What do you think?
Rate this book
Messenger #1
The Lightning Seed
On the mechanical planet of Ma’a, Evl and his widowed mother become unexpected guardians of the Lightning Seed—a legendary artifact shrouded in mystery. Their daily struggle for survival transforms into a desperate race against the Otuun empire’s elite. As Evl taps into the Seed’s extraordinary powers, he inadvertently triggers a chain of events that will reshape Ma’a and revive long-forgotten worlds and knowledge.
Amidst colossal generators, vast battery fields, and accelefields that produce harvests in mere days, Evl’s yearning for a better life morphs into a battle for existence. The cryptic gift of the Lightning Seed from Talain, a local warlord, comes with a simple yet daunting keep it and stay alive.
With an increasing number of powerful adversaries in close pursuit, can Evl’s peculiar tribal gifts keep him a step ahead long enough to discover what the Lightning Seed can do? Will Ma’a, and perhaps the entire universe, survive if he does?
Uncover lost worlds and forgotten knowledge in this action-packed dystopian sci-fi saga.
Amidst colossal generators, vast battery fields, and accelefields that produce harvests in mere days, Evl’s yearning for a better life morphs into a battle for existence. The cryptic gift of the Lightning Seed from Talain, a local warlord, comes with a simple yet daunting keep it and stay alive.
With an increasing number of powerful adversaries in close pursuit, can Evl’s peculiar tribal gifts keep him a step ahead long enough to discover what the Lightning Seed can do? Will Ma’a, and perhaps the entire universe, survive if he does?
Uncover lost worlds and forgotten knowledge in this action-packed dystopian sci-fi saga.
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2024
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 17, 2025
Disclaimer: I am NOT the author, but I am a big fan.
This is a great sci-fi novel with fantastic world building that more hardcore sci-fi readers will enjoy, while remaining accessible for less sci-fi inclined audiences. It’s something I really think anyone can enjoy. Its excellent imagery makes it very easy to imagine the movie.
This book was so engaging and interesting to read. I found the plot to be compelling and was very well engineered to reveal its mysteries little by little- giving you enough to keep you invested, while holding enough back to keep you wanting more.
The characters were so compelling. Even the “villains” of the story are complex with their own motivations, fears, and aspirations. Nobody is single-faceted or black and white. I also loved having such strong female characters that are interesting and serve more of a purpose than just being love interests for the protagonist or something like that. Bechdel test for the win!
I was NOT expecting that ending but am excited to hear what comes next.
My only critique is that I would’ve liked to hear more of the rumors or folk tales about the Lightning Seed that are frequently referenced, but we don’t actually get to hear any of it.
This is a great sci-fi novel with fantastic world building that more hardcore sci-fi readers will enjoy, while remaining accessible for less sci-fi inclined audiences. It’s something I really think anyone can enjoy. Its excellent imagery makes it very easy to imagine the movie.
This book was so engaging and interesting to read. I found the plot to be compelling and was very well engineered to reveal its mysteries little by little- giving you enough to keep you invested, while holding enough back to keep you wanting more.
The characters were so compelling. Even the “villains” of the story are complex with their own motivations, fears, and aspirations. Nobody is single-faceted or black and white. I also loved having such strong female characters that are interesting and serve more of a purpose than just being love interests for the protagonist or something like that. Bechdel test for the win!
I was NOT expecting that ending but am excited to hear what comes next.
My only critique is that I would’ve liked to hear more of the rumors or folk tales about the Lightning Seed that are frequently referenced, but we don’t actually get to hear any of it.
December 4, 2024
I love this book!
I’m not normally a SciFi person but wonder if The Lightning Seed is a little like Dune meets Hunger Games or something like that. Regardless of the mechanized planet setting, I was caught up in the story of a mother and her son as they are given a task that seems impossible and puts their lives at risk. The character development, rich description, complex themes, and thrilling adventure made me love each chapter and excited for the next
I’m not normally a SciFi person but wonder if The Lightning Seed is a little like Dune meets Hunger Games or something like that. Regardless of the mechanized planet setting, I was caught up in the story of a mother and her son as they are given a task that seems impossible and puts their lives at risk. The character development, rich description, complex themes, and thrilling adventure made me love each chapter and excited for the next
March 10, 2025
Great character development. This book is really a human relationship story set in an unknown world. Can’t wait for book #2.
