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sallashelves's review against another edition
1.0
Full Review:
https://bookstoldmeso.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-unexpected-inlander.html
Either you love the writing style, or you don't. I didn't. The plot had so much potential that I feel quite frustrated with how I ended up feeling about the book.
https://bookstoldmeso.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-unexpected-inlander.html
Either you love the writing style, or you don't. I didn't. The plot had so much potential that I feel quite frustrated with how I ended up feeling about the book.
darquedreamer's review against another edition
5.0
The Unexpected Inlander was highly intriguing and highlighted issues of controversy that made it quite exciting! It was fast paced and intense. It was definitely a one sitting kind of read and I devoured it!
From the synopsis you can't really tell that this is a science fiction genre book. To give very mild spoilers, The Unexpected Inlander was set in a time after "The War" where those who had natural births and declined to genetically modify the children in any way were considered Purebreds, and those who followed the law, modifying genomes to get rid of disease and vastly lower the risk of sickness, were called Modifieds. The government was now called The Order, and kept very close tabs on all Purebreds, as they posed a higher risk of spreading disease and infections.
The idea behind this story was insanely fascinating! I loved the idea of genetic modification to rid the world of diseases and sickness. What I wouldn't give to have had that to prevent my type 1 Diabetes! I also loved how thought provoking this story was and how controversial it all became because, just like in reality with anti-vaccers, the Purebreds were against modifications and there was even a secret rebel group planning attacks against The Order.
The story was quite frightening at times though. The amount of control and power The Order held was horrific. There were retinal scans and trackers everywhere. The Purebreds were forced to live in communities among themselves due to their higher risk of contracting infections and diseases, and there was widespread prejudice everywhere!
I loved the two main characters and what they represented. Chris was a strong character set in his beliefs, and, obviously, the best assassin The Order employed. He also had a conscience from the start, and was an incredibly decent, caring man. Though he was set in his ways and beliefs about the Purebreds and modifications, after he met Jenna he started to change how he perceived things, and I thought that was beautiful. He began to care for her and realized how poor things were for her, and all Purebreds.
I really loved Jenna and her strength. She never let the prejudice get her down and she always fought so hard to live a normal life. I loved her attitude toward life and how she treated people as equals and how she touched and changed Chris. I enjoyed watching her slowly let her guard down to Chris as she opened up and flourished as the beautiful character she was.
This is one of the best stories I have read in a long time! I loved the sci-fi tech, and the espionage, and how every person on the street seemed suspicious to me (because of the case Chris was working when he met Jenna). I loved the moral lesson of acceptance and treating people as equals, and I loved that even though The Order had sought to create a Utopia, of sorts, with the genetic modifications, the environment felt almost Hitler-ish with the "concentration communities" and the law of requiring modification, (most modifieds sought to physically change their hair and eye color to one particular look too) and it highlighted how that much control and power could cause chaos, prejudice, and danger. Though the story was predictable most of the time, I couldn't put it down and I absolutely loved it! It was worth the read and I'd highly recommend it! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review!
From the synopsis you can't really tell that this is a science fiction genre book. To give very mild spoilers, The Unexpected Inlander was set in a time after "The War" where those who had natural births and declined to genetically modify the children in any way were considered Purebreds, and those who followed the law, modifying genomes to get rid of disease and vastly lower the risk of sickness, were called Modifieds. The government was now called The Order, and kept very close tabs on all Purebreds, as they posed a higher risk of spreading disease and infections.
The idea behind this story was insanely fascinating! I loved the idea of genetic modification to rid the world of diseases and sickness. What I wouldn't give to have had that to prevent my type 1 Diabetes! I also loved how thought provoking this story was and how controversial it all became because, just like in reality with anti-vaccers, the Purebreds were against modifications and there was even a secret rebel group planning attacks against The Order.
The story was quite frightening at times though. The amount of control and power The Order held was horrific. There were retinal scans and trackers everywhere. The Purebreds were forced to live in communities among themselves due to their higher risk of contracting infections and diseases, and there was widespread prejudice everywhere!
I loved the two main characters and what they represented. Chris was a strong character set in his beliefs, and, obviously, the best assassin The Order employed. He also had a conscience from the start, and was an incredibly decent, caring man. Though he was set in his ways and beliefs about the Purebreds and modifications, after he met Jenna he started to change how he perceived things, and I thought that was beautiful. He began to care for her and realized how poor things were for her, and all Purebreds.
I really loved Jenna and her strength. She never let the prejudice get her down and she always fought so hard to live a normal life. I loved her attitude toward life and how she treated people as equals and how she touched and changed Chris. I enjoyed watching her slowly let her guard down to Chris as she opened up and flourished as the beautiful character she was.
This is one of the best stories I have read in a long time! I loved the sci-fi tech, and the espionage, and how every person on the street seemed suspicious to me (because of the case Chris was working when he met Jenna). I loved the moral lesson of acceptance and treating people as equals, and I loved that even though The Order had sought to create a Utopia, of sorts, with the genetic modifications, the environment felt almost Hitler-ish with the "concentration communities" and the law of requiring modification, (most modifieds sought to physically change their hair and eye color to one particular look too) and it highlighted how that much control and power could cause chaos, prejudice, and danger. Though the story was predictable most of the time, I couldn't put it down and I absolutely loved it! It was worth the read and I'd highly recommend it! 4.5 stars!
