Unknown Variant

by Sara Grover

THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT A dystopic romance, set in the near future after all the glaciers have melted and the seas have risen, causing society to reorganize in a way that only benefits the well-off. Layla, a prostitute by profession to provide for her mother and siblings, and Adonis, a young doctor, and son of a senator, are star-crossed lovers. They struggle against the adversity of genetic segregation, and their inner demons in the hope of making a life with each other in a society where their illegal love can have deadly consequences.

Genres: Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2018

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unknown Variant takes place in the future with all of civilization being classified by their DNA. There are the ‘Normies,’ those who are genetically pure, and the GIs, those who are genetically inferior. Everything is divided between the Normies and the GIs: cities, food, housing, work, health care etc.

Layla Mason is a GI working as a prostitute to Normies. It is a dangerous job, but it is what she must do to provide for her family.

On a trip to the market, she is rescued from an approaching car by Adonis Caraway. Adonis is a handsome young doctor and Layla can’t help but think he’s attractive. Adonis helps Layla home and offers her a job to be a maid in his parents home. Layla is shocked at his offer, but takes the job at her mother’s insistence.

The pair become very close and it’s obvious that they both like each other. Unfortunately, it is illegal for Normies and GIs to be together. Especially when the Normie Layla is in love with is Senator Caraway’s son, the man responsible for the divide between Normies and GIs. If they are caught, it could mean severe punishment for Adonis and death for Layla.

I really enjoyed Unknown Variant. I found it to be the perfect taste of sci-fi and dystopian without all the ‘fluff’ that some novels contain. My favorite part of reading this novel is that the writing is so clear. I was never bored and I felt the writer really used her words well. And I found myself laughing at the phrases she used (looky-loos is a word my mother always seemed to say!).

The plot is a true good versus evil theme and touches on topics that are relevant to society today. The discrimination of GIs is the largest example and how they try to live as normal humans under such great opression. We can’t pick our own DNA, so why punish those born differently?

My absolute favorite part that warmed my heart was Laylas’s and Adonis’s love. The love them was so sweet and simple, nothing complicated. But this is a world that doesn’t want them together, and they must fight for the life and family they greatly desire.

Unknown Variant by Sara Grover receives 4 stars.

*Trigger warning: rape, prostitution, mature content

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for a review!

[Emily Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

dystopian romance

I really enjoyed this dystopian romance set in the future where everyone is separated by their DNA and weather they have genetic inferiority GI or are normal (normies ) . It tells a story of a forbidden love between Adonis a normie and and Layla a GI .

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book

[April Johnson]

Unknown Variant is a good balance of scifi and romance. It is an interesting book and keeps you wanting to know more about the couple Layla a GI (genetically inferior) female and Adonis a Normie (normal genetics) male and the struggles they face being together while living in a genetically segregated society. Everything between these two are divided because of their DNA. When I say divided I mean where they live, what they eat, where they work and so on. The love between them is so touching and how they don't give up for what they want amazing. They both are very strong individuals. It does contain adult content but isn't too graphic as some romance books can be. When it comes to scifi, it isn't totally out of the realm of impossible with how things are in our world today. Trigger warning though, it contains rape and prostitution. This book is clearly written, easy to follow and makes you think about our society today and the what ifs if we punished those born differently. I would rate this book 4.5 stars and really would like to see another book with these characters.