December 26, 2024
In a world where sand is money, and soil is money, this one legendary seed is... also money.
Some characters believe the seed has special powers. Most do not. A major theme is that value is assigned based on societal choices. The seed is money. *Lots* of money. And everyone wants it, badly. They want to live a better life - never describing what that actually is. That's the plot.
Most money in this world consists of grains of sand. At one point a character hands over a singular grain of sand to a man who swirls it around his mouth before spitting it out, having confirmed that it is real. I'd just like the author to roleplay that one and tell me if it's as easy at every stage as he made it sound. It genuinely made me think the characters were all secretly robots for like half the book - if this is confirmed in later books I'll take this back and rerate it.
World building aside, the writing could do with an edit. It's just overwritten. For all the mystery afforded to the seed itself (and I'm using mystery against my will here - none of the characters care, it's just money to them. You could substitute "the Lighting Seed" with "a billion dollars" in every mention prior to page 280 and it'd make perfect sense), every conversation is explained to death. If it's not exposition, it's explaining what the reader already knows, then randomly throwing out quotable philosophy. It'd be perfectly passable with another round of editing, all the cues that were put there for the writer to keep track of things taken out. You don't need to explain why a character is about to say what they're about to say before they say it, not every time.
What I Did like was the amount of world building that appeared to have been done. Whether it pays off through the series remains to be seen, but the little chapter headings, hints (way too explicit but hints nevertheless) about things happening outside the characters' immediate world, the general sense of history, kept me thinking that there's something More here. Ironically, that's why this all infuriated me so much. I just wanted much more than I was given, in the end. Why would you include a storyteller character, and constantly tell me that the titular seed has lots of stories about it, and at no point have him tell one of those stories?
Some characters believe the seed has special powers. Most do not. A major theme is that value is assigned based on societal choices. The seed is money. *Lots* of money. And everyone wants it, badly. They want to live a better life - never describing what that actually is. That's the plot.
Most money in this world consists of grains of sand. At one point a character hands over a singular grain of sand to a man who swirls it around his mouth before spitting it out, having confirmed that it is real. I'd just like the author to roleplay that one and tell me if it's as easy at every stage as he made it sound. It genuinely made me think the characters were all secretly robots for like half the book - if this is confirmed in later books I'll take this back and rerate it.
World building aside, the writing could do with an edit. It's just overwritten. For all the mystery afforded to the seed itself (and I'm using mystery against my will here - none of the characters care, it's just money to them. You could substitute "the Lighting Seed" with "a billion dollars" in every mention prior to page 280 and it'd make perfect sense), every conversation is explained to death. If it's not exposition, it's explaining what the reader already knows, then randomly throwing out quotable philosophy. It'd be perfectly passable with another round of editing, all the cues that were put there for the writer to keep track of things taken out. You don't need to explain why a character is about to say what they're about to say before they say it, not every time.
What I Did like was the amount of world building that appeared to have been done. Whether it pays off through the series remains to be seen, but the little chapter headings, hints (way too explicit but hints nevertheless) about things happening outside the characters' immediate world, the general sense of history, kept me thinking that there's something More here. Ironically, that's why this all infuriated me so much. I just wanted much more than I was given, in the end. Why would you include a storyteller character, and constantly tell me that the titular seed has lots of stories about it, and at no point have him tell one of those stories?
December 24, 2024
Remarkable read. I cannot recommend this book enough. You get to step in to a unique world and go on an adventure with fascinating characters. The imagery created a movie in my mind. I haven’t read a story quite like this; it’s thrilling. I would recommend this book to anyone.
September 21, 2025
For the first book in a series, this book wastes no time grabbing your attention and pulling you in. It is an outstanding story in an established genre, but it is anything but typical. The ending is unique, powerful, and has left me eagerly awaiting its sequel!
