My review
I like sci-fi, and I like old fashioned romance. I like the amalgamation of the two.
The story by author Kellyn Thompson is futuristic, 40 years after ‘The War‘ when the world has 3 sectors under 12 Presidents, and Mexico is separate and independent. The people are offered genetic manipulation to eradicate diseases, and the process goes one step further, makes cosmetically perfect Modified. The Purebreds refuse such a manipulation, so they are denied Government benefits. They mostly live Inlands whereas the Modified live in Coastal areas.
Chris, a Modified Government employee meets Purebred Jenna while on an assignment and for the first time, feels a connection. I like how author Kellyn has described the slowly growing bond between the main characters, they seem sweet and innocent. I like the way Chris wooed Jenna, something so old worldly about it.
The plot is something that would have raised the book 2 stars higher. There is so much potential, I kept on waiting for something to happen. There are so many instances when it should have happened. But alas, nothing did. All I am left with is unanswered questions niggling me. The only twist which happens is also obvious from the mid-book.
The pace is slow and that for a romance is sweet, for a sci-fi an absolute no-no. The description of the New World is great, but the belief and the rushed ending that the Government would allow them to marry and live happily forever, especially in a land where everything is monitored in real time and anarchists against them are assassinated, is highly unbelievable!!
The book did keep me gripped as I kept waiting for something to happen, it took me 3 days to finish. So overall enjoyable.
I received the book from the author, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating : 3 stars
About the Author
Kellyn Thompson is a science nerd who loves playing out the what-ifs that arise in her mind when she reads the latest scientific publications and studies. Building on that, she started writing short stories, and one of those ideas turned into her debut novel, The Unexpected Inlander. When she’s not sciencing, she’s reading, writing, hiking, and trying to teach her cats the value of love, empathy, and intact fabric on furniture.
Author Contact Details
Book links
Goodreads
Book blurb
Agent Christopher Rockford has been the best assassin in the agency for eight years, and he loves his job. He loves his solitary lifestyle. He loves eliminating criminals. He loves his comfortable life as a member of society’s wealthy coastal upper class.
But in pursuit of a target, he meets Jenna, a mysterious civilian who belongs to society’s lowest and most shunned group. Being around her is fun and intriguing, but it forces him to see things through her eyes—causing him to reconsider the world around them and The Order he so obediently serves. As he falls in love with her, he fears telling her the truth about his profession may cause him to lose her.
But Jenna has her own secrets to keep.
Product Details
Publication date
97 Responses
Good review. I think I learn new things about writing every time I read your critique of a plot!
That’s so sweet of you to say that
you are already a fab writer
Sci-fi and old romance!! Sounds interesting.
I dipped my toes into Sci-fi for the first time with Embassy. This sounds good, but I’m on the fence since I rarely read this genre…
I understand… I am liking the books so far
I’ll work on it. Promise!
Sci-fi and old romance…this is something unique!!
I know, it was a nice book
Hmm…I do love sci fi, and I am a romantic at heart (probably a stupid thing to say knowing all of your previous comments, lol
), but this one doesn’t sound bad. On the other hand it’s also not one that will end up high on my list of books I want to check out ASAP 
Still…your review was great, so at least I’m adding it to my Goodread to read list: yay
Hahaha Michel… Do not worry.. Your secret is safe with me. I will just put it up on twitter and Instagram and Facebook… No other place… I promise. It will be the locked secret of you being romantic at heart.
And if course here on WordPress… And nobody else. I swear…
It is a slow sci-fi romantic book.. They take a few pages to hold hands… And kissing is after many pages… And rest is at the end…
I like sci-fi… I am angry at romance… OK this is so not about the book anymore
That’s cool to be on Goodreads TBR. I don’t think I have many books on there.
The last emoji are because I couldn’t find suitable ones. And you don’t like emoji at all
Oh…Phew, that really puts my mind on ease then. I thought it would be sent to the local news, but if it’s only sent out on social media, well…I guess that’s fine…right?
Let’s see can I delete this comment in some way..(flipping through the wordpress manual 
).
(yeah I know…that was a very lousy attempt at humor 
).
Wait……what???
Hmm….so I’m guessing what you are saying is that this is simply a very slow moving book….maybe there should be a little bit more warp speed in it
My to read list is too huge on WordPress…but that’s my own fault because I keep adding books to them when I read awesome review posts….ughhhhhh
Naw….I HATE emoji…glad you remembered that
Let’s explain the WordPress manual. My post + your comment = only I can delete…
…
I don’t think you would ask this question…
And would I delete hahahaha
Book should be fast warped… Yes I agree… Next book would be fab I think.
You hate emoji… Yayy… Thanks for confirming… I didn’t know that… Why didn’t you ever tell me… That’s why you never send me emoji,
… I don’t get emoji from you.. That’s really sad.. 
I add on my amazon wish list… Hahaha… So I have a long list on amazon. But not on Goodreads..
Did I make sense in the comment… Nooo? Yayyy that means I souks like you or Nicole or you both…
Lol
Okay..let’s take this one from the bottom (of the comment just to be clear 
).
So it’s hard to say when other people do lol 
(okay I was tempted to sent another 100 emoji, but that would probably result in deleting this comment…but wait….I wanted that in the first place
).
I don’t know…I don’t think that I know when I make any sense in the first place
Awww…welll…here are some more emoji..ofcourse totally don’t want to see you crying over this..
Well…who knows? Maybe a fast warp for this one, would make it ….hmm..don’t know really
Thanks for clearing up the WordPress manual. That was really helpfull…so…I can only delete comments on my own blog….hmmmmmm
Let’s take it from below
Do you think that’s possible?? BTW that was my wicked laughter emojis… Can emoji become emojis in plural? My keypad says no… You may know better.
so till I do, it is safe to say I would only consider the bottom of the comment…
I don’t write long comments usually as wp puts me spam jail… But now I am cleared thanks to a sweet person on akismet.. 
Yp only your own comments. Or request the blogger to delete your comment
Or may be not, since you don’t send any
That’s true there are times, I have no idea what you or Nicole are talking about especially you with your robots… So agreed enthusiastically, you don’t make sense
So far, I don’t know well enough to pat or pinch the bottom
Whew
Haha
Right let’s take this erm…from the top, because that’s how normal people usually respond right? (wait…I’m not normal??
). I think I really like that wicked laughter emoji…
I don’t have one yet. Do you think I should create one too? Naw…I might get sued because of copyright issues lol
I promise to send more emojis though…see, they can be plural 
). Haha…nice save from the bottom (erm of the comment 
). And yay, they did that too me too the nice people at akismet: and now I can keep commenting again too….(Don’t know if that’s a good thing though….
).
Haha..well trust me, most of the time I don’t even know what we are talking about (or more to the point what I am talking about…so there is that
It is a good thing, it is…errr…I think.. It also depends on how this friendship progresses.
.
Michel, I am so tempted to as you – whose top… But since I don’t know you so well now, I am maintaining my decorum… And say in pseudo polite tones – yes, sir, I agree. No idea what I am agreeing to.
Well I usually know what I am talking about. I am plenty sane for both of us… But you know how the saying goes one rotten apple etc. etc.
Not that you are an apple, are you?
Gawd where did this topic travel???
It seemed to have traveled the least walked pathway between Germany…or Switzerland… Or Austria (hmmm where do you stay?) or somewhere in the cold temperate zone where you come from to Mumbai India..
What are we talking about???!!!
Lol
Well, the odds are this friendship will properly progress pretty good: as I have this spare time machine that I sometimes use and I have already looked into the future
(What do you mean you don’t believe me? 
)
( right: I have this short term memory so at times I really forget a lot of things…..Which can be useful…I think?
). Haha: close I stay in Holland, but I’m trying to see if I can do some kind of blogging world tour..at some point 
). But….Wait…what WERE we talking about? 
Haha: well you didn’t agree to anything weird: I was totally talking about the top of a mountain: you know, a mountaintop? That makes sense: right?
Lol: well I will try not to be to rotten an apple here: would not want to cause any trouble: and last time I checked I was not an apple but a tomato…I think
Michel, you make it so easy for me to go into this innuendo – whose mountain top and what are you watching so early in the morning?
You are a tomato, because you are juicy or because you are red…. Haha
I have a weird sense of humor which pops up suddenly..
Not to be taken in the language of Nether parts since you stay in the Netherlands, do you stay on mountaintop…I am Horrible I am wicked and I couldn’t resist funning (making fun, new word I coined) you.
Oh Michel I want to say so many things about juicy tomato and mountain top. But since I don’t know you so well… If you understood great… If not, no problem. I meant innocently.
That you are fair and red like the tomato.. Like a sweet child you are..
That’s it, all innocent. Nothing suspicious happening here.
We are good, we are sweet and we are innocent.
Lol
Well, I live on the 12th floor of an appartment building so I guess that could be a mountain right? (What do you mean no? 
) I’m looking at WordPress in the early morning hours: that’s a good answer right, right? (Why are you looking at me with a stern face
).
). Let’s stick to red because juice sounds erm…naw best not finish that sentence lol 
Well…eventually you will get to know me more: that ‘s what usually happens right? And ofcourse nothing suspicious was happening..I mean why would there be anything suspicuous happening…wait…is there something suspicuous happening 
).
Lol: well I like weird senses of humor, because erm, well..pretty weird myself I guess
Haha
Well… We never know where we would travel. Wow you stay 12th, I stay on the ground. Me with stern face looking at you… Where when why??
Yp I do know you are funny weird. I read some of your conversations… And I know I can’t match to that level of weirdness..
Juice comes later.. Unless you are making me tipsy with alcohol… OK now this is going elsewhere…
Are you suspicious? Of me? Of yourself?
Well of course, we all look at WordPress all the time… Where else would you be looking at staying on mountain top…
Now if there is something suspicious happening that you know of, I want to all about it
Oh why these emoji…. I have never used these, don’t think I will ever use it… Hence I sent it to you.
So are you suspicious now?
Haha; okay don’t even know where to begin anymore with this comment
Welll I stay on the ground too..as far as I know (especially since I have a fear of flying 
).
Lol…and yeah best not take this any further
Haha: emojis are fun…so much fun: wait..never used them?? Hmmmmm I guess that IS suspicious….I sense a conspiracy
Lol: funny weird is right: and I don’t know you could have fooled because this comment is pretty much the same level of weirdness
Lol: naw I won’t make you tipsy with alcohol: you are confusing me with Nicole
Yeah…I mean the view is awesome at that mountaintop: so ofcourse we look at WordPress
Hahahaha now I am totally totally confused about which part of conversation to reply to
I meant ground floor of apartment building since you said 12th
We are weird…. Got it and you are funny – understood….
BUT WHAT WERE WE TALKING ABOUT? TO BEGIN WITH?!!!!
Haha…Honestly? I don’t know either (but remember…I have a short term memory, so I always tend to forget these things as….well short term memory, which is why I am asking you to remember: that’s logic for you right?
Lol…well…I don’t think I am the only one who is funny: I mean there is Nicole, and there is you as well
Hahaha I am funny?? No ways… That’s totally Nicole’s undertaking. I am just a poor shadow of hers..
Is that a real question? Duhhhh of course you are funny! Is there even any doubt about that? Also…we both are a shadow of hers when it comes to humor, so there is that
Haha… I am sometimes funny… How’s work happening?
Lol….
You know: now you are just being funny 
Seriously though: love you sense of humor!
Erm…no idea yet…literally about to head off to work now: (have an evening shift on fridays)…so….off I go
Have a great time at work… Enjoy, flirt (is flirting allowed?) make some kind of merry at work…
Heyyyy you are easy to please… A bad joke and you are sunk… I didn’t know… Hehehe…. If I ever want to capture you, I would need to buy a joke book and my work would be done
Thank you: haha: don’t really know of flirting is allowed
Guess there is a way to find that out: but well not really anyone to flirt with anyway I guess
Haha: and I haven’t seen, erm read a bad joke yet from you: sooooo
I am very easy to please lol
You could of course also totally write/make your own jokebook too: then I would be very easily captured lol
I knew it… A way to man’s heart is stomach and a way to Michel’s is BAD JOKES especially the self written ones… Onwards and forwards it goes into my to-do list
Haha: oh my: be careful: lest your to do list turns into an encyclopedia: mine already has lol
Hihi: and again: not a BAD joke at all: a very good one is a better description 
My to do list is short and sweet so far – write Bad Jokes… I just have an audience of 1 to please – in case it wasn’t obvious… IT’S YOU!!!
Haha
Really?? I had not noticed that at all :well in case you didn’t notice it yet: YOU are totally succeeding so far
Yayyy… The obvious did not get obliterated and remained obviously obvious, though I had to point out the obvious to the obviously difficult audience
now was this obvious and noticeable?
Haha
See…again I rest my case…if it is not obvious now that your humor is obviously very good, than you obviously are mistaking about it….obviously 
This I agree was a bit funny. Boyo, I am improving
Lol….no….you have been funny all day
Not just this one 
Well the present company was the cause
Oh just in case you don’t notice the obvious – it is YOU
Haha…I’m glad you clarified this as…I’m not always good at recoginising the erm…obvious
I realized hence searching for iPad icon
damn you are in luck. There is no such icon on my keypad…
This is simply wrong…
Haha…I don’t know if I would call that luck though…. a bit of a shame is more like it
Hahaha… I gotta buy it soon since I am not even getting the virtual one
Lol….well….Have to really get to work on that too then I guess
Hmm….now how to get that to work though….
Nahhh some gifts are meant to be seen… And enjoyed. Not to make it work
Hmmmm: That’s a good one…wait…what are we talking about again??
Gifts… Simple innocent ones…. And emoji
Ah..okay….that’s right…that was my short term memory at work again…lol
Michel thank you for this wonderful night…. Hahaha you ahead, take this anyway you want
I have gotta sleep…
Haha…you are welcome…and I will take it
It was fun! 
You have a great sleep, and thank you as well
Sorry… I duly apologise if I have overstepped in my comments. In all seriousness and sincerity. Please forgive me. I get scared nowadays..people get offended fast. Don’t be offended. Let me know what offends angers irritates you, it won’t be repeated
Offended? No not at all: not in the slightest way even. I am currently at work, so I try to answer comments in my breaks
Sorry for making you worry: but one thing you should really know about me: I never get offended ( well almost never lol
) so if that were to ever happen: I would always let you know and not just play the silent type 
(Also..I’m pretty insecure so I am easily worried to offend as well 
). No worries though you said nothing wrong. Now..I responded to this one first: the other I have 5 minutes left on my break…don’t think I will make that lol
) I’m terrible at typing things on my phone
I am good with the phone, my keypad practically knows what I want to say.
I meant not a brain which works… 
I think my keypad knows you pretty damn well.
But when I type love on the keypad, it autocorrects to Live. No idea why it does that. It is probably trying to tell me to stop searching… Sighhh… Well…
I do understand Holland timing aprrox 5.5 hours or more behind me… I meant behind my time.
I don’t like hurting anyone, so better to be safe than sorry.
The other comment was ‘different’ so that needs ‘not a working brain’ hahaha
What I meant brain at work… Brain when you at work… Oh nothing suits your working brain
I meant when you are at work and have to concentrate on finance…. I assumed you are working in finance… Because your blog is diametrically opposite.
No sorry needed… Unless you are planning for a surprise compensation. Then you can be sorry and I can get gifted…
Well I am horrible with my phone : typing a comment like this takes me like 10 minutes.(where others have this finished on oh 2 minutes?
).
). Yeah: it’s currently pretty busy here: hardly have time to even breathe: and I have a lot more hours to go…sighhh
) but really absolutely no worries about hurting me
You were close though 
Awww: don’t give up hope on live (see it autocorrects that wird on my end too (unless it’s telling me the same lol
No worries: as I said I don’t offended easily: and I have a lot of patience too(some would say too much lol
Haha: and..I don’t work in finance: but as a senior in a callcentre for insurances
Haha: surprise compensation huh? Hmmm let me think about that
Hahaha… Alright. Just to make you envious. I had an off and slept through the day nearly
Well..my day consisted of a splitting headache, being tired, feeling a bit down and just coming home after a pretty exhausting day. Other than that I feel fine lol
It’s okay though, totally not envious! 
It’s great that you had a day off! 
Hahaha what’s the use of having a day off if nobody is jealous… I can understand days of headache and tired.. I just had such a day on Wednesday…
Have a peaceful day at work today..
Haha..well, as I said: I really think it’s great you had a day off. I have a vacation coming up in September (three weeks) so really looking forward to finally do some things that will be relaxing
Aww, and thank you, I will do my best 
Hope you will have a great day yourself! 
That’s great… 3 weeks of eat sleep, make merry… Fabulous.
Sorry just exhausted… Brain slow
Hey, no need to ever say sorry. I understand. I had such a day yesterday. It totally sucks (pardon my french
). So no worries 
But yes, definitely looking forward to that. (and hopefully catch up to a lot of movies, anime, tv serries and books!: merry indeed 
).
Hope you will feel better
Hahaha sucks is a fab word… I would have replaced the s with a F and had fun with that
. I am just slow now..
Haha: somehow I knew that word was very easy to manipulate
Well…you know I am back at work: so now I am slow with the typing again 
Lol: see? I rest my case: love your humor
That word is easy to say too…. Both the S and F versions. You are easy to please and maybe capture…. I just have to woo you with bad jokes…
Haha
Yeah : they are easy to say: the crazy thing is: even though I am Dutch: I keep thinking in English: so there are loads of times where I just even use the words when I’m not thinking them
Does that make any sense 
And again….no bad jokes
Mine though are becoming more bad by the minute
Haha: very easy to please: as for easy to capture..hmmmm
Hahaha… The jokes are becoming bad… You are actually conversing with me
I have started using the S and F words frequently now…. Got to stop… Soon… One day
The word per se is not bad… Just the meaning attributed to it… In the right circumstances, they apply pretty darn well… Think about it…
No idea if you have a synonym for it in Dutch… I do have one in Hindi and that’s really gross to say… I rarely use it… I mean I sometimes use it
Hey! Sorry for the very late response, it was a crazy day at my work (which of course totally fits me as I am pretty crazy myself
). So had little time to check in on WordPress 
Lol though! 
Duh, ofcourse I am conversing with you
Haha…and yup I know what you mean about those F and S words, better not think about it too much lol
There is a synonym for it in Dutch and actually that one is very gross to say too..but…I hardly use it either….or should I also say….sometimes
Got it…
Loving the doll emoji, can you make out?
Haha…nope, totally did not notice that….what are you loving again?
Now is it kind of clear? A bit? Anything?
It is fine,, you message when you can… Work comes first because bills come on the first…. Yayy my second bad joke
You would let me know when you are captured… So I can stop with the bad jokes and get to the good ones
Well: I haven’t yet officially started: just starting up my computer: but in 2-3 minutes my responses will slow down
Noppppeeee still have yet to see a bad joke: Do I have too though? Still very much enjoying these “bad” jokes
Then it is fine… I will keep them coming.. Have a great day… Have fun.. Flirt or try to flirt.. It is difficult when no company… Well I tried to flirt with bad jokes but no luck so far
I have to keep trying, so I got to know
Haha: okay last one: then I really have to start
And who says you had no luck so far? 
Thank you: you have a great day yourself and thanks for all the good bad jokes
Awww
I hope things are okay at your end… I hope I have not wooed/flirted/befriended you too much… Gone overboard? Weird humor can be blamed for that. In case I did, I apologize. In case I didn’t I will carry on wooing/flirting/befriending… But tomorrow. Adieu for today…
Have a great day minus the stress and splitting headache and the exhaustion
Okay, you know: I really think we have something really big in common: I can be very worried myself when someone doesn’t answer back. I’m a very insecure person
But let me tell you this right now: If there is ever something you would do or say, that would make me angry at you (and trust me…that will never, ever, not even in a million years happen
), than I would tell you and not remain silent 
You have done nothing, and I do mean nothing wrong…and I can only hope that we will continue wooing/flirting/befriending the coming weeks! 
(hmm…that sounds a bit strange, but you hopefully know what I mean 
). So…no worries, and really I like you a lot, so now worries about that either okay? 
Hope you have a great sleep. I am going to be checking out some wordpress posts that I missed today, and then I am probably off to sleep myself. Thank you…and talk to you tomorrow…and again: No worries, okay? 
So…gotta love timedifferences…not
No prob
I couldn’t find your mail and I just wanted to clarify. Tell me straight and I will modify and will do the same. I am pretty frank. But sometimes I am too frank hence I am careful.
did that come off sexily enough? 
Yp w/f/b will continue on till you stop it
Have a great night
Yp I am supposed to sleep. I have work in exactly 7 hours. Adieu till laters. Hasta la vista baby
No worries…as I said this morning, I love your sense of humor
And well, I just think you are awesome yourself too 
And trust me, I am very careful myself as well…never would want to offend you in any way 
So nope…you don’t have to stop 
(hmm…that also sounds pretty weird I guess…..
)
Lol…yep it did
Wow…in 7 hours huh?? Well….don’t let me keep you up. Have a great sleep…sweet dreams: goodnight, and hasta la vista to you too baby
Hahaha not sure if you are keeping me up.
♥️
Sometimes people enter to help and they don’t know it. So I am telling you 
man I love the dolls… They are so cute…
Hey Michel, thank you. You brought a smile to my face.
Lol…well, I don’t want to be responsible for keeping you up, and you not being able to sleep
Okay…note to self: cool gifts to give Shalini for her birthday: Russian dolls 
Haha: well Shalini, the pleasure really was all mine, and just so you know: You totally brought a smile to my face as well: so the feeling is mutual: Thank you
Haha…the dolls really are cute
Hahaha I would really like the iPad… Do you know dolls eyes can follow you and they can come alive at night…. Shudder haven’t you watched enough movies to know this?
ALIVE!!!!
It is always about the GIFTS!!!!
GIFTS, GIFTS, AND MORE GIFTS!!!
Lol
Ask* you
Nice review Shalini. I think I’ll be skipping this though.
I know… I understand. I am sure the next book of hers will be fab
Nice review, Shalini. I love multi-genre books. It can be difficult to blend genres and pull off a great story while still keeping the essence of each genre in the book, at least IMO. I believe it takes a talented writer to pull it off. Kudos to Ms. Thompson for her attempt. I may check this one out.
I agree… I like romance and sci-fi but it needs to be faster, so I think.
I’m too lazy for all this world building
Hahaha I know… Initially I was confused too.. Hence took me 3 days
I am not a big Sci-Fi lover, but as I was reading your review, I thought, this one might work for me, then bam…… I like slow moving books if they are a drama or literary fiction. If it is a thriller or Sci-fi, I want it to move quickly and surprise me. I might pass on this one. Great review Shalini.
Exactly… I have conveyed the same to the author. The next book would be fab
Hopefully, the author will consider your suggestion seriously.