Thank you to the author for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review!
jen_baroness_mom's review against another edition
5.0
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson is a story of one man's revelation that all is not as it has been told or as he perceived and how he handles this new knowledge.
Chris comes across as a simple man that blends into the world he inhabits. He does his job with great care and excels at being the top of his field. Yet, Chris is more than most see. He has ambitions but is willing to wait until the time is right. For the most part, Chris is a good citizen, and he does his job well. However, after meeting Jenna and hearing her ideas, things may not be as he assumed they were.
I like Chris as he is intelligent, self-disciplined, and loyal to profession, country, and family. Yet, Chris isn't who I would typically root for in a story. I think after he finds Jenna, he also finds himself. Chris can finally relax. Once this happens, he seems more human and less programmed. He is, after all, a modified human.
Jenna is, for all purposes, an inlander. Basically, a working-class citizen of low income. Yet, she doesn't act as though she is of that class. Jenna comes across as confident, socially forward, polite, and high-class manners. She goes with the flow for the most part, but no matter how classy she comes across, she is a purebred. Jenna is not modified, and therefore people look at her as a novelty, a specimen, or they dislike simply because she wasn't altered.
I think Jenna is brilliant. She has learned to protect herself and to get by in a different city than what she grew up or went to college in. Jenna is also forward-thinking. However, that is a spoiler, so I won't go any further. Just know that Jenna knows more than the Order would like her to know.
I loved the theme of this fictional book; I say that as even though it is made up, many things in this perfect society aren't perfect. The citizens don't see the different races, but they see the modification of the human. They also judge you based on your location and class status. The author brings out in the imperfections slowly and shows how Jenna is treated differently than Chris. This is the same as what we are seeing in the media today, yet different. The change in Chris once he has a few conversations with Jenna shows that one person can make a difference.
I also adore the relationship that Chris and Jenna build together. Therefore, my rating for The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson is five stars. I am looking forward to the next book, The Modified Blueprint.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Chris put his love for Jenna ahead of his duty?
Christopher Rockford
Chris comes across as a simple man that blends into the world he inhabits. He does his job with great care and excels at being the top of his field. Yet, Chris is more than most see. He has ambitions but is willing to wait until the time is right. For the most part, Chris is a good citizen, and he does his job well. However, after meeting Jenna and hearing her ideas, things may not be as he assumed they were.
I like Chris as he is intelligent, self-disciplined, and loyal to profession, country, and family. Yet, Chris isn't who I would typically root for in a story. I think after he finds Jenna, he also finds himself. Chris can finally relax. Once this happens, he seems more human and less programmed. He is, after all, a modified human.
Jenna Macklemore
Jenna is, for all purposes, an inlander. Basically, a working-class citizen of low income. Yet, she doesn't act as though she is of that class. Jenna comes across as confident, socially forward, polite, and high-class manners. She goes with the flow for the most part, but no matter how classy she comes across, she is a purebred. Jenna is not modified, and therefore people look at her as a novelty, a specimen, or they dislike simply because she wasn't altered.I think Jenna is brilliant. She has learned to protect herself and to get by in a different city than what she grew up or went to college in. Jenna is also forward-thinking. However, that is a spoiler, so I won't go any further. Just know that Jenna knows more than the Order would like her to know.
Five Stars
I loved the theme of this fictional book; I say that as even though it is made up, many things in this perfect society aren't perfect. The citizens don't see the different races, but they see the modification of the human. They also judge you based on your location and class status. The author brings out in the imperfections slowly and shows how Jenna is treated differently than Chris. This is the same as what we are seeing in the media today, yet different. The change in Chris once he has a few conversations with Jenna shows that one person can make a difference.
I also adore the relationship that Chris and Jenna build together. Therefore, my rating for The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson is five stars. I am looking forward to the next book, The Modified Blueprint.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Unexpected Inlander by Kellyn Thompson.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
booksanddachshunds's review
4.0
ngocttran's review against another edition
3.0
A fresh, realistic take on the dystopian genre. I think I would've enjoyed the book a lot more if the world had been fleshed out fully at the beginning of the novel rather than having little pieces dispersed throughout the book. I liked Jenna but found Chris very one dimensional for most of the book, so it made it difficult for me to connect with him and with their love story.
A solid debut!
A solid debut!
lozzysbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Unexpected Inlander is filled with drama, action and romance. However, it’s not over the top, instead it’s a perfect blend of all three. It’s set in a fascinating dystopia where the world has been split into sectors and people are judged purely on genetics. I found this whole idea original and thoroughly interesting. The narrative often changed between the two main characters; Chris and Jenna but I enjoyed reading both perspectives. It was entertaining to read each of them having similar thoughts about each other but not realising the other was thinking the same. Also, both characters were incredibly interesting to read about. The world was detailed and created brilliantly, it wasn’t too much. Kellyn Thompson created a novel filled with action, a forbidden romance and exciting twists throughout.
brewsandbooksuk's review against another edition
3.0
Review from The Bookworm Mummy
As someone who often wonders what life in the near future will be like and where humanity is headed, I found the premise of Thompson's debut novel very intriguing. A future where babies can be genetically engineered according to their parents wishes is not just possible, but actually very probable, and so it was interesting to see a take on what that world would look like.
