A solid three stars. This book takes place in a futuristic world where the air is no longer breathable because of low oxygen content, resulting from high levels of radiation. Instead, humans are forced to live in oxygen enriched and purified domes. The radiation took its effect on the human race. Some humans were marred horribly, some remained unscathed while others were beneficially effected. The ones who were effected positively are considered elementalists and are able to create or manipulate one or more of the five main elements: air, fire, water, earth and space. The main character, Avery Pike, is a water elementalist - she creates steam which helps power her dome. She's a steam donator. As a payment for her services, the government takes good care of her and provides whatever she needs. However, her ability comes a a cost. Every time she donates steam it taxes her body. She's basically a slave to the government, that is until a stranger shows up and rescues her. Delivering her to another dome. A place which appears much better than her dome, but is it? 
 Pacing of this story is a little slow in the beginning, but then it picks up and delivers plenty of action, especially towards the ending. Steel Lily is a dystopian romance/steampunk mix taking place in the future after World War III. The romance is not the main focus of the story, however it does occupy a decent portion of the plot line. The main character, Avery Pike is strong willed and full of bravery, one of the Elites (the extremely pampered) because of her ability. She smart, good at what she does, but she's lonely. Her only friend is Alice, a Traditionalist or in other terms a human who is expendable. Alice isn't quite the risk taker that Avery is. Jaxon is Avery's love interest. He's a smart-alec, nice looking young man who wears his hair in dreadlocks. Most young woman find him irresistible, something he's keenly aware of. So, Avery doesn't want to give in to his advances. She even refuses to call him "Jaxs" a nickname, because only his friends call him this and in the beginning, she doesn't really trust him. 
 Steel Lily contains action, mystery and suspense. New inventions, cogs and interesting futuristic devices, add to this line up. Its a story which will keep the reader motivated to finish, just to uncover all of its secrets. One of the small drawback to the story is it is somewhat predictable. I was able to guess who the villain fairly early on in the story. This didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story because I only figured out who the person was, not why or what his/her motives were. Even though Steel Lily is only book one of the Periodic Series it could be read as a stand alone. The ending felt complete.