Land of the Unaltered

Confederation #1

by Leti Del Mar

Rose comes from the capital of the Confederation of Cities where its citizens live in luxury and the greatest fashion statement of all is being Altered. People change everything about the way they look as often as they do their hairstyle but Rose is different. Her position of privilege has made her an outcast and led her to suspect that something sinister is happening to the citizens and flees the capital along with a past that imprisons her in search of a fresh start in the Land of the Unaltered.

Flynn lives in the Land of the Unaltered and hates the capital and everything it stands for. So when a spoiled capital girl is assigned to work with him, he wants nothing to do with her and is prepared to make her life miserable. But Flynn was not prepared for someone like Rose. She doesn’t fit the mold he expected and finds himself strongly attracted to her. As she continues to surprise and outwit him, they begin to forge a bond that is tested when they discover a secret that could change everything they know about Land of the Unaltered.

Land of the Unaltered is a Dystopian Romance and is the first installment of the The Confederation Chronicles.

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia

341 pages, Unknown Binding

First published June 11, 2013

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Land of the Unaltered by Leti Del Mar is a Rambaldi publication released in June 2013.
This, a YA Dystopian novel.

Rose is from Civitas, the capitol of the Confederation. Her lineage is powerful with a grandfather that was the chancellor, a father that is a doctor and her mother the most famous socialite in the capitol. Rose could come become chancellor herself if her family was wiped out. The people of Civitas are nearly all altered. They change their physical appearance the way most people change their clothes. Rose, however, has opted not to have herself altered. So, instead of being popular and having lots of friends, Rose is a loner.

Eureka is a place famous for it's trees. The main source of income is the Mill. People in Eureka are wary of people from the capital and are not altered. Rose's Aunt Ivy is a doctor in Eureka and Rose has come for an extended stay. Aunt Ivy has gotten Rose a job at the mill, which Rose is looking forward to.
Normally, when someone from the capital is sent to Eureka, however, it is because they have done something wrong and are being punished.
So, when Rose meets her immediate boss, a young man named Flynn, he makes the usual assumptions about her and is less than friendly towards her.

Flynn's father runs the mill and someday he will take over the business end of things, despite the fact he would rather work with the trees. Flynn is a quiet, serious young man and much like Rose is somewhat of a loner. With the majority of people dependent on his father for their income, and because they are more financially well off, people of Eureka are wary of Flynn.

Despite Flynn's coldness toward her, Rose is having the time of her life in Eureka. She is making friends and experiencing activities she has never been able to participate in previously.

But, when Flynn learns more about Rose, he begins to respect her more and more and grudgingly begins to let go of some of his preconceived notions about her and this allows him to feel a protectiveness towards her which leads to much deeper feelings for Rose.

When the two of them take a job related journey, their transport back to Eureka breaks down and they are temporarily stranded. This leads to a shocking discovery that will change their lives forever.

This book touches on some very important issues. Outer and inner beauty, individuality, and prejudice. Being altered is a subtle way of saying "plastic surgery". Do our young people really need to have these operations? Do we all want to look alike and be alike without having our own style and development which leads to creativity and new discoveries? Also, judging people because of where they are from, who their relatives are, what they have or don't have in terms of monetary worth.
These issues are only mentioned as a fact of life in the time frame the novel is written in and doesn't turn "preachy".
The relationship between Flynn and Rose develops into a romance that goes beyond physical attraction.( there is no SC) The two of them must learn to trust each other because they are about to embark on an assignment that is very dangerous and could have long lasting repercussions.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all older teens and young adults. I think this one deserves an A.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is long overdue. I read this book over the span of a few days when I was doing my “read-a-thon”—in which I read two books! Go me. Anyway, on to the review!! You need to know a few things about this book for it to make sense. For those of you that have read the Hunger Games—it is kind of similar to that. It seems that the cities are cut up into districts that have their own “job.” For example, Eureka’s job is the lumber industry. The other similarity that I noticed was that Civitas was where all the “fashionable” people live and they drive everything . . . very much like the Capitol and its inhabitants in The Hunger Games. Personally, I liked these similarities because Leti took it and changed it a bit and made it her own. In Land of the Unaltered, those who are altered are medically modified to look a certain way. They are perfectly gorgeous, have neon hair that matches the times (this could change weekly/monthly) and have no wrinkles. However, age can be told from hands or elbows. Alternately, those who are unaltered are normal looking. They have normal colored hair, wrinkles and aren't “gorgeous.”

