Unfathomable Chance

by K.T. Munson

When Diana woke up on her 23rd birthday, she thought it was going to be a normal day. She thought of donuts, coffee, and laughter. She did not think she was going to become the center in a galactic race to win her heart.

None too pleased with the prospect of alien races descending on Earth to try to woo her, Diana does the only reasonable thing she can; she runs. Now she has to try and find a way to get rid of the blasted bracelet that is the cause of all the recent craziness in her life.

The problem is this isn't an ordinary bracelet; it contains the Heart of the Cosmos. Furthermore, the Cosmos chose her for a reason, and it isn't keen on letting her go until she finishes what it started more than 10 years ago. Something tried to destroy it, and now Diana isn't just worried about her heart, she is worried about her life.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Audible Audio

Published May 24, 2018

About the author

K.T. Munson is an independent author. First published at 5 years old in the young writers conference, she has pursued writing ever since. She maintains a blog creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com that is about writing and her novels. She was born and raised in the last frontier, the great state of Alaska.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portal fantasy at its best! When Diana is chasing her brother through a castle, she inadvertently falls through a mirror into another world (pesky brothers.) A bracelet attaches itself to her wrist and suddenly she is the chosen one who will decide the next ruler of the universe—by marrying him. You know, no pressure. Flash forward ten years later and creepy bad guys are after Diana, but it’s all good because we have awesome talking cats there to guide her, too! (I’m a sucker for adorable animal scenes.)

This gave me some serious Wizard of Oz vibes because just like Dorothy, all Diana wants is to go home to her old life and lose the creepy bracelet tying her to a new destiny. Her quest throughout the book becomes figuring out how to free herself, as well as solving a mystery about a former bracelet-wearer, who happens to be the mother of a certain annoying, but also hot alien, Dimur (their scenes were funny, and they had great chemistry, particularly since Diana suffers no fools and slays her own dragons, thank you very much.) Author KT Munson weaves wonderfully imaginative worlds and alien species (leprechauns, hehe), and without giving away spoilers in this one, I enjoyed how the twists worked out with the mystery of what happened to Dimur’s mother. And the resolution of things at the end was great. Bonus points for choruses of meowing cats who get indignant over laser pointers.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our birthdays are supposed to be a special day, right? Well, the day Diana turned 23, let’s just say, she had NO idea what a day it was going to be! Diana would have settled for a good day in her shop, a good cup of coffee and a donut to die for, but nooooooooo, today is the day the Cosmos will choose her to be the inter-galactic sweetheart to alien suitors and so very much more. The words “No, thank you,” do not apply and the journey Diana takes, kicking and screaming is a world that is filled with magic, danger and creatures with their own agendas and plans for poor Diana. The big plus? Diana will learn more about herself, her inner being and the feeling of caring and being cared about as the light of new love begins to faintly glow.

I have to say, right up front, K.T. Munson’s approach to Diana’s reluctance to take the honor bestowed on her is brilliant! Finally, a heroine who goes beyond reluctant and flat out asks, “Why me?” and “No, I don’t want the job.” Prepare to meet villains and heroes, all unique and filled with powers, far more advanced than a mere human female. Then again, if you want something done right…

Unfathomable Chance has humor, action, intrigue and a cast of characters that are literally out of this world. K.T. Munson did a great balancing job of keepings on the lighter side while NOT coddling her readers. Kind of makes me nervous about accepting a bracelet as a gift…A fun read with enough twists to make a pretzel factory!

I received this copy from K.T. Munson in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: September 30, 2016
Publisher: K.T. Munson
Genre: YA Fantasy | Scifi
Print Length: 195 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Gerald Kubicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts out with a young girl named Diana who finds a bracelet mysteriously attached to her wrist. Many years later, she discoveries that she is “chosen” and is swept off on an intergalactic adventure. Along the way, she becomes “of age” and matures into a woman with strong desires and convictions. She partners with a variety of unique characters including a talking cat guardian and sets about solving a ten-year-old mystery that has haunted the universe. The society that she now must deal with is loaded with aliens that are colorful and untrustworthy. They all want to possess her, but she wants to solve the mystery first.
The story line is full of twists and turns. There are unknown people working against her and helping her. She must wade through the clutter to find the answer.
I enjoyed this book.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buckle up for a wild ride through the galaxy after Diana finds a bracelet which, once put on, she cannot get off. She soon realizes this is no ordinary piece of jewelry as she’s swept away to other galaxies and told she’s to be the Empress of the Universe, chosen by said bracelet. On top of all that, she is supposed to get married and potential suitors are already vying for her hand. This is a lot for a 23-year-old to handle, but backed up by friends along the way, she sets out to discover how to get out of this particular honor. This is the first book in the Cosmic Gem series by K.T. Munson.

