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Undiscovered
Sometimes truth is stranger than folktales.
Bilingualism and plate tectonics were the only kinds of shapeshifting Arden Araujo’s troubled geoscientist dad prepared her for. But it turns out, the outlandish prediction that wrecked his career–a devastating North Sea tsunami–might not be the unlikeliest truth he took to his grave.
In the 2097 tsunami’s aftermath, environmental first responder Arden expects her mission in hard-hit northeast Scotland to involve the usual grunt work, maybe a little freediving if she’s lucky. Instead, she stumbles upon a critically endangered species of Orkney and Shetland legend, hiding in plain sight among the refugees.
They trust that she can help restore their kind, despite storms, aftershocks, and policy decisions way beyond her pay grade. Increasingly at home on the shores of their life-giving sea, she may have found her calling; true love might not be a mere children’s story either. Yet the deeper she’s immersed in their tale, the less sure she feels that she’s the right hero to protect the hidden treasure of their existence.
UNDISCOVERED is a unique sci fi/fantasy fusion:
climate fiction, hopeful fabulism, and a feminist hero’s journey,
told in lyrical prose (and occasional Spanglish).
Bilingualism and plate tectonics were the only kinds of shapeshifting Arden Araujo’s troubled geoscientist dad prepared her for. But it turns out, the outlandish prediction that wrecked his career–a devastating North Sea tsunami–might not be the unlikeliest truth he took to his grave.
In the 2097 tsunami’s aftermath, environmental first responder Arden expects her mission in hard-hit northeast Scotland to involve the usual grunt work, maybe a little freediving if she’s lucky. Instead, she stumbles upon a critically endangered species of Orkney and Shetland legend, hiding in plain sight among the refugees.
They trust that she can help restore their kind, despite storms, aftershocks, and policy decisions way beyond her pay grade. Increasingly at home on the shores of their life-giving sea, she may have found her calling; true love might not be a mere children’s story either. Yet the deeper she’s immersed in their tale, the less sure she feels that she’s the right hero to protect the hidden treasure of their existence.
UNDISCOVERED is a unique sci fi/fantasy fusion:
climate fiction, hopeful fabulism, and a feminist hero’s journey,
told in lyrical prose (and occasional Spanglish).
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2023
28 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Anglin
5 books3 followersThe first real novel Ashley Bevilacqua Anglin read, age 6ish, was The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Never looking back, she’s still hanging out with valiant female protagonists at the intersection of contemporary fantasy, climate fiction, and the spiritual. Her passion for storytelling led her to a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Linguistics. Her short stories and poetry have appeared online in Miniskirt, Minison, Full Mood, Tree and Stone, and Voidspace magazines.
Ashley lives in Virginia, where she is a longtime community college professor of Italian and Spanish. You can find her previous work (including other glimpses of the Undiscovered world) at https://linktr.ee/ashleyb.anglin.
Ashley lives in Virginia, where she is a longtime community college professor of Italian and Spanish. You can find her previous work (including other glimpses of the Undiscovered world) at https://linktr.ee/ashleyb.anglin.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 24, 2023
Full text reivew: https://jamreads.com/reviews/undiscov...
Interview: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
Undiscovered is such a unique book, a blend of science fiction and fantasy, written by Ashley Anglin. While there are elements that could be ascribed to the fantasy genre, such as can be mythical creatures (and honestly, selkies are still one of those that don't appear much), due to the setting I would primarily classify it as sci-fi.
After 2097's tsunami, Arden Araujo gets sent to North East Scotland as part of the first response to the disaster. While his father prepared him for this kind of catastrophe, as was one of his predictions, she's not really prepared for what she will find in Scotland, as reality and myths have clashed together.
Arden gets to know the existence of an endangered species, selkies, that are part of the refugees of the tsunami; they trust her to help them in restoring and keep safe, as they soon discover her to the reality of her nature, shapeshifting is part of her in the same words get shifted between several languages.
While the plot is not exactly a clear line, we can read how this is a story about accepting your true nature and how to integrate different aspects into yourself. Probably it's one of the elements that better fit in the book, as we have a really emotional story, with characters well written and developed; the relationship that appears between Arden and the rest of the cast is certainly memorable.
The prose is another aspect that probably should be highlighted in this book, but I have a little bit of mixed feelings. While I enjoyed reading how well crafted it is, and how it is able to transmit beauty towards the words, I feel it could have worked better if there wasn't inserted Spanish word in the text.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why this stylistic decision has been taken, due to the Mexican half of Arden, but it didn't work for me in particular (Spanish is my native language).
