Reviews

This Vicious Cure by Emily Suvada

idgetfay's review against another edition

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3.0

This series started out amazing for me, but I must say my passion for it has fizzled a little. I think since it had been a while since reading the first two I went in a little bit confused. A lot of things came back, but not quite enough, and I was just a step or two behind for the entire book. My complaints about this book are the same complaints I have with a lot of YA science fiction: where are the adults? It seemed so unrealistic that a bunch of teenagers were the heroes and the only adults doing anything were villains. This book, like a lot of others in the genre, seems to rely on breakneck pacing, relentless ‘twists’ and just crazy science. I started to grow weary of endless betrayals and forgiveness. I raised my eyebrows at high-action moments that just rolled right into the next one without dealing with any consequences. For example, a character will realize they desperately need rest or need to eat, or they will be injured and need to find medical care, and then the next big thing will happen and they just keep truckin’ along without really taking care of those needs. Basically every character in this book should have been dead by the halfway point. The science was my favorite thing, because the premise/framework was so unique to me. Genetics and coding were very cool to read about, but it felt more like magic than science. It just didn’t have any real limits. Any character in a bind could easily come up with some crazy sciencey thing at just the right time. I think this would have been a fun series to read back-to-back once all the books were out. For me each book held less appeal than the last, and I think part of that was due to forgetting things between each book.

charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition

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5.0

My brain is so scrambled but this was everything I ever wanted

billblume's review against another edition

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5.0

Emily has delivered a brilliant conclusion to this trilogy. This book contains so many twists, and perhaps the best part of those twists is how she makes them a natural progression within the story and not a forced turn.

This book splits time between Jun Bei and Catarina. It’s interesting to see the world through Jun Bei’s eyes and how it differs from Catarina’s perspective.

Perhaps the most startling thing in this book is how Lachlan, who was the big villain of the first book, turns out to not be the threat he originally appeared. Rather, Lachlan turns out to be a pawn in a much larger game.

I’ve loved this series from the start, and I can’t wait to read whatever Emily does next.

lookingforamandaa's review against another edition

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5.0

This Vicious Cure was an excellent finale to a series that I’ve recently decided is a new all-time favorite. I loved everything about it. The characters, the plot, the writing. I’m blown away by Suvada’s storytelling ability.
In this final installment, we follow June Bei and Catarina in their own chapters. I thought this was the perfect way to tell the story. At the end of book two, we’re left wondering what’s happened to both girls and the finale being told this way gives us the answers. I loved that they both have their own different missions and even if they don’t know or are not communicating with one another they are eventually working toward the same thing. It was honestly hard to like June Bei at times. She makes choices I don’t like or agree with but comes around to do the right thing eventually. While Catarina is working toward fixing what June Bei has done the whole time.
So much happens that I honestly don’t even know what to say about all of the supporting characters. I would have liked to see more of Dax, but I still really enjoyed getting to know the rest of the kids that June Bei grew up within the lab. We meet the final one and reunite with Anna. There were secrets exposed and they all blew me away.
Overall, this book was everything I wanted. I definitely want everyone to read this series. So, stop what you’re doing and go pick it up right now.

livinglifeliterary's review against another edition

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2.0

This is so sad but I just....didn't care :( the charm of the first two books wore off and most of it is in part to Jun Bei.

sumeeradealwis's review against another edition

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5.0

HOLY SHIT. That finale tho. I was HOOKED. The switching pov, Caterina, tHe ENDIHN?!?! I was kinda hoping her and cole would be back to normal by the end but ya can’t have everything! I’m not even coherent enough to to right a proper review, i’m so bloody tired but godammn it was a wonderful ending!!

booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition

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5.0

Love love love. This wild ride was perfection from start to finish. I just love this series so much.

This book takes the bombshells dealt in the last two books and just keeps them coming - you think you have solid ground under your feet? Ha. Foolish reader. That is one of the many things I love so much about this series, it is so fast paced and adrenaline fuelled, with twists and turns aplenty.

Cat continues to be a bad ass main character, even without access to her body, and folding in Jun Bei worked so well for me.

I’m not going to lie - in places this is even more outlandish than I was expecting, but honestly? You already know if that’s something you mind by reading the first two books. I definitely didn’t mind :D

There’s no way to discuss this without major spoilers but in case my rave didn’t clue you in - I love this series. It’s just so good, so clever and brilliant. Read it.

jhurl's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
 
The 'novelty' of the created world has worn off a bit so I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one.  Still I like the strong female characters.  

The intricacies of the Panacea, gene tech, vaccines get a bit complicated and convoluted.  Surprised to learn that the Hydra virous they are trying to make a vaccine for is actually the key technology of the gene technology that everyone wears.  Also that Agnes (aka 'Viper') - Catarina's only friend and neighbor growing up - is behind it all.  Catarina is also Jun Bei's sister and has the 'vector' gift, which means her genes can take over a whole body and so it becomes the solution for hydra vaccine because you can't kill the hydra virus if your body is using it to run - or some sort of convulted logic like that unfolds throughout the book as June Bei and Catarina figure it out.  There are also growing number of lurkers, civilian uprising, cooperation and double crossing with Cartaxus. Jun Bei deletes the Panacea and kills Mato as she realizes that it would be used for evil and not good.  In the end, they all have to be together for some reason and June Bei uses Catarina's vector to create a new virus - Yeah!  In the process, the separation between June Bei and Catarina's brain breaks down and the next thing we know Lachlan has finished the surgery to give Catarina (his daughter) a body of her own.  June Bei runs off and then sends a flock of happy birds to let them know she is OK on Hawaii.    Ok, you get the idea... 
 

lmskikun's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

readabookorfive's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5/5

Honestly I never say this but I was hoping she’d take a risk and kill someone off