night of her coronation, she finally realizes that she cannot sit by and watch as the Council continues it's wave of corruption. The citizens of City Prosper are sheltered and don't have much say in what happens within the city. Things have been unchanged for as long as anyone can remember. Only the words of nature are considered myths since they were encased inside the walls that surround the city. For "protection", of course.
Instead of accepting her role as a polite puppet in which her mother controls all the strings, she does something nobody ever thought would happen. She volunteers herself for a fierce battle that happens every 13 years.
Xander is a mysterious engineer who happened to create a delightful robot to entertain at Lily's coronation. Things don't go as planned, and Xander being the warrior he's been trained to be enters the Barrage moments before the drawing has closed.
I love Lily and Xander. They are two fierce partners that fight in the Barrage, which is a Council-forced competition and once you enter, your fate is sealed. You can only leave the competition by dying, forfeiting which ends in death or exile, or winning and having the chance to change the Law.
The Law has been unchanged since the beginning of time, and the Council ensures it stays that way by choosing one of the 8 teams to sponsor. In exchange for lavish gifts, small advantages, and weapons, the sponsored team agrees to give up the right to change the Law if they so happen to win the competition.
Together they have to turn Lily into a fighting machine all while escaping and surviving attacks of sabotage and hateful threats.
It is amazing from start to finish.
I am a huge fan, and cannot wait to continue this journey with my new favorite characters.
Bridget Ladd created a beautiful story.
What can I say? I have so much to say, but I don't know if I could make sense of it all!
Lily is the next Mistress of Science in City Prosper. On the night of her coronation, she finally realizes that she cannot sit by and watch as the Council continues it's wave of corruption. The citizens of City Prosper are sheltered and don't have much say in what happens within the city. Things have been unchanged for as long as anyone can remember. Only the words of nature are considered myths since they were encased inside the walls that surround the city. For "protection", of course.
Instead of accepting her role as a polite puppet in which her mother controls all the strings, she does something nobody ever thought would happen. She volunteers herself for a fierce battle that happens every 13 years.
Xander is a mysterious engineer who happened to create a delightful robot to entertain at Lily's coronation. Things don't go as planned, and Xander being the warrior he's been trained to be enters the Barrage moments before the drawing has closed.
I love Lily and Xander. They are two fierce partners that fight in the Barrage, which is a Council-forced competition and once you enter, your fate is sealed. You can only leave the competition by dying, forfeiting which ends in death or exile, or winning and having the chance to change the Law.
The Law has been unchanged since the beginning of time, and the Council ensures it stays that way by choosing one of the 8 teams to sponsor. In exchange for lavish gifts, small advantages, and weapons, the sponsored team agrees to give up the right to change the Law if they so happen to win the competition.
Together they have to turn Lily into a fighting machine all while escaping and surviving attacks of sabotage and hateful threats.
It is amazing from start to finish.
I am a huge fan, and cannot wait to continue this journey with my new favorite characters.
Bridget Ladd created a beautiful story.
December 30, 2013
5 Giant Beautiful stars for this book!! I loved every second and cannot wait for the next book to come out.
I will admit that I was hesitant to start reading this book as it was heavily compared to Hunger Games which was just an amazing series and I was worried that this would be a knock-off of that. It wasn't. This story was similar in a few ways like having "sectors" instead of "districts", an evil all powerful government that rules the lives of all the citizens, and the part where a team from each sector fights. Those are the similarities and that is basically where it ends. In the Lotus Effect the teams do not have to fight to the death and they are fighting for a chance to change the law of the evil government. It is based solely on volunteers and isn't a raffle. There are all kinds of exciting weapons to use etc. That being said, the main focus is not solely based on the fighting part of the story. This is not only a love story between xander and lily but a true heroic story of one girl who is struggling but has to become more and find the power within herself to save her people.
I was so glad that the ending did not leaving me hanging too hard. For the most part the story in book 1 is wrapped up and the end gives you a taste of what to expect and look forward to in the next installment. I'm so excited!!
Fantastic writing, fantastic characters that are easy to connect with, fantastic action, and overall fantastic reading experience. I will be recommending this book to my friends who I know will devour it as much as I did.
I will admit that I was hesitant to start reading this book as it was heavily compared to Hunger Games which was just an amazing series and I was worried that this would be a knock-off of that. It wasn't. This story was similar in a few ways like having "sectors" instead of "districts", an evil all powerful government that rules the lives of all the citizens, and the part where a team from each sector fights. Those are the similarities and that is basically where it ends. In the Lotus Effect the teams do not have to fight to the death and they are fighting for a chance to change the law of the evil government. It is based solely on volunteers and isn't a raffle. There are all kinds of exciting weapons to use etc. That being said, the main focus is not solely based on the fighting part of the story. This is not only a love story between xander and lily but a true heroic story of one girl who is struggling but has to become more and find the power within herself to save her people.
I was so glad that the ending did not leaving me hanging too hard. For the most part the story in book 1 is wrapped up and the end gives you a taste of what to expect and look forward to in the next installment. I'm so excited!!
Fantastic writing, fantastic characters that are easy to connect with, fantastic action, and overall fantastic reading experience. I will be recommending this book to my friends who I know will devour it as much as I did.