That being said--I simply adored this book, especially the characters and how they interacted with each other. I had a few pairs that were my absolute favorites. The first was Rose and her Aunt Ivy. I thought they were adorable and I loved the dynamics between them. The whole aunt from a far-but-still-had-a-strong-relationship-thing really got me. So when Rose moved out to live with her Aunt in Eureka to get away from the constant scorn she received in Civitas because of the family she comes from…I was overjoyed that the two would be able to live together. The other relationship I loved was between (of course) Flynn and Rose. Rose, I loved from the second I started reading the book. She’s not snotty like the other Civitas kids—even though she comes from a family that she should be. She’s sweet, but also persistent, and knows what she wants. I liked her ability to read something and remember it. And then there was Flynn. At first the two of them didn't mesh very well, all because of Flynn’s disdain for Civitas kids that come in to intern and then leave a week later. Obviously Rose wasn't like that but she needed to prove that to him. Even though Flynn was a jerk at first, I loved seeing him warm up to Rose. I honestly didn't blame him for being hostile at first either—having to deal with all those brats in the past. I adore how awkward Flynn is around Rose. I like that they have time together, but it is just quiet and working. It was kind of their thing and it made my heart melt. My favorite scene between the two of them is when they go down to the coast and she plays in the water, then they watch the sunset on the rocks. The part that follows that is kind of scary, but without giving too much away, Flynn saves the day. As if Rose falling into the water and freezing wasn't bad enough when they get back to the transport they find it broken. . .they end up spending the night near the transport in a camp with a fire that Flynn puts together. After a day from hell, they curl up in the warm confines of a sleeping bag…together.

“You do normally say the wrong thing. I guess it’s part of your charm.”

If you follow my reviews, you know I’m not one to give away too much, so they might not give that good of an idea of what actually *happens* in the book…but I try to do my best to skim a little to get you interested. There are a few ups and downs in this book, and I liked that. Spoiler! There is a mysterious medical building in the woods that Rose and Flynn stumble upon on their walk back to town. Oddly enough, miss Rose has access to this building because of who her family is. This building is bad news…lots and lots of secrets revolve around this building. Who is behind it? What are they doing in there? Experiments? Alterations? You’ll have to read it to find out!! The entire book builds up to the cliffhanger that is the end of the book. It gets you ready for the awesomeness of the second book in the series where Flynn and Rose go to Civitas to be spies! Really, really looking forward to this next book. Go ahead, pick it up. You know you want to. :)

[Sheri (Tangled Up In Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Land of the Unaltered takes place in a world where beauty is most definitely on the outside. Fashions come and go and as they come and go the people of this world will go through repeated plastic surgeries to keep up with the latest styles. Throwing in wild hair and eye colors to match as one would accessorize with a pair of shoes. (Honestly! At one point a character was mentioned as having tangerine colored hair and contact lenses to match!)

Rose is different. She grew up in Civitas, the capital of the Confederation, where everyone is altered. Having grown up with the mother she did, Rose made a decision early on that she would never herself get altered. She wanted to remain herself. That's just not something you do where she's from. But her own mother has been altered so many times Rose feels like it's effected her mentally, like every time she went under another little piece was chipped away and I don't just mean things such as the nose on her face!

Due to who her father and his family is within the political community, they live under the constant fear of death threats and assassination attempts. Needing to get away from everything, Rose goes to visit her Aunt Ivy in Eureka, which is part of The Land of the Unaltered. Aunt Ivy is Eureka's doctor and escaped the life of the capital years ago.

Rose takes a job at the lumber mill and is assigned as an assistant to Flynn, who's father runs the mill. Ahh Flynn. I loved this guy. He's completely awkward, never says the right thing, quiet and likes to keep to himself. It was nice for a change to not read a guy who was oozing with self confidence. This story is told in dual POVs of Rose and Flynn so we get to know both of them really well.

I really only have one slight problem with this book. And honestly, to hear myself saying this just sounds weird! But, The book really focuses quite a bit on Rose and Flynn and their building relationship. Don't get me wrong I adored it and it was sweet and all. The thing is I'm still sort of in the dark about how their world came to be. There wasn't a lot of world building except for the fact of knowing about how things are now. I really wanted to learn what happened to get them to this point you know? Some dystopians it's a virus others there's a huge world war, lots of possibilities. When it comes to labeling something Dystopian I feel like a bit of back story is a must.

As a romance, this book nails it but as a Dystopain it's not quite there, though almost. Regardless it was still a very enjoyable read and still had me turning page after page excited to see what happened next with Rose and Flynn and I'm now anxiously awaiting the next book to see what happens next! There's a storm brewing in the Confederation and I look forward to seeing what happens to it's people!


Thanks Leti for having me be a part of the blog tour and being able to read this book!!

