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kindrameda's review
5.0
I loved everything about this book, from the post apocalyptic vibe, to the coding aspect, to the romance. I literally couldn’t put this book down! Maybe I got a lot out of it because I also code but I thought it was brilliant, and the plot twists were incredible. Also I love a good book with a strong female lead with a female author, and no spoilers but there’s a badass feminist ending to this book that made me so happy.
Can’t wait to finish the next one!
Can’t wait to finish the next one!
idgetfay's review
5.0
I’m so hard to please with books lately, I almost gave this 4 stars until I realized I didn’t have anything bad to say about it. Normally I reserve 5 stars for books I’ll buy and wait in line for the sequel but I don’t really do that anymore now that I live somewhere with a freakin’ awesome library system. Anyway, this checked so many boxes for me. I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cover, probably what attracted me to the book in the first place. I love a plucky female protagonist, I love a good sizzly romance that starts up just a smidgen too quickly to be realistic. I do have a slight complaint about this one though because it seems like maybe if you’re programmed to protect someone your love for them isn’t completely under your control? But that’s part of the quandaries this book brings up. I love that the author touched on a lot of moral and philosophical questions with technology and research. I’m not sure YA is the place to explore those questions effectively, but she respects her readers enough to not shy away from them. While this definitely fell outside the realm of realistic, she took great pains to make sure things made some sort of sense within the structure she created, without filling the book with jargon. The balance, for me, was spot on. This author did her research. Well. Sort of. I was thrilled to discover the book mostly took place around where I grew up, the Black Hills. It’s gorgeous there, and being able to picture it in my mind so vividly because of my familiarity with it was a thrill, but also made it easy for me to nitpick. It’s not that remote, and the mountains aren’t that steep, and, how is there a mile wasteland around Homestake? There’s like a huge pit there and it’s surrounded by mountains. Surely to even know Homestake was there she had to Google enough to know that. But maybe I misinterpreted the description. And I mean it’s the future, so things change. But I digress. I saw two major twists coming, but not until 300 pages into the book, so props for keeping me guessing for that long. Basically this is the best YA I’ve read in a really long time. My biggest complaint is the psycho intelligence of our villain. It’s a bit too much for one man, and his agenda is clearly misguided. He’s got Thanos syndrome. But other than that, a fast-paced and intelligent read.
crankie36's review
4.0
“It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fiiiiine.” – R.E.M
Okay, everything is so, totally, 100% NOT FINE. This god forsaken dystopian novel has ended at the beginning of some mighty-ass adventure story and I’m NOT OKAY. Okay? I have qualms to face with this novel and questions to raise. I have cute guys to fuss over and of course, don’t get me started on the bad guys.
Firstly, before all of that, let me get started on the fact that this book contains some pretty kick-ass characters. Cole is mighty fine and mighty deadly. Dax is mighty fine and mighty smart. Catarina managed to survive three years in the freaking wild with cannibalism and all! (That’s not a spoiler, it happens in like, chapter one.) Okay, I have to admit, this book is a little freaky and filled with cliches. Love at first sight? Check. Love triangle? Check. Some plot twists that I can’t go into because they’ll spoil you for the book? Check.
ALSO! This book has some pretty unexpected table turns! Some of the plot twists in this novel have me questioning WHAT THE HELL I just read. The twists and turns in This Mortal Coil were exceptional, but the plot? And the characterisation? Not so much. I feel as if I’ve been left without much knowledge of the characters I’m supposed to be following. Not to mention, WHY DOES SHE KEEP REFERRING TO THE GOD DAMNED PIGEONS?!
I do not understand. I feel as if there was a large portion of information missing from this novel and I can’t figure out if it was intentional or not. There are some plot holes I’ve found as well, like why didn’t Catarina wander away from where she was? Had a look at the world? There’s no way I would sit around in the same area for THREE FREAKING YEARS and not try and find a way out of the current predicament, but maybe that’s just me. I expect my main characters to be bad-ass, not submissive little shits. Again, maybe that’s just me.
I didn’t hate this novel by any means. I think it didn’t explain a whole lot. I think there were a ton of overused tropes spread throughout. I think that this novel could have been a lot better, but it wasn’t a bad read. As always, I recommend giving this one a read, just don’t enter this world with high expectations and you’ll probably find that you enjoy this novel.
