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Intrinsic: A Novel
For fans of
Never Let Me Go
and
Station Eleven
.
A decade after the fall of the despotic President Ynna Reinoso Manalo, the Republic of Groves hopes for a brighter future. However, seventeen-year-old Anne Reynes, who recently returned from a reclusive treatment center, is less certain about hers.
As Anne manages relationships with her influential family, makes friends, and searches for purpose, she battles recurring nightmares and a growing sense that she's being followed. Her world unravels further as forgotten childhood memories resurface, challenging everything she thought she knew.
Intrinsic (Book 1 of The Intrinsic Trilogy) is a slow burn, provocative coming-of-age political saga that explores the fine line between dynasty and destiny.
___
France Pinzon is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone Philippines and Mega. Her fiction explores consciousness, identity, and the moments that define selfhood. Intrinsic marks her debut as a published novelist.
A decade after the fall of the despotic President Ynna Reinoso Manalo, the Republic of Groves hopes for a brighter future. However, seventeen-year-old Anne Reynes, who recently returned from a reclusive treatment center, is less certain about hers.
As Anne manages relationships with her influential family, makes friends, and searches for purpose, she battles recurring nightmares and a growing sense that she's being followed. Her world unravels further as forgotten childhood memories resurface, challenging everything she thought she knew.
Intrinsic (Book 1 of The Intrinsic Trilogy) is a slow burn, provocative coming-of-age political saga that explores the fine line between dynasty and destiny.
___
France Pinzon is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone Philippines and Mega. Her fiction explores consciousness, identity, and the moments that define selfhood. Intrinsic marks her debut as a published novelist.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
France Pinzon
1 book3 followersFrance Pinzon is a writer and editor whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone Philippines and Mega. Her fiction explores consciousness, identity, and the moments that define selfhood. Intrinsic marks her debut as a published novelist.
Intrinsic Editorial Reviews:
"A resounding debut novel that rings with themes that are both contemporary and ageless, Intrinsic is a thought-provoking exploration of morality and memory in an age of societal upheaval. In this dystopian world of dark propaganda and lucid nightmares, the boundaries of allegory, metaphor, and reality are creatively distorted, making this a timely novel for our current generation, which is rapidly becoming overwhelmed by futuristic fears and technology beyond conception."—Self-Publishing Review
"I couldn't get into it at first, but after the first half I was totally engrossed in the story."—Reedsy Discovery
Intrinsic Editorial Reviews:
"A resounding debut novel that rings with themes that are both contemporary and ageless, Intrinsic is a thought-provoking exploration of morality and memory in an age of societal upheaval. In this dystopian world of dark propaganda and lucid nightmares, the boundaries of allegory, metaphor, and reality are creatively distorted, making this a timely novel for our current generation, which is rapidly becoming overwhelmed by futuristic fears and technology beyond conception."—Self-Publishing Review
"I couldn't get into it at first, but after the first half I was totally engrossed in the story."—Reedsy Discovery
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 9, 2026
4.5 rounded up.
Intrinsic was a very welcome surprise. I don't read much in the coming-of-age space anymore, but this slow burn political drama sucked me in. I've always loved stories that reward a close read, and Pinzon delivers here. It's a book that would probably warrant a re-read to catch all the nuance, and that's really cool.
To spoil little about the plot, Pinzon writes an excellent unreliable narrator. This is impressive for anyone to pull off, but especially for a debut, it's great work. I can't remember the last time I encountered one positioned for young readers beyond Holden Caulfield, and thankfully Anne shares little of his precocious quality. France also writes with a good deal of subtext that I found absolutely complimentary to the narrator. Some portions have a nearly hallucinatory quality that had me reading between the lines and thinking beyond the text. Well done.
I wish more of the wider plot had unfolded in this first book, but Pinzon did a great job of laying groundwork for a longer series / wider world. I'm super keen to find out where it's heading.
Intrinsic was a very welcome surprise. I don't read much in the coming-of-age space anymore, but this slow burn political drama sucked me in. I've always loved stories that reward a close read, and Pinzon delivers here. It's a book that would probably warrant a re-read to catch all the nuance, and that's really cool.
To spoil little about the plot, Pinzon writes an excellent unreliable narrator. This is impressive for anyone to pull off, but especially for a debut, it's great work. I can't remember the last time I encountered one positioned for young readers beyond Holden Caulfield, and thankfully Anne shares little of his precocious quality. France also writes with a good deal of subtext that I found absolutely complimentary to the narrator. Some portions have a nearly hallucinatory quality that had me reading between the lines and thinking beyond the text. Well done.
I wish more of the wider plot had unfolded in this first book, but Pinzon did a great job of laying groundwork for a longer series / wider world. I'm super keen to find out where it's heading.
January 17, 2026
3.75 💚
It felt a lot like a fever dream. It was very bizarre yet dreamy. Something felt off right from the start, and it reminded me of the Filipino video game Until Then. Anne experienced bouts of déjà vu and slipped in and out of her thoughts, which made everything feel even more disorienting.
The novel was overly descriptive and slow-paced for me, but I think that approach fits the overall direction of the story. It was an intriguing and powerful read. I felt empowered at the end, and it reminded me to be brave, determined, and true to myself.
I would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
It felt a lot like a fever dream. It was very bizarre yet dreamy. Something felt off right from the start, and it reminded me of the Filipino video game Until Then. Anne experienced bouts of déjà vu and slipped in and out of her thoughts, which made everything feel even more disorienting.
The novel was overly descriptive and slow-paced for me, but I think that approach fits the overall direction of the story. It was an intriguing and powerful read. I felt empowered at the end, and it reminded me to be brave, determined, and true to myself.
I would like to thank the author for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 20, 2026
Intrinsic starts and builds slowly, lingering on the minutiae, the details that seem irrelevant, lulling the readers into something of a false sense of serenity and even boredom, only to dash it with bits and pieces of chaos.
Are they memories?
Are they dreams?
What is going on with Anne Reynes?
We follow Anne as she tries to rebuild her life after being sent away, but there's always something lurking in the background. She doesn't quite know if it's real life, or a conjuration of her mind. This mystery unfolds over the course of the book, and while I did find it to be such a slow start, I locked in around 40% of the way once a clue was dropped, allowing me to begin piecing her memories together.
There's a lot of good things going for this debut—a compelling world and history, Anne's elusive and rich family, questions of identity and the role of the youth. However, I could not give it more than three stars because the writing is often clumsy. There are quite a few technical errors such as the inconsistent format for Anne's thoughts (sometimes her thoughts are italicized, other times they're in between quotations, so it gets confused for dialogue), and long, run on sentences that only muddle the meaning.
I think a more thorough editing would really polish this and make it an even stronger debut novel, because as it is, it has all the makings.
Disclaimer: This eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Are they memories?
Are they dreams?
What is going on with Anne Reynes?
We follow Anne as she tries to rebuild her life after being sent away, but there's always something lurking in the background. She doesn't quite know if it's real life, or a conjuration of her mind. This mystery unfolds over the course of the book, and while I did find it to be such a slow start, I locked in around 40% of the way once a clue was dropped, allowing me to begin piecing her memories together.
There's a lot of good things going for this debut—a compelling world and history, Anne's elusive and rich family, questions of identity and the role of the youth. However, I could not give it more than three stars because the writing is often clumsy. There are quite a few technical errors such as the inconsistent format for Anne's thoughts (sometimes her thoughts are italicized, other times they're in between quotations, so it gets confused for dialogue), and long, run on sentences that only muddle the meaning.
I think a more thorough editing would really polish this and make it an even stronger debut novel, because as it is, it has all the makings.
Disclaimer: This eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2026
Intrinsic is the kind of book that slowly pulls you in with its mystery. From the start, there’s this uneasy, almost haunting atmosphere that makes you curious about Anne Reynes, her past, her trauma, and the strange things surrounding her. It gave me subtle Silent Hill vibes, the kind that makes you pause and wonder what’s real and what isn’t.
The story doesn’t rush to give answers, and that’s part of its charm. Instead, it lets questions linger, slowly uncovering pieces of Anne’s life and the world she’s in. It may feel slow-paced at times, but that pacing allows the emotions, thoughts, and tension to sink in naturally.
Intrinsic carries a quiet but powerful reminder about identity, the importance of choosing yourself, trusting your instincts, and not letting others define who you should be. This felt very timely for me, as I’m currently going through that kind of crisis, often following what my elders tell me to do because of this and that. Intrinsic reminded me to listen to what I truly want.
The story doesn’t rush to give answers, and that’s part of its charm. Instead, it lets questions linger, slowly uncovering pieces of Anne’s life and the world she’s in. It may feel slow-paced at times, but that pacing allows the emotions, thoughts, and tension to sink in naturally.
Intrinsic carries a quiet but powerful reminder about identity, the importance of choosing yourself, trusting your instincts, and not letting others define who you should be. This felt very timely for me, as I’m currently going through that kind of crisis, often following what my elders tell me to do because of this and that. Intrinsic reminded me to listen to what I truly want.
January 24, 2026
Intrinsic is categorized as a book for young adults, but the story and themes are universal, fit for readers of all ages and backgrounds. The story is set in a fictional island nation that feels like a mix of a few Southeast Asian countries’ best characteristics: sunny coastal towns, lush greenery, deep familial ties, and a budding, youthful populace. Things seem to be looking up, but even then, it’s clear that there is still much left to be desired.
With a strong, but flawed female protagonist forced to face her dark reality for the first time, Intrinsic is a contemporary novel that breathes new life into young adult political fiction. It doesn’t dictate how the world was or how it should be, but instead highlights the importance of asking the questions that matter right now.
With a strong, but flawed female protagonist forced to face her dark reality for the first time, Intrinsic is a contemporary novel that breathes new life into young adult political fiction. It doesn’t dictate how the world was or how it should be, but instead highlights the importance of asking the questions that matter right now.
January 19, 2026
Intrinsic is one of those books that took me a while to connect with, but it ended up being a worthwhile read. It’s unique to me because I have never read a dystopian book set in the Philippines, so it truly feels like home. The fictional setting hits so close to home that I think you’ll have a much deeper appreciation for it if you’re familiar with our messy politics. We’re a third world country because those in power decided that we should be and this novel clearly showed that. I can’t wait for the next books because now I’m definitely hooked.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews