The Girl Who Electrified the World

Lightning Brain (Book 2)

Young Adult - Sci-Fi
675 Pages
Reviewed on 02/23/2023
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite

The Girl Who Electrified the World: Lightning Brain (Book 2) by Cliff Ratza is a science fiction work that takes us to the twenty-second century. An American helicopter is transporting critical data that could lead to the development of a vaccine for T-plague. This deadly virus causes neural entanglement, resulting in dementia. Just 400 feet before landing, the helicopter is struck by lightning and plummets to the ground, exploding on impact. Only Electra, a twenty-one-year-old with extraordinary abilities inherited at birth, survives. Electra begins to recover gradually with the assistance of friends and her unique nervous system. Meanwhile, her contributions to developing a T-plague vaccine earn her a high position in the American government. But fighting the virus isn't getting any easier for her, and holding the high rank may have made her more enemies than friends.

I finished this book in just three sittings. The intrigue and suspense that were the plot's main drivers kept luring me back. My favorite parts were the ones with fast-paced action scenes. I still get goosebumps when I remember how Electra demonstrated her driving prowess by driving her car in high-performance mode without crashing. Cliff Ratza ensures that there is something for everyone in this book. There is history that will interest history lovers, futuristic AI computer programming science that will excite sci-fi enthusiasts, and statistical knowledge that will leave any young adult pondering what they have learned at school. There is also a slow-burning romance that teaches us how everyone has the potential for intimate connection. The Girl Who Electrified the World is an excellent read, and I look forward to the third installment of the series.

K.C. Finn

The Girl Who Electrified The World is a work of fiction in the science fiction subgenre and serves as the second installment of the Lightning Brain series. It is aimed at young adult readers and was penned by Cliff Ratza. The book continues the journey of Electra Kittner, and follows the explosive conclusion to the first book, leaving her with new enemies to face off against whilst struggling to keep her secrets out of the hands of those who would exploit them. As a divided and scared America continues to live in fear of techno-plagues and terrorists, Electra knows the true enemy lies a great deal closer to home.

This was a thrilling tale of power and the toll it exacts, with Electra’s powers continually drawing a target on her back as she gains the upper hand over her old enemies. Cliff Ratza unleashes an arsenal of exciting and dynamic twists and turns from his excellent imagination, all of which serve to make this adventure a rollercoaster of danger and action that readers will adore. The prose itself is excellent, drawing readers into the well-considered world of the story and investing them deeply in Electra’s journey as she develops in response to the new storyline. It’s impressive to find a sequel to a story that had a satisfying conclusion that can evolve its lead character naturally without revisiting old ground. The Girl Who Electrified The World shows us how it's done with exciting developments that keep the series fresh throughout.

Vincent Dublado

Lightning Brain Book 2 presents The Girl Who Electrified the World. Author Cliff Ratza brings back Electra Kittner as she continues battling Techno-Plague and Middle East terrorism while keeping a harsh government at bay. She has grown wiser from her previous experience, and there is a certain leaning into the feminist ethos in her character as the heroine and as her abilities increase and operate in a game where men are mostly players. This time, she puts herself in harm’s way once more as she loses her body strength and ability to talk while the lightning brain feverishly works to diagnose the problem. It turns out that she is not immune to the T-Plague mutation, and it will kill her if the lightning brain can’t kill it first.

It’s arguably easier to sell Electra Kittner as a heroine who simply relies on her abilities to save the day, but Cliff Ratza superbly explores much of Electra’s thoughts and feelings and combines them with action to create an impactful and relatable character. Moments of high-octane action are balanced with Electra’s introspections that reveal her vulnerabilities. She shows the intelligence, chutzpah, diplomacy, and kickassery that make her a distinct protagonist. The facts and figures in the Appendix occupy many pages and there is even a section entitled For Geeks Only. Overall, Electra’s adventure in The Girl Who Electrified the World continues to provide the same level of thrill and excitement delivered in the first installment.

Essien Asian

It is the twenty-second century and America could not be in a worse predicament. The Techno plague, an insidious and debilitating ailment that causes anyone unfortunate enough to be infected to regress mentally and die, sweeps the country as millions fall to it. The Guardian Party and their fierce rivals, the Opposition Party, are knee-deep in political gerrymandering in a bid to outwit each other and control the future of the country. Unbeknownst to them, Isilabad's new leadership sets in motion a plan to end the influence of their American adversaries in global politics once and for all. The only hope for the American people lies in the burning ruins of a crashed helicopter in a Virginian national park. Action beckons in Cliff Ratza's The Girl Who Electrified The World.

The Girl Who Electrified The World is a science fiction classic. Several sections of this interesting novel read like a clinical dissertation in economics and business principles. The attention to detail stands out prominently. The pace of the novel is smooth as it alternates between drama and action. What I find very impressive about this novel is how Cliff Ratza uses an uncanny approach to his storytelling to effectively weave together a storyline with so many moving parts running simultaneously. The Girl Who Electrified The World has a bit of everything in it but still maintains its balance in a way that appeals to me. Cliff Ratza should be commended for this excellent piece of work.

Foluso Falaye

Various ambitious and powerful people intend to use their agendas to impact civilizations in The Girl Who Electrified the World. Hassan, a major villain, intends to make Europe the "Sick Man" of Islam by erecting a power structure that will win the centuries-long conflict between Islam and Christianity. Meanwhile, Electra is facing the terrible reality of living with amnesia and serious health challenges two days after a helicopter accident. Despite these difficulties, Electra's unusual gifts constitute a threat to seriously menacing terrorists. Is Electra strong and disciplined enough to carry out her daunting mission, or will her feelings about the men and people in her life get in the way? Cliff Ratza's Lightning Brain series continues with Book 2: The Girl Who Electrified the World.

One amazing part of this novel is that it presents the villain as intelligent and meticulous through a notably busy plot that alternates between the viewpoints of the villainous and heroic protagonists. Furthermore, the heroes are shown to be imperfect and not fully virtuous, which adds to the story's realism. For example, in her efforts to do good, Electra suffers some casualties and is compelled to rethink her unintentional pattern of destruction. Readers who enjoy engaging their minds with intellectual concepts and thought-provoking ideas will enjoy The Girl Who Electrified the World, which is packed with profound book recommendations and conversations about a variety of topics, including politics, history, religion, philosophy, quantum theory, economics, and more. Though the book's pace is a little too quick for me, I gained a lot from it. Cliff Ratza's intelligent, suspense-filled, and thrillingly futuristic sci-fi will have you wide-eyed with anticipation from start to finish!