January 2, 2015
This book snagged my attention from the beginning and I was compulsively reading it through the end. I cannot WAIT to read the second one, I hope there will be more in the series. Lily is a unique and interesting character. I loved that there was something lingering just outside the edge of her memory that she can’t quite remember. This gave the book and extra layer of interest even as Lily and Xander found themselves in nonstop challenges.
The book certainly does borrow some aspects of “The Hunger Games” in the form of The Barrage, but there is just enough to keep it unique. Though there are many similarities, but I actually think I enjoyed this book more. This is certainly a dystopian book with a large helping of action and a twist of science thrown in. I will be interested to see what more Ladd has to offer!
Warning: Contains violence
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of author.
Who should read it? Dystopian fans, steam punk fans (think “Soulless”) and action fans.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDIstraction.com or @Read2Distract
The book certainly does borrow some aspects of “The Hunger Games” in the form of The Barrage, but there is just enough to keep it unique. Though there are many similarities, but I actually think I enjoyed this book more. This is certainly a dystopian book with a large helping of action and a twist of science thrown in. I will be interested to see what more Ladd has to offer!
Warning: Contains violence
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of author.
Who should read it? Dystopian fans, steam punk fans (think “Soulless”) and action fans.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDIstraction.com or @Read2Distract
January 24, 2014
OH. MY. GOSH. Did I love this book! The characters were so awesome - I don't really know how to describe them other than that. I appreciated that while Lily was a strong young woman, she was also wiling to accept help, from Xander and others - I am so sick of the "strong" female character who lives so isolated from others because she is determined to prove herself! I enjoyed every moment of this book. At first I worried that there were simply too many elements involved, but Bridget Ladd's addictive writing managed to pull it all together perfectly. The fresh take on the steampunk elements made me super happy, and I will definitely be recommending this book to people I know!
October 5, 2013
Great read! Anyone can write a story, but it takes an artist to paint a picture in the reader's mind. Bridget Ladd has done just that with her debut novel "The Lotus Effect". This book is very well written with mystery, romance, and an unlikely partnership between Lily and Xander who must battle the corruption that has become a way of life for so many in their home of City Prosper.
Action packed must read for both young-adults and adults! I loved this book!
Action packed must read for both young-adults and adults! I loved this book!
September 6, 2013
Bridget Ladd brings a fresh voice and a fun perspective to this genre, creating a strong character in her heroine, Lily . . . a character who has stayed in my imagination long after I read the book! Dynamic world-building, elegant writing, and action to leave you breathless. THE LOTUS EFFECT has it all!
December 12, 2013
LOVED this Book!!! For starters, the cover is totally awesome! At first , I wasn't sure but a chapter or so in I was pulled into the story!! If you like books like The Hunger Games or the Divergent series this book is for you! I was sad to see it end! Am looking forward to the second one. This is an author I am glad I found out about!!!
February 5, 2014
I was given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Bridget Ladd's writing is absolutely amazing. Her world-building is superb to the point that when I went to bed last night I dreamed of City Prosper and all of the amazing characters that reside there. I could not see anything, or hear anything, going on around me while reading this book. It was as though the words literally turned to pictures. I wasn't seeing the black and white of the pages, but amazing colors and faces, buildings and nature. I have no words to describe this book other than fantastic and heart-racing.
Other than The Infernal Devices series by Cassie Clare (which are wonderful, by the way, but more supernatural and paranormal than anything else), I have never read anything remotely close to a steampunk novel. I find this a great injustice to myself because I think I have discovered a new favorite genre (sub-genre?). I think that is one of the many reasons I loved this story. It isn't solely focused on one thing - sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc. The story isn't about the romance. It isn't about the fantastical technology created by these people. It isn't about a whiny girl that doesn't know her you-know-what from a hole in the ground... Thank the gods for that! I get so tired of that type of main character in a YA novel.
She is no Bella Swan - too chicken shit to tell those around her what she really wants. Lily doesn't just follow the herd and do what is asked of her. She physically can't do it. She stays true to who she is, deep in her bones, in her blood, in her DNA. She starts out strong, and grows stronger - she does not start out weak and grow into someone who is bitter and angry.
Xander and Lily do not instantly fall in lust with each other and allow their feelings to complicate their situation. They are not foolish with their lives and the lives of others by being selfish for their wants. They push each other to a greatness that already resided within them.
Read this book. Get it, and read it. Right now. Make sure you set aside an entire day, because you will not want to put it down. You will take it to the toilet with you. You will read the book while walking to the kitchen to refill your drink, and then grab a snack when you remember that you haven't eaten anything all day. This story draws you in and doesn't let go. I've finished reading it and I'm still having a hard time letting go. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Ladd has in store for us in Ardent Ascension!
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
Bridget Ladd's writing is absolutely amazing. Her world-building is superb to the point that when I went to bed last night I dreamed of City Prosper and all of the amazing characters that reside there. I could not see anything, or hear anything, going on around me while reading this book. It was as though the words literally turned to pictures. I wasn't seeing the black and white of the pages, but amazing colors and faces, buildings and nature. I have no words to describe this book other than fantastic and heart-racing.