The world building in The Unexpected Inlander is detailed and well thought out, and it's explored well without the writing coming off as too info dumpy. This possible version of the future felt grounded and realistic, and it's obvious a lot of work went into it's portrayal.
However, I felt that the premise was let down a little by it's plot and characters. I found it hard to connect with either protagonist, mostly because they didn't come across as fully formed, individual people. This might be because of the way the POVs are written - they jump from Christopher to Jenna randomly, which was a little jarring, and hindered the development of individual voices for the two characters.
The pace and the action felt rather slow. The writing is focused and detailed, which is great, but I felt that it slowed down the action at certain points. A little variety would have been good here. The plot twist is predicable, and I was disappointed with the way the fallout played out after the reveal, and the resolution. I expected a few more fireworks, to be honest.
Overall, The Unexpected Inlander was a good debut, and I look forward to seeing what else Thompson can deliver.
Buy it, borrow it, skip it? Borrow it.
Perfect for: Lovers of "what if" Sci-fi and sugar coated romance.
Happy reading!
As someone who often wonders what life in the near future will be like and where humanity is headed, I found the premise of Thompson's debut novel very intriguing. A future where babies can be genetically engineered according to their parents wishes is not just possible, but actually very probable, and so it was interesting to see a take on what that world would look like.
The world building in The Unexpected Inlander is detailed and well thought out, and it's explored well without the writing coming off as too info dumpy. This possible version of the future felt grounded and realistic, and it's obvious a lot of work went into it's portrayal.
However, I felt that the premise was let down a little by it's plot and characters. I found it hard to connect with either protagonist, mostly because they didn't come across as fully formed, individual people. This might be because of the way the POVs are written - they jump from Christopher to Jenna randomly, which was a little jarring, and hindered the development of individual voices for the two characters.
The pace and the action felt rather slow. The writing is focused and detailed, which is great, but I felt that it slowed down the action at certain points. A little variety would have been good here. The plot twist is predicable, and I was disappointed with the way the fallout played out after the reveal, and the resolution. I expected a few more fireworks, to be honest.
Overall, The Unexpected Inlander was a good debut, and I look forward to seeing what else Thompson can deliver.
Buy it, borrow it, skip it? Borrow it.
Perfect for: Lovers of "what if" Sci-fi and sugar coated romance.
Happy reading!
bookishbynaturee's review against another edition
Set in a time of government control and compulsory genetic modification. Where you have to apply for a child license and where the sectors are homogenous, one culture, one people. In such a world, of course, not everything goes smoothly; there are those who are against genetic modification - called 'purebreds' who are shunned by society and only allowed to live in a community with their own kind, with low socioeconomic status. Except for a select few families. The rich are coastal and the poor are the Inlanders.
Chris Rockford is a government agent, an assassin. His job is to eliminate a purebred family of anarchists to maintain the order. While on a mission he meets an intriguing and mysterious woman called Jenna, a purebred inlander. They are instantly drawn to each other and she makes Chris feel for the first time. As he becomes more immersed in her life as an inlander he begins to see how differently they are treated, the inequalities they face and he starts to question things in his life. He also knows his job will scare her away. But Jenna has secrets of her own.
This is a very interesting and well-written story. To be honest, in the beginning, I was a bit confused with the whole purebred society, the modified people, and the people born before the ban on pure breeding. However, that is really the only con I have for this book. It was well-paced and well balanced in the plot, with Chris' life as an agent and the romance he and Jenna formed. The characters were layered and there was good character development and I enjoyed how inequality was highlighted and the questioning of the status quo. Chris had lived quite a privileged life working for the government so it was nice to see his eyes opened to the life of people who aren't as privileged and questioning whether life is fair after all.
Chris Rockford is a government agent, an assassin. His job is to eliminate a purebred family of anarchists to maintain the order. While on a mission he meets an intriguing and mysterious woman called Jenna, a purebred inlander. They are instantly drawn to each other and she makes Chris feel for the first time. As he becomes more immersed in her life as an inlander he begins to see how differently they are treated, the inequalities they face and he starts to question things in his life. He also knows his job will scare her away. But Jenna has secrets of her own.
This is a very interesting and well-written story. To be honest, in the beginning, I was a bit confused with the whole purebred society, the modified people, and the people born before the ban on pure breeding. However, that is really the only con I have for this book. It was well-paced and well balanced in the plot, with Chris' life as an agent and the romance he and Jenna formed. The characters were layered and there was good character development and I enjoyed how inequality was highlighted and the questioning of the status quo. Chris had lived quite a privileged life working for the government so it was nice to see his eyes opened to the life of people who aren't as privileged and questioning whether life is fair after all.
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