Where's Lolly?

Class Heroes #3

by Stephen Henning

Note regarding content: There are some, non-gratuitious, sexual references in the story and adult themes. Not suitable for readers aged under 15.
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Lolly Rosewood is 16 years old and she is on the run. She has arrived in London, penniless, alone and – worse still – she has lost her fearsome superpowers.

She is being hunted by the police and the Security Service, MI5. She has no friends and very few people who would want to help her.

Lolly needs money and a place to lie low, while she formulates a plan to rescue Sir Michael Rosewood, her father, who is being held prisoner by the British Government at a secret location.

There is one person who may just agree to help Lolly. An old friend of her father. However, time is running out because the Security Service are hot on her trail...

This is a short story in the Class Heroes series. Never read a Class Heroes book before? Doesn't matter. This is a self-contained short story about one of the principal characters, Lolly Rosewood. Lolly has special abilities. She has enhanced physical strength and the ability to control fire. Except, right now, she has nothing but a price on her head. How will she survive?

78 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2013

About the author

I began writing the first Class Heroes book on my laptop in February 2011, but these stories have probably been continually playing in my head since I was aged five or six, when I would act them out with toys and with my friends. I then branched out into using pencils, colouring pens and paper, moving on to writing pads and then my first computer.

So, as you’ve probably gathered, I have always enjoyed making up stories and the super-hero genre has been one of my favourites.

The CV-type stuff is that I went to Sheffield Hallam University to study English. I then trained and briefly worked as a journalist in Salford. After that, I moved into publishing – which was great. An interesting and fun industry to be in and fascinating to see how books are put together and sold.

After that I started doing technical writing, which led me to start my own business with my friend and colleague Andrew Butters. My love of writing, generally, led me back to writing fiction. Our company, Elucidox Ltd, publishes the Class Heroes books.

If you want to know a bit more about me, what kind of super powers I have and the kind of super villains I have to tangle with on a daily basis, then feel free to watch Rage. This is a short film, that took a long time to make. It’s a simple day in my life :-). Actually it’s just a fun movie that I made with the very kind help of some of my best mates. We had a laugh doing it, hope you like it too. And if you do, then why not explore the super world of the Class Heroes books?

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to see that Stephen Henning has written a book for the villainess. It is unusual that I become so enamored by a “bad guy”, but Lolly has my full attention. I can’t help but feel some empathy for her in this novella. With her background, it is not surprising that she turned out the way she did, but she is a human being. There is a heart, though it seems to be buried pretty deep. Can anyone reach her, make a connection?

She is on the run, with only one person to turn to. But, can he, will he be able to help her?

I was walking through the words, strolling along. Before I knew it, I was racing through the pages, so curious to see the outcome. Images flashed through my mind – Lolly holding the man by the heels, threatening to drop him off the roof – scaling walls and creating fire with her super powers.

I love it! Stephen Henning had my attention from the beginning to the end. Lots of action and emotion in such a few pages. I think this novella will entice you to read further and discover the adventures of the superheroes, James and Sam. Maybe you will even develop some empathy for Lolly, as I did. After all, she is only an unhappy teenager with superpowers. How bad can it be?

I received this novella from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.


Stephen Henning

[Diayll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author
Reviewer: AimeeKay


I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Class Heroes series. I think that the third book was even more well written. However I did have one major problem with it. But I’ll get to that later.

Let’s start with what I did like. I think my favorite part was getting into Lolly’s head. She is definitely the bad guy and I enjoyed seeing how she thought and how she saw herself. Not to be too much of a spoiler but I am glad to know that she will continue to appear in future installments of the series. It was also interesting to see that Lolly does have a note ‘human’ side to her. I’ve always enjoyed seeing her in the other novels, but getting to see her completely in her own book was definitely a treat.

Now for the part I don’t like. And please be prepared because it definitely is a spoiler. Ok. I know Lolly is basically a sociopath. She also is about as far from innocent as you can get. She is her father’s best hitman (woman, girl?) after all. However she is only 16. 16! Yet she not only gives after, but gets a man who is old enough to be her father. I don’t have an issue with May/December romances. However I do have an issue with older men sleeping with minors. It’s just skeevy. Yes, obviously, Lolly has a mentality way above a 16 year old, but still it really bothered me.

Up until this point I really viewed the series as falling into a younger YA class, but now I’m not so sure.

I definitely think you should read this series and make up your own mind though. While the first two books are acceptable for the younger set I do think you should read the third before handing it over to anyone under 18. The next book in the series should be out soon and I can’t wait to see what happens next, despite my issue with this one. I’m giving this one 4 out of 5 controllers because of the whole age/sex thing. But overall as a series this one still gets a 5 controller royalty award from me.

[Jess Mountifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ebook was gifted to me in return for a review.

I loved the first two books in the series and the plotline in both, but this one is by far the best. Lolly is just perfect in this story and despite being the third in a series it really stands alone well. I definitely think this is my favourite so far.

None of the other major character's are in this novella, just Lolly, which made me a little wary when first picking up the book. I didn't like Lolly (with good reason), when reading book 1 and only started to like her a little in book 3, and while I still can't agree with all her methods I must admit she's really grown on me and now I'm very eager to read book 4 and see her reunited with the other characters.

In terms of the writing style, Stephen has grown as an author over the series and this one really shines. Well written with a great pace and sense of style.

Can't wait to read book 4.

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I almost gave it 4 stars, but I can't say that I really enjoyed the story, but I liked it. I can't say that I liked anyone in the story but the good samaritan.

Lolly doesn't have her powers and her father is in custody. She has to use her brains and cunning to find money and survive. It was a good lesson for evil Lolly to get a taste of her own bitter medicine. Lolly turns to her father's old friend and financial adviser, Edgar, for help and they both get more than they bargained for.

Really more of a #2.5 novella than a #3 book in the series. Also, this book is about Lolly and wonder twins, James and Sam aren't in it.

With-reservations:
sexual situations, embezzlement, infidelity, violence, murder

For-review:
Received a free review copy from the author.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Is Lolly is a short story describing the events that has happened to Lolly after escaping and heading to London to look for Edgar Masters, Sir Michael Rosewood’s accountant (or something like that) and ask for help in finding the whereabouts of her father and provide her with financial aid that Sir Michael has stashed away in case emergencies happen.

Click here for the full review.

[TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome story

The first two books I read in the series were decent, but I didn’t know if I wanted to continue. After reading this one I need a whole series of just Lolly. She’s absolutely the best character.

[Mireia Taus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked THIS book!!!
This book is about a girl who is in a city without family or friends and she is trying to find a friend of her father because she has currently lost her powers so she needs to find a way to make them come back to save her father!!

I loved how she looked like a really stupid girl and vulnerable. I love the story because it is about the typic girl who wants her blue prince to save her but then it's not about that at all, but about this girl who just wants to save her father and wants her powers back!!

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was odd. I do think I'll give the series a shot though.

[Victoria Zigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well-written, and a pretty good read. It was great to get in to Lolly's head and see things from her point of view.