Other than The Infernal Devices series by Cassie Clare (which are wonderful, by the way, but more supernatural and paranormal than anything else), I have never read anything remotely close to a steampunk novel. I find this a great injustice to myself because I think I have discovered a new favorite genre (sub-genre?). I think that is one of the many reasons I loved this story. It isn't solely focused on one thing - sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc. The story isn't about the romance. It isn't about the fantastical technology created by these people. It isn't about a whiny girl that doesn't know her you-know-what from a hole in the ground... Thank the gods for that! I get so tired of that type of main character in a YA novel.
She is no Bella Swan - too chicken shit to tell those around her what she really wants. Lily doesn't just follow the herd and do what is asked of her. She physically can't do it. She stays true to who she is, deep in her bones, in her blood, in her DNA. She starts out strong, and grows stronger - she does not start out weak and grow into someone who is bitter and angry.
Xander and Lily do not instantly fall in lust with each other and allow their feelings to complicate their situation. They are not foolish with their lives and the lives of others by being selfish for their wants. They push each other to a greatness that already resided within them.
Read this book. Get it, and read it. Right now. Make sure you set aside an entire day, because you will not want to put it down. You will take it to the toilet with you. You will read the book while walking to the kitchen to refill your drink, and then grab a snack when you remember that you haven't eaten anything all day. This story draws you in and doesn't let go. I've finished reading it and I'm still having a hard time letting go. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Ladd has in store for us in Ardent Ascension!
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
September 4, 2014
4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book has surpassed all of my expectations and I loved each and every page and minute I read this fabulous book. People have compared this book to the Hunger Games....THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH BETTER! This book has become one of my favorite seriesThe world building is amazing and it seemed so real especially the characters. I love Lily and Xander! The other side characters are amazing too and it was great to see how an alliance/resistance was created due to Lily and Xander. The villains, and I mean villain(s) as is plural are freaky! One is just utterly scary while the other is crazy and power hungry. These villains added to the suspense and had me yell pletny of times at Xander and Lily to be careful and NOT DIE! This book had me hooked from the first pages. This book is filled with suspense, action, mystery, and all the other amazing things a book can have.
I love this book partly because I see myself in Lily - stubborn, intelligent, determined, never giving up, and proving people wrong. Each character is well rounded and the reader is able to get to personally know these characters and what shaped them to be who they are in the book at that time. The reader is also able to see these characters grow and they grow on you; you root for them and wish that you are in their world fighting along side them being resisters against City Prosper. I also love how the action was spaced throughout the book so that there was balance between action, world building, and background information. With all these parts, the reader is able to see the full picture and enjoy this great book. I also enjoyed the mystery behind the Outlands, the Edge, Abnormals, and Lily's power. Lily's power is intriguing to read about but also startling because her power is destructive and has a mind of its own referring to "the Mother." Does this mean, Mother Earth aka Gaea from Greek mythology? I'm very intersted in seeing how Lily's power is played out in the next installment of this series.
This book made me cheer, laugh, and go "holy crap, heck yeah!" The steampunk elements were also fabulous because new creations and gadgets are created incuding automatons, jetpacks, and field forces just to name a few. I love how Ladd used these steampunk elements and created a book that is amazing! I do wish there would have been more action but I'm not complaining. I can't wait to read the next installment especially with how it ended! Bridget Ladd, when you have the next book out, sign me up to review and read more of this great series!
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book has surpassed all of my expectations and I loved each and every page and minute I read this fabulous book. People have compared this book to the Hunger Games....THIS BOOK IS SO MUCH BETTER! This book has become one of my favorite seriesThe world building is amazing and it seemed so real especially the characters. I love Lily and Xander! The other side characters are amazing too and it was great to see how an alliance/resistance was created due to Lily and Xander. The villains, and I mean villain(s) as is plural are freaky! One is just utterly scary while the other is crazy and power hungry. These villains added to the suspense and had me yell pletny of times at Xander and Lily to be careful and NOT DIE! This book had me hooked from the first pages. This book is filled with suspense, action, mystery, and all the other amazing things a book can have.
I love this book partly because I see myself in Lily - stubborn, intelligent, determined, never giving up, and proving people wrong. Each character is well rounded and the reader is able to get to personally know these characters and what shaped them to be who they are in the book at that time. The reader is also able to see these characters grow and they grow on you; you root for them and wish that you are in their world fighting along side them being resisters against City Prosper. I also love how the action was spaced throughout the book so that there was balance between action, world building, and background information. With all these parts, the reader is able to see the full picture and enjoy this great book. I also enjoyed the mystery behind the Outlands, the Edge, Abnormals, and Lily's power. Lily's power is intriguing to read about but also startling because her power is destructive and has a mind of its own referring to "the Mother." Does this mean, Mother Earth aka Gaea from Greek mythology? I'm very intersted in seeing how Lily's power is played out in the next installment of this series.
This book made me cheer, laugh, and go "holy crap, heck yeah!" The steampunk elements were also fabulous because new creations and gadgets are created incuding automatons, jetpacks, and field forces just to name a few. I love how Ladd used these steampunk elements and created a book that is amazing! I do wish there would have been more action but I'm not complaining. I can't wait to read the next installment especially with how it ended! Bridget Ladd, when you have the next book out, sign me up to review and read more of this great series!
November 13, 2014
Dystopian, Steampunk, dash of Fantasy all WONDERFUL I was given this book for an honest review.
Honestly, I’d give this a 4.5 I was seriously close to LOVING this book. But, I just really, really liked it. The only reason it is not a 5 is because it started off slow and it seemed like it was going to be some kind of Hunger Games follower. BUT!! BAM! easily became a book I hated putting down.
You get a great dystopian with a kick ass steampunk thrown in and a splash of fantasy. Ladd painted the world beautifully. Everything from the buildings to the armor ( freaking loved the description of the armor) and weapons. The action was great and the romance between Xander and Lily was not one of the “instant love” things or a love triangle. Lily was at first a little whiny ( given that she was the Mistress of Sciences daughter and the next in line for the title I assume being privileged she is suppose to be like that) and I didn’t think I was going to like her character but she became such an amazing kick ass selfless resourceful chick. Xander, what would any story be without the mysterious man who is out for revenge and willing to help out the woman who is trying to save the people. Xander and Lily were such a great match and the playful conversation in some instances where great. Even the bad guys where wonderfully written. I loved hating them! ( Does that make sense?). It ended with a wonderful cliffhanger and I can not wait to figure out what happens next with Lily and Xander.
I think any reader who enjoys action ,some politics , steampunk, tiny bit of romance and great characters would like this book. Great Book!
Honestly, I’d give this a 4.5 I was seriously close to LOVING this book. But, I just really, really liked it. The only reason it is not a 5 is because it started off slow and it seemed like it was going to be some kind of Hunger Games follower. BUT!! BAM! easily became a book I hated putting down.
You get a great dystopian with a kick ass steampunk thrown in and a splash of fantasy. Ladd painted the world beautifully. Everything from the buildings to the armor ( freaking loved the description of the armor) and weapons. The action was great and the romance between Xander and Lily was not one of the “instant love” things or a love triangle. Lily was at first a little whiny ( given that she was the Mistress of Sciences daughter and the next in line for the title I assume being privileged she is suppose to be like that) and I didn’t think I was going to like her character but she became such an amazing kick ass selfless resourceful chick. Xander, what would any story be without the mysterious man who is out for revenge and willing to help out the woman who is trying to save the people. Xander and Lily were such a great match and the playful conversation in some instances where great. Even the bad guys where wonderfully written. I loved hating them! ( Does that make sense?). It ended with a wonderful cliffhanger and I can not wait to figure out what happens next with Lily and Xander.
I think any reader who enjoys action ,some politics , steampunk, tiny bit of romance and great characters would like this book. Great Book!
February 25, 2014
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
When I first saw this book, read the synopsis and a couple of the reviews I was kind of hesitant to actually pick up the book and start reading it, due to the fact that many people were comparing it to The Hunger Games. But I am very happy that I gave this book a chance, while I can see some similarities between the two books The Lotus Effect is a book that is unique in its own right.
The story is focused around Lily who is going to be the next Mistress of Science in City Prosper. However, on the night of her coronation she announces that she will not be taking up the position of Mistress of Science but rather she will be volunteering for the Fight in the Barrage, a tournament that happens every 13 years, for if she wins she has the opportunity to change the Law and attempt to end the corruption that has plagued City Prosper for years. With the help of her partner Xander, the two of them face many challenges and obstacles that they must overcome on their path to victory.
Overall, the story was an exciting and worthwhile read and since the story is written in the first person from Lily’s point of view, I felt as though I was going through all of the struggles and challenges she encountered throughout the story. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment of this series, and I look forward to seeing what else the author has in store for us in the future.
When I first saw this book, read the synopsis and a couple of the reviews I was kind of hesitant to actually pick up the book and start reading it, due to the fact that many people were comparing it to The Hunger Games. But I am very happy that I gave this book a chance, while I can see some similarities between the two books The Lotus Effect is a book that is unique in its own right.
The story is focused around Lily who is going to be the next Mistress of Science in City Prosper. However, on the night of her coronation she announces that she will not be taking up the position of Mistress of Science but rather she will be volunteering for the Fight in the Barrage, a tournament that happens every 13 years, for if she wins she has the opportunity to change the Law and attempt to end the corruption that has plagued City Prosper for years. With the help of her partner Xander, the two of them face many challenges and obstacles that they must overcome on their path to victory.
Overall, the story was an exciting and worthwhile read and since the story is written in the first person from Lily’s point of view, I felt as though I was going through all of the struggles and challenges she encountered throughout the story. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment of this series, and I look forward to seeing what else the author has in store for us in the future.
November 12, 2013
Received free from Goodreads First Reads.
I absolutely loved this book. The story line was amazing and the characters were so interesting. I only gave it 4 out of 5 because there were some spelling and grammar errors that bothered me. The story itself was 5 out of 5 to me, though, and the writing was good overall.
My first reaction when I was reading was to compare the book to The Hunger Games, but it's really not. There are similarities, but there are a lot of aspects that make this book unique. It was a captivating read, and I've been recommending it to everyone I've talked to about it.
Very good dystopian/steampunk novel. The first book in a series and I can't wait for the next book.
I absolutely loved this book. The story line was amazing and the characters were so interesting. I only gave it 4 out of 5 because there were some spelling and grammar errors that bothered me. The story itself was 5 out of 5 to me, though, and the writing was good overall.
My first reaction when I was reading was to compare the book to The Hunger Games, but it's really not. There are similarities, but there are a lot of aspects that make this book unique. It was a captivating read, and I've been recommending it to everyone I've talked to about it.
Very good dystopian/steampunk novel. The first book in a series and I can't wait for the next book.
January 24, 2014
The Lotus Effect by Bridget Ladd is a really great and fast-paced read. Her ideas are very inventive, and the characters, their skills and situations are very unique to the genre. This genre is filled with stories that are very similar, and it can seem that you are reading the same story, just by different authors. That is NOT true with Ms. Ladd's work. I found the entire work very original and interesting. The story holds your attention, and the book is definately a page turner. I would recommend that this story is for an adolescent and up (maybe 13 and up) just due to the themes and situations. This is a MUST READ.
February 7, 2014
This book was Amazing. I love the characters, Lily and Xander are great!!!! The action was great and there are soo many surprises. It was left with a cliffhanger and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I can't wait until the next book!!
Want to read
September 19, 2013 Any YA-Steampunk lovers out there??
FREE TODAY 9-19-13 on Amazon!
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U.K. LINK: -->http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E1SVFJC
CDN: LINK: -->http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E1SVFJC
FREE TODAY 9-19-13 on Amazon!
U.S. LINK: -->http://amzn.com/B00E1SVFJC
U.K. LINK: -->http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E1SVFJC
CDN: LINK: -->http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E1SVFJC
September 30, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It kept my attention despite many distractions. It combined all of my favorite genres into one plausible story line. I only picked it up because of the price and hearing about it on Goodreads, but now I have another series to look forward to reading.
January 1, 2014
Can't wait to read the next book!
June 19, 2014
This review was a difficult one for me to write, and I’ll share the ‘why’ with you shortly, but first I have to explain a few things.
I found out about this book because I’m connected to the author, Bridget Ladd, through Facebook. Being an author myself, I decided I would support her by reading her book. That led me to unquestioningly begin this book without even knowing the plot line (easy to do when downloading ebooks), which then led me to flirt with the reading for a bit without being serious, until I got through the first couple of chapters and found myself thinking ‘where is this book even going?’ At that point, I had to look up the synopsis, after which I simply had to start the book over after I learned what I should have been paying attention to.
So, that said, on to the review!
If I could describe the plot in a single phrase, I’d basically say that this book is ‘Steampunk Hunger Games’ and I know I’m not the only one to make that distinction. In short, a city in sectors participates in a tournament called the Barrage, which takes two volunteers from each sector and puts them through a competition in which they must best trials and machinations - and each other. This happens every 13 years and is considered a good time by all, even though there is death involved. The victor earns rewards, but also – as a ‘gift’ from the Council – is offered a chance to change the law.
So now, in reviewing, it’s difficult for me not to have this be a complete comparison and contrast of Hunger Games…but I’ll try to avoid that. But there are vast similarities. The setup of the world is similar, and the tournament system as well. The book is about characters fighting for change in a society separated by class, ruled by a controlling government system. However, to simply dismiss the book because of its similarity to something popular would be wrong. That was what I told myself in the beginning.
Personally, I enjoyed it MORE than the Hunger Games for quite a few reasons.
The love connection, for one thing, was done in a much better way. There was a great building of the relationship between the characters, and I was intrigued by Xander from the start. (he’s certainly my kind of guy.) There was no force in their partnership, friendship, or their eventual feelings, and I appreciated that.
The writing was exceptional. I don’t usually like to read stories from first-person POV, but Ladd did it in such a way that it was highly detailed, and I was easily immersed. For a time, I WAS Lily Emerson, looking out from her eyes and feeling what she felt.
At the beginning, I felt a bit of a drag as the story went forward (only because I wasn’t sure what I was reading toward). The promise of the Barrage in the description left me unsure and restless until halfway through the book when it finally got underway. I understand that the first part was important for character development and introducing plot factors, but I had the same problem with Hunger Games. The whole section of waiting and preparing before the tournament begins just left me feeling antsy. Not that it was bad, and I was fully involved once the story got going.
When I finally got to the Barrage, however, I was a bit disappointed. See, that was the part that I hoped would be MOST like Hunger Games, and instead it was not quite what I was expecting. Instead of being a free-for-all, eliminate-your-opponents-to-the-last-man-standing wilderness competition, it was a matched tournament where the pairs are randomly chosen to battle each other until the last fight for victory. And also, they don’t HAVE to kill each other. (Most of the competitors were surprisingly amiable off the field.) When I first started to witness the Barrage, I wasn’t really sure about it, but Ladd managed to make each battle interesting, and something significant happened in each instead of just giving us fight after pointless fight.
When I got into the last leg of the book, (perhaps the last 10%) an enormous jumble of things came together – some of them worked, and some of them didn’t, in my opinion. A few events, though there was reasoning in place, did not quite make me feel anything toward them. I didn’t quite love some of the characters I was supposed to love, and I didn’t quite hate the ones I was supposed to hate.
Now, the ending: I think the last lines of a book are important, and the ending of The Lotus Effect promised that Lily’s story is far from over. It offered surprise and intrigue, and certainly leaves one curious about the next book.
But despite the good (and possibly because I’m pretty detail-oriented myself), I also had issues with some of it. There seemed to be a lot of themes trying to happen at once, and I wasn’t sure which one was supposed to be important to me. But that’s not my biggest issue, so I digress. Moving on.
Another issue I had was that this was Steampunk, and so going in, I expected the doings to be all about logic and science – which they were, for a while, but then supernatural elements took root, . This book tried to be too many things. Some of the elements added to the characters seemed almost too much.
So all that said, here’s the reason why this review was difficult – or at least why it was difficult for me to assign a rating to this book: I liked the book, really. I enjoyed it, thought it was well-written and well-executed for the most part. By the time I got to the second half, I was invested in the two main characters, their relationship, and how things were going to play out in the end.
But at the same time, I felt that this book was a complete recycling of the Hunger Games plotline, even down to some of the smaller details. Even when I would forget about the Hunger Games relationship, I’d go on for a while, and some other small thing would pop up, and I’d think ‘here we are back in the Hunger Games again’.
So, my dilemma: do I review based simply on how much I liked this book (or how much better than Hunger Games it was), and ignore the fact that it reminded me so much of an insanely popular YA series? Or do I downplay how good the story was, just because I felt that it lacked originality?
I’ve thought about this a lot, even while reading it. I was really fickle about the book throughout the whole reading, and in the end, I have to take the middle ground and give it a 3. I have to take points away because it really did seem like Ladd took the entire plot and set up from the Hunger Games and then grew another story from the base ideas. I had to judge whether or not it crossed the line, and I feel that it did. I’m not saying she didn’t do a better job… It’s just difficult to borrow from something so popular and not have everyone notice.
I found out about this book because I’m connected to the author, Bridget Ladd, through Facebook. Being an author myself, I decided I would support her by reading her book. That led me to unquestioningly begin this book without even knowing the plot line (easy to do when downloading ebooks), which then led me to flirt with the reading for a bit without being serious, until I got through the first couple of chapters and found myself thinking ‘where is this book even going?’ At that point, I had to look up the synopsis, after which I simply had to start the book over after I learned what I should have been paying attention to.
So, that said, on to the review!
If I could describe the plot in a single phrase, I’d basically say that this book is ‘Steampunk Hunger Games’ and I know I’m not the only one to make that distinction. In short, a city in sectors participates in a tournament called the Barrage, which takes two volunteers from each sector and puts them through a competition in which they must best trials and machinations - and each other. This happens every 13 years and is considered a good time by all, even though there is death involved. The victor earns rewards, but also – as a ‘gift’ from the Council – is offered a chance to change the law.
So now, in reviewing, it’s difficult for me not to have this be a complete comparison and contrast of Hunger Games…but I’ll try to avoid that. But there are vast similarities. The setup of the world is similar, and the tournament system as well. The book is about characters fighting for change in a society separated by class, ruled by a controlling government system. However, to simply dismiss the book because of its similarity to something popular would be wrong. That was what I told myself in the beginning.
Personally, I enjoyed it MORE than the Hunger Games for quite a few reasons.
The love connection, for one thing, was done in a much better way. There was a great building of the relationship between the characters, and I was intrigued by Xander from the start. (he’s certainly my kind of guy.) There was no force in their partnership, friendship, or their eventual feelings, and I appreciated that.
The writing was exceptional. I don’t usually like to read stories from first-person POV, but Ladd did it in such a way that it was highly detailed, and I was easily immersed. For a time, I WAS Lily Emerson, looking out from her eyes and feeling what she felt.
At the beginning, I felt a bit of a drag as the story went forward (only because I wasn’t sure what I was reading toward). The promise of the Barrage in the description left me unsure and restless until halfway through the book when it finally got underway. I understand that the first part was important for character development and introducing plot factors, but I had the same problem with Hunger Games. The whole section of waiting and preparing before the tournament begins just left me feeling antsy. Not that it was bad, and I was fully involved once the story got going.
When I finally got to the Barrage, however, I was a bit disappointed. See, that was the part that I hoped would be MOST like Hunger Games, and instead it was not quite what I was expecting. Instead of being a free-for-all, eliminate-your-opponents-to-the-last-man-standing wilderness competition, it was a matched tournament where the pairs are randomly chosen to battle each other until the last fight for victory. And also, they don’t HAVE to kill each other. (Most of the competitors were surprisingly amiable off the field.) When I first started to witness the Barrage, I wasn’t really sure about it, but Ladd managed to make each battle interesting, and something significant happened in each instead of just giving us fight after pointless fight.
When I got into the last leg of the book, (perhaps the last 10%) an enormous jumble of things came together – some of them worked, and some of them didn’t, in my opinion. A few events, though there was reasoning in place, did not quite make me feel anything toward them. I didn’t quite love some of the characters I was supposed to love, and I didn’t quite hate the ones I was supposed to hate.
Now, the ending: I think the last lines of a book are important, and the ending of The Lotus Effect promised that Lily’s story is far from over. It offered surprise and intrigue, and certainly leaves one curious about the next book.
But despite the good (and possibly because I’m pretty detail-oriented myself), I also had issues with some of it. There seemed to be a lot of themes trying to happen at once, and I wasn’t sure which one was supposed to be important to me. But that’s not my biggest issue, so I digress. Moving on.
Another issue I had was that this was Steampunk, and so going in, I expected the doings to be all about logic and science – which they were, for a while, but then supernatural elements took root, . This book tried to be too many things. Some of the elements added to the characters seemed almost too much.
So all that said, here’s the reason why this review was difficult – or at least why it was difficult for me to assign a rating to this book: I liked the book, really. I enjoyed it, thought it was well-written and well-executed for the most part. By the time I got to the second half, I was invested in the two main characters, their relationship, and how things were going to play out in the end.
But at the same time, I felt that this book was a complete recycling of the Hunger Games plotline, even down to some of the smaller details. Even when I would forget about the Hunger Games relationship, I’d go on for a while, and some other small thing would pop up, and I’d think ‘here we are back in the Hunger Games again’.
So, my dilemma: do I review based simply on how much I liked this book (or how much better than Hunger Games it was), and ignore the fact that it reminded me so much of an insanely popular YA series? Or do I downplay how good the story was, just because I felt that it lacked originality?
I’ve thought about this a lot, even while reading it. I was really fickle about the book throughout the whole reading, and in the end, I have to take the middle ground and give it a 3. I have to take points away because it really did seem like Ladd took the entire plot and set up from the Hunger Games and then grew another story from the base ideas. I had to judge whether or not it crossed the line, and I feel that it did. I’m not saying she didn’t do a better job… It’s just difficult to borrow from something so popular and not have everyone notice.
April 18, 2014
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is no doubt in my mind that The Lotus Effect has a lot of potential. However, I never got into this one, no matter how hard I tried.
This book is a little bit similar to Hunger Games, not going to lie. However, it never once crossed over the rip-off line. (Cough cough likeArena One cough cough) The author added dozens of unique aspects to the book so that it never seemed very similar. The majority of any similarities were at the beginning, and as soon as it neared the middle there were basically none to be found, so it ended up not being a huge problem at all.
One thing I didn't like, however, was the romance. Okay, let me revise that; the romance itself didn't truly bother me, but there were times where I felt that Lily should have had more important things to focus on than wondering if Xander liked her. I don't think that if I was entering a competition that could possibly kill you, I would be very focused on crushes and that sort of thing. I'm usually fine with romance; it's not my favorite genre, but I can deal with it, but in this scenario I would expect it to be more subtle.
Also, I didn't think that there was an adequate amount of worldbuilding. I would have liked to more about the background of City Prosper and such. However, maybe it will be more explained in the next book.
As far as characters go, I had mixed feelings. There were times that I did like Lily, but there were times that I did not think she made the wisest of decisions. I feel like she got herself into a lot of trouble that could have been avoided if she hadn't been so compulsive. And I liked Xander, but
All in all, I didn't love this one. It will be a good read for some, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. I don't think I'll be continuing on with the series, sadly.
There is no doubt in my mind that The Lotus Effect has a lot of potential. However, I never got into this one, no matter how hard I tried.
This book is a little bit similar to Hunger Games, not going to lie. However, it never once crossed over the rip-off line. (Cough cough likeArena One cough cough) The author added dozens of unique aspects to the book so that it never seemed very similar. The majority of any similarities were at the beginning, and as soon as it neared the middle there were basically none to be found, so it ended up not being a huge problem at all.
One thing I didn't like, however, was the romance. Okay, let me revise that; the romance itself didn't truly bother me, but there were times where I felt that Lily should have had more important things to focus on than wondering if Xander liked her. I don't think that if I was entering a competition that could possibly kill you, I would be very focused on crushes and that sort of thing. I'm usually fine with romance; it's not my favorite genre, but I can deal with it, but in this scenario I would expect it to be more subtle.
Also, I didn't think that there was an adequate amount of worldbuilding. I would have liked to more about the background of City Prosper and such. However, maybe it will be more explained in the next book.
As far as characters go, I had mixed feelings. There were times that I did like Lily, but there were times that I did not think she made the wisest of decisions. I feel like she got herself into a lot of trouble that could have been avoided if she hadn't been so compulsive. And I liked Xander, but
All in all, I didn't love this one. It will be a good read for some, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. I don't think I'll be continuing on with the series, sadly.
August 11, 2016
The Lotus Effect is an enjoyable read, although I did find that it kind of dragged a bit in the beginning.
Lily is a girl who is to the next Mistress of Science in the city of Prosper; she is also a girl who appears to suffer from some kind of illness - this was never fully explained at the start as to what was wrong with her. She admires her Grandmother, who vanished one night when she was a little girl.
Xandert is a mysterious man, who appears and ends up helping Lily when she puts herself into a battle competition, over time we do learn more about him.
On the whole, I found this was a bit of a 'meh' book, the arena battles felt rather more like Hunger Games, Battle Royale, even Gladiator - although the winners of all the battles can decide new rules for the City of Prosper. It was also obvious who was going to win, so there wasn't that much excitement in that case, what was interesting was learning about Xander and his backstory, which made the book really interesting as I really couldn't get myself to like Lily.
There was also the illness that she had at the start of the book, during all the battles it seemed like it was forgotten and it was never really explained what it was even at the end - although when you read the full book you can guess where her 'illness' might have come from.
Obviously this book finished on a bit of a cliff hanger, though not an obvious one, but to learn more about Lily and what will happen to the people of Prosper you would need to read the next book to find out.
For me, I wouldn't actually bother, nothing completely grabbed me apart from Xander's back story, though there was a nice twist at the end, but nothing that makes me want to read more about Lily and her next adventure.