The break down of my rating:
Plot: 6/10
Characterisation: 4/10
Development: 5/10
Style & Tone: 7/10
Enjoyment Factor: 6/10
Okay, everything is so, totally, 100% NOT FINE. This god forsaken dystopian novel has ended at the beginning of some mighty-ass adventure story and I’m NOT OKAY. Okay? I have qualms to face with this novel and questions to raise. I have cute guys to fuss over and of course, don’t get me started on the bad guys.
Firstly, before all of that, let me get started on the fact that this book contains some pretty kick-ass characters. Cole is mighty fine and mighty deadly. Dax is mighty fine and mighty smart. Catarina managed to survive three years in the freaking wild with cannibalism and all! (That’s not a spoiler, it happens in like, chapter one.) Okay, I have to admit, this book is a little freaky and filled with cliches. Love at first sight? Check. Love triangle? Check. Some plot twists that I can’t go into because they’ll spoil you for the book? Check.
ALSO! This book has some pretty unexpected table turns! Some of the plot twists in this novel have me questioning WHAT THE HELL I just read. The twists and turns in This Mortal Coil were exceptional, but the plot? And the characterisation? Not so much. I feel as if I’ve been left without much knowledge of the characters I’m supposed to be following. Not to mention, WHY DOES SHE KEEP REFERRING TO THE GOD DAMNED PIGEONS?!
I do not understand. I feel as if there was a large portion of information missing from this novel and I can’t figure out if it was intentional or not. There are some plot holes I’ve found as well, like why didn’t Catarina wander away from where she was? Had a look at the world? There’s no way I would sit around in the same area for THREE FREAKING YEARS and not try and find a way out of the current predicament, but maybe that’s just me. I expect my main characters to be bad-ass, not submissive little shits. Again, maybe that’s just me.
I didn’t hate this novel by any means. I think it didn’t explain a whole lot. I think there were a ton of overused tropes spread throughout. I think that this novel could have been a lot better, but it wasn’t a bad read. As always, I recommend giving this one a read, just don’t enter this world with high expectations and you’ll probably find that you enjoy this novel.
The break down of my rating:
Plot: 6/10
Characterisation: 4/10
Development: 5/10
Style & Tone: 7/10
Enjoyment Factor: 6/10
brettmichaelorr's review
5.0
A stunning love-letter to YA of yesteryear - explosions, science, non-stop action and plot twists galore.
Incredibly realistic take on gene-editing, with the best and most accurate coding references I’ve ever seen in any fiction, ever.
Amazing. 5/5⭐️
Incredibly realistic take on gene-editing, with the best and most accurate coding references I’ve ever seen in any fiction, ever.
Amazing. 5/5⭐️
fictionallysam's review
5.0
⚠️CONTENT WARNING: This book does contain cannibalism and mild gore.
It's been 2 weeks since I read this story and I still can't get it out of my brain. I am SHOOK. Everything I see brings me back to this story and to these amazing characters. I read this novel as a buddy read with Soph @ Bookwyrming Thoughts and I devoured it in one sitting. I honestly could not get enough of it.
Set in a post apocalyptic world where technology has become one with the human body, This Mortal Coil is a dynamic and inventive story that follows Catarina Agatta, the daughter of the world-renowned genetic coder, Lachlan Agatta. After her Father's capture by the GenTech corporation, Cartaxus, Cat has spent the last three years evading the same fate as her Father and avoiding Hydra, a rapidly mutating virus that when infected can cause those to explode in what are known as "Hydra Plumes". Nothing stays the same however, when a message from her Father reveals that she is the key to creating the vaccine. Sent on a mission to recreate the vaccine, Cat goes on a journey of learning that in a game of cat and mouse, nothing is what is seems.
Right from the first page I was sucked in. This is a fast-paced read that kept me enraptured through every page-- each chapter moved the story along in such away that time flew effortlessly both in the story and in real life. Suvada's writing is as vibrant as it is gruesome as we get to experience this adventure with Catarina and the cast. The way Suvada strings together words and sentences left me emotionally compromised with every plot twist and revelation.
The world building alone is a force to be reckoned with. Interweaving futuristic biotechnology with a post-apocalyptic dystopia, Suvada creates a world that is new and fresh within the Young Adult Science Fiction genre. Though her world building shows the amount of research and time she put into this novel, it never feels overwhelming--each dose of science and information is given at the exact right moment and explained so beautifully that it never leaves the reader confused or overwhelmed.
The characters are A1 Steak sauce folks. From the leads to the supporting cast, each and every character was thoroughly fleshed out and so multi dimensional that it made everything that much more realistic feeling. Suvada built the characters in such a way that the plot and the cast are one force--with each passing page another memory or dimension is built. By the end of the novel, I not only was able to empathize with the protagonists, but also with the antagonists. I understood their motives, I could see why they were doing what they were trying to do. I felt the emotions they did with every action, with every justification, and with every revelation. Because of these beautifully created characters, I was left stunned at every single climax and plot twist; my heart broke more times than I like to recall by the hands of these individuals--especially Cat and Cole.
I AM TRASH FOR CATARINA AGATTA. My soul jumped and leaped for her as she went through every obstacle that this world brought to her. The story is told in her narrative, and her heart for humanity is what won me over for her. She is headstrong, fierce, and one of the most brilliant minds I have gotten the chance to waddle into in a while.
This book takes a focus and hones in on the philosophical question of what exactly is morality? And how choices and views of what good and evil is are various from person to person. Who deems something wrong? And is it still wrong if it is for the benefit of the masses? We see our main characters, Cat and Cole, struggle with these ideologies throughout, navigating through them and figuring out for themselves what they believe to be is true. By the end of the book you are left wondering these same question about our own world--who decides what is right and wrong, and why do we believe them to be true?
Absolutely ducking nothing.
This Mortal Coil shattered my heart and blew me away in the best ways possible. I literally could go on and on about this novel and never get tired of it. I honestly recommend this story to anyone who love science fiction or to anyone who is in the mood for a gripping, heart-racing story. You will not be disappointed.
It's been 2 weeks since I read this story and I still can't get it out of my brain. I am SHOOK. Everything I see brings me back to this story and to these amazing characters. I read this novel as a buddy read with Soph @ Bookwyrming Thoughts and I devoured it in one sitting. I honestly could not get enough of it.
"The word was here before I was born, and it will be keep spinning after I am dead. The universe is continuous; I am the anomaly. I am the thread that begins and ends, the flame that sputters out. A chance collection of proteins and molecules that perpetuates itself, bound by the electric fire of my mind."
Set in a post apocalyptic world where technology has become one with the human body, This Mortal Coil is a dynamic and inventive story that follows Catarina Agatta, the daughter of the world-renowned genetic coder, Lachlan Agatta. After her Father's capture by the GenTech corporation, Cartaxus, Cat has spent the last three years evading the same fate as her Father and avoiding Hydra, a rapidly mutating virus that when infected can cause those to explode in what are known as "Hydra Plumes". Nothing stays the same however, when a message from her Father reveals that she is the key to creating the vaccine. Sent on a mission to recreate the vaccine, Cat goes on a journey of learning that in a game of cat and mouse, nothing is what is seems.
Right from the first page I was sucked in. This is a fast-paced read that kept me enraptured through every page-- each chapter moved the story along in such away that time flew effortlessly both in the story and in real life. Suvada's writing is as vibrant as it is gruesome as we get to experience this adventure with Catarina and the cast. The way Suvada strings together words and sentences left me emotionally compromised with every plot twist and revelation.
The world building alone is a force to be reckoned with. Interweaving futuristic biotechnology with a post-apocalyptic dystopia, Suvada creates a world that is new and fresh within the Young Adult Science Fiction genre. Though her world building shows the amount of research and time she put into this novel, it never feels overwhelming--each dose of science and information is given at the exact right moment and explained so beautifully that it never leaves the reader confused or overwhelmed.
“There’s no such thing quite as dangerous as an Agatta’s best intentions.”
The characters are A1 Steak sauce folks. From the leads to the supporting cast, each and every character was thoroughly fleshed out and so multi dimensional that it made everything that much more realistic feeling. Suvada built the characters in such a way that the plot and the cast are one force--with each passing page another memory or dimension is built. By the end of the novel, I not only was able to empathize with the protagonists, but also with the antagonists. I understood their motives, I could see why they were doing what they were trying to do. I felt the emotions they did with every action, with every justification, and with every revelation. Because of these beautifully created characters, I was left stunned at every single climax and plot twist; my heart broke more times than I like to recall by the hands of these individuals--especially Cat and Cole.
