Unknown Variant

In 2195, humanity is divided by DNA. Those branded "genetically inferior" are denied basic rights and medical care, forced to serve the privileged elite with "normal" genetics.

Nineteen-year-old Layla Mason works as a prostitute to support her family, numbing herself with drugs to survive the daily degradation. When Adonis Caraway, the privileged son of a powerful senator, suddenly enters her life by saving her from an accident, their unexpected connection blossoms into forbidden love.

After they're caught together, Layla faces imprisonment and torture while Adonis risks everything to rescue her. With nowhere safe to turn, they steal a sailboat and attempt to cross the treacherous Pacific Ocean to Australia—rumored to be the only nation that rejected genetic segregation.

During their perilous journey, as they struggle with storm-tossed seas, limited supplies, and Layla's unexpected pregnancy, they must confront their pasts and fight for a future together. But the most difficult challenges come from within, as Layla battles addiction, trauma, and her fear of vulnerability.

"Unknown Variant" is a raw, unflinching tale of courage and redemption in a broken world where hope seems impossible. This gripping dystopian romance explores how love can flourish in the darkest circumstances and the extraordinary lengths people will go to for freedom and dignity.

If you enjoyed "The Handmaid's Tale," "Divergent," and "Red Rising," you'll love "Unknown Variant."

© 2022 Defiance Press and Publishing (Ebook): 9781955937610

Release date

Ebook: December 6, 2022