It's only a couple of weeks until book 2 in The Unadjusteds trilogy is out! Have you added The Rise of the Altereds to your shelf yet?

To celebrate it's release, our journalists interviewed some of the cast and this week we got to talk to the main character, Silver Melody. Here's what she said:

What is your full name? Do you have a nickname (if so, who calls you this)?
Silver Rose Melody. I don’t really have a nickname, everyone just calls me Silver. Kyle once tried to call me “S”, but it didn’t take.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Central City, 16 years ago.

Who are/were your parents? (Their names, birthplaces, occupations, personalities, etc.)
My parents are Rufus and Margaret Melody. But Mom isn’t around at the moment. Gonna get her back real soon. But anyway, they met at college. They’re both super smart, genetic scientists. And now dad is teaching me too. I want to help Francesca…President Montoya…in any way I can and there aren’t enough people who know about the genetics left, who can fight against Earl and his creepy altereds.

Do you have any siblings? If you do, what are/were they like?
No, but I would have liked one. I think Kyle would be cool to have as a brother, but he might be better at karate then me and that wouldn’t be so cool. In any case, Matt’s sisters are like family to me.

Where do you live now, and with whom?
Well, at the moment me and my friends and dad are stuck in the bunker underneath the presidential compound. There’s a virus you see, and we can’t leave until we have a vaccine.

What is your occupation?
I’m a genetic scientist in training.

To which social class do you belong?
(shrugs) I’m an unadjusted. Well, maybe I’m not. Who knows?

On what occasions do you lie?
When it’s necessary. When it can save a life.

Do you have a motto? If so, what is it?
(smiles) more of a song. A song of freedom. I wrote it while I was living in the caves and it’s become a sort of anthem. Everyone seems to know it now. The chorus is my favorite.
When you hear the lone wolf howling,
When sky comes crashing through.
With all the hellhounds growling,
If it ends, just me and you…
Just close your eyes and breathe in deep,
Look to the new sun’s sky.
Because our voice is freedom,
And they will hear us cry.

Do you have any annoying habits, quirks, strange mannerisms, or other defining characteristics?
Uhhh – I don’t know, you’d have to ask Matt if I’m annoying. I do play with my necklace a lot, the silver quaver pendant Matt gave me for my birthday. Oh, and I love acorns. I collect them and keep them in my pockets. I love their smoothness, it calms me. Joe used to tease me about them. There are things that annoy me about myself, but I’m not comfortable talking about them, if that’s okay.

What is your hair color and eye color?
Dark brown and silvery blue. But I prefer Matt’s eye color. It’s like a Caribbean Sea. So beautiful.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
I can’t. I don’t know. God help me.

How would you describe your childhood?
I loved my childhood. And I’m not even a grown up yet. Not officially. But I get what you mean. It was just me and my parents. Before it all went to hell they were revered, and we had all this stuff in the penthouse apartment and we had armed guards who actually protected us. It was… it was…well another lifetime now. But none of that stuff really mattered. I get that now. Now that my mom is gone. I just want her back, then I might be happy again, if I can remember what it feels like to be happy. Not that I’m never happy, I mean Matt…crap I’m rambling now. Sorry.

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
Claus. Well, the karate stuff. Dad taught me how to throw a knife. The other stuff, about my abilities, I mostly had to learn that myself. My friends taught me about their abilities, even Erica, but there are so many I don’t even know. They pop out unexpectedly and I have to figure it out.

Did you have any role models? If so, describe them and why they were your role models.
My mom. My dad. Francesca. Matt, Joe, Hal. I have amazing people around me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I don’t think I ever knew. I mean, I knew what I didn’t want to be, and that was an altered. Or at least, I didn’t want to crave nanites or die from one, like Diana.

What were your favorite activities?
I still love karate, and playing my guitar, and being with my friends. Paige, Matt. Especially Matt.

Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?
Sooo private!!!!

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
There’s been so many. But I think the biggest is when President Bear declared that everyone take a nanite. It forced people to pick a side, to bring it all to a head. More personally, I guess discovering my abilities. I wonder if we never had the resistance, how I would have discovered them, if my parents would have told me.

What do you consider your greatest achievement so far, why?
Taking down Bear. Obviously.

What is your greatest regret so far, why? Has this regret formed you into the person you are today? If so, why?
There are so many. Not knowing how I felt about Matt earlier. We wasted so much time. But at least we’re together now. Joe…I just wish I could have saved him. I wish I was stronger. Goddamn hellhounds. Sorry, I don’t think I can answer this question anymore.

What is the most evil thing you have ever done so far?
I don’t think you can classify things as good an evil. Everything is gray. So very, very gray. Maybe with the occasional rainbow.

Do you have a criminal record?
No! Do you?

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?
I can’t pick just one.

What is your best memory so far? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
Killing President Bear. Because it signified the end of an era. It gave everyone hope. But it also gives me nightmares. Because he was so evil. Maybe there is such a thing as evil.

What is your worst memory so far? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
Joe dying. That’s all I can say about it.

What is you biggest secret? Does anyone else know about this? Which person do you least want to know about this secret, why?
It almost feels like you know. I haven’t told anyone. Not even Matt. He wouldn’t understand. Everything is so black and white to him.

What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is losing the people I love. I’ve lost too many already.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Ice cream. I just really love ice cream. I can’t get enough of it.

What are your religious views?
I don’t think there is a God. But if there is, I think He stopped listening a long time ago. How could He let someone like Bear exist? How could He let us tamper with our DNA?

What are your views on sex?
(blushes) It’s nice. More than nice. Okay, shut up now.

Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?
Absolutely.

Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?
Yes. I do it when I have to. When someone needs to be taken down. When that someone stands in the way of humanity.

What do you measure success in?
How many lives I can save.

How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings in the company of others?
It depends on the person and what I’m expected to talk about. With my anxiety…well, I don’t even like talking to Matt about it. It makes me feel so weak. I supposed to be the ultimate weapon. How can I save everyone and have panic attacks?

Do you have any prejudices? If so, what are they and why do you have those specific prejudices?
Hating the altereds is not a prejudice, it’s a life-saving manoeuvre.

Which person do you wish you were closest to?
Depends. Romantically? Matt. Friendship wise? Paige. Always Paige.

Do you have a boyfriend?
Matt is, well he’s Matt. He’s my hero, my soulmate, the person who keeps me grounded, who can cut through all my emotional crap. As much as I love Paige, he’s been my best friend for longer. It was always us, just us, especially after Diana died and I lived under guard. He got me, he got the situation, and he made it better. He always makes everything better. Of course he does, he’s Matt. I love him. I always will. Nothing could ever come between us.

Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?
I trust my friends. Matt, Paige, Hal, Kyle, Sawyer, Jacob, even Erica. Because we’ve all put out lives on the line for each other before. They have my back, and I have theirs.

If you died or went missing, who would miss you?
Jesus H! Like that’s a question I want to think about.

Who is the person you despise the most, why?
Well, that’s obvious isn’t it? It’s got to be a toss up between Bear and Earl.

Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?
Avoid. Always avoid. Unless it’s like a life or death thing, or if it’s just not right, or if it has something to do with genetics, or if it’s Bear or Earl, then I get all up and in their faces.

What is your favorite color?
Caribbean blue

What is your favorite food?
Pizza

What is your most treasured possession?
I have two. My necklace and my knife.

Do you like to read? If so, what do you like to read?
I do, although these days it’s mostly scientific journals and articles. And I tend to play my guitar more in my downtime. But I love to read fantasy books when I have time. Stuff that would never happen in the real world. You know, mermaids and vampires.

What makes you happy?
Matt. My family. My friends.

What makes you angry?
Injustice.

How do you deal with stress?
I don’t really. I have panic attacks. Matt helps. And my guitar and my acorns. My dad teaches me breathing exercises.

How do you deal with pain (physical and emotional)?
In the moment? I grit my teeth and carry on. After, I cry. It helps get it all out of me.

Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?
Plans make me feel safer, but when the shit hits the fan, you gotta go with the flow.

Which living person do you most despise? Why?
Earl. Because he’s a monster. He made the hellhounds. They killed Joe!

What is the quality you most like in a man?
(smiles) The ability to get me out of my own head. Honesty. Steadiness. Passion.

Where would you like to live? Why?
I don’t really care where I live, as long as the people I love are with me.

Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?
Normal? Ha. But okay, okay, when the shit’s not hitting the fan. I eat breakfast with Dad, with Matt too if he’s spent the night. I spend most of the day I the lab sorting out genetic mutations. Then in the evenings I hang out with my friends or train with Claus and Evan.

What is your greatest strength?
No idea. Pass.

What is your greatest weakness?
Pass. Don’t like talking about it.

Which talent would you most like to have? Why?
Talent? I’m not sure, but I’d love to be able to take life a little less seriously. Or to not feel so damn much all the time.

Do you like yourself?
Sometimes. Mostly. Not all the time. It depends on the day. I think I’m a good person. I try my best. But I guess that’s not always good enough.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Anxiety. I’ve been so tempted to take the nanite for it. But that would make me as bad as them.

What three words best describe your personality?
Determined. Loving. Hopeful.

What three words would others probably use to describe you?
Weak? Strong? Both? I don’t know, ask Matt.

What goal do you most want to accomplish in your life?
I just want a fair and peaceful place to live, for me and the rest of the unadjusteds. That’s not so much to ask, is it?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I try not to think too far into the future, not when the world is at stake.

If you could choose, how would you want to die?
I spend too much time thinking about death, but I’ve never considered that. I just want it to be quick. And painless, if possible. And I don’t want to see it coming.

If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left.
Make love to Matt. Spend time with my family and friends, hold them close.

If you were to die and come back as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think it would be, and why?
I’ve always loved my wings. I’d come back as a bird and fly away from it all.

What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death?
I don’t need to be remembered for anything. Just by my friends and family. They know who I am.

What do you have in your pockets or purse?
Acorns

What in on your nightstand?
A picture of my mom. My knife. A lamp. More acorns.

What do you most wear on your feet (dress shoes, boots, gym shoes, socks with holes in them, slippers, etc.)?
Mostly combat boots. They make me feel prepared. At home, I have some furry slippers that keep my feet warm.

What smells do you associate with your childhood, and why?
The chemicals in my parents’ lab. The smell of the forest in the summer. The smelly erasers I used to trade at school. Cherry was my favorite.

If you are cleaning among your things, what is easy for you to throw out? What do you have difficulty parting with? Why?
I’ve never really needed stuff. I just like mementos of people, or pictures so I can keep their faces in my mind. I never took a photo of Joe. But there’s stuff online about him. But it would have been nice to have a photo of him in the woods, or the cave.