I AM TRASH FOR CATARINA AGATTA. My soul jumped and leaped for her as she went through every obstacle that this world brought to her. The story is told in her narrative, and her heart for humanity is what won me over for her. She is headstrong, fierce, and one of the most brilliant minds I have gotten the chance to waddle into in a while.
“There’s no such thing as right anymore - that ended when the plaque hit. Sometimes we need to do awful things to stop worse things from happening... this is war, and the rules have changes”
This book takes a focus and hones in on the philosophical question of what exactly is morality? And how choices and views of what good and evil is are various from person to person. Who deems something wrong? And is it still wrong if it is for the benefit of the masses? We see our main characters, Cat and Cole, struggle with these ideologies throughout, navigating through them and figuring out for themselves what they believe to be is true. By the end of the book you are left wondering these same question about our own world--who decides what is right and wrong, and why do we believe them to be true?
Absolutely ducking nothing.
This Mortal Coil shattered my heart and blew me away in the best ways possible. I literally could go on and on about this novel and never get tired of it. I honestly recommend this story to anyone who love science fiction or to anyone who is in the mood for a gripping, heart-racing story. You will not be disappointed.
_camk_'s review
3.0
3.5 stars.
First things first - if you're going to read this book. Be prepared to read this book. It's not one that you plan to read just before bed that you fall asleep too but then you be lost.
There is so much going on, there is constantly new terms and logic in relation to DNA, genomes, etc to get your head around. It's really interesting.
I liked the concept and the world building. I just wasn't a massive fan of the plot twist that drives the last 3/4 of the story. The characters were a bit bland - I did like Cat, she was brave and cool in her own way. There some good lines between Cat and Cole at the beginning that made me think there would be decent banter between the two but it turns out I was wrong. Cole is a dull character.
First things first - if you're going to read this book. Be prepared to read this book. It's not one that you plan to read just before bed that you fall asleep too but then you be lost.
There is so much going on, there is constantly new terms and logic in relation to DNA, genomes, etc to get your head around. It's really interesting.
I liked the concept and the world building. I just wasn't a massive fan of the plot twist that drives the last 3/4 of the story. The characters were a bit bland - I did like Cat, she was brave and cool in her own way. There some good lines between Cat and Cole at the beginning that made me think there would be decent banter between the two but it turns out I was wrong. Cole is a dull character.
twhittie's review
3.0
This was fast-paced, but so crammed full of genetic coding stuff that it lost me a few times. It was like the author tried to shove all this sci-fi genetic possibilities in my face and kept making it weirder and weirder as the story went on. There was a twist at the end I didn't see coming, so that was good. I'm intrigued enough that I think I'll check out the next in this series, if I remember.
roomb31's review
3.0
What the book delivers in world building and concept it loses in cheap drama & lazy dialogue. I stayed for the overlaying ideas and creative dystopia, but I cringe at almost all the conversation.
charvi_not_just_fiction's review
5.0
holy shit the way i devoured this book!!! i was legit high on it
billblume's review
5.0
This is one of my top three reads of the year. In fact, it’s probably my favorite YA novel this year. Emily Suvada has crafted a well-written thrill ride that subverts a lot of tropes. It’s an intelligent sci-fi conspiracy thriller.
The world-building is brilliantly executed. This Mortal Coil is The Walking Dead meets Jason Bourne sprinkled with a sci-fi twist on Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Emily Suvada manages to take all the best parts of those stories and creates an amazing look at what our world would be like if we could tweak our bodies to our every whim.
The book challenges the reader with a lot of questions that are all born from how much genetics dictates who and what we are and will become. Just as important, should we be allowed to tinker with what nature has made us.
The biggest praise I can give This Mortal Coil is that it’s the kind of book I want to shove into other people’s hands so they’ll read it.
The world-building is brilliantly executed. This Mortal Coil is The Walking Dead meets Jason Bourne sprinkled with a sci-fi twist on Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Emily Suvada manages to take all the best parts of those stories and creates an amazing look at what our world would be like if we could tweak our bodies to our every whim.
The book challenges the reader with a lot of questions that are all born from how much genetics dictates who and what we are and will become. Just as important, should we be allowed to tinker with what nature has made us.
The biggest praise I can give This Mortal Coil is that it’s the kind of book I want to shove into other people’s hands so they’ll read it.