I found the characters very likable, especially Diana and Kal Zed, an extremely honorable cat. The world-building is fantastic and imaginative. I struggled to put this into a category, as it appeared to be written as a Young Adult novel, although the protagonist is 23. It does fit well into the space opera genre, since it includes space warfare, romance, melodrama, and interesting alien species. The storyline is wild and fun, but also contains some dangerous and serious moments. I found it very easy to connect to the cast of characters. It is a very enjoyable coming-of-age adventure that fans of science fiction and space operas will enjoy.

You can follow Diana’s continuing adventures in Book 2, Unfathomable Plan.

I downloaded a copy of this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely Unfathomable YA/NA Romance

“You’re telling me aliens are converging on Earth in some cosmic race to see who can get me laid?”

On the eve of her graduation ceremony, Diana discovers she is really Empress of the Universe and the strange bracelet she picked up in an odd experience in Pevensey Castle as a child, was in fact the Heart of the Cosmos choosing her to be Empress. Flung into a universe of space ships, magic and high tech, Diana wants nothing more than to be an ordinary young woman again, but to be able to get that chance she has to solve the mystery surrounding the death of the previous Empress.

Being Empress means you have to marry - and become the same species as - the male of your choice so, naturally Diana has a lot of suitors and spends a lot of time seeking not 'to get laid' as she puts it. However, she also succeeds in making lots of friends amongst the strange folk she encounters whilst flying around the galaxy and they prove staunch allies in her quest.

'There was a crackling sound, and another strange looking man appeared on a giant view screen. He looked oddly like a golden retriever, though with pointed ears instead of floppy ones.'

This is a romp of a book, with lots of romance and cats and a bit of decorative science fantasy around the edges. It is pacey and bounds through the plot carrying the reader along on an ever higher tide of suspended disbelief. The murder mystery aspect of the story is handled well and the clever way the story unfolds back to explain its opening, I thought was very well done. The writing is pretty good and refreshingly easy to follow - sometimes a bit over simplistic, but then it is intended for a younger audience.

However, there are just one or two flaws which brought the book down sharply. Even though Diana is supposed to be 23 and have just completed a masters degree in Behavioural Psychology, she acts more like she is 16 and graduating high school. She does not demonstrate any real insight or intelligence for much of the story, being blown around more by her emotions than any rational thought throughout. The other characterisations are not very deep, even the main characters are wonderfully stereotypical, but the warm fuzzy-buzz of friendship and the sense of 'doing the right thing' holds all that side of it together. The world building is of the kind where the reader stands there going 'Oh' and 'Ah' at the marvels which appear and disappear not to be seen again. It is kind of like walking from room to room in an art gallery, only in the story it is hopping from planet to planet. The alien races all seem based on fantasy tropes - or pets and the Archive is straight out of Jim Butcher, with a gender change.

“What is the point of all this power if you can’t follow your heart?”

I have to come clean and say this is not my kind of book. This is fundamentally teen romance in a sparkly science-fantasy dress. Pretty good teen romance too. If you read it from that perspective it is a thoroughly enjoyable, classic romantic YA/NA romp. Alien boy meets human girl, they hate each other, they go through adventures together, she thinks he hates her, he thinks she hates him, and...so on. If you are a fan of YA or NA romance, like calling guys 'man meat' and enjoy the idea of alien races that look like your pet or an elf, this is going to be one for your book shelf.

[Chris Angelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfathomable Chance, by K.T. Munson, is a YA science-fiction novel telling the story of Diana who, preparing for her upcoming graduation and birthday, finds herself in the midst of an incredible intergalactic adventure: She is chosen by the Heart of the Universe to become the next Empress, and as a result she is courted by every space race bachelor imaginable . The premise might sound a bit over-the-top, especially to non-YA audiences, but skipping the book solely on this would be a great pity.
The novel throws the reader into the action straight away. Before Diana (and the reader) has time to realize what’s happened, the main narrative aim is laid out plainly and without much fuss. After that point, it’s basically all about following the (initially few) clues to finding out what is going on. Simple, unadorned, functional. YA readers will feel right at home with this mostly linear progression, but also more advanced readers will still find the narrative arc engaging enough to follow. Admittedly, there isn’t any great complexity of thought involved, nor any grand philosophical debates (though bits and pieces here and there, such as when Diana returns to Earth and realizes her feelings have changed are apt symbols for something transcending the confines of the book).
The language is perfectly balanced between being descriptive and accessible, and the reader will be able to follow the narrative without difficulties – yet still enjoying rich descriptions. The relatively short length of each chapter also helps with the flow, and ending one chapter makes you feel it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to read one more (and one more, and one more). I should also mention the brilliant sense of humor of the novel, occasionally becoming quite complex with its self-referential nature (and hence more rewarding).
Overall, there are very few negative things to say about Unfathomable Chance. Hard-pressed, I found the sheer number of characters, places, alien races, etc. to be slightly out-of-balance with the otherwise linear, uncomplicated plot progression. It doesn’t really get in the way of reading, but that occurs only after you reach about half-way through the novel and realize that just because a character was named, described, and had a scene, it doesn’t mean you’ll see him again. Overall, there is little connectivity between chapters (other than the main core of participants and of course the central premise), and until about half way, there is a bit of repetitiveness in terms of narrative content: Diana travels somewhere in space searching for clues, meets a peculiar alien being, receives some evidence, then moves on. It’s not as simplistic as I may describe it, but that’s the basic idea.
Having said that, I must again underline that at no point does the book become tedious, uninteresting, or heavy. There’s something happening every moment, the characters are engaging, the humor is top-class. And hey, any novel involving a cat called Kal Zed who takes on space villains is definitely worth a look.

