Kailey Bright’s UNFORTUNATE is Red Queen meets An Ember in the Ashes and Book #1 of the UN series. Dive into the fray and be brave despite fear. Nora is an Unfortunate—born without any powers and born to serve Gifteds: other humans with extraordinary abilities. When a prominent Gifted figure offers Nora the opportunity to attend Galdor Academy, Nora weighs her options: forever remain the property of a Gifted household or experience a semblance of agency at an elite military school for Gifted children. She remembers her unbreakable promise and accepts. At first, Nora just wants to make her sponsor proud rather than be sent away in a body bag. But once the Anti-Gifted Movement starts an impossible-to-ignore revolution alongside a mysterious terrorist with an unmatched Divine-like power, the Kingdom of Iridion is forever broken wide open. While Nora hopes she can prove that Unfortunates deserve equity, the AGM are done begging; they intend to bring every last Gifted low who sought to lord over them. Caught in the crossfire, Nora must make a decision—fight back or let the kingdom splinter to ruin. Purple Dragonfly Award for Best Cover Design (2022) Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mentions in Young Adult Fiction & Fantasy (2022) BookFest Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Award (2022) BookFest Contemporary & Social Themes Award (2022) Firebird Young Adult Fiction & Young Author Award (2021) Sigma Tau Delta 2022 International Conference excerpt presentation ~ "Kailey Bright proves chapter after chapter that she is a force to be reckoned with in the writing industry. From her powerful and relatable characters to her smooth storytelling, Bright brings Nora's world to life. Captivating words, stories, and emotions line the pages. UNFORTUNATE is a remarkable, action-packed, heart-wrecking new young adult fantasy." —Emily Craig, author of the Will You Love Me Again series "An unforgettable adventure. UNFORTUNATE combines vivid characters with rich world building and an epic story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the final page. This thrilling story takes you on a journey full of twists and turns, which will stay with you long after the cover is closed. Imaginative and brilliant writing." —Imogen Elvis, author of The Crystal Tree "Bright's debut novel seamlessly blends magical realism and moral complexity. Full of symbolism and mystery, this YA fantasy novel is sure to leave readers wanting more." —Linda Xia, author of Heir of Blood and Secrets " UNFORTUNATE takes you on a fantasy adventure in an immersive and creative new world. Mixing elements of mystery and romance with its magical roots, Bright's debut novel is a thrilling read!" —Catherine Downen, author of The Markings series "Even though I am NOT a fantasy reader, I absolutely loved this one!" —Darlene McLeod, Assistant Librarian "A compelling, feminist narrative reminiscent of Red Queen and The Hunger Games , Bright's UNFORTUNATE is a must read for those seeking to get swept up in an immersive world of characters that continue to defy the odds." —Emily Vanderbent, author of the Crimson Time series " UNFORTUNATE is a page-turner. The world building is immersive, the characters leap off the page, and the plot is one of the most interesting takes on the dystopian genre I've seen. If you love dystopian fiction and want something unique, give UNFORTUNATE a try; you won't be sorry. I'm already eagerly awaiting the sequel!" —Claerie Kavanaugh, author of the Lyssa's Holiday Hijinks series "Memorizing from the first sentence. The fantasy setting draws you in like you're actually there—living, breathing it. The characters are so diverse from each other but so relatable at the same time. A book you can't put down!" —Brenda Wilder, Assistant Librarian "In UNFORTUNATE , Bright shines a spotlight on what it truly means to be human: regardless of where you were born, or what powers you may or may not have, you are a force to be reckoned with." —Monica Vogel, author of Swine "One of my favorite things about this book is the way the world reveals itself to be increasingly more complex, chapter after chapter. One drama unfolds in front of Nora—her struggle to find a place among the Gifteds—while another's unfolding offstage. And every time Nora starts to make headway in her own struggle for identity and belonging, that larger drama breaks through to throw her off balance. As a reader, I'm rooting for her in her quest for personal freedom and justice in a particularly cruel world, but more than that I'm rooting for her as she tries to answer one of life's most important questions: How does the story of one individual fit into the bigger story of us all?" —Dr. Sean Barnette, Lander University College of English and Foreign Language KAILEY BRIGHT is a contemporary YA fiction author and computer scientist, which means she writes code during daylight and writes about fantastical worlds under starlight. Tired of YA stories where prot