Editorial Content for Unnaturals: The Battle Begins
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Devon Hughes’ UNNATURALS: The Battle Begins is a creative and immersive title with a poignant mission. Hughes combines an engaging animal protagonist, her own take on a dystopia and a science fiction twist relevant to today. UNNATURALS tells the story of a not-so-distant future, in which our air is mostly toxic, our society divided by class and location and a system of scientists and businessmen capitalize on genetically modifying our animals and forcing them to battle.
The plot emerges from the perspectives of a wide-ranging cast of characters: Castor, the scared stray who must use what the scientists do to him to his advantage; Leesa, who wants to find out the truth about what happened to her pet and to stop the unfair treatment condoned by the government; Marcus, a fan of the “monster fights” until he discovers their true cost; and a collection of creatures whose personalities and attitudes towards the situation vary as much as their species --- especially as most of them no longer truly belong to their original species, but now are linked by the “unnatural” science that has been done to them…
Castor was just a stray, struggling to survive in a world that had no love for those without a home. When he’s swept up by the humans who work the terrifying Crusher Slushers and sent to the mysterious NuFormz warehouse on a nearby island, he never considers he might end up finding a cause worth fighting for --- and a group of friends to fight with him. The distinctions aren’t so clear, though: who’s willing to fight against the system that’s forcing animals into experiments and a bloody battle arena for the sake of sport and cash? And who’s willing to fight their own kind for the sake of glory and violence? Castor’s potential new friends explain the danger of animals like Laringo the Invincible, a massive, fanged white tiger combined with the traits of a deadly scorpion. When you’re twisted and tormented into something other than yourself for the purpose of someone else’s benefit, sometimes you give in. Sometimes you become the monster. Will Castor?
Fans of animal stories and animals with superpowers are in for a treat --- UNNATURALS is a cutting-edge science fiction story with a creative cast of creatures that will keep your paws turning pages.
Hughes also encourages the reader to question humanity’s own potential for monstrosity. Marcus was a devoted supporter of the matches until he discovered how they’re created. He watched the matches on a simulink and believed all the damage to be virtual. Hughes encourages readers to question our own desensitization to violence and how emerging advanced technology may separate us from reality and our humanity. Hughes’ use of tech throughout the novel functions not only as powerful world-building, setting the stage for future Unnaturals titles, but also as a cleverly-handled vehicle to convey a dystopia eerily similar to our current world in many ways.
Thankfully for Castor and his friends, Leesa’s courage and compassion balance the violence and heartlessness of much of the novel. She’s determined and confident, despite being rightfully scared and upset by the situation.
Overall, Hughes has created a wonderful group of characters. I hope their teamwork will grow and continue in future Unnaturals adventures to come! Yet UNNATURALS: The Battle Begins also certainly stands alone as a wonderful read. It is an exciting, engaging, thoughtful novel, and a welcome addition to the library of anyone who loves clever dystopias.
Hughes combines favorite themes with innovative storytelling to create a fascinating future, with all the benefits and pitfalls that future brings. Her incisive discourse on class fits beautifully and powerfully within the plot. Fans of animal stories and animals with superpowers are in for a treat --- UNNATURALS is a cutting-edge science fiction story with a creative cast of creatures that will keep your paws turning pages.
Teaser
When Castor the stray dog is captured by a group of strange men and taken to a dark laboratory full of terrifying creatures, everything changes: These scientists inject strays with DNA-changing serum, making them into strange, new breeds called Unnaturals and forcing them to fight one another in a ring. Soon, Castor is transformed from a German Shepard mutt into a powerful beast with huge eagle wings. It will take courage to survive, but it will take even more for him to save the Unnaturals....
Promo
When Castor the stray dog is captured by a group of strange men and taken to a dark laboratory full of terrifying creatures, everything changes: These scientists inject strays with DNA-changing serum, making them into strange, new breeds called Unnaturals and forcing them to fight one another in a ring. Soon, Castor is transformed from a German Shepard mutt into a powerful beast with huge eagle wings. It will take courage to survive, but it will take even more for him to save the Unnaturals....
About the Book
Castor has always been a stray. He knows no other life than the one he has spent in the back alleys of Lion’s Head, prowling with his pack. His days are filled with the unknown: Where to eat? Where to sleep? Who to trust? But Castor’s tougher than he looks, and he’s always gotten by.
Until the day that he’s captured by a group of strange men. And taken to a dark laboratory full of terrifying creatures.
What Castor doesn’t know is that there’s a nefarious secret society lurking beneath the busy streets of Lion’s Head. Scientists who trap stray and exotic animals and create hybrids by injecting them with a DNA–changing serum. They call these strange, new breeds Unnaturals. And they force them to compete against each other in an infamous fighting ring for big prize money.
Soon, Castor is transformed from a German Shepard mutt into a powerful beast with huge eagle wings. As he’s thrust into the ring, he knows it’ll take all of his courage to survive. But it will take unexpected allies and something even more than courage for him to save the Unnaturals....