[James McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining read and one which put me in mind of a couple of recent Sci-fi blockbusters, the most obvious one being Jupiter Ascending, placing Diana, a young female protagonist at the centre of galactic power politics. As with Jupiter Jones, the heroine here has “greatness thrust upon (her)” in this case the title of Empress of the Universe.

The intriguing prologue and first three chapters read purely as a YA fantasy and the bracelet could as easily be a magical/enchanted item as form of advanced technology. I was impressed early on how the author created in a few thousand words both a satisfactory back story and a believable female protagonist. Characters traits, such as stubbornness and self-reliance (not being as brilliant as her bothers she has always had to push herself to the limit) are established with great economy.

It was a while before I was able to identify what the story reminded me of, and that was Alice in Wonderland, although imagine Alice being given the job of the Queen of Hearts and then having to choose a mate whose species she will automatically become as soon as she joins with him. Almost anything is possible in this universe, the soft science element could just as easily be magical and there is such a proliferation of the bizarre, unique and the odd that the tale becomes surreal. It even has its own Cheshire cat in the form of Kal Zed.

This doesn’t mean that the story is devoid of depth. There is another level, one which explores responsibility, destiny and the freedom to choose (as mentioned above Diana is someone who has greatness thrust upon her) but is this something she truly wants, or needs? It also explores the idea of what it is to be truly free.

There are really only a couple of criticisms I have to make. The first is the title, which I feel wouldn’t grip any potential readers. The second is that although it has the feel of a YA fantasy there are plenty of references to getting laid etc... which for me (this is my own subjective opinion) didn’t seem to belong there.

Anyway, Unfathomable Chance is a quick, enjoyable read and is easily worthy of 4 stars.

[Amanda Linehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do you do if on your 23rd birthday you find out you're next in line to be Empress of the Universe? You basically just run with it.
This is how Unfathomable Chance begins and it doesn't end until mysteries have been solved, adventures have been had and the main character throws her wry sense of humor around a little, just for our entertainment.
Unfathomable Chance flies by at a pretty quick pace and has a solid plot with some good twists and turns. There are lots of interesting characters, but I did have some trouble differentiating them all as the story went on. I found myself trying to remember who was who a lot.
Also, I believe this book was categorized as Young Adult, but the main character, Diana, is 23, so I would firmly place that in New Adult.

[Leonard Mokos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, sooo much fun! You know how it is when you start to discover that you are future _____ of the _____ <-- I can't ruin this for you.

Unfathomable Chance is such a great story, told just right. It's dense with characters and ideas without any drop in pacing, and a bit difficult to categorize, because it mashes up several genres. Mostly it's a space romance, although that makes it sound like it isn't also a suspenseful sci fi mystery, which it also is. And a young adult adventure. And some other stuff. Perfect for the subway or the beach, when you just want to "be" somewhere else. I really, really liked this one.

[Aria · Rating 2 out of 5]

*The author has generously provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.

Actual Rating: 1.5 Stars

K.T. Munson’s Unfathomable Chance is a promising book but it could’ve been better if it weren’t for the writing. Why? Firstly, the constant repetition. The majority of the sentences in this book starts with ‘she’ and by the third chapter, I wanted to rip my hair out at the sight of the word. As you can see here:

“She paused a moment and stared at the door, confused. A moment ago there had been no door. She glanced at the tree again as it cried rocks that turned to water. She wanted to go back to her mother but something was pushing her forward. Part of her wondered if this was all a dream, but she had a distinct feeling it was real. She took a steadying breath before she opened the door and walked into the room” (p.8, underlined for emphasis).

Due to this constant repetition and lack of sentence variation, the narrative becomes boring. It also reads like constant telling than showing and many of us know that telling>showing is a no-no for various forms of fiction. This is because it makes everything shallow/fall flat—including the characters—and it makes the events in the narrative feel like a stilted retelling of past events instead of something that should’ve been ‘present’. Additionally, one of Kurt Vonnegut’s rules for writing fiction is that every sentence must either reveal character or advance the action. Do multiple descriptions of how Diana looks like at the moment do either? No. Does the inclusion of just about every single one of her actions do either? Not often enough. Furthermore, when you take the fast pace and length of this book into consideration, those descriptions feel like fillers.

Now, we all know that descriptions are crucial in helping readers envision things and I definitely adore imagery. However, it—particularly descriptions of characters—shouldn’t be written in clumps like:

“[Her brothers] had blond hair like their father that sort of turfed up at the back in a charming way.

Diana was two years older than her brothers and had hair as curly and dark as her mother’s. Her ponytail bounced as she walked into the church, as did her backpack, which was covered in glittery hearts. Like her siblings, she had big round blue eyes and pleasing features.” (p.5)

This is because description that relies only on physical attributes often becomes “all-points bulletin” (quote from Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft). And when that happens, you guessed it, the narrative becomes boring. It’s always better to spread out character descriptions and infuse them with movement/character actions instead of stating it all in one go. For instance, instead of “she had big round blue eyes”, spread out the details into lines like “her doe-like eyes scanned the displayed artefacts” and “her blue eyes widened in surprise” and place them paragraphs away from each other. Readers don’t have to be constantly reminded of how a character looks, especially not in consecutive chapters.

Moreover, due to the aforementioned issues, the writing reads way too young for its main character (“hottie”, really?). It’s okay for the first chapter since Diana’s a kid there, but in the later chapters when she’s twenty-three with a Master’s in Behavioural Psychology? No. It also causes plot lines and tropes many have seen before, to feel even more cliché.

Other than that, the events line up too conveniently. For example, the part where she meets the Archive and demands answers to her questions. It’s practically stated multiple times that “an answer requires payment”. So, Diana demands two answers for her one secret and the Archive agrees. Then, when she does get her two answers, he conveniently mentions that her secret is actually worth more than that and proceeds to give her a lead. Like um, did he suddenly magically feel an urge to help the Empress of the Universe even though he couldn’t fathom why the bracelet would choose her and he even called her species a “subpar species whose only significant contribution is as a study on untapped and wasted potential” a few pages ago? (p.31) I mean, I don’t see anything significant done or said by Diana in that incredibly short span between the Archive’s outraged bewilderment and his sudden nice offer of providing her more information.

And yes, on that note of being unable to fathom why the bracelet would choose Diana, I can’t 100% fathom it either. As mentioned before, she’s twenty-three with a Master’s in Behavioural Psychology but not once do we see her acting or deducing things like so in this book. I know of people in real life who are in their early twenties and about to get bachelor degrees like me, who still act like they’re high schoolers or younger. So, to an extent, I can accept Diana’s immaturity (particularly since she’s aware that she’s “a subpar primal creature”) but this acceptance stops at ‘an extent’ because seriously, a Master’s. In Behavioural Psychology. Besides that, Diana’s like a leaf. Blow her one direction and she’ll go without complaints, blow her towards a different direction and she’ll go too. I mean, she went from fighting Maura and her crew at one chapter to trying to save them at the next. (Actually, now that I think of it, most of the characters are leaves.) Though, I think it’s a pleasant surprise that she’s not a classic damsel in distress.

Cons aside, I really like some of the side characters—especially the talking cat, Groot Grim and Jacrifcar (though unfortunately, there’s too many of them and they’re all generic so they tend to blend together after a while). I also like how there’s no deep scientific terms (or rather, there’s just about zero of them) because I’m practically useless when it comes to the hard sciences. It made this book an easy read and once I got over the writing, enjoyable.

To conclude this super long review, this book reads like a rough first draft. Everything would’ve been better if it were better written but then again, this is only my opinion. Unfathomable Chance isn’t entirely my cup of tea but it might be someone else’s.

[Davyne DeSye · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! It certainly highlights the imagination of the author!

Diana, a human, is chosen on her 23rd birthday to become Empress of all the universes, for reasons no one – least of all Diana – understands. The cross-universe adventures that ensue range from life-threateningly dangerous to comical as candidates from various different alien life forms all begin vying for her hand. She also meets and befriends a strange collection of protectors determined to help her take her place as Empress. In the midst of all this action, Diana is also tasked with a secret mission: To find out why the previous Empress died at such a young age. Wow – something for everyone!

I loved Diana’s talking cat protector, Kal Zed, and wish he had been a greater part of the book. (Actually, he’s welcome to move in with me – ha ha!) I also enjoyed the devastatingly handsome Dimar and the constant sexual tension and word play between he and Diana.

My only real complaint about the book is the numerous grammar and spelling errors. Every book has them, but in this case, they were prevalent enough to slightly diminish the pleasure of reading. With a good edit, I think the author’s writing would really shine.

Recommended to people who enjoy portal fiction!

[Flavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars!

I was very excited to read this book because the premise sounded really interesting! It sounded like it would be something like Jupiter Ascending, and I was somewhat right! What this story turned out being was like a mix of Sailor Moon, Doctor Who, and Jupiter Ascending, which I thought was pretty cool.

I liked that the story dove right into the plot rather than taking forever to set the scene. I generally like getting right into the action, so that was great. One of the first things I noticed was also that Munson has an incredible imagination, and that she knows how to describe the things she imagines in a very effective manner. What I also noticed, however, was that some of the word choices and phrasing were a little awkward. But that is nothing that couldn't be fixed with a little more editing! It wasn't a very big downside to this book, all in all.

