The Ingenious and the Colour of Life

From a beguiling new voice in YA literary sci-fi/contemporary fantasy comes an astonishing novel about a group of mysterious teenagers with the power to change lives... Ever since young adult Milly Bythaway can remember, she’s had to hide who she really is – dumbing down an extraordinary genius in order to blend into the background. 14-year-old Tai Jones has been abandoned by his mother and forced to live as a homeless wanderer on the streets of London, but the appearance of a stray cat helps him realise he has a special gift: he can see thoughts and emotions of others in stunningly beautiful colours. A gift that is both wonderful and awful. When the teenagers are brought together by a mysterious old scientist for their own safety, they are told of a common and forgotten past. One of secret experiments, and a missing family that they yearn to find. But they soon hear of the disappearance of another child, and are faced with an impossible dilemma - to save themselves, they must risk their very sanity. In the end, the children must work together, unleashing the full force of their abilities and powers in an epic battle of the world's greatest minds. The Ingenious and the Colour of Life is J.Y. Sam’s beautiful and heart-rending debut – a story that explores the fragility of human nature, with a dash of science, culture, and the animal/natural world. Listed in 40 book lists in Goodreads (including Best YA Sci-Fi for Both Genders, and YA Book Club) A CAPTIVATING AND INSPIRATIONAL BOOK FOR TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND ADULTS "Exciting, intriguing and gripping, this beautifully written book captures the reader and their imagination from the outset. The descriptions of characters, events and settings enables you to fully visualise and identify with them. A book that will appeal to adults and teenagers which will be remembered long after the reader turns the last page." LoveReading.co.uk "What an absolutely beautiful story and all-around amazing read! This is definitely going to be one of my Top 15 2021 favorites. Yes, it's THAT good. I loved everything about this book! Sci-Fi Fantasy mix with writing so good you are LIVING the words. I love how the author incorporates nature throughout this story." Angel @booknallnight blog "I REALLY liked this book! I LOVED the writing and the backstory of each character, as well as the way the author built the world. (It sort of gave me "Mysterious Benedict Society" vibes, but for an older audience.) I loved the use of different languages and cultures, and the way every animal in this book was a well-written supporting character." Goodreads.com Reviews: "An impressive debut full of a rich tapestry of description and well-rounded, relatable characters. The thematic elements around nature, themes of good and bad and how love prevails make Ingenious stand out from the usual crop and really touch you in a deeper way. After three chapters I was hooked and in tears by the final page. Thank you so much for writing this book, I think everyone should read it. Now I just want to read the next one!!" Romane A, Goodreads Reviewer "I love this book. It is beautifully written but with surprising and sometimes shocking twists and turns. JY Sam has described her characters roundly and sensitively, even those not-so-nice ones." Beth M, Goodreads Reviewer "Never before have I read a debut novel with such poise, elan and finesse! Ms. Sam nails it!! ...the plot line drew me in, and hooked me with its ingenuity (pun intended)." Aniruddha M, Book Blogger aniblogshere "The characters are developed beautifully and I found myself really caring about them; I even shed the odd tear or two." Kirsty R, Amazon Reviewer "There was so much beautiful and lyrical prose... that painted such vivid imagery, and that helped to balance the scientific and medical jargon. One excerpt that I really loved and stood out to me was: 'The melody rolled and rumbled, like storm clouds brewing and gathering at speed - hurtling towards the inevitable.' ...This book really did have everything; joy, action, heartbreak and wit (there were so many humorous moments from Calista too!) and left on such a cliffhanger with still so many questions unanswered; I'm already itching for the sequel!" Kira, Book Blogger kirareadsandwrites "The book is not only intriguing but it's written extremely well with fresh and creative ideas. One more thing I loved was how Ms. Sam made sure the book was inclusive, including characters from multiple ethnicities as well as characters with special needs. The book also contains so many different elements like music and science beautifully tied together in the midst of the story." Radwa A, Goodreads Reviewer "This is a debut??!! What an absolutely beautiful story and all-around amazing read! This is definitely going to be one of my Top 15 2021 favorites. Yes, it's THAT good. I loved everything about this book... with writing so good you are LIVING the words. I love how the author incorporates nature throughout this story." Angela W, Amazon.com reviewer "The author takes her time to introduce the MC's at the beginning of the book, all in separate stories. At the same time, I felt they must come together somehow, and they did. Once it was clear why, the story unfolded rapidly. I think the author has put a great deal of energy into research, as the medical and technical information (no infodump) read solid and believable." Ursula V, Goodreads Reviewer "Full of more twists and turns than I expected and beautifully rendered characters, this was such a fun read despite the subject matter not being exactly light. Sam drew me into the world she created and I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the trilogy!" Beth M, Goodreads Reviewer "This is a lovely story, written with empathy." Karen "Intricately and thoughtfully written, this story unfolds with detailed precision, keeping readers guessing from the very first pages... Cinematically written, this captivating mystery blends science fiction and reality to investigate the staggering possibilities that come from genetic alteration." Mary L "This is a brilliant book! The plot thickens with every page turned!" Mary S