Lotus

by Will Cooper

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Born in England and raised in Canada, Will Cooper studied philosophy at Massey University and creative writing at Whitireia in New Zealand.

He has worked as an English teacher, editor, lecturer, and electrician, and now devotes himself to art and writing. He lives with his wife and three children on a farm animal sanctuary in rural Nova Scotia.

LOTUS is his debut novel.

Reviews

[Jon Mallet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Lotus by Will Cooper and here are my comments.


This short piece of science-fiction explores the impact of a post-AI world and what it means for us as individuals on an every day level. In my opinion, this is a fascinating subject that is rarely examined thoroughly, even if today the use of AI is oversold as a magical solution to a perfect world.


Summarizing the story and doing it justice is difficult. A consciousness that has lost everything believes it has been transferred into another human form by the omnipotent machine to understand something deep about life. We are transported to Vancouver where we hop into an existing woman's life. From there we get to experience her interrogations as to the meaning of this whole experience. 


I have to say that this story was like nothing I have read before and had some very interesting ideas brought forward. The struggle to feel alive, what is real and what is simulation, is suffering an integral part of our existence or can we put it aside and still consider ourselves human?


Add to that a very calm, almost meditative prose that offers no black or white answer and a very unique approach to music in literature and you end up with this little jewel.


I loved Lotus because of its depth and the burgeoning ideas it brought to my mind. I have no idea what Will Cooper will write next but I am sure it will be worth the read.

[liyahreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

a special thank you to Wicked Ink Publishing for sending me an arc copy! lotus is the first book in a coming trilogy series.

this was my first Will Cooper book and first read for the sci-fi genre, and this was the literal PERFECT introduction to the genre i had such a fun time with this read. we follow Lotus who was raised in isolation and living through simulations. she thought had reached the final one, only to wake up and start over again.

at first the writing style was a bit difficult to grasp but once over that hurtle i was so invested! it felt like a triller at times because you knew none of it was real and this was simulation, but that back-of-mind eerie feeling grounded the story.

it’s definitely not a book i would usually gravitate towards but i'm so glad to have read lotus, specifically for its unclear ending. as much as i want her to have her happy ending and know how many simulations she’s been through, it’s those type of answers that will begin to unfold themselves in the other books of the trilogy.

this is the perfect book to read when you have a lot of time to spare, reason being the book’s themes sank in deep, as parts of the plot is revolving around specific elements of our world including AI and technology integration into our daily living.

if you’re looking to dive into sci-fi, have some time to spare, or looking for a story that changes your perception of humanity vs collective intelligence , this is your sign to pick up lotus. 📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 /5

Tropes
✨ Simulated Realities
✨ Humanity vs Collective Intelligence
✨ Nature of Reality
✨ Perception of Freedom

[Victoria Night · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite struggling a bit with the writing style, once I got into the rhythm, I couldn't put the book down.
It made me wanting to know more. What exactly happened to Lotus before her Final Trial? What actually occurred before humanity became a collective intelligence? Is Lotus truly Lotus or is she merely a tool created by the System to stay alive in a sense?

I'll admit, I felt for Lotus and I was hoping she would finally find her happiness in the end but how does one find happiness when nothing makes sense? I'm actually looking forward for the next book within the series just so I know what happens next.

If you like books based on a dystopia society which includes;
*simulated realities
*awareness inside the simulation
*chosen subjects
*humanity vs collective intelligence
*emotion catalyst and
*nature of reality
This is a good book to read and question the actions humanity made to survive but from what? That still needs to be seen.

Thank you Wicked Ink Publishing for the early access.

[Sylvia May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a genre I read often, but Will Cooper’s debut novel captivated me. The novel takes place in an intriguing imagined future where humans’ lives and thoughts are controlled by AI. Cooper employs an interesting device, whereby both the reader and the main character, Lotus, are confused about her reality and not understanding what is going on. In the first several chapters, I was as confused and unknowing as Lotus, and had similar questions to the ones she was posing. As her understanding increased, so did mine. I found myself rooting for Lotus, and felt dismayed by her choice at the end. When I finished the novel I was left with many questions and I look forward to reading Cooper’s next novel, hoping they will be answered. I also want to know if and how Lotus might defy The System (and hope she does).

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not big into SciFi books, but this one sounded really interesting, and it really was!

We follow Lotus, who was raised in isolation and living through simulations.
She thought she was done, and had reached the last one, but woke up having to start over.

We follow her as she slowly realizes this time, it's not a simulation. She is battling with her own thoughts, vs her sync voice, while all minds are connected, trying to figure it all out.

While this is not my normal style of book, and I admittedly did have to go back and reread some things here and there to understand what was happening, I really did enjoy this book.

I received this arc from Wicked Ink Publishing, for my honest thoughts.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Lotus” provides the reader with a fascinating take on an imagined future where reality is not what it seems; or claims to be. While it presents a disturbing revelation about what it means to be human in a confused and confusing world, there is comfort in knowing that the ability to exercise one’s agency remains. Cooper has brought us a thoughtful exploration of a vision that may not be so fanciful, considering the enormity of the technological advances taking place today.

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the writing, and enjoyed the story. The commentary and the pros are just what I enjoy. Personally I enjoy a clearer ending but can appreciate the reflectiveness.

I want to thank wicked ink publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Caleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great example of world building well done, Lotus emphasizes the importance of the human experience in the midst of the rise of technology. Looking forward to book #2!

[Amy Atwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how the story of Lotus balanced big sci-fi concepts with emotional depth, and the recurring simulation details made the world feel incredibly layered and thoughtful. This story stayed with me after I finished it. Can’t wait to read more from Will Cooper!