The settings and different alien races were very interesting to read about, and I was fairly entertained even during scenes where not much was actually happening. And speaking of nothing happening, I found that the first half of the book was fairly fast-paced, but then that things kind of slowed down when I wanted the pace to remain the same. The material within the majority of the last quarter of the book felt a little like filler to me, almost like those episodes of a TV show that you really enjoy and want to skip to get to where the major plot picks up speed again, but can't bring yourself to skip in the end (if that makes sense).

The romance plot, which I was most excited about regarding this book, since the plot mainly focuses on Diana and her suitors (so you would have to assume there's romance, right?) also needed a bit of refining. I think that there is a very good base there for quite the epic love plot, but that for some reason it didn't quit achieve...what I hoped it would.

That being said, the romance plot, as well as the plot as a whole were interesting enough to hold my attention and to want to know what will happen to all of the characters next! I would definitely read the sequel if there ever is one, and I will be recommending this book to those who I think it would be a good fit for!

[ester marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A copy was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is a surprisingly light read considering that it involves aliens and the whole universe. If I wasn't so busy, I would have finished it in one sitting. It's the kind of book that will make you curious enough to flip the next page.

One thing I loved about this book are the characters. I definitely have a soft spot for Roddy, the moody android and Rocky, the love machine. And also, who can resist a talking cat guardian named Kal Zed?

"At one point we were revered as gods and worshipped."

Another great thing about this book is that it was funny and there were times that it made me laugh out loud. It was easy to read and wasn't too technical. Now this all comes down to preference. If you're a big fan of sci-fi, you will probably look for some missing elements. But if you're a reader who wants to enjoy a book about aliens and space without feeling too stressed and overwhelmed about it, this one is for you.

Although I did enjoy this book a lot, I feel like it could have been better. For one, it was short that when I was nearing the end of the book, I was worried about the ending. There were still a lot of things that could possibly happen.

That being said, I do think the ending was a bit rushed which left me feeling a little unsatisfied. I wanted more action, more conspiracies, and anything that will blow my mind. I still don't understand how Diana was able to come up to that conclusion after the dream she had. I was also rooting for Diana to make the other choice. Then again, it's all just me and others might feel differently.

Review can also be found in my blog.

[Bianca Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, space comedy where everything pretty much falls on the heroine's lap at the snap of her fingers. I'm not sure this is quite a 3 but it isn't a 2. This story is a very easy read, written for older teen and adult audiences. The only thing that confused me was the endless strange names of new characters. By the end, there were so many secondary characters, I could not remember where they came from or what their purpose was. I suggest taking the plot with a grain of salt and enjoy the ride. I really like serious SF, so it wasn't quite compatible for me. I didn't find the jokes very funny and couldn't get over the blooping in and out of different planets with a quick 1 sentence explanation as to how it all works. The characters lacked depth, even Diana. Having said all that, as a librarian I know there are plenty of readers that would enjoy the simplicity of the writing, action packed plot, and heavy dialog. The story is completely unique with a whole lot of girl power.

[Alina Leonova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters
Diana is the main character and the only point of view throughout the story. There are also a few friends of hers, a few family members and a whole lot of aliens, many of whom are not very different from people. Diana was quite a sympathetic character. I can't say that I connected with her, but I was interested enough. I could understand her motivations and wished her well. The rest of the characters were not particularly fleshed out.

World-building
The world-building is minimal. Even though Diana visits various planets and meets lots of creatures, there is only enough information to understand what's going on.

Plot
The plot is straightforward, simple and easy to follow. The main story deals with Diana's adventures in space, but there is also an alien romance sub-plot.

Impressions
It was an easy, short, lighthearted and quite fun read with some humor. This isn't serious sci-fi where you'll get to know alien worlds and cultures, explore interplanetary political relationships or learn something about science. If that's what you are looking for, this book is definitely not for you. It has a clear YA feel, it's written in a simple language and there are no real-world issues. It's fast-paced and has lots of adventures. However, Diana always got from each seemingly tough situation easily thanks to the bracelet, that's why most of the action scenes lacked emotional tension for me. Only closer to the end of the book the stakes got higher when it was revealed that Diana and the people she loved could actually get hurt. To me personally, the book would be more appealing if that was the case all along.

I also got a bit confused about all the secondary characters. Many of them were only introduced briefly and reappeared later, and I couldn't remember who was who. It was often hard to understand their motivations when they suddenly changed their minds and decided to help Diana even though they'd just been trying to hurt her. In the end, Diana solved a certain mystery after a dream that she had, but I saw no connection between what happened in the dream and the conclusions that she made. Might be just me though.

All in all, it's a very light, kind and fun book. It explores the importance of friendship and helping each other out. I think it's more suitable for teenagers and young adults. It can be called sci-fi because of all the aliens and space travel, but you can also view it as fantasy because there is no real science involved.

You might enjoy this book if you are into light, fast-paced YA space adventures and alien romances and aren't looking for serious adult sci-fi.

This review was first published on my blog about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors . Check it out for more reviews, interviews, lists and short stories.

[Joana Bookneeders · Rating 3 out of 5]

* Received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much! This doesn’t affect the review in any way. My opinions are, as always, my own.*

things first.... IT FREAKING HAS CATS! I guess that by this you are now all aware that I love cats, and this book has cats, like a lot of them and they talk! Ah! I love it! It made me think about Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch that I happened to be re-watching...

This book has a lot of imagination. It's a sci-fi novel passed literally in space where there are many planets and species. We get to know some of them since our main character, Diana is the bearer of the Cosmos. The only thing is that she doesn't know how that happened - how that bracelet appeared in her arm and doesn't get out - and for sure she doesn't want that. She just wants to get her normal life back.

This was a really fun read. I really enjoyed seeing the main character trying to solve the mystery but even better was the end because I wasn't expecting it to be so surprising! It was so sweet and yet hard... So different from what I was imagining it would be....

I really liked the main character but my favorite has to be Dimar. He was so freaking... sexy? I think that describes him. In my mind, he was definitely sexy. I kinda saw him as Raysand from ACOTAR. Don't know exactly why but I did. He just has that dangerous yet sensitive personality...

But our main character also really surprised me. She was so decisive, friendly and just purely nice. She tried her best in everything she did and she cared for the persons around her. But there's a lot of characters in this book and a lot of them are fun and interesting. Like Kal Zed! 

I really liked the writing and I think it was really well balanced. This book has humor, tension, action and a lot of creativity. It had tons of twists and it although I felt it was in a certain way a light read, it was also realistic-ly feeling. Yeah I know, you guys must think I'm crazy... This book is full of aliens, how is it realistic?! Well, for instance, the main character was definitely human, plus she was really easy to connect with. I felt that I really understood her. I have no idea what I would have done if I was her, but she aced it!

This book is about choices, trust, and choosing your own path. It gives a new thought about what freedom really is. I mean she was to be the bearer of the Cosmos, that's something big and many would have said yes and got all that power. But is that sensible? Is that a better life? Power comes with responsibility. Aren't we allowed to make our own destiny?

This was a light and fun sci-fi read with a lot of action and CATS! Yeah.. I'm still mesmerized by those. Sci-fi is definitely not my favorite genre but I would still recommend this even if it isn't yours because this book is easily enjoyed anyway.

[Gita Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child, when Diana is chasing her brother in an old English castle, she falls through a portal and a bracelet attaches itself to her wrist. Unknown to her, the bracelet has chosen her as the future empress of the universe. On her twenty-third birthday, she learns that she must choose a husband from any of the species in the universe to rule by her side. Moreover, by marrying an alien, she will also be transformed into one. Diana isn’t happy with the prospect of leaving her family and friends, and wants the bracelet off. But that is only possible if she does its bidding …

This is an imaginative fantasy with a plethora of alien creatures that come in all sizes, shapes, forms, and colors. There is a talking cat too. Diana is likable but doesn’t really show any trait that would have made the bracelet choose her – unless it is her ‘leaps of faith’. I wasn’t happy with the ending either. I would have – without giving spoilers – preferred for it to go the other way.

I agree with other reviewers who feel that the book would have worked better if the protagonist was younger, and instead of using terms like ‘getting laid’ and ‘man meat’, more subtle references had been used. Expect for a few scenes, the pace and the content are YA and even MG. Another dichotomy is the cover. For a book laced with vivid descriptions, it is quite bland.

Recommended for those looking for a quick and fun-filled fantasy read.

[Darren Beyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read with whimsical flair.

I must say that the genre of Unfathomable Chance is a bit out of my wheelhouse, as it caters to more of a YA audience. Because of this, the first chapters were difficult to get through. But then, once I got to know the main characters, and understand the plot a little better, I found it to be more enjoyable.

The protagonist, Diane, is a reluctant future ruler of the universe, chosen in her youth by a cosmic bracelet that decides such things. She is hounded by a myriad of suitors from all sorts of different planets/races who want to rule at her side. Her sidekick is a cat - who knew that cats on Earth are aliens? Soon, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery of what happened to the previous bearer.

Pros:
- This is a fast read - the pages turn quickly
- It has a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, adventure - and space!

Cons:
- The sheer volume of names and places quickly became confusing. I found that when a new name presented itself, I simply ignored it. Otherwise it would have been too cumbersome to get through.
- The story had no lead up to get me introduced to the main characters. Combined with the above, it contributed to the first chapters being difficult to get through.
- I would have preferred more descriptive scenes and characters. As it was, I found many characters and places lacking differentiation.

Overall, if this style/genre is your thing, then it is a fun time.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana is looking forward to graduating from college, turning 23, and partying enough to thoroughly celebrate both events. Just an ordinary gal, living in an apartment with a roommate—she’s not anyone you’d expect to have any kind of destiny.