February 25, 2025
Not my style of book but a good read nonetheless. Lots of characters to remember but you learn to love them all! Would recommend to SciFi lovers.
November 6, 2024
Keeper of the Lightning Seed . . .
Evl had dreaded the exhausting tests, the Pass, that would determine most of the remainder of his life. Skills were tested as he would repair multiple mechanical and electrical devices, then be judged on his memory and manual dexterity skills. But the worst part is he would be assigned a job that he would do until he died. The future sounded bleak and monotonous without any hope of gaining new knowledge. He would rather be a seed courier, but his mother just wouldn’t allow it, pushing him to prepare for the Pass. But when Evl and his mother become unexpected guardians of the Lightning Seed, a legendary artifact, their lives change. Evl taps into the Seed’s extraordinary powers, but what will happen now? Will he be able to discover all that the Lightning Seed is capable of? Or will such power bring on the doom of the universe instead?
Evl had dreaded the exhausting tests, the Pass, that would determine most of the remainder of his life. Skills were tested as he would repair multiple mechanical and electrical devices, then be judged on his memory and manual dexterity skills. But the worst part is he would be assigned a job that he would do until he died. The future sounded bleak and monotonous without any hope of gaining new knowledge. He would rather be a seed courier, but his mother just wouldn’t allow it, pushing him to prepare for the Pass. But when Evl and his mother become unexpected guardians of the Lightning Seed, a legendary artifact, their lives change. Evl taps into the Seed’s extraordinary powers, but what will happen now? Will he be able to discover all that the Lightning Seed is capable of? Or will such power bring on the doom of the universe instead?
July 13, 2025
This book is a thrilling adventure for fans of sci-fi novels like Dune or epic tales like Lord of the Rings. The vibrant tribes and peoples of Ma’a are vividly portrayed, blending futuristic and primitive elements with remarkable depth. The author skillfully weaves realistic gaps in the historical knowledge of these societies, immersing readers as if uncovering the rich lore of ancient peoples.
The story follows a cast of well-developed characters, each with compelling stories, beliefs, and motivations. Their individual narratives intertwine brilliantly, creating a deeply satisfying and interconnected reading experience.
Overall, the Lightning Seed is a thrilling opening to the Messenger series that will leave readers thinking about the complexity of the society we live in and the many cogs that make that machine work.
The story follows a cast of well-developed characters, each with compelling stories, beliefs, and motivations. Their individual narratives intertwine brilliantly, creating a deeply satisfying and interconnected reading experience.
Overall, the Lightning Seed is a thrilling opening to the Messenger series that will leave readers thinking about the complexity of the society we live in and the many cogs that make that machine work.
January 7, 2025
Shara and Evl a tasked with the impossible: keep the most wanted and powerful object in their world away from everyone else with no knowledge of what it could be.
This fast paced novel deals with complex characters. There is no villain other than the inevitability of haves and have nots. I found myself rooting for, and against, warlords, assassins, and spies throughout the book.
The ending is amazing and the payoff is worth the read as you ask yourself about how our real world interacts with words, symbols, and power.
This fast paced novel deals with complex characters. There is no villain other than the inevitability of haves and have nots. I found myself rooting for, and against, warlords, assassins, and spies throughout the book.
The ending is amazing and the payoff is worth the read as you ask yourself about how our real world interacts with words, symbols, and power.
December 20, 2024
A poor family will come into procession of an ancient relic which will change their lives. The elite do not like that they have the seed as they believe they are more worthy. He will find their lives getting more complicated as he learns even more about the seed. See just where they will all end up
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I loved where I was taken
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I loved where I was taken
December 19, 2024
Rich culture that pulls you in simultaneously making you sigh with relief that this is not your world. Diverse tribes/castes. Great details like dialects, satisfying range of characters- and an unpredictable ending. I reccomend.
January 16, 2025
I love to see something new in sci-fi that obviously draws on influences, but is still fresh and different. This novel was an enjoyable coming of age that left me wanting for more. I am hoping to learn more about this world
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews