| 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? |  |
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release date: March 14, 2023
Release date: March 14, 2023
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
Can she survive in a world that despises her?
Sci-fi, not my genre. Dystopian, also not my genre. Enhanced, exactly my kind of read. I was totally absorbed by Urban's slightly familiar and sometimes frightening world of AI and genetic engineering of a hundred years from now.
There is no mistaking that Candace Kade is a master at vividly painting a complete sci-fi world using words instead of a brush. That skill is put on full Technicolor display in this first The Hybrid novel and there is no escaping the pull of the pages that lead you deeper in New Beijing and a world that may be closer than we want to think.
Enhanced is definitely aimed at a YA audience but this adult reader couldn't put it down. Urban's struggle to fit in, to be understood, is something that transcends age and country of origin. We've all felt less than and Candace Kade's young heroine embodies those feelings in a way that makes her much more relatable.
As you can tell, I enjoyed reading book 1 in The Hybrid series. It was entertaining, thought provoking, sometimes a little eerily plausible, and left me anxiously awaiting the next book...
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Enhanced by Candace Kade a 4.5 Bark rating.
Sci-fi, not my genre. Dystopian, also not my genre. Enhanced, exactly my kind of read. I was totally absorbed by Urban's slightly familiar and sometimes frightening world of AI and genetic engineering of a hundred years from now.
There is no mistaking that Candace Kade is a master at vividly painting a complete sci-fi world using words instead of a brush. That skill is put on full Technicolor display in this first The Hybrid novel and there is no escaping the pull of the pages that lead you deeper in New Beijing and a world that may be closer than we want to think.
Enhanced is definitely aimed at a YA audience but this adult reader couldn't put it down. Urban's struggle to fit in, to be understood, is something that transcends age and country of origin. We've all felt less than and Candace Kade's young heroine embodies those feelings in a way that makes her much more relatable.
As you can tell, I enjoyed reading book 1 in The Hybrid series. It was entertaining, thought provoking, sometimes a little eerily plausible, and left me anxiously awaiting the next book...
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Enhanced by Candace Kade a 4.5 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Candace
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong?
It could be something as small as showing up at a party alone to something bigger like moving to a new city.
In ENHANCED, Urban also feels like she doesn’t belong. In New Beijing in the year 2124, everyone has amazing genetic enhancements given to them through CRISPR gene-editing technology.
Everyone, except Urban.
New Beijing is full of humans with breath-taking DNA. Inceptors with brain enhancements allowing them to read micro facial expressions, Supers who can withstand hard hits and extreme temperatures, Aquas able to breathe underwater, and more. There are eight main gene pools, and Urban doesn’t belong in any of them.
Instead, Urban’s born a Natural, without genetic enhancements, and secretly adopted into New Beijing. She’s forced to hide her genetic roots to protect her family, and pretends to be something she’s not--enhanced.
Urban’s story is personal to me.
As a Third Culture Kid, I’ve spent most of my life straddling two worlds and, trying to fit into places I felt I didn’t belong. At the age of four, my family moved from Ohio to China. I spent my childhood as the only foreign kid at my Chinese schools, neighborhood, and sports teams.
Since then, I’ve often returned to China. I was actually living and working there while writing ENHANCED.
Despite the frequent trips, I didn’t feel “American enough” or “Chinese enough” growing up. Maybe it’s because I botched most American sayings. Maybe it’s because no matter how good my Mandarin was, people looked at my white skin and assumed I didn’t belong in China.
It’s taken me years to come to peace with this.
Urban struggles with something similar. She must balance the Enhanced and Natural worlds all while trying to keep her web of lies from tangling and tripping her up. Which, of course, gets harder when she’s selected as the next AI Games contestant.
When I wrote this book, I was living in Beijing and going through one of the hardest seasons in my life. I had never felt so lonely. There was a song that brought me great comfort during this time. The chorus goes:
“God only knows what you’ve been through,
God only knows what they say about you,
God only knows the real you,
There’s a kind of love that God only knows.”
-For King and Country.
I played that song on repeat while writing Enhanced. It reminded me that God sees us and knows us intimately. With him, we are never truly alone.
I wrote this book for anyone who feels like they slip between the cracks of society—like they don’t belong. My hope is that you feel seen and understood.
You’re not alone.
It could be something as small as showing up at a party alone to something bigger like moving to a new city.
In ENHANCED, Urban also feels like she doesn’t belong. In New Beijing in the year 2124, everyone has amazing genetic enhancements given to them through CRISPR gene-editing technology.
Everyone, except Urban.
New Beijing is full of humans with breath-taking DNA. Inceptors with brain enhancements allowing them to read micro facial expressions, Supers who can withstand hard hits and extreme temperatures, Aquas able to breathe underwater, and more. There are eight main gene pools, and Urban doesn’t belong in any of them.
Instead, Urban’s born a Natural, without genetic enhancements, and secretly adopted into New Beijing. She’s forced to hide her genetic roots to protect her family, and pretends to be something she’s not--enhanced.
Urban’s story is personal to me.
As a Third Culture Kid, I’ve spent most of my life straddling two worlds and, trying to fit into places I felt I didn’t belong. At the age of four, my family moved from Ohio to China. I spent my childhood as the only foreign kid at my Chinese schools, neighborhood, and sports teams.
Since then, I’ve often returned to China. I was actually living and working there while writing ENHANCED.
Despite the frequent trips, I didn’t feel “American enough” or “Chinese enough” growing up. Maybe it’s because I botched most American sayings. Maybe it’s because no matter how good my Mandarin was, people looked at my white skin and assumed I didn’t belong in China.
It’s taken me years to come to peace with this.
Urban struggles with something similar. She must balance the Enhanced and Natural worlds all while trying to keep her web of lies from tangling and tripping her up. Which, of course, gets harder when she’s selected as the next AI Games contestant.
When I wrote this book, I was living in Beijing and going through one of the hardest seasons in my life. I had never felt so lonely. There was a song that brought me great comfort during this time. The chorus goes:
“God only knows what you’ve been through,
God only knows what they say about you,
God only knows the real you,
There’s a kind of love that God only knows.”
-For King and Country.
I played that song on repeat while writing Enhanced. It reminded me that God sees us and knows us intimately. With him, we are never truly alone.
I wrote this book for anyone who feels like they slip between the cracks of society—like they don’t belong. My hope is that you feel seen and understood.
You’re not alone.
 Candace Kade | Candace Kade grew up in China and currently lives in Austin, Texas. When she’s not missing Chinese food, she’s busy writing, exploring new countries, volunteering, hiking in national parks, teaching her husband Mandarin, and keeping a baby human alive. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Candace is giving away the grand prize package of a hardback
of ENHANCED, $50 Amazon gift card, $10 Starbucks gift card, and a signed bookplate!!
of ENHANCED, $50 Amazon gift card, $10 Starbucks gift card, and a signed bookplate!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 31
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Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 1
Texas Book-aholic, April 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 3
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 5
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 6
Inklings and Notions, April 7
Blogging With Carol, April 8
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, April 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 9
Simple Harvest Reads, April 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, April 11
Mary Hake, April 11
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 12
Through the Fire Blogs, April 13
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 1
Texas Book-aholic, April 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 3
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 5
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 6
Inklings and Notions, April 7
Blogging With Carol, April 8
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, April 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 9
Simple Harvest Reads, April 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, April 11
Mary Hake, April 11
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 12
Through the Fire Blogs, April 13