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The Unanswered Questions

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It's been 24 hours since the bombing. The first attack in 300 years.

The world is in panic. Everyone is pointing fingers, desperate for answers.
A terrified young girl stumbled into a small town of the region of North Cordell to find herself immersed in an unfamiliar world and an unreliable mind. She is determined to find safety, with no intentions in becoming involved with the new global conflict.
When a light in the mountains calls to her, she and five other become caught up in a plot against the world.
Now, they must prove their innocence to a mysterious Sergeant, on the threat of death, and discover the truth of the force against the very nature of which they know.
But the truth is deadly.
And once it knows your name, there is no going back.

555 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2020

11 people are currently reading
223 people want to read

About the author

Lauren D. Fulter

6 books119 followers
Lauren D. Fulter is a young American fiction author, publishing her first book at the age of sixteen.
After learning the word ‘author’ at ​age five, she’s been captivated by the art of storytelling, and the little people roaming her mind. Though she longs for the cold, she lives in the desert with her large family, spending her days drawing, dabbling in the dimensions of the Fulterverse, and wearing sunglasses for unclarified reasons.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Lauren Fulter.
Author 6 books119 followers
Read
August 31, 2021
~CONTENT GUIDE~

Hi! Yeah. It's me! The author. Taking a little bit of time to write a **content guide** sort of thing per request. ;)

"The Unanswered Questions" is the first book in a science-fantasy YA series, taking place a little over 300 years after a huge war called the "EarthShaker". After that, the world was joined together into 95 regions, and hasn't had much major conflicts as they rebuild their society...well, until now.


The main POV characters are all teenagers. Ages 15, 16, 17, and 18 to be exact, though that wouldn't restrict anyone younger or older from enjoying.
My personal rating is 12+.

Language: n/a

Violence: Quite a few fight scenes. Use of swords, guns, and "powers" in these fights (weird combo, I know), but no gore. Slight mentions of blood. Characters get various injuries (burns, and cuts), but nothing explicit or in detail.

Sexual: n/a

Other: I am a devoted Catholic, and so therefore am very aware there are people who are sensitive with books surrounding supernatural topics. So this is your content warning.
There is "magic" persay, but there is no spell-casting or witchcraft, as the magic system solely based on what the character have "inside them" genetically.

12+ for mild violence
Profile Image for Julie Mozart.
Author 2 books25 followers
May 25, 2021
4.75 stars
.
Mmmmkay, so where to begin.
.
First of all, REALLY wasn't expecting to find this sort of book in Indie books. Idk why but I honestly have gotten so used to standalones/sequels in indie that I'm not used to the long game anymore — it reminds me of middle grade me devouring series and I'm HERE for it.
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TUQ is an excellently crafted debut riddled with mystery and reminiscent of (surprise surprise) 'Artemis Fowl.'
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I cannot get over how different each character is. The characters that could so easily blend into one unanimous blob are so well defined and different, I'm REALLY having trouble believing LDF isn't 3 literate raccoons in sunglasses. Lincoln is my absolute favourite, he must be protected, and also Nikki and Lincoln 5ever. Jack and my OC Jordan would absolutely vibe together and that's phenomenal.
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If I ever get the chance and permission, I will hUg Lauren for finding a way to put fantasy castles, swords, and exploding arrows into an otherwise sci-fi world. What I love is that this entire book is so unobnoxious, it's just exactly how it should be.
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My final thoughts, Tabitha Supremacy. That is all.
Profile Image for m.c. pending.
Author 3 books105 followers
July 23, 2021
I love love loveeeeed this book! the characters are some of the most well written, rounded characters I’ve ever read! love them, but especially tabitha. (and lincoln & nik ofc)

#tabithasupremacy
Profile Image for Millie Florence.
Author 8 books318 followers
May 20, 2021
The Unanswered Questions is an addictive, iconic adventure.

The world-building is excellent, the magic and fight scenes fresh and intriguing. The characters and their relationships were very well written, and fun to read. There are so many iconic, meme-able moments throughout the book that are just so much fun to read. From Nikki being fascinated with lemons to Lincoln being in several pairs of handcuffs at once. It's funny and fun, and especially for a debut novel, that's an impressive feat.

While I certainly enjoyed this book, it didn't quite reach five stars, mostly due to the prose structure. The actual writing of the book doesn't flow very easily, and I often found myself feeling confused and having to re-read sentences a few times to get the idea. Master prose is a skill that comes only one way - with practice, so that's to be expected of a first book, and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of it.

All in all, a very fun action-packed read. I would definitely recommend it to thrill-seeking readers.
Profile Image for Emma.
24 reviews
February 12, 2022
It’s awesome. It’s chocked full of action and lots of unanswered questions. There is never a dull moment in this book. All of the characters are so amazing and have such distinct personalities. The world is well thought out and complex, without becoming confusing. I loved getting to explore different parts of the world, and the mix of fantasy and sci-fi was awesome!

The ending is satisfying, but leaves you desperately wanting to know what happens next. I can’t wait to watch the characters’ relationships with one another build, and unlock more about their pasts, as well as the past of the world. Once we began uncovering some clues to what happened, I immediately fell into a pit of constant curiosity.

I think the best part of this book is how dynamic the characters are. There are times with every character where I disagree with them and want to knock some sense into them, and times when I agree with them. They aren’t one dimensional, and they aren’t perfect people!

Also, Silas is in this book. If you must have one more push to read this, there you go. I basically adopted him from the moment I read his first words.
Profile Image for Samantha Crago.
146 reviews
July 17, 2024
Why should you read this book?
If saying it’s amazing doesn’t convince you, let me convince you farther.
The characters in this book are mainly what pulls me in which never happens, take that as a sign of how great they are.
They grow alone and as a found family throughout the story, giving the reader a chance to grow with them and see them all start to trust each other.
And the humor and bickering between them is flawless.
The world building is fantastically done, Lauren explains everything in a simple way but complex enough that I understand the world completely.

If you are a reader for a plot or world building, this book is for you.
If you are a reader for the characters, this book is for you.

-

-My original review after the first reading-

So incredibly good! I loved this story and the characters were so well developed! It moved at such a fast pace and I could barely put it down! It was incredible! I can’t not wait to read more of this story! I am so excited to see where the characters go next!
Profile Image for Effie Stock.
Author 22 books91 followers
October 26, 2023
This is such a twisty turny complex book and I'm so here for it 😌 Lauren has created a deep world set far into Earth's future that follows 6 unlikely young companions as they seek to prove their innocence to suspicious soldiers who know more than they let on.
If you like dystopia feels, found family, teens who actually act like teens, plot twists, and intense foreshadowing that will definitely come back in later books than you should give this a try 😎

*note* I know the author is releasing an updated version of this book soon and I'm super pumped to see some rough aspects of this book touched up along with an incredible new cover 🤩
Profile Image for Sowon Kim.
Author 4 books51 followers
June 6, 2021
Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I'll write a better review once my thoughts are more organized. But for now, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Profile Image for Shannon Aardsma.
Author 1 book10 followers
March 13, 2021
I just finished this book yesterday, and it was an intense read! The final 100 pages especially were packed full of edge-of-your-seat action. And the title is very fitting! There are many questions being asked throughout the book that you, as a reader, are eager to learn the answers to, and though some of those questions get answered by the end, there are still several that are left unanswered, making you impatient for the next book in the series! In my opinion, that's a great way to write this type of series-- to leave your readers wanting more, and that's what Lauren has done.

While sci-fi is not my favorite genre, I did thoroughly enjoy the world that Lauren created for this series. It is unlike anything I have seen before in a book or movie, and it was really cool to learn about! It is very complex, and you know that Lauren has put a lot of thought into it.

The characters were also amazing. They are all unique, with strengths and weaknesses and quirks that make them relatable and believable. And Lauren always keeps you on your toes, revealing things about certain characters throughout the book that make you question whether you can trust a character or whether you should root for them (even if they're your favorite!). As I got to know the characters better, my opinions on a few of them changed: characters I didn't really like or dislike became favorites or at least made it higher on the list.

I think Lauren also has an incredible skill when it comes to writing, and I hope to see her grow and develop it more in future books. I would be blown away sometimes by the description or by certain sentences/ideas/emotions/actions that were just phrased so very beautifully and creatively. While I think she has a lot of talent and potential, I would also like to see her grow and learn and mix things up a bit when it comes to sentence structure. This really comes down to a pet peeve of mine more than anything-- I'm picky about writing. But in my opinion, I hope to see her grow and improve in future books, as any author should. As a writer, you are constantly learning and improving.

It was a pleasure to be able to read Lauren's debut novel, for all its strengths and for its few flaws as well. I think Lauren can be very proud of what she has accomplished! And I can't wait for the next book in the series. Maybe a few more of those questions will be answered. ;)
Profile Image for lei ˏˋ°•*⁀➷.
33 reviews18 followers
January 29, 2022
༄*ੈ✩ oh TUQ
• where do I even begin with you?
• a 550+ page book that I finished in ten days
• I have so much to say

first, let me start off my praising the author, Lauren. she’s a wonderful person who I met through the author community on Instagram. think of your favorite book- how many of y’all can say you know the author?

which goes into my next point...

The Unanswered Questions is by far, my favorite book. well, tied with Under the Never Sky, but that’s besides the point.

reading this book, I cried. especially towards the end. I laughed. I gasped. I yelled, “CALLED IT!!” after major reveals. I spammed Lauren. it was a wonderful rollercoaster, and will always have a special place in my heart <3

༄*ੈ✩ my favorite things about it
• it’s clean! no language or smoochy things. the violence is minimal, and there’s no dark magic or witchcraft. most people should be allowed to read TUQ!
• the characters. they’re getting their own section though.
• the setting (which is also getting its own section)
• the pacing. it’s a BIG book, but the pacing makes it feel fast!
• the concepts, which you guessed it, are getting their own section
• the genre (dystopian science-fantasy >>>>) TUQ and my book I’m planning to publish in late 2022 have a LOT in common.
• enough about me though...

༄*ੈ✩ official summary

It's been 24 hours since the bombing. The first attack in 300 years.
• The world is in panic. Everyone is pointing fingers, desperate for answers. A terrified young girl stumbled into a small town of the region of North Cordell to find herself immersed in an unfamiliar world and an unreliable mind. She is determined to find safety, with no intentions in becoming involved with the new global conflict. When a light in the mountains calls to her, she and five other become caught up in a plot against the world. Now, they must prove their innocence to a mysterious Sergeant, on the threat of death, and discover the truth of the force against the very nature of which they know.

But the truth is deadly.

And once it knows your name, there is no going back.

༄*ੈ✩ Leigh’s summary
• a bunch of depressed, goofy, anxious, confused, and chaotic teenagers and adults (who are bad at adulting) get pulled into a plot against the world because some ancient-blooded nobility can’t keep themselves in check.

༄*ੈ✩ the characters
• note- if you read Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus, you may find yourslef even more obsessed with this cast of characters 👀


𝙽𝚒𝚔𝚔𝚒
• Squirt
• I don’t usually adore the main character as much as the side characters (to be fair they’re all main characters but Nikki is the summary/cover/first pov character)
• but holy cow, miss Nikki knocked it out of the park
• I love her so much
• she is so complex and there’s so much revealed about her.
• unreliable narrator check

𝚁𝚊𝚢 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚠𝚜
• aka emo
• RAY
• I love you Ray
• and I forgive you
• he’s like the perfect boy best friend
• Ray is funny y’all
• he’s also pretty good lookin’
• but he has so much more to him than just, “I’m good looking and funny hE He hE”
• he’s such an interesting and amazing character
• doctor boy™️

𝚃𝚊𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚊 𝙳𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜
• stump
• even the author miss Lauren D. Fulter herself says I look exactly like Tabitha
• Tabs and I also have the EXACT same personality and same of humor
• #girlsunder5’4”unite
• Tabitha is funny, has a raging temper, is obssed with her binder for reasons still unknown to me, sassy, caring, and definitely has a big fat crush on [𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍]
• Tabs is definitely one of my favorite characters of all time, but so is literally everyone in this book

𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚜𝚘𝚗
• coleslaw
• goldfish
• I love you
• anyway-
• Cole is very cool
• I want to date him
• but also protect him with my whole heart
• Jason Grace vibes but SUPER INTERESTING
• if the people who read the first draft of In the Midnight Blue liked Max, then y’all will love Cole
• he has a cool sword
• and a nut allergy
• and a secret hehehehe but y’all have to read to find out what *that* is
• also his name is cool

𝙵𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑
• aka Rusty
• Felicity is so much more than the “anxious girl”
• she’s fierce yet vulnerable
• we learn so much about her
• she’s incredibly complex
• it was so fun to read about the stories and personas she used to make up for herself. I definitely relate
• serpent-monster slaying queen

𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚗
• GEARS/Black eyes
• my precious child
• do I want to date him or adopt him
• I don’t know
• I love Lincoln so much
• he’s sweet and he’s figuring his feelings and past out
• I want to hug him

𝙼𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚖
• Mir is actually so cool
• wing it 😉
• I want to be her friend
• I love her character so much. her role and costume in the little heist they pulled towatds the end were just
• perfection

𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔
• Jack is so funny
• idk why
• just like unironically funny
• I feel like we’re gonna learn more about him in book two, which I’m starting tonight

𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚢𝚗
• you’re so cool
• I’d probably be scared of you irl though
• major drill Sargent energy
• I mean she is a Sargent in their world
• but Taryn is so cool and I love her backstory
• her messy office is a mood too

𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚜
• I like your hair
• you have cool powers
• I want to learn more about you

𝙰𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗
• YOU HAD SO MANY GOOD QUOTES
• Realm Breaker/Throne of Glass vibes
• I must know more about you and your time period
• “I feel sorry life will never side with you.” -Avalon

𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒
• her reappearance at the end was perfection
• the gemstone knife and rifle- so powerful
• you’re cool
• I hope you’re in the future books

༄*ੈ✩ the world
• I love the Defenders. they’re trained as military personnel, but do more local law-enforcement type stuff
• the regions are so cool! my book’s world is actually pretty similar in that aspect, but there’s a lot of differences too- it’s fun to read about something so familiar yet so refreshing and new at the same time
• The region names are so cool because you have “North Cordell” then “yOrK”
• no shade to York though
• I really liked Imperial City and North Cordell
• the world had a very cool vibe

༄*ੈ✩ concepts
• if you like the prophecies and the seven from Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus, you’ll love TUQ’s concepts. (this isn’t a spoiler because they’re not the same.
• a hunt for artifacts >>>>
• this plot device is also in my series, and if I do say so myself, it’s superior
• ancient councils 😩😩
• ancient person stuck inside of an ✨artifact✨

Y’ALL- go read TUQ.

https://instagram.com/laurendfulter_a...

https://linktr.ee/laurend.fulter


that’s all for now!!

I’ll see y’all later <3
Profile Image for Naomi King.
Author 4 books30 followers
January 29, 2021
4.5 stars

This book is SO GOOD like seriously. So. freakin. good.

Like, the CHARACTERS. Like, the WORLD. Like, the ACTION. just like *screams*

*clears throat* Ok now to the actual review.

I had some pretty high expectations coming into this, and I can definitely say LDF does not disappoint. The story starts off with a bang and keeps up a good amount of tension throughout the rest of the book. The action scenes were well described and kept me engaged. I do wish there was a little more down time between the action, but that was probably because I wanted more of Lincoln describing words to Nikki *winks at the author* like pls they're so cute give it to me in the next book NOW

ON the note of Lincoln...CAN WE JUST APPRECIATE THAT LITTLE CHILD BECAUSE I CANNOT SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM ENOUGH I'm the official Lincoln fangirl and I take a lot of pride in that. like he's just so cute and innocent and deserves all the love in the world i swear if he dies i don;t know what i'll do with myself.

Tabitha was my second favorite. She's an iconic queen and I love her to death. like she carries a binder everywhere and thats just adorable *keyboard smash*

I actually wasn't expecting to like Cole at all, and I didn't at first, but I definitely warmed up to him in the second half of the book. I need to draw him wielding a sword /stat/

I also was obsessed with Ray at first, but I definitely didn't like him as much after uh an incident... that occurred. But I like where his character is going in the next book, so I expect to like him again.

overall, a solid read that I absolutely loved, even though I almost chucked it across the room while reading. The Unanswered Questions is a fantastic story and I am INVESTED.
Profile Image for Paris Kaufman.
Author 8 books41 followers
September 25, 2022
I have heard nothing but good things about The Unanswered Questions, and now it is my turn to say nothing but good things!

I loved the plot and adored the character cast! You know how sometimes in a multi-POV novel there is *that one POV*? There is no such thing as *that one POV* in TUQ! (And there are six different POV’s!!!)

I am curious about what OTCC will be about. TUQ gives us a satisfying ending whilst still leaving a few loose ties, I am sure Fulter will pick up in the sequel.

MINOR SPOILERS:
Nicki’s laugh and smile at the end of the book WERE PERFECT! It made me smile too, I am so happy she is happy.

AND AS ALWAYS CAN WE ADMIRE THE COVER?! IT FITS THE CLIMAX PERFECTLY!
Profile Image for Carmen.
24 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2021
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!! The battle scenes had me at the edge of my seat, and the banter between the teens (specifically Lincoln and Ray, even more specifically when Ray is trying to say he's taller than Lincoln) are super funny. Did I detect hints of romantic feelings within the group of traumatized teens??? Yes. Yes, I did. I appreciate romance in YA novels, but I really love how this book gave me a break from the "so much sPiCy tension between friends and enemies" trope that's in so many other YA books. These are all friends, they were friends first and that's what they will always be first. Love the hints of teenage-crushy subplots, and I appreciate how the author didn't make it the main issue of the book. This book is now my comfort book :)

Also, I get major Leo Valdez vibes from Ray, so he is my smol child and I love him. #RaySupremacy

(long live the lemon)

SO EXCITED FOR OF THE CURATRIX CODE AND TUQ 3!!!!
Profile Image for Dalia.
85 reviews10 followers
June 24, 2021
Bad stuff: I would probably give this book five stars, had a read the updated version. However, I have the older version that has a number of typos. There were also several confusing parts, or parts that felt very rushed. It was hard to feel immersed at some points, as some description was lacking.

Good stuff: The characters were amazing. The plot was fast paced and certainly kept my attention. There was a wonderful twist that I sort of saw coming but also didn't. Ray was my favorite character.

Other stuff: Is it bad that I kind of ship Ray and Nikki? At least more than I shipped Lincoln and Nikki.
Profile Image for Kay.
118 reviews2 followers
May 2, 2022
"If this has reached you, my mission is complete."

The Unanswered Questions by Lauren D. Fulter is the first book in an ongoing series. Fulter published it at the age of 16, which is incredibly impressive. It's a brick of a book filled with a bunch of amazing characters, an awesome world, and and lots of questions.

Genre: YA Science Fantasy
Type: 1st in an 8 book ongoing series
POV: 6 POV's, third person, past tense
Age Rating: 12+ years old
(correct me if I'm incorrect on any of these things)

~Synopsis~

The world is in panic. After 300 years, the first bombing occurred and everyone is pointing fingers, desperate for answers. A girl, Nikki, found herself in a small town of North Cordell. She is immersed in an unfamiliar world and mind. She is determined to find safety, with no intentions of being caught up in the global conflict. But, when a light in the mountain calls to her, she and 5 others become caught up in a plot against the world. They must prove their innocence, on the threat of death, and discover the truth of the force attacking their world.

"I promise you your safety if you listen to my close directions to retrieve an item for me."

~Writing and Setting~

This section is probably the lowest for me. The way this book was written was a bit confusing and often times I couldn't understand what was going on. There is also lots of typos, but unless that specifically bothers you, it doesn't make much of a difference. Setting wise, I often never knew where exactly they were. The descriptions were lacking a bit and often I came across a white wall scene. But, the scenes that were described well transported me into this dangerous society. I didn't mind all 6 POV's, but there were some that I preferred over others. Fulter's writing is definitely something I have to get used to, but I love the story so much that its worth it.

"All will be clear in time."

~Plot~

In the beginning I was really confused. Like really really confused. The first 200 pages were very slow and it took a while to get to the action. After that, the action was not stop. The pacing wasn't well balanced but I'm so happy I persisted through the slow beginning. It was interesting although I was confused with everything that happened. But, I mean, it is called The Unanswered Questions so it works.

"Make your assumptions, girl. They might save you."

~Characters~

There are six main characters, plus tons of side characters, so I'll only really talk about the main six. There isn't really a main main character, but I'm assuming its Nikki as the description is about her and she's on the cover, plus she starts the book off. Nikki was quiet, she didn't have a lot of knowledge, and she develops so much. She's only 15, but she is strong-willed. Ray Matthews is such a fun character. He's interesting and smart, plus his family is so cool. Tabitha Delorous has a funny raging temper, and is sassy and caring. I always looked forward to her POV. Felicity Bentsworth is shy, and very jittery, despite being the oldest of the group. I love her character development and her dynamic with Tabitha. Their friendship is amazing. Lincoln is mysterious and you learn so much about him in the book. He wasn't my favorite character but he is a fun one. And saving the best for last, Coleson Johnson. Cole is the best character in the book. He doesn't get as much page time as the other characters, but he deserves more. Literally whenever his name was on the page, I squealed out loud. All the characters were fun and had real struggles, and I loved each of their POV's which is difficult to pull off, so props to Fulter.

"Not everyone is out to kill you."

~Overall~

The Unanswered Questions was a confusing but a joy to read. I can't wait to read the next book! Fulter has achieved so much with this book and I would definitely recommend. This book opened my eyes to the genre of science fantasy and I will never look back.

"'You shouldn't of come.' He squeezed his eyes shut. 'You'll be dead by noon.'"

3/5 stars
Profile Image for Amelia E..
Author 6 books31 followers
October 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this book!

The PLOT started off action-packed and mysterious, and pretty much continued that trend the whole way through. The plot had so many exciting twists and turns, not to mention constant questions. For some absurd reason I had a hard time staying invested, which does not make sense to me because TUQ literally has everything one could ever want to stay invested. Smh at my annoying brain.

Anyway, moving on: the WORLD-BUILDING is super cool, although confusing at times. It helped to go to LDF’s website (laurendfulter.com) and look over the list of Impure races!

The CHARACTERS have distinct personalities, which is fantastic and, in my opinion, quite impressive, given how many of them there are. You can tell there’s a lot of depth to all the characters, but I didn’t quite feel like I knew any of them very well by the end of the book. I’ve already started OTCC though, and I’m confident I will get to know them all much better. As a side note, my favorites are Nikki, Lincoln, and Ray, and did I mention NIKKI??? Ooh and Miriam is awesome toooooo (Also can I ship Miriam and Jack…?) oh and Cole kinda grew on me too.

The POV is done super well throughout almost the entire book. There are moments when the POV is unclear, but it usually becomes obvious a sentence or three later. I did get quite confused a couple times when the POV switched almost without warning in the middle of a chapter - I think it would have been nice to have a small divider, like a line or something, between the POV switches, but maybe I’m just needy lol. You may notice that I got confused a lot while reading this book. It may just be because I am easily confused :,)

Anywayyy as I said, I’ve already started OTCC and I’m very excited to see where this is all going! TUQ was a fun and interesting read and I absolutely recommend reading it if you haven’t :D 🍋
Profile Image for Ivy.
81 reviews
September 8, 2022
Ok wow, I loved the Unanswered Questions by Lauren D. Fulter.
First of all, I have been wanting to read this book since I first started following the author on instagram last year. I mean there is a whole fan base surrounding these books, and I wanted to be in on all the fun!
Going into this I had a lot of expectations and boy did this book surpass all of them! To begin with, the writing is pretty good for a debut, and the characters are *chefs kiss* so well written. Ray is my very most favorite, but I also really loved Felicity and Tabatha… and Nikki… and Cole… and Lincoln… basically I loved everybody. They just seemed so real and relatable to me.
If I could compare this to some of my favorite series, I would say that the Unanswered Questions reminds me of the Percy Jackson books, a little bit Lord of the Rings, and a little bit of The Hunger Games, which means it’s pretty spectacular if I do say so myself!
The plot is totally unpredictable and I really hated having to do things like eat meals… cause that meant I had to stop reading which was very hard to do😂

Basically, I just need to read the second one NOW but I can’t because Amazon is being slow 😭

Anyway, I loved this book and I think everyone should go read it so we can start a huge fan club 🤩Sound good? Awesome.
Profile Image for Becca Wynn.
Author 1 book9 followers
May 10, 2021
I didn’t read the newest edited version, so my review might be a bit off.

That being said, I loved this book. I wasn’t too sure about it at first, as it started off with a confusing bang, but the characters immediately drew me in. The main characters’ dynamics with each other and with various side characters were just so interesting! I loved them! (Ray is my baby. I’ll fight you for him.)

The typos kind of slowed my reading pace and sometimes I really wasn’t sure what was happening because of the awkward wording. Despite that, the world-building was solid enough to draw me in, and the story’s ending left me wanting more!

I have to say that the POV changes really confused me at times. I would read half a chapter thinking I was in one person’s head only to find out that I was actually in another’s. Even so, I really got a feel for each main character’s personality, and I loved them all!

All in all, this book written by a teen author was really something. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m so excited to read the next one!
Profile Image for Laurel (Yeetarandomwriter) Burgess.
200 reviews47 followers
January 23, 2021
I feel both honored and nervous reviewing first. :P

The short review:
Despite the book needing an editor for confusing scenes/misspelled words, I was entertained by this debut novel and am excited for the following books! (I have to wait a year/two years?! :O)


There is violence, blood, magic and anxiety, but not in a lot of detail.

The long review:

*cracks knuckles*

Give me characters with different personalities that I love (with hinted backstories) thrust into situations and I have to keep reading.

What I Loved:
- I didn't hear the characters' backstories at first, I had to earn it by continuing to read. I've read books that straight out tell me the backstories through characters being like "yo, I have had a painful past okay?", but holding it back makes it all the more interesting and well worth it because I get hints and pieces AS I care more and more about the characters. It was rewarding.
-There were almost zero slow/boring scenes. I tend to expect gloomily reading boring and rather pointless "going about the day" scenes, but this book gets points for not having them because conflict/action-fighting/and... *winks* questions, filled the pages.
-The worldbuilding is cool! Sci-fi and fantasy!
-I laughed like 7 times (thank you Ray and Tabithia)
-I loved many of the characters and how they interacted with each other and how they grew themselves (*nods at two of the girls, in particular, *) it was great :)
-The last scene is so happy.
-"Wing it."
-Squirt, Rusty, Gears, Emo, Goldfish, Stump.

Negatives for honesty's sake:
There were lots of missing letters and I had to re-read to make sure I understood correctly -but while that might bother some, it didn't bother me much.
I was confused a bit of the time about what was happening. Now, most of the time, that was supposed to happen because the characters themselves didn't know what was going on, but there were perhaps a dozen scenes where the characters understood what was going on and I didn't. And I feel like I needed to know what was happening.
Two important times the villain's motives weren't clear to me. So, I didn't know why characters had to do things/what they wanted.
Some inconsistency stuff.
Without spoiling: when a character went to the dark side and then came back, I still didn't understand why he went to the dark side in the first place/how he didn't know who he was. Buuuuut maybe a re-read would inform me better.

Character Rants:
This might be the first time I'm choosing someone other than a goofy character as my favorite character, but Niki (the girl on the cover) is an absolutely precious, quiet, selfless, bean who is 100 percent pure. Starting out with her pov in chapter 1 hooked me.

Felicity: I didn't like her at first, to be honest. I didn't see her having particular good qualities in the start. However, as the story went on, and she stood up to her fear, and I believe I saw her protective side, I can say I like her now. :D

Tabitha: 100 percent awesome. Sassy short girls who talk too much/grumble on adventures and are bold (but also get scared) are perfection.

Ray: He is an Enfp (like me) so I have to like him. Haha. He's funny! I'm concerned for him in the following books, but also intrigued to see how he stays himself (trying to be vauge here for spoilers).

Cole: ... he be grumpy. I thiiiink I'll like him more in the next books.

Lincoln: 2 precious beans in one book?! How is that possible?! He is selfless and innocent, and quiet and like Niki but different and a bean!

Silas:... dude I'm going to need to see more of you because *squints* do I like you, or don't I?

The specific relationships between the characters were awesome!
Profile Image for M.T. Zimny.
Author 5 books102 followers
March 19, 2021
I am blown away by the talent of this teen author! Looking through her reviews, I see that Lauren Fulter has received a lot of well deserved praise for her characters that jump off the page. Despite toggling through six different 3rd person POV main viewpoints, each character is fleshed out with their own personalities, fears, likes, and dislikes. Their relationships with the other kids in the group differ across the six of them and are nuanced in their own ways. The characters are dynamic and change over the course of the book as do their friendships as they make discoveries about themselves and the world around them.

Speaking of, Fulter deserves major kudos in her ability to create a tangible world teetering on the edge of peace and total collapse. The locales the characters travel through are as distinct as the characters themselves, each one providing new characters and challenges for the main six to overcome.

It's an action packed story about reluctant friends tasked with saving the world and while Fulter carried her action scenes well, I found myself most engrossed in the quiet pages between attacks where the characters could let their guards down to learn more about each other and grow closer. In the end, Fulter shows our differences in character and background are what make us stronger together.

This is just the first in the series and, as the title suggests, Fulter leaves PLENTY of questions and mysteries to keep us eagerly waiting for the next installment.
Profile Image for H.A. Pruitt.
Author 16 books46 followers
September 9, 2021
An intriguing, fun distopian novel with great characters.
The Unanswered Questions is ideal for readers who like fast-paced, witty YA dystopian books or anyone who likes puzzling stories.

The unanswered Questions is a character-driven dystopia that keeps you reading page after page.
It takes place in our world but far in the future with different kinds of supernatural races that are stirring up conflict. The book is driven by the characters much more than the plot. The six main characters are brought together for a specific reason, and as the book progresses, they learn more about themselves and one another.
Positives
The characters are my favorite aspect of the book. LDF made each of them unique and really thought about the backstory and all the little quirks and traits of each one. You really get a solid sense of who each one is, and you really, really want to know all of the unanswered questions about each one.
The book is immensely intriguing; it truly does contain so many unanswered questions and makes you really curious for answers.
I really appreciated the balance of seriousness and humor. I like when books aren't too serious and some character or random thing to makes you laugh throughout the story.

Negatives
As much as I found the unanswered questions in the book intriguing, I also found the answers or lack of answers confusing. It felt like LDF really worked hard to create a detailed world and races but either didn't reveal what would have helped me understand or revealed so little that I felt pretty confused. However, I also don't know if that was intentional--it is titled The Unanswered Questions, and the unknown did keep me reading.
I wish more focus had been put on the plot and the details that structured the plot than the action scenes. The details about the back story and plot were really good, but the action pushed those into the background.

Overall, it is a good book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys dystopias, witty YA, or mysteries.
Profile Image for R.E. Klinzing.
Author 3 books10 followers
January 24, 2021
The book was amazing! All of the characters are so mysterious and unique I couldn't stop wondering what made each of them tick. And the twists! Every time I thought I was finally getting close to figuring something out, an amazing piece of backstory or a crazy twist in the plot kept me searching for answers. There are definitely a lot of unanswered questions...

The ending was absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Legaspi.
Author 10 books68 followers
February 14, 2021
My favorite part of this book is easily the the characters! Each of the six main characters and even a few of the minor characters were so unique in their personality and voice, and I found it hard to truly dislike anybody. After a certain point, the story dragged on a bit after a certain point for me personally, but the amazingly realistic characters made up for it. I definitely recommend!
Profile Image for alittlebitbookish.
177 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2022
“Did you see the broadcast?” Lincoln asked.
“Clear and loud” Nikki responded
Lincoln’s mouth twisted into a smile. “Loud and Clear” he corrected.

~~~~~~

“Don’t Die” she said “Please don’t die.”

~~~~~~~

“I feel lied too.”
“I’m sorry.” Cole said.
“It’s not your fault.”
Ray couldn’t hold it in any further. He began to cry.
Arms wrapped around him and held him close.



~~~~~~


DUDEEEE THISS BOOOK!!! WHAT IN THE ACTUAL LEMON?!?! I LOVED THISSS!!! my boy, Ray. I love you🤍🥺 you’re literally my favorite. (Don’t worry Lincoln you’re a close second) I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOOK!!! you NEED to read it!!! *shoves it at you* pLeAsE i’M BeGgInG yOu!!
It’s so good! *immediately takes OTCC off my shelf*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lorelei Jensen.
Author 4 books27 followers
December 15, 2021
I wish I could be more specific on the star rating because I loved this book. The cast was unique and each flawed and lovable. I might have to flip a coin for who I ship with Nikki, but that’s fine. The world seems super interesting and I can’t wait to explore more of the world and get to meet more amazing and emotionally devastated characters. Who doesn’t love traumatized teens? My biggest “issue” was the confusing POVs but I’ve been told they get better in later books and that’s all that matters to me. It was a long but entertaining read. I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Patricia  Kirby.
65 reviews
June 14, 2023
From beginning to end (it’s a long book too) I was so hooked l, especially by the characters. I loved the way they interacted with each other and just how individual each one was even though there was a large cast. I’m not usually a super long book person, but I loved this because it didn’t feel long because the story was so amazing!
Profile Image for Abigail Kopp.
86 reviews4 followers
June 24, 2024
A dystopian science fantasy following a group of misfit kids who really don't want anything to do with each other. Until they do.

Plot (4/5)
It was a bit slow-going at first because there were a lot of questions raised (the title of the book), BUT I found myself getting sucked into the story halfway through. I love the characters and their dynamics (which I will talk about in the next section), but I found the book was a bit plot-driven instead of character-driven. I wanted to see more of them making decisions that would not only move the plot forward but move their arc forward.

Characters (5/5)
Felicity
She is a worry-wart, but she overcomes a lot of fear and anxiety which I appreciate of her character. She starts off distrusting and by the end grows so much. It was very cool to watch.

Nikki
I was attached to her from the start. Many people don't like the amnesia trope, but it's one I eat up. And Nikki ate and left no crumbs. Her arc is probably the most convincing, though a lot of mystery clouds her past.

Tabitha
I love her. She is fun and impulsive--I related to her very much. Her attachment to her folder was hilarious to me because I understand. Don't touch my notebooks or stationary, pal!

Cole
A very chill and consistent character--much needed for the whirlwind of personalities that surround him. I feel like he is the emotional anchor to the story, and I enjoyed reading him.

Lincoln
Kinda has leader vibes. And I think he is cool. He grew on me throughout the book as he stepped into situations the best he could. AND THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN HIM AND A CERTAIN STONE WIELDER??? I love it.

Ray
My precious boi. I have always loved the over-confident goofballs and Ray is no exception. His arc was also interesting, though I feel a bit rushed at the end. I hope that what he went through in the book gets opened up more in book two.

Others
The name changes of Sergeant Hunter were confusing at first, but I got used to it. Also, the name Sergeant Hunter made me crack up, only because I watched Star Wars: The Bad Batch around the same time, LOL.

My only complaint was that there were a LOT of characters and I sometimes got them mixed up.

Writing Style (4/5)
The quick introduction to many characters was a bit hard to follow when I was just getting started. Thankfully, each main character was very distinct in personality and I loved to see them interact.

I must note that this book was published when Fulter was 16, so there were grammatical mistakes, formatting issues, and a bit of confusing moments. If you can look past that (which I did), her quirky and fun writing style was displayed, offering an exciting adventure.

Personal Enjoyment (5/5)
I. LOVE. THE. VIBE. I keep thinking of Teen Titans/Percy Jackson/Ben 10/Young Justice smashed into her world. It's pretty unique as far as plot and setting (though I don't often read books of this genre) and I can't wait to dive into book two!

Themes
I would say this is 10+ as far as age ratings go.
Action, but that is it.

Overall Thoughts (4.5/5)
An exciting read filled with mysterious powers, fun characters, and quirky dialogue. It sets up for a longer series which I look forward to reading.
Profile Image for Mike Diener.
Author 5 books37 followers
March 5, 2023
An Ethereal and Explosive Story

You know that feeling of experiencing an intense and exciting dream? That’s what it feels like to read The Unanswered Questions. This book was action-packed and engaging. It was was mysterious and intriguing. It felt ethereal and explosive.

This is by far the most accurately titled book of all time. The first 130 pages present nothing but unanswered questions. After a few small answers, there are even more questions! Most of them are small, but none of them are meaningless. Every piece of this story is part of a giant puzzle that I doubt I have a true comprehension of just yet (I know there are at least 2 more books in this series). When we do get answers, they lead to bigger and more interesting questions.

I suspect that we will eventually get answers, but I also don’t think we’ll ever get every answer. I get the sense that the author knows things she will never tell us, and we are meant to be left a little bit in the dark.

When I say this book feels like a dream, I really mean it. The action sequences occasionally don’t have proper explanations, but it’s in a way that fits the feel of the book. Rather than being a negative, the reader is left to just accept things like we would in a dream. It actually adds to the intrigue of the book and leaves you with a feeling of wishing you could go back into the dreamworld.

I will say there were a couple negatives that might have been unavoidable for this story but must be mentioned. The cast of characters is just too big for me. There are 7 main characters, and there are half a dozen really important side characters. I couldn’t keep up. They all had distinct personalities, but I kept having to stop and think about who had what background. The side characters were really confusing, especially since several went by different names and titles. Toward the end, there was a really important side character, and I couldn’t remember anything about him at all since there was so much going on.

The one character I didn’t struggle with at all was Nikki! She was one of the best-written characters that I’ve read in a long time, and I absolutely loved her!

Worldbuilding is crazy in this story. It’s kind of post-apocalyptic dystopian, but it’s literally nothing like I’ve ever seen from either of those genres. It has doomsday vibes, epic-fantasy level of worldbuilding, with an urban-fantasy style of magic(?), and all the feels of a Final Fantasy style video game. It took a legitimate visionary to pull of this together!

I completely understand why this series basically has a small cult following.

Overall, I think this was an excellent introduction to a very developed and interesting world. Just make sure you’re ready to commit to learning a ton of characters and worldbuilding details. If you like that, you will love this book!
Profile Image for Susan Markloff.
1 review
January 16, 2022
The Unanswered Questions is a fantastic starting block for author Lauren D. Fulter. The book starts with a blast and doesn't let up until the last page, which only serves to beckon you on to the next book (which just released as of the time of this review).

With a cast of teens that provide multiple personalities and quirks, they provide every reader someone to connect with. Each character is well crafted, with ticks and tells unique to them. The adults directly interacting with the teens are filled with back stories that keep you guessing (and many of them fail at adulting, causing for some entertaining interactions throughout the story).

The book (and series, I believe), is aptly named. Questions are going to be had in droves. Some keep you reading, and others leave you scratching your head. There's a lot to keep you invested, and I strongly believe that the characters are the best part of the story. Though the brief hints of the world's history are the most intriguing, and I hope we get to see more of that as the series progresses.

And quite honestly, the fact that the author was 16 at the time of publishing (which means she was likely 15 when she finished writing it), is ASTOUNDING. Any young writer with aspirations of publishing should 100% read this book and become inspired by Fulter's drive and passion. Her talent is undeniable, and I for one cannot wait to see how her stories grow and progress as time goes on.

This is a series that'll be worth investing your time in, and I highly recommend it! It's a solid 4.5 book (if only Amazon let you do incremental reviews)
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