Even with those small problems, I think Undiscovered is a unique book, a nice cli-fi proposal, that could also be classified as fantasy, depending on your criteria. Ashley Anglin has been brave in writing this kind of book, and I would like to see what more she has ready.
Interview: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
Undiscovered is such a unique book, a blend of science fiction and fantasy, written by Ashley Anglin. While there are elements that could be ascribed to the fantasy genre, such as can be mythical creatures (and honestly, selkies are still one of those that don't appear much), due to the setting I would primarily classify it as sci-fi.
After 2097's tsunami, Arden Araujo gets sent to North East Scotland as part of the first response to the disaster. While his father prepared him for this kind of catastrophe, as was one of his predictions, she's not really prepared for what she will find in Scotland, as reality and myths have clashed together.
Arden gets to know the existence of an endangered species, selkies, that are part of the refugees of the tsunami; they trust her to help them in restoring and keep safe, as they soon discover her to the reality of her nature, shapeshifting is part of her in the same words get shifted between several languages.
While the plot is not exactly a clear line, we can read how this is a story about accepting your true nature and how to integrate different aspects into yourself. Probably it's one of the elements that better fit in the book, as we have a really emotional story, with characters well written and developed; the relationship that appears between Arden and the rest of the cast is certainly memorable.
The prose is another aspect that probably should be highlighted in this book, but I have a little bit of mixed feelings. While I enjoyed reading how well crafted it is, and how it is able to transmit beauty towards the words, I feel it could have worked better if there wasn't inserted Spanish word in the text.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why this stylistic decision has been taken, due to the Mexican half of Arden, but it didn't work for me in particular (Spanish is my native language).
Even with those small problems, I think Undiscovered is a unique book, a nice cli-fi proposal, that could also be classified as fantasy, depending on your criteria. Ashley Anglin has been brave in writing this kind of book, and I would like to see what more she has ready.
July 6, 2024
The first thing that jumps out at me as I write this review is the love the author clearly has for the world of her book. Her passion for the beauty of the world she created made me love it too. I was immersed in this wonderful world, seeing it as if I were there. The folklore of the selkies was endlessly interesting and the writing was great. You do need to pay attention, as there are a lot of characters with complex relationships. I had an unplanned break in the middle of the book due to vacations and work stuff, and when I came back to it, I struggled to keep everything straight. But, before long, I was back in the groove in a world of caves and waves and beautiful mosaics. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is into selkies, beautifully rendered coastal worlds, and a good bit of romance.
May 19, 2023
Set in the near future, Undiscovered contains a number of futuristic gadgets and forms of transport making it more a work of science fiction than fantasy, despite the mythical selkies who are it’s starring characters. It has also been described as climate fiction which seems appropriate since the action begins after a tsunami in 2097, where the main character, Arden Araujo has been sent to Scotland as part of the first response team dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy. Refugees are being targeted by human traffickers and she is determined to save whoever she can.
With this book, the author appears to be sending a message about humanity needing to clean up our destructive acts towards the environment before it’s too late:
“What kept me up at night for years after was the undiscovered places, creatures, plants, gone before we ever saw them. Cures meant for us to find, burned to ash in the former rainforest without saving a single life. Marine flora or fauna with something to teach us, but we poisoned it before seeing its face or giving it a name.”
Arden is a fabulous character. She has had a hard life, never met her mother, her father died, she married young and ended childless and divorced. To counter all of this she has thrown herself into her work which is as an unskilled ‘generalist’ environmentalist. Her career is not really progressing, despite her obvious tenacity and bravery. In the aftermath of the tsunami, she discovers that selkies, creatures of folktales and songs really exist and that their habitat has been damaged beyond repair, driving them to live more amongst humans than they have ever needed to. She is drawn to them without realizing why and when she does find out the reason her whole perspective on her past and future life suddenly changes and immediately becomes more meaningful.
I really enjoyed this story of an endangered species doing everything possible to cling on and remain viable, despite Mother Nature and inconsiderate humans doing their damnedest to wipe them out. I really liked their ability to pass on memories and feelings through touch. The most important thing to the selkies was their familial relationships and, being very long-lived, these were extremely convoluted and interconnected. However, I did find it difficult to follow all of the connections and kept wishing for a family tree diagram to help me figure things out.
Another problem I had was that not being a Spanish speaker, I found the combination of English and Spanish mashed together into a futuristic language used between Arden and her best friend Vega quite confusing and difficult to follow.
Apart from those niggles I thought Undiscovered was a well-written and often emotional story and I would recommend it to people who enjoy character-driven futuristic stories based in myths and folktales.
With this book, the author appears to be sending a message about humanity needing to clean up our destructive acts towards the environment before it’s too late:
“What kept me up at night for years after was the undiscovered places, creatures, plants, gone before we ever saw them. Cures meant for us to find, burned to ash in the former rainforest without saving a single life. Marine flora or fauna with something to teach us, but we poisoned it before seeing its face or giving it a name.”
Arden is a fabulous character. She has had a hard life, never met her mother, her father died, she married young and ended childless and divorced. To counter all of this she has thrown herself into her work which is as an unskilled ‘generalist’ environmentalist. Her career is not really progressing, despite her obvious tenacity and bravery. In the aftermath of the tsunami, she discovers that selkies, creatures of folktales and songs really exist and that their habitat has been damaged beyond repair, driving them to live more amongst humans than they have ever needed to. She is drawn to them without realizing why and when she does find out the reason her whole perspective on her past and future life suddenly changes and immediately becomes more meaningful.
I really enjoyed this story of an endangered species doing everything possible to cling on and remain viable, despite Mother Nature and inconsiderate humans doing their damnedest to wipe them out. I really liked their ability to pass on memories and feelings through touch. The most important thing to the selkies was their familial relationships and, being very long-lived, these were extremely convoluted and interconnected. However, I did find it difficult to follow all of the connections and kept wishing for a family tree diagram to help me figure things out.
Another problem I had was that not being a Spanish speaker, I found the combination of English and Spanish mashed together into a futuristic language used between Arden and her best friend Vega quite confusing and difficult to follow.
Apart from those niggles I thought Undiscovered was a well-written and often emotional story and I would recommend it to people who enjoy character-driven futuristic stories based in myths and folktales.
August 10, 2024
This was a lovely near-future cli-fi selkie paranormal romance. Yeah. Let's say that, sure! :D The selkie lore immediately got me (I haven't really read books with these creatures yet and I very much enjoyed exploring their culture), as well as the language and style, after the confusion of the first page or so. I also loved the environmentalist aspect and the slightly futuristic but very much imaginable tech. The "slice of life"-ness of the story surprised me a little bit, and it was probably a part of why I didn't entirely vibe with it after a while, but the love and care put into the story and characters and their journeys shine through the entire book, and it kept me going.
There were loads of characters and loads of interesting relationships, but most of the time I had the feeling I'm at a family/friends gathering of a very tight, intimate group, and I'm only catching and understanding small bits of their conversations, emotions, and personalities. This was at the same time intriguing and slightly baffling. However, I'm not at all sorry at that I went to the party. It was a nice time, and I can only thank the author that she shared her world with me for a little while.
There were loads of characters and loads of interesting relationships, but most of the time I had the feeling I'm at a family/friends gathering of a very tight, intimate group, and I'm only catching and understanding small bits of their conversations, emotions, and personalities. This was at the same time intriguing and slightly baffling. However, I'm not at all sorry at that I went to the party. It was a nice time, and I can only thank the author that she shared her world with me for a little while.
February 5, 2023
Undiscovered is a gorgeously written clifi/fabulist story that mixes on-point worldbuilding, a perfect fantasy/action/adventure arc, and smoldering romantic tension. It deals with language and culture with impressive nuance, making this futuristic world one you'll have no trouble immersing yourself in. The fantastical elements are seamlessly woven into the clifi narrative, and the larger arcs come together in a perfectly surprising and satisfying conclusion.
With deep character development, believable wonder, and steamy (but not spicy) romance, this book hit me deep in the feels and never let me go. Much of this is due to the prose, which is as enthralling as the story. Anglin is a master craftsperson, and you can feel the love of language throughout.
This book gets my 100% seal of approval, and I suspect it will become a cult classic if it does not find its way onto the bestseller list.
With deep character development, believable wonder, and steamy (but not spicy) romance, this book hit me deep in the feels and never let me go. Much of this is due to the prose, which is as enthralling as the story. Anglin is a master craftsperson, and you can feel the love of language throughout.
This book gets my 100% seal of approval, and I suspect it will become a cult classic if it does not find its way onto the bestseller list.
October 7, 2024
Beautiful writing
As a scientist and science nerd, I appreciated the author's eye for the details of a futuristic world ravaged by climate disasters. Anglin gathered many experts from many fields who would need to band together to help humanity cope with the aftermath. Very believable. Even if you find it hard sometimes to follow the technicalese, the wit and the puns made it delightful and fresh.
As an author and reader, I enjoyed the scintillating prose and poetic approach to the scenes. The worldbuilding with fairytale creatures, their relationships between each other and the protagonist, and the rich history that spans centuries and continents was intricate and nuanced.
Lastly, this is not a tequila shot. This is vintage wine. Read it slowly, remember the subtle clues, and contemplate what it means to live in a world where so much is still undiscovered.
As a scientist and science nerd, I appreciated the author's eye for the details of a futuristic world ravaged by climate disasters. Anglin gathered many experts from many fields who would need to band together to help humanity cope with the aftermath. Very believable. Even if you find it hard sometimes to follow the technicalese, the wit and the puns made it delightful and fresh.
As an author and reader, I enjoyed the scintillating prose and poetic approach to the scenes. The worldbuilding with fairytale creatures, their relationships between each other and the protagonist, and the rich history that spans centuries and continents was intricate and nuanced.
Lastly, this is not a tequila shot. This is vintage wine. Read it slowly, remember the subtle clues, and contemplate what it means to live in a world where so much is still undiscovered.
February 2, 2023
this was a beautifully done fantasy-scifi novel, I enjoyed the use of shapeshifting in the story. Arden was a great main character and I was invested on this journey with her. It had a great concept from the description and worked in what I was hoping for in scifi novel. Overall it was a great journey and I enjoyed every bit of the journey.
“Beryl. Beautiful English rose who came here on holiday one year. The kind of free spirit to stay longer, when she liked what she found. She used to sing me this sad old Orkney folk song about us, even though she thought she was just pretending I was her selkie lover… Joni Mitchell, I think, had recorded a version back then.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“Beryl. Beautiful English rose who came here on holiday one year. The kind of free spirit to stay longer, when she liked what she found. She used to sing me this sad old Orkney folk song about us, even though she thought she was just pretending I was her selkie lover… Joni Mitchell, I think, had recorded a version back then.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 15, 2024
Undiscovered is a unique blend of cozy sci-fi and remnants of fantasy. It highlights issues we may encounter in the not-so-distant future, delivered in poetic prose.
And it’s one I found myself slowing to read and really take in. Ashley delivered a very realistic painting of Arden and her journey to finding her roots, balancing work and relationships, and facing the harsh realities of what it means to love and lose.
I’m so glad I set aside time with this, breathed in the salty air, and settled in for the experience!
And it’s one I found myself slowing to read and really take in. Ashley delivered a very realistic painting of Arden and her journey to finding her roots, balancing work and relationships, and facing the harsh realities of what it means to love and lose.
I’m so glad I set aside time with this, breathed in the salty air, and settled in for the experience!
July 17, 2023
Imagine this: you are floating in an endless ocean of salt-rich water. The water is completely still, the air is just the right temperature, and there is absolute silence. Above you, there is a clear blue sky. Does this sound relaxing to you? If so, you might enjoy Undiscovered, a book that takes its time in a slow, indulgent way. However, for me, this scenario is a nightmare and even writing about it gave me anxiety. I need constant stimulation, or I start to spiral. Unfortunately, I spiraled a lot with this book.
The prose is beautiful, every sentence a gemstone. And another one, and another one, until I felt like I was drowning in them without anything concrete to hold on to. The book does have a plot; about a woman discovering her ancestry, a people trying to survive and adapt, and a love story. However, it was all too relaxing, too slow, and too nice for me.
I'm famously not a fan of The Lord of the Rings. I want stories without singing, walking, and, worst of all, whimsy. Undiscovered is a different genre, set in the near future, with different themes such as climate change, romantic love, and tradition in the face of a changing world. However, compared to Undiscovered, The Lord of the Rings is a teaspoon of whimsy compared to a lake.
I'm sure that this book will be a favorite for many, but unfortunately, the things that will lead to others loving it are the same things that led to it not working for me at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The prose is beautiful, every sentence a gemstone. And another one, and another one, until I felt like I was drowning in them without anything concrete to hold on to. The book does have a plot; about a woman discovering her ancestry, a people trying to survive and adapt, and a love story. However, it was all too relaxing, too slow, and too nice for me.
I'm famously not a fan of The Lord of the Rings. I want stories without singing, walking, and, worst of all, whimsy. Undiscovered is a different genre, set in the near future, with different themes such as climate change, romantic love, and tradition in the face of a changing world. However, compared to Undiscovered, The Lord of the Rings is a teaspoon of whimsy compared to a lake.
I'm sure that this book will be a favorite for many, but unfortunately, the things that will lead to others loving it are the same things that led to it not working for me at all.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 29, 2024
This story brings us not too far into the future where, quite believably, climate change and technology have advanced. But then something magical comes into play: selkies. Themes include family, motherloss, transformation, multiculturalism, heartache, loss, and joy. This book is cerebral and you need to pay attention to what you’re reading; if you do, you’ll be treated with some absolute story writing gems.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews