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Unforeseen
Thanks to genetic modification, the dream of the first perfect generation has finally been realized. But not everyone is happy about the scientific breakthrough…
Octavia is an Elite girl with the wrong dress size, shape, and coloring. Nothing about her is fashionable. She dreams of working as a nurse rather than shopping and socializing. She is continually at odds with her mother, who is willing to suffer anything to meet the beauty standard. Even a proposal from one of the Elite's most prestigious young men is not enough to spare Octavia from her mother's regimen of strenuous dieting, and body-altering clothing.
Brandon is too pretty and tall to be the average middle-class boy. He finds life as a farmer's son boring, and spends late nights at the Pits fighting to make extra money or spreading seditious papers around the slums, all to turn the head of a pretty girl. He enlists in the military to escape, but quickly learns it's not the adventure he was looking for.
Though polar opposites, these nineteen-year-olds have two unique things in common: their lack of beauty standard compliance, and they were switched at birth. When the switch is discovered and rectified, Brandon and Octavia must learn to adjust to their new lots in life. But a mutual acquaintance has other plans for the two citizens, and will use their changes in class to fuel a revolution.
Octavia is an Elite girl with the wrong dress size, shape, and coloring. Nothing about her is fashionable. She dreams of working as a nurse rather than shopping and socializing. She is continually at odds with her mother, who is willing to suffer anything to meet the beauty standard. Even a proposal from one of the Elite's most prestigious young men is not enough to spare Octavia from her mother's regimen of strenuous dieting, and body-altering clothing.
Brandon is too pretty and tall to be the average middle-class boy. He finds life as a farmer's son boring, and spends late nights at the Pits fighting to make extra money or spreading seditious papers around the slums, all to turn the head of a pretty girl. He enlists in the military to escape, but quickly learns it's not the adventure he was looking for.
Though polar opposites, these nineteen-year-olds have two unique things in common: their lack of beauty standard compliance, and they were switched at birth. When the switch is discovered and rectified, Brandon and Octavia must learn to adjust to their new lots in life. But a mutual acquaintance has other plans for the two citizens, and will use their changes in class to fuel a revolution.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 11, 2016
I usually read dystopian books and get bored with the cliches. Unforseen's world building is scientifically plausible, both biologically and sociologically. The main characters aren't the typical "chosen ones" I get bored with. Instead, these are reluctant hero types with flaws and strengths that both help and hinder them on their journeys. The first-person present perspective that alternates between two character points of view ups the suspense ante. I had a hard time whenever I had to stop reading in the middle of a chapter because of that, bit it's a good thing! I'll be looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks, Allison!
September 30, 2016
I enjoyed Unforeseen, a dystopian setting which deals with genetics and allows parents to opt for the 'perfect' child (money allowing) in a world that appears to have lost all understanding of the word 'unique'. Both Octavia and Brendan struggle to find their place in the world around them and this book charts that journey.
It's nicely edited and is a good read. The first chapter hauled me into this futuristic setting and as I came to know Octavia and Brendan, I found myself reading to the end before I realised it, and hand on heart, I'm interested in reading the next installment of Finding Paradise.
It's nicely edited and is a good read. The first chapter hauled me into this futuristic setting and as I came to know Octavia and Brendan, I found myself reading to the end before I realised it, and hand on heart, I'm interested in reading the next installment of Finding Paradise.
June 23, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unforeseen takes place in a future America run by His Excellency. With the advent of the PrettBaby program, parents can genetically modify their pre-born children to their hearts desire. Well as long as they have the money
The Elite have secluded themselves behind their walls, and the middle class in their farms and businesses. The lower class stays near the walls of Paradise, hoping for work. But they are getting restless.
A revolution is underway, lead by the Naturalist Party who opposed genetic modifications. Brandon Fletcher and Octavia Salzman, two 19 year olds who don't fit their Class specifications find themselves pulled into the revolution by the same girl. With their world turned upside down, they struggle to stay alive.
This book has great characters and some awesome world building. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Unforeseen takes place in a future America run by His Excellency. With the advent of the PrettBaby program, parents can genetically modify their pre-born children to their hearts desire. Well as long as they have the money
The Elite have secluded themselves behind their walls, and the middle class in their farms and businesses. The lower class stays near the walls of Paradise, hoping for work. But they are getting restless.
A revolution is underway, lead by the Naturalist Party who opposed genetic modifications. Brandon Fletcher and Octavia Salzman, two 19 year olds who don't fit their Class specifications find themselves pulled into the revolution by the same girl. With their world turned upside down, they struggle to stay alive.
This book has great characters and some awesome world building. I can't wait to see what happens next.
October 15, 2016
The prose and narration was a nightmare to get through. Grating, and heavy on info dumping past events almost like reading a grocery list of history and words. The pacing and plot slogged, making the novel torturous to read through. I do believe the author has chances to improve but it's times like this that I regret buying novels through features on sites such as the, "Readers also bought," or, "Also bought," recommendations.
The world and writing felt flat. So did the characters.
If the author continues, I'll surely read the sample next time to decide, but, as of now, I think I'll hold off on committing to buy anything else from this writer.
The world and writing felt flat. So did the characters.
If the author continues, I'll surely read the sample next time to decide, but, as of now, I think I'll hold off on committing to buy anything else from this writer.
April 24, 2017
An innocent switch at birth with lasting implications.
The world has changed under His Excellency’s rule. Classes are divided by elite, middle and lower, with strict rules for each. Brandon and Octavia are simply living within the rules laid out for them by society. They are making the best of lives they don’t really enjoy, when a freak accident changes everything they’ve ever known. Sent to live with parents they don’t know, and forced to survive will they adjust or will someone use their strange circumstances to cause an uprising? Will they survive and get their old lives back or will they die in the process?
Though Octavia and Brandon never fit in to the worlds they were raised in they will have to rise to challenges they never imagined in order to survive the world they find when the dust settles. They will learn to trust people they’ve been taught to distrust and come to understand that not everyone who is kind to you is worthy of your confidence and friendship.
I enjoyed Unforseen, as you might be able to tell. The first line, quoted above, drew me in immediately. I wonder why? But it was the story that kept me there as I followed Brandon and Octavia’s unlikely stories. I needed to know how it would turn out. I needed to know they’d be okay in the end.
Were they? I’m not telling.
The book didn’t end the way I expected it to. But it didn’t disappoint me either. In fact, I liked that it ended in a way that surprised me and left me hoping for the sequel soon. I also like that it was not another cliche filled, predictable dystopian world. It’s originality kept me on my literary toes as I imagined the world Barnard built for her reader.
The world has changed under His Excellency’s rule. Classes are divided by elite, middle and lower, with strict rules for each. Brandon and Octavia are simply living within the rules laid out for them by society. They are making the best of lives they don’t really enjoy, when a freak accident changes everything they’ve ever known. Sent to live with parents they don’t know, and forced to survive will they adjust or will someone use their strange circumstances to cause an uprising? Will they survive and get their old lives back or will they die in the process?
Though Octavia and Brandon never fit in to the worlds they were raised in they will have to rise to challenges they never imagined in order to survive the world they find when the dust settles. They will learn to trust people they’ve been taught to distrust and come to understand that not everyone who is kind to you is worthy of your confidence and friendship.
I enjoyed Unforseen, as you might be able to tell. The first line, quoted above, drew me in immediately. I wonder why? But it was the story that kept me there as I followed Brandon and Octavia’s unlikely stories. I needed to know how it would turn out. I needed to know they’d be okay in the end.
Were they? I’m not telling.
The book didn’t end the way I expected it to. But it didn’t disappoint me either. In fact, I liked that it ended in a way that surprised me and left me hoping for the sequel soon. I also like that it was not another cliche filled, predictable dystopian world. It’s originality kept me on my literary toes as I imagined the world Barnard built for her reader.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews