Connor is the son of a powerful politician who is scheduled to be unwound due to his genetic imperfections. He escapes from his family's home and joins forces with Risa, a ward of the state who has been targeted for unwinding because she is considered a troublemaker. Lev is a tithe, a young man who has been raised for the sole purpose of being unwound. He escapes from his scheduled unwinding and joins Connor and Risa on their journey to find freedom and safety.
As the novel progresses, the conflict between the characters and the government escalates. Connor, Risa, and Lev become symbols of resistance to the unwinding process, and they attract a following of other unwinds and dissidents. They form an underground movement called the Unwind Resistance, and they fight to expose the truth about unwinding and to end the practice.
The conflict in _Unwind_ raises questions about the value of human life, the ethics of organ harvesting, and the role of government in controlling the lives of its citizens. It is a thought-provoking and suspenseful exploration of a dystopian world where human lives are commodified and discarded.