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out the review here: In Between The Lines

I seemed to be in a Dystopian mood lately. Yes if you have read my blog I have been reading everything but I have been craving a dystopian read and I have been reading everyone I can get my hands on. This one is no different. I loved that the book was written in a dual POV. Both Rose and Flynn.

When I read the synopsis I didn’t know what to expect. Once I started reading I found it was a mix between Under the Never Sky and The Hunger Games. It was like The Games because the Central city had tons of people that changed their looks all of the time, had all the money, and all the social status. The cities outside of that do all of the work and are not as rich. They also do not get altered.

I really liked this book. I was immediately pulled into the story. Our two main characters came from two totally different backgrounds. Flynn was a loner who loved to work in nature especially with trees. Rose is from Civitas, the main city, she is also the daughter of a highly respected doctor. She leaves to get away from that life. She doesn’t believe in being altered and she hates how she is being treated by both her parents and the people of the city.

Flynn immediately hated Rose just because she was from the capital. I got it. Most of those people were spoiled brats. I loved that once he realized she wasn’t like that Rose thought he stilled hated her because he never talked. It was pretty hilarious how socially awkward Flynn was. Rose was her own special person. She never fit in at home. She was never altered and she can read at a super-fast pace and remember everything she has read. She tries to work with the awkward Flynn and eventually they can work together comfortably. I really liked Rose as a character too. She was genuine and didn’t care about what other people thought. She moved herself to somewhere she has never been, looking for happiness. She is definitely a strong person.

The writer spent a lot of time building the relationship between Flynn and Rose. She took the time to take you on the road from disliking each other to the romance that happened between them. It happened gradually and authentically.

“Yet, I was not about to let Flynn spend another night on the floor because of some misplaced sense of chivalry. The warm and tingling sensations I got from the thought of spending another night wrapped up in Flynn’s arms had nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing at all.”

The author spent a lot of time building the characters and how the reacted to each other in this book. Everything was gearing up for the sequel. I can’t wait to see what happens next. This book pulls you in and makes you care for the characters and the lives that they live. Hopefully the next one can live up to this one.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance and mystery:

This was an easy read to get in to with a mix between young romance and the dystopian setting. There is a fair bit of mystery and intrigue as the two main characters, Rose and Flynn, make some startling discoveries whilst working in the forest outside of the city of Eureka and, these elements combined, made this an enjoyable read.

The premise of this story really intrigued me and Leti Del Mar generally delivers in this first book of the ‘Confederation’ series. Set in an unspecified future, readers are presented with a society that has survived an outbreak and dispersed into different colonies. However, the ruling city, Civitas, is unique and different from other similar books I have read. This ruling city is governed by surgery as people happily alter themselves to keep up with the latest fashions. The author describes this city well and I could really picture the whacky clothing and surgery that the citizens would do to themselves just to fit in with the crowd.

The budding relationship between Rose and Flynn was really cute and I was so keen for them to realise their feelings for one another! Helped by the fact that we switch between their narratives, you really get an understanding of their misguided feelings and prejudices. Rose is keen not to show Flynn any weakness and stands up to the massive reading he gives her when she joins the lumber yard and so hides her frustrations until she leaves work each day. In contrast, Flynn cannot help his opinion that everyone from Civitas is spoiled and useless. Both became keen for the other to view them in a positive light and it was sweet to see them finally let their barriers down and get to know each other for who they really are.

The author does not give away too much about the past society and this was something I was keen to learn about. Given the way this book ends, I imagine this will truly be revealed in the next book which is why it didn’t have a massive impact on my overall rating. I did like the fact that Leti Del Mar keeps you wanting more and it is this interest that will carry over and left me keen to read the next book in the series.

This is an easy and inoffensive read. I have few criticisms of this book and whilst I found the romance side of the story a little predictable, I still enjoyed the mystery that built up around Civitas. Rose’s family background adds dimension to the story and it will be interesting to see how this influences events in the next book. ‘Land of the Unaltered’ is a solid read and one you could easily devour in an afternoon. It will be interesting to see what happens next!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Land of the Unaltered by Leti Del Mar is a dystopian romance. The main characters, Rose and Flynn, 17 and 18, are both outsiders who find comfort and understanding with each other (eventually), once they have overcome their shyness and misunderstandings about each other.

Rose is from Civitas, which is a city (much like the Capital in Hunger Games) where there are basically two types of people, either shallow and flaky (like Rose's mother), endlessly altering themselves to be fashionable, or greedy and power hungry (like Rose's father), trampling anyone who gets in their way. But Rose is not like other Civitas citizens. She has chosen to move to Eureka to live with her Aunt Ivy, who is the town doctor, and to create a meaningful existence for herself away from her family's influence and bad reputation.

Flynn has grown up in Eureka with his dad, owner of the lumber company and one of the most powerful men in town. He is quiet and has a hard time relating to the other kids in town.

These two struggle to get to know each other. During this process, they deal with several challenging situations and finally become a part of a secret rebellion against the government in Civitas.

I liked these characters, and the story is fun and easy to read. I did find the two water mishaps and Rose's injuries from both incidents a little repetitive, though, and the premise that the couple was "stranded" for so long seemed a little thin, considering Aunt Ivy had a vehicle and they had a way of contacting her from the way station. It also bothered me at first that the male came to the female's rescue over and over (the classic damsel in distress scenario), but it was also Rose's intelligence and quick thinking that saved her in each dangerous situation. The author does a great job of building tension and passion between Rose and Flynn and excitement during their adventures. Finally, I was touched by the nobility of the rebellion's cause and the part Rose chooses to play in it.

The ending is a great lead-in for the sequel, and I will be sure to read it to see what is in Rose's and Flynn's future.

[Morphys Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose lives in Civitas, the capital of the Confederation where she stands out like a sore thumb because everyone alters their appearnce, not Rose though; it also doesn’t help that everyone gives her a wide berth due to who her father is.

She escapes to the Land of the Unaltered to stay with her aunt Ivy in hopes of being able to live a normal life without people looking at her with fear. This is where she meets Flynn *Sighs*. When she starts her job she has to work with him and their relationship is strained as Flynn believes she’s just another stupid city brat, little does he know! After getting to know her better, his attitude changes, and they become close. Along the line they discover something that could make or break everything! Are they ready for what life has to throw at them or will they succumb to the challenge?

The story was very gripping and i couldn’t read it fast enough, i kept wanting to read the last few chapters when i was about half way through because i was eager to find out what happens (I didn’t though i swear).

I loved the bond shared between Flynn and Rose, at first even though he hates her and everything she reminds him of he still cannot stop how he feels when he looks at her. Almost from the beginning you could see a connection and i was so excited to see where it would lead. And oh boy; i wasn’t disappointed.

My favourite character was Meliah, she reminded me of myself in some ways! She is just awesome. i love her easy nature and how she doesn’t sugar coat anything, it just comes out how it is and that’s that.

The only thing that let it down for me was the typo errors, although there weren’t loads; it’s a pet hate of mine so i couldn’t let it slide.

Overall i really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what Leti has in store for us next.

Original review at: http://http://morphybooksblog.wordpre...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Land of the Unaltered in set in a world where beauty is everything...artificial beauty that is. A world where hair and eye color are frequently changed to match outfits and plastic surgery is as common as going to the dentist. The country is called Civitas and a teen named Rose happens to be part of the ruling family. Rose's mother is the icon of being Altered, though Rose refuses to have any work done on herself. Hating Civitas and what it stands for, Rose leaves the city and joins her aunt Ivy for the summer. There, she gets a summer job at a lumber mill working with the quiet and elusive Flynn, who thinks she is just another capital brat. In the midst of struggling to figure each other out, they find themselves in a plot bigger than they ever imagined...
I got the opportunity to beta read this book before it came out, and I'm so glad I did. The world in this book is so unique, and I loved how it consistently builds in depth throughout the book. It makes you question what it means to be beautiful and what true beauty really is.
Rose and Flynn are solid main characters. The story goes back and forth between both perspectives, so you get a good feel for both their personalities. Rose is strong and intellectual. Her love of learning was my favorite part about her character, though I think she intimidated Flynn with it (unintentionally, and only in the best way, the kind of intimidation that comes from admiration). I think Flynn is absolutely charming. He doesn't have a way with words, he is socially awkward at times, but he has a heart of gold. I don't think either of them know their full potential yet, but I strongly suspect they will help each other find it in later books.
If you like anything dystopian with a sweet romance and an intriguing plot, give this a try! 4/5 stars and eager to read the sequel.

[Fazanza Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Land of the Unaltered
Author: Leti Del Mar
Genre: Science Fiction

Main Character(s): Rose, Flynn, Aunt Ivy, Eric
Story: Rose is from the rich, capital city. Flynn is from Eureka, one of the cities that supplies the capital city. The people in the rich city alter themselves with plastic surgery to look fashionable. But Rose doesn't want to alter herself, so she moves to Eureka and lives with her Aunt Ivy. In Eureka she meets Flynn. Flynn doesn't like Rose at first, but eventually he starts to like her.

One day their job is to go into the forest to collect samples. Their car breaks down, and they discover a secret that changes their lives. By the end of the story they are on their way to the capital as spies.

Review:
The story seemed a little like the Hunger Games, but without the battle to the death. I liked Rose and Flynn's adventure when they go off into the forest to collect samples. . But overall I felt the story needed more action. There wasn't any big challenge for Rose and Flynn to overcome.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Comments: I don't think I would read this book again, but I would read other books by this author. I recommend this book to young adults.
Reviewed by WM Fazanza

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

Rose leaves her pampered life in the capital to spend a summer with her Aunt. Del Mar does an amazing job of mixing the best parts of many dystopias to create this society. Rose's outlook on life changes as she works for Flynn, makes friends, and lives life outside of the fashion and surgery driven capital. While she was always "different" in the capital (never had the alteration surgeries like her friends and family) her entire outlook on the world is questioned as she lives in the land of the unaltered.

Del Mar creates very believable and full characters. Rose and Flynn's relationship grows naturally, and while some people might think part of the novel is slow it is packed full of amazing character development. The whole story flows very naturally and is impossible to put down. I cannot wait for the sequel.

If you like "Uglies" "Matched" or "Hunger Games" give this a try. The only downside is grammatical errors, but if you are able to look past those for the base of the story you're in for a treat.

[Angelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where did I get the book: From the author in exchange for an honest and fair review.
My Rating: 4 Bookworms
My Review:
Rose is not the typical capital girl. No alterations, no aspirations to remain perfect for the rest of her life. She is determined to escape the trapped lifestyle forced upon her from her father and mother. Hiding away with her aunt for the summer she is determined to be normal for the first time in her life.
As someone that isn’t all that big on dystopian – I might just change my viewpoint after this one. The story line was unique and fun. The characters were full and detailed. And the end set up the next book wonderfully.
Rose is one of the most wonderful characters I have read in a while. She is smart, beautiful and sometimes she even makes mistakes. Her chemistry with Flynn was adorable to read and their ‘tango’ around each other made me giggle on more than one occasion.
This one was like a slow rumbling read, that slowly built up into a big, enormous tsunami that hit

[Kat O'Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have officially finished the book and I loved every bit of it. What I loved most about it was the development of Flynn and Roses relationship and their adventure they had after the transport broke down. It was exciting and entertaining. Flynn is such a sweetheart I blushed at the sweet things he said. And I love Roses character, she has a can do attitude which makes her very opptamistic and just fun to read about. You really brought these characters to life as well as the scenery! I could smell the pine scent of the forest , feel the smooth surfaces of the wooden floors of Eureaka. It was truly a great book. Interesting that Meliah is coming along with them I thought it would just be Flynn and Rose. It was nice touch , she is sure to create some mischief, I can feel it by her reaction to coming along and her enormous amont of luggage. Sounds almost like a stuck up rich girl. Hopefully she's not a spy for the capital? Hmm I wonder and can't wait to read secrets of theUnaltered.

[Ronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing process shines in this book! The plot line is very well done. This is a timely book as we live in a world where 'altering' is the obsession of men and women today. Rose is the opposite of the society she lives in. She doesn't wish to be artificially changed, due to the effects she has seen visited on her mother. Judged for her family name in the big city, she retreats to the country, where she meets Flynn. Their relationships growth is good for young adult readers so far.

I would have given this book 5 stars, if there were not typos scattered throughout, some at pivotal points in the action. All in all, it was an engrossing story, and I look forward to Book 2.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced review copy of this book from the author and was delighted to read the story. A young adult romance set in a futuristic world where there is a liking to have repeated medical alterations. However there are people who don't want the high life of the city, Rose goes to live with her aunt to escape the world that her parents live in. She meets Flynn, but he refuses to be friendly. A romance blossoms, but what will become of their future? A great story with the promise of its continuation in the next book.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I was so intrigued at how the story would play out, when I was in the middle, I skipped to the end and read the last chapter. I did go back and read it all but I just wanted to encourage people to hang in there and don't get too tempted to jump. There's a lot of interesting stuff you would miss.

This is a great story with a fascinating premise and believable characters. You get a bit attached to the characters and really care about what happens to them. It would be nice if the story continued into a couple sequels.

[Jodi Woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of “Land of the Unaltered” by the author, Leti Del Mar, in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is intended as a YA and is definitely suitable for pre-teens and up. The story is based on a dystopian society that is obsessed with looking perfect and they are constantly being “altered”, but there are those who are unaltered who want freedom. The story speaks volumes about our own obsession with looks. Great read. I give it 5 stars as a YA, 4 for adult. Looking forward to the next book as this is the first in a series.

[Courtney Gendreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a great book. See my full review here
http://rainydayreadingreviews.blogspo...