Lee Urban is living a lie.

In a society where everyone’s DNA determines their destiny, being a Natural means automatic relegation to the gritty and dangerous Outskirts. With the harnessed power of gene-editing, the ability to create a super-human race has transformed the world and offered the opportunity of a genetically enhanced life. But only to those who can afford it.

Born a Natural, Lee Urban was adopted into the Enhanced high society of the Asian Federation and forced to conceal her genetic roots. When her dream of attending Peking University becomes a reality, she is determined to go despite a warning from a mysterious source.

Targeted by a hacker bent on exposing her true DNA, Urban faces off with an Artificial Intelligence Game that puts her—and her lies—to the test. What was supposed to be a dream come true turns into a lethal gamble of hide-and-seek with her genetics. Can Urban continue the act, or will the cracks in her story expose her and endanger her family?

Book 1 of The Hybrid Series.

Urban has always pretended to be like others.¹ But in college, she can no longer fake her genetic enhancements. Candace Kade’s debut Enhanced fuses old ideas of DNA rewriting with newer concepts of social credit systems. Genetic alterations breed strange diversities, like humans with animalistic traits, while advanced social credit scoring operates in more disturbingly realistic ways. Set in futuristic China, Enhanced is imprinted with Asian influences that yield more fascinating vibrancy. With nary a glance at science’s divine Author, the story raises no ethical debates beyond the practical means of human genetic tampering. Nevertheless, this novel engineers a fun and quick-paced read, filled with inventiveness and sharp detail.

Best for: Young adult fans of sci-fi and dystopian fiction.

Discern: Some violence and persistent disregard for human life, such as in school fights with weapons and occasionally fatal games; many good and bad characters commit deception; universal acceptance of human genetic alteration.