Lily is a girl who is to the next Mistress of Science in the city of Prosper; she is also a girl who appears to suffer from some kind of illness - this was never fully explained at the start as to what was wrong with her. She admires her Grandmother, who vanished one night when she was a little girl.
Xandert is a mysterious man, who appears and ends up helping Lily when she puts herself into a battle competition, over time we do learn more about him.
On the whole, I found this was a bit of a 'meh' book, the arena battles felt rather more like Hunger Games, Battle Royale, even Gladiator - although the winners of all the battles can decide new rules for the City of Prosper. It was also obvious who was going to win, so there wasn't that much excitement in that case, what was interesting was learning about Xander and his backstory, which made the book really interesting as I really couldn't get myself to like Lily.
There was also the illness that she had at the start of the book, during all the battles it seemed like it was forgotten and it was never really explained what it was even at the end - although when you read the full book you can guess where her 'illness' might have come from.
Obviously this book finished on a bit of a cliff hanger, though not an obvious one, but to learn more about Lily and what will happen to the people of Prosper you would need to read the next book to find out.
For me, I wouldn't actually bother, nothing completely grabbed me apart from Xander's back story, though there was a nice twist at the end, but nothing that makes me want to read more about Lily and her next adventure.
November 13, 2014
I was given this book for an honest review.
Honestly, I’d give this a 4.5 I was seriously close to LOVING this book. But, I just really, really liked it. The only reason it is not a 5 is because it started off slow and it seemed like it was going to be some kind of Hunger Games follower. BUT!! BAM! easily became a book I hated putting down.
You get a great dystopian with a kick ass steampunk thrown in and a splash of fantasy. Ladd painted the world beautifully. Everything from the buildings to the armor ( freaking loved the description of the armor) and weapons. The action was great and the romance between Xander and Lily was not one of the “instant love” things or a love triangle. Lily was at first a little whiny ( given that she was the Mistress of Sciences daughter and the next in line for the title I assume being privileged she is suppose to be like that) and I didn’t think I was going to like her character but she became such an amazing kick ass selfless resourceful chick. Xander, what would any story be without the mysterious man who is out for revenge and willing to help out the woman who is trying to save the people. Xander and Lily were such a great match and the playful conversation in some instances where great. Even the bad guys where wonderfully written. I loved hating them! ( Does that make sense?). It ended with a wonderful cliffhanger and I can not wait to figure out what happens next with Lily and Xander.
I think any reader who enjoys action ,some politics , steampunk, tiny bit of romance and great characters would like this book. Great Book!
Honestly, I’d give this a 4.5 I was seriously close to LOVING this book. But, I just really, really liked it. The only reason it is not a 5 is because it started off slow and it seemed like it was going to be some kind of Hunger Games follower. BUT!! BAM! easily became a book I hated putting down.
You get a great dystopian with a kick ass steampunk thrown in and a splash of fantasy. Ladd painted the world beautifully. Everything from the buildings to the armor ( freaking loved the description of the armor) and weapons. The action was great and the romance between Xander and Lily was not one of the “instant love” things or a love triangle. Lily was at first a little whiny ( given that she was the Mistress of Sciences daughter and the next in line for the title I assume being privileged she is suppose to be like that) and I didn’t think I was going to like her character but she became such an amazing kick ass selfless resourceful chick. Xander, what would any story be without the mysterious man who is out for revenge and willing to help out the woman who is trying to save the people. Xander and Lily were such a great match and the playful conversation in some instances where great. Even the bad guys where wonderfully written. I loved hating them! ( Does that make sense?). It ended with a wonderful cliffhanger and I can not wait to figure out what happens next with Lily and Xander.
I think any reader who enjoys action ,some politics , steampunk, tiny bit of romance and great characters would like this book. Great Book!
January 4, 2014
I could definitely see this as a movie. I wandered a bit out of my normal genres for this book, but I was greatly rewarded for doing so. The world building and character development pulled me in and then the fluid and immersive action sequences kept me turning pages at a frantic pace. I could not put this book down and cannot wait for the next one!
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of compelling adventure stories with action and romance.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of compelling adventure stories with action and romance.
September 5, 2015
I have never read a steampunk book before but I found this book really thrilling. A little hard to get into but soon the book had me enthralled and found it hard to put down. Bridget Ladd has a wonderful imagination and very descriptive thought. I found myself being right there with the charactors, visualizing the events. Loved the twist at the end leaving a wonderful cliff hanger. Cant wait to read book 2 of this series.
August 23, 2016
This was definitely a struggle for me. I gave it 2 stars because I more think this just wasn't my cup of tea as opposed to not being good at all.
I didn't particularly like Lily, I don't mind impulsiveness but she didn't show a lot of brains with her decision making. I couldn't picture the world, I didn't really feel the connection between Lily and Xander....I just couldn't get into it.
I didn't particularly like Lily, I don't mind impulsiveness but she didn't show a lot of brains with her decision making. I couldn't picture the world, I didn't really feel the connection between Lily and Xander....I just couldn't get into it.
February 14, 2014
I really liked this story, it is really one of the better I have read in this genre. However, I don't know if it was my kindle version or if it is written that way but I kept coming across words used incorrectly with in the text... a bit sad as I enjoyed the story so much and can't wait for the next one.
October 1, 2015
Some beautiful writing here--I love the action sequences and imagination. I kept getting caught on misused words, however. Badly needs a copy edit.
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