The Lightning Riders

by Jenny Medenwald

Haley Finn might seem like any other teenager. Except that a curse on her mother 17 years ago left Haley with multiple personalities and some very inhuman abilities. Haley can manipulate the weather around her at will and her other personalities—JJ and Sara—each has unique abilities of their own. Too bad they can’t agree on boys, hairstyles, vices, or anything else for that matter. In fact, the only thing they have in common is a shared body and mutual respect. Sometimes. One summer night after Haley puts on a wicked lightning display, weird things begin happening around town. Creatures unlike any they’ve ever seen appear out of nowhere. And one night one of them speaks to Sara—the personality with the ability to communicate with animals. Baudelaire tells Sara that the Lightning Riders have come for a boy who holds the answer to their freedom. Turns out longtime friend and boy next door (and crush of Haley’s) Drew, might have some secrets of his own. It’s up to Haley to get the girls to work together because it's the only way to defeat the creatures’ master and send them back to where they came from. And just maybe win Drew’s heart in the process.

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2021

About the author

Jenny was born and raised in the Midwest and has since settled in Indianapolis. Once a Midwest girl, always a Midwest girl, she supposes. Not enough snow for her liking, but at least they experience all four seasons.

She loves: coffee, the smell of fresh cut grass, red wine, winter (mostly the snow), bonfires, summer concerts, rainy days curled up with a good book, tattoos, all animals, the ID channel (it's research!), the hubs and, of course, writing. Not necessarily in that order.

She hates: obscenely hot weather (sweating without exercise or a bathing suit is just awful), rude people (why?), and bad grammar (come on now). Also not in that order.

​Thanks to a copywriting job that didn't actually provide 40 hours of work, Jenny wrote her first book not long after graduating with an English degree from Indiana University. You can only play solitaire for so long. Since that fateful day she hasn't been able to STOP coming up with ideas and as such, has several young adult novels published (mostly thriller and fantasy). And new characters are forever poking her brain requesting their story be told, so safe to assume there are always more coming...

For more information visit her website at: www.jennymedenwald.com

Reviews

[Jenny Medenwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of my novels begin with a question or a character idea. The Lightning Riders began with the title. What kinds of things or creatures would use lightning as a means of transportation?

From there, I realized I needed to have a pretty spectacular main character (or several) to match the kind of creature who could ride the most powerful form of electricity. Sisters always have a tendency to fight/ compete/ run through a gamut of emotions when it comes to their relationship. But they're also more protective of one another than any other relationship I've come across (speaking from personal experience, of course).

And that's what this story is really about. The power of sisterhood, blood or otherwise. Because against it, evil doesn't stand a chance.

[Tanya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan. The multiple personalities kept confusing me because it wasn’t explained until far in the book how they can all act at same time. The lightning riders were mentioned all throughout the book, but in the grand scheme of things, they were minor characters. I’m glad I finished the book, but I could have dropped it at any point and wouldn’t have cared if I finished or not.