But then it turns out that because she had a trip through the looking glass (literally) as a kid, and picked up a unique bracelet, now she’s slated to become Queen of the Multiverse (okay, Empress). And she doesn’t want to be.

However, potential mates who wish to rule by her side aren’t in short supply, and they’re not shy—in fact they’re trying to track her down. One particular hot guy not only oozes pheromones, he’s got some amazing powers that might really come in handy. But Diana has no idea if she can trust him, and it’s hard to tell if he and his ego can both fit in the same room.

Diana doesn’t know if there’s any way to get out of this ruler gig, or even if she really wants to (the guy really is quite sexy.) And it’s hard to figure out major life decisions while you’re always on the run.

On the plus side, the book contains profligate world building—new details keep popping up in each new scene on every planet they travel to, which is many. Alien races, other-world plant life, societies focused on different principles—this book had enough detail to satisfy even staunch fans of the Star Wars cantina scene.

On the other hand, I’d like to see another editing pass or two. Areas for improvement: comma usage, way too many weasel words, stronger verbs—there were too many instances of was, for instance. Although I can forgive much for having an android named Rocky the Love Machine.

Unfathomable Chance is a madcap romp that might appeal to fans of Guardians of the Galaxy.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about Diana, who wakes up on her 23rd birthday to find a mysterious bracelet on her wrist. The bracelet means she's the next Empress to the universe and all the males will be vying for her hand in marriage (or she will be "thoroughly laid" as commented several times in the book). Guided by a talking cat and a ragtag group of aliens, Diana must solve the mystery of the first Empresses's death while fighting off several eager male aliens who want to be her husband.

Diana is strong, likable, and funny, as were the rest of her companions. I was rooting for all of them and Diana must make a decision that I'm not going to spoil. All through the book, I wasn't sure what decision I wanted as I was nearing the end, but the conclusion was satisfying

[Shuchismita C · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first couple of chapters, Diana, the protagonist, was moving so fast from one location to another and meeting so many new characters that it was becoming a little difficult to keep up. Also, as I was being introduced to one alien character after another I was remembering the fantasy adventures of Alice. I believe the author was also influenced by the same story as was evident from the following:
“As she prepared to sit, she looked down the table and wondered if she was Alice having just arrived at the Mad Hatter’s tea party.”
But with the plot taking a turn towards suspense and the arrival of Dimar on the scene, I got hooked. But I was more curious to find if Diana would choose to become the Empress of the ‘cosmos’ and mates with an alien rather than the reasons behind the death of Empress Katali.
When I started to read the book, I was expecting it to be an out and out science fiction with a lot of scientific jargon and futuristic theories. However, as the climax of the book was the coming together of Diana and Dimar, it was really about romance and relationships - a sweet romantic story, only set in the larger, intergalactic stage rather than the small confines of the earth.
I would recommend it to fantasy romance lovers.

[Catalin Negru · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books feels like it targets youngsters. It has action, drama, mystery and, of course, love. Without spoiling anything, I liked the fact that the action started early, without much preparation, but I disliked the fact that the mystery that had to be solved by the main character was not solved in steps, gradually, but somehow abruptly.
It felt like the second half of the book was not as refined as the first half. And, of course, there are ideas and scenes that seem imported from Man in Black or Twilight, but I found it acceptable.
Overall, i think this book is enjoyable by anyone who seeks a relaxing read and also fantasizes about Prince Charming and superheroes.

[Cortney Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfathomable Chance is my second book by K.T. Munson. It is definitely a book that took me out of my comfort zone. A book about a girl from Earth chosen to be the Empress of the Universes and her adventures to many of the different planets. It was a light and enjoyable read. Full of details and well written. Loved Diana and her side kick, Kal Zed, a talking cat!

[G.J. Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I began reading Unfathomable Chance I became very confused very quickly as Diana, the main protagonist, seemed too old at 23 for a YA novel, and the introductory pages felt very rushed and confusing. The text was not confusing in an intriguing way and there were passages containing clumsy expressions and strange grammar that felt naïve. A couple of spelling errors, “passed” for past and “affect” for effect, together with a few examples of tautology that I found irritating rather than curious literary style spoiled the overall effect on this reader for several early chapters. This was a pity because the fast-moving and fascinating plot that unfolded showed great promise and imaginative talent from the author.

I am not the only reader to notice that the many varied situations encountered by Diana and her companion, Kal Zed the cat (a catorian), seemed to be akin to those of Wonderland’s Alice, Oz’s Dorothy and Dr Who. This is not a negative criticism since it was very well done but much more fantastical than sci-fi. As a YA novel I would have liked to read about some more acceptable, i.e. believable, science in the book as there were repeated references to other planets, galaxies, even universes. I constantly wondered about breathable atmospheres, unimaginable gravitational forces and so on. The more simplistic “science” in this story would be acceptable in a children’s book and so I feel the emphasis would be better within the fantasy genre. Sci-fi geeks tend to look for battle-action between right and wrong or a very human story against a sci-fi back drop. K.T. Munson’s strength for me was in her ability to portray and convey the very human situations and feelings involved between Diana and her parents, her friends and the many aliens. The “blind faith” situations handled by Diana when confronted by Dimar, the love interest, and robots were both amusing and encouraging. Several references to “being laid” would not have fitted into the younger readers’ genre of course but there were many descriptive opportunities lost in the book that older readers could have enjoyed. So is it still a YA novel?

Unfathomable Chance improves tremendously after a rather shaky start and is exciting and imaginative. I found I was rooting for Diana to the end and wanted her to succeed in the greatness being thrust upon her as Empress of the Universe. Unfortunately the romantically clichéd ending to the novel came as an unexpected surprise to me, though I suppose it had to figure in it somewhere. Overall this was a well written book, albeit some more editing is required, and could attract fans for a sequel that is just as exciting and enjoyable.

[Ellie Blackwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The strange thing is, I'm not exactly sure why.

Unfathomable Chance is a little bit like the movie Jupiter Ascending -- a normal human discovers that she is the Empress of the Universe, and must avoid the evildoers who would wish her harm, meeting several weird and wonderful extraterrestrial creatures along the way. And yes, there is a hot alien boyfriend as well.

I found the various species and worlds very imaginative, but I felt that the book suffered from a lack of description. I couldn't really picture a lot of the scenes in my mind. Also, the ending was somewhat anticlimactic. Finally, I was a little bit leery of the fact that the protagonist is 23, even though this book is marketed as YA.

Despite all this, Unfathomable Chance pulled me into the story with both hands. I really cared about what was going to happen to Diana and her friends, and I found myself always wanting to read "just one more chapter". This is the X factor which differentiates a good book from a mediocre one, and for me, Unfathomable Chance had it. Because of this, I decided to only dock one star for the issues mentioned above, which means that this book measures up at a rather lovely four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author, though I am reviewing it of my own volition.

[Annike · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this story begins with a regular girl called Diana who is about 12 at the time and it was a really catchy beginning because there was this alternate world that she was swept in for a small fragment of time, however then suddenly we skip to her in her 20’s and you discover what that small trip actually did.

I think that the author did a really great job at building the world from scratch because while I was slightly confused at the beginning with all the new information, I very soon got settled into the story and I thought it was such an interesting concept. I really loved a lot of the characters in this story as well. Diana was a really good and relatable character who I enjoyed reading about and I absolutely loved her best friend Melanie for being so beautiful and supportive.

Of course who couldn’t be a little bit in love with Dimar who I was rooting for from the beginning! I loved the chemistry between Diana and Dimar and all the snarky commentary between them because It was fun to read. I also loved Kal Zed, the adorable cat who was the greatest protector of Diana ever! He was too cute :)

Overall, really liked this story and would definitely recommend it to fans of science fiction. It really reminded me of Guardians of the Galaxy if anyone knows that...?
Good read!

[Angela Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfathomable Chance takes off from the moment it opens and holds my attention throughout. After meeting the talking cat, whose name was Kal Zed, I knew that he’d be my favorite character in the story. But that isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the rest I met along the way. Each person and alien in the story held their own.

The dialogue was amusing, the chase was fun, and most of the scenes were painted quite well. My only wish for this story would be more talk about the scenery so I could step further into the story like I did with Zendar: A Tale of Blood and Sand.

Unfathomable Chance has it all: mystery, romance, comedy. Although I do enjoy Zendar a little more, I enjoyed reading every bit of this story. As always, I look forward to reading more books by KT Munson.

See full review here, as well as links to other book reviews:
https://angelakaysbooks.com/2016/10/1...

[Mandy]

Review to come soon!

[L.N. Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

One hell of 23rd birthday!

Me? I had a boring 23rd birthday. I didn't do much, apart from get drunk, and wake up the next morning with stonking hangover....unlike the main character in this tale of a young women and the bracelet that attaches itself to her wrist. The story follows Diane, who while celebrating her 23rd birthday is transported through time and space, accompanied by a talking cat, of whom I loved. She comes across some interesting characters and is forced into some dodgy situations.

I enjoyed the flow of this book, and the characters were relatable. I wouldn't really call it a YA, but it is geared up to be as such. This is the second book i've read from this author, and again I enjoyed every page.

I recommend this read to all ages.

[G.M. Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book not knowing what to expect but was quickly captivated. It was such a page turner that I stayed up late to read it 2 nights in a row. Diana was what I would expect of a newly 23 year old college graduate- ready to take on the world but also hesitant. I don't agree with all her decisions but she was 23! I loved the hottie Dimar and his one liners. Kal Zed made me think that the cat who is always at my house may be my guardian and not just a pain that scares me whenever I take out the trash.
The story flowed well and I was laughing out loud while reading. Great characters, great universe and I hope there will be more to the story in the future!