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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Immediate reaction: This was one of my most anticipated books bc I LOVED her vengeance road duology. I think my disappointment can be summed up with the word "predictable". I love sci fi but the start of this book was like the start of a bad sci fi movie. You know exactly whats going to happen - somebody is really stupid and makes stupid decisions and the whole time you're sitting there yelling NO WHY. And the plot moved forward because of more stupid decisions and that's just the worst. However the action was good and the premise for what may happen in the rest of the series is really intriguing though.
My Thoughts:
So this was one of my top anticipated books of 2018! I really loved Erin Bowman's Vengeance Road and Retribution Rails so I was psyched to find out she was coming out with a sci fi!
Unfortunately... I was really let down! You know when you're watching a bad movie and everyone is just making bad decisions left and right and you're sitting there thinking of COURSE you're going to do that. Like the scary movie when the main character is like "we should split up and keep going into the deep dark words instead of turning back". Everyone knows it's a bad idea and it happens anyway but if it doesn't happen, the whole movie doesn't really happen? That's pretty much this book. So, so many bad decisions made and that's how the plot moves forward -- from one bad choice to the next. It drove me bonkers and on top of which, it just makes things really predictable.
The last bit of the book is where things pick up. The action is really good and it kept me riveted. I was totally picturing this play out like a movie in my head. I think what has me interested in continuing with the series is where things left off. I think it sets things up for a really interesting premise for the following book. It seems like it would be more unique, less bad decision driven, therefore less frustrating, at least for me. So I'm definitely interested in the sequel! I just wish the plot in this one had gone forward a bit differently.
In Short...
I was definitely disappointed in what was a really anticipated new release this year but the world and set up for the next book has me intrigued. When things picked up in the second half of Contagion, the action kept me glued to the pages. The downside is how predictable it was leading up to everything and how frustrating it was to see things move forward due to classically bad choices. If you like YA sci fi though, I'd give this a chance, especially if you like movies like Alien and The Thing. It gave me a lot of vibes from those two movies!
My Thoughts:
So this was one of my top anticipated books of 2018! I really loved Erin Bowman's Vengeance Road and Retribution Rails so I was psyched to find out she was coming out with a sci fi!
Unfortunately... I was really let down! You know when you're watching a bad movie and everyone is just making bad decisions left and right and you're sitting there thinking of COURSE you're going to do that. Like the scary movie when the main character is like "we should split up and keep going into the deep dark words instead of turning back". Everyone knows it's a bad idea and it happens anyway but if it doesn't happen, the whole movie doesn't really happen? That's pretty much this book. So, so many bad decisions made and that's how the plot moves forward -- from one bad choice to the next. It drove me bonkers and on top of which, it just makes things really predictable.
The last bit of the book is where things pick up. The action is really good and it kept me riveted. I was totally picturing this play out like a movie in my head. I think what has me interested in continuing with the series is where things left off. I think it sets things up for a really interesting premise for the following book. It seems like it would be more unique, less bad decision driven, therefore less frustrating, at least for me. So I'm definitely interested in the sequel! I just wish the plot in this one had gone forward a bit differently.
In Short...
I was definitely disappointed in what was a really anticipated new release this year but the world and set up for the next book has me intrigued. When things picked up in the second half of Contagion, the action kept me glued to the pages. The downside is how predictable it was leading up to everything and how frustrating it was to see things move forward due to classically bad choices. If you like YA sci fi though, I'd give this a chance, especially if you like movies like Alien and The Thing. It gave me a lot of vibes from those two movies!
A thrilling YA sci-fi where a small crew were sent for a search and rescue after an SOS call was made at an uinhabitable planet. A company had sent a drilling crew to find resources, but instead they found something else instead. Something that takes over a person's body. There are those who are hidding secrets while others are just trying to survive. A great action packed read. The writing could use some improvement, but I really enjoyed the story.
I liked this book, but it was a bit too political for me in the end. I don't know if I'll pick up the sequel either, since I think the main focus won't be the infection- but politics. I liked the writing well enough, though some of the characters had sudden (and convenient) attitude changes, which detracted from the book IMO.
A very quick read, this book follows a mismatched team who goes out to investigate a distress call from a team on another planet. When they arrive, they quickly realize they're in over their heads as a virus or something more sinister has infected the crew.
The book started off a bit slow, but eventually picked up. I read it quickly and it was certainly a page turner. I found my mind wandering from time to time but enjoyed the ending and resolution.
The book started off a bit slow, but eventually picked up. I read it quickly and it was certainly a page turner. I found my mind wandering from time to time but enjoyed the ending and resolution.
I think this was closer to a 4.5 for me, but I loved this. It’s a perfect blend of sci-fi and horror. I was on the edge of my seat the entire way through this. I didn’t know who to trust or what their intentions were. Some reviews have said the different POVs make it hard to get to know the characters, but I think that’s the point. The constant shift made you suspicious of everyone because you were getting multiple perspectives. It also kept you from learning too much at once by constantly changing POV.
I really liked the character dynamics and learning little tidbits over the course of the book. Everyone’s motivations are so interesting and the plot was perfectly paced. I haven’t read a lot of stories like this, but it was a good mashup of Alien and Illuminae. It had everything: a government conspiracy, shady characters, superhuman abilities. I really loved how fast paced this story was, I didn’t want to stop reading. I can’t wait to read the sequel because that CLIFFHANGER!!
I really liked the character dynamics and learning little tidbits over the course of the book. Everyone’s motivations are so interesting and the plot was perfectly paced. I haven’t read a lot of stories like this, but it was a good mashup of Alien and Illuminae. It had everything: a government conspiracy, shady characters, superhuman abilities. I really loved how fast paced this story was, I didn’t want to stop reading. I can’t wait to read the sequel because that CLIFFHANGER!!
This was not what I expected. I anticipated more horror, but it was just a good sci-fi novel. I’d recommend it.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Settings/Atmosphere: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Connection: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Connection: 5/5
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical content
Okay, so after I read the author's note, I feel a little guilty not liking this book because it's clear that this author really loved this world, but to me, this was just a zombie book. Yes, it took place in space, but only like a month ago, I saw the movie "Last Days on Mars," and the similarities between the two space zombie stories were surprising, especially the whole 'zombies are intelligent' part. This is way better than that though, let's be real.
As a zombie book goes, this isn't terrible, but it doesn't hold a candle to the masters in the genre, like Rot & Ruin or World War Z. The characters in Contagion are introduced too rapidly to understand or care about any of them, and there are way too many (this issue appears over and over, especially in zombie books, so the author has fodder to throw at the horde; after I realized I couldn't differentiate between any of the guys, I also realized that they were all dead). On top of that, the space part of the story is built unconvincingly. It has no wonder. And the entire ending of the story hinges on a space political conspiracy theory that was introduced about 33-40% way through and not really touched on after. Maybe if the book had spent more time with the sci-fi aspect of it, or if the author had written the setting more convincingly, this could've been fixed.
Also, foreshadowing is done fairly well, but when it comes to fruition, the author sort of bashes you on the head with it--like look, this is what this meant before! It's fine to do it once or twice, but for every single time? For instance, as I was reading later in the book, I thought back to when Coen had said that he could knock the stun gun out of her hand before she could shoot him, I was like "Ohhhh, I get it now," but then about a dozen pages later, the author made that thought flash through Thea and I just kind of rolled my eyes. It's frustrating, because it makes thinking back on the book worthless. I know everything there is to figure out because the author blatantly told me.
I read through this so quickly because I've been reading really challenging stuff recently and I wanted a quick read and a bit of a scare. Delivered on both fronts, so I'm not really complaining. As a book, 2.5/5 stars, rounded down
As a zombie book goes, this isn't terrible, but it doesn't hold a candle to the masters in the genre, like Rot & Ruin or World War Z. The characters in Contagion are introduced too rapidly to understand or care about any of them, and there are way too many (this issue appears over and over, especially in zombie books, so the author has fodder to throw at the horde; after I realized I couldn't differentiate between any of the guys, I also realized that they were all dead). On top of that, the space part of the story is built unconvincingly. It has no wonder. And the entire ending of the story hinges on a space political conspiracy theory that was introduced about 33-40% way through and not really touched on after. Maybe if the book had spent more time with the sci-fi aspect of it, or if the author had written the setting more convincingly, this could've been fixed.
Also, foreshadowing is done fairly well, but when it comes to fruition, the author sort of bashes you on the head with it--like look, this is what this meant before! It's fine to do it once or twice, but for every single time? For instance, as I was reading later in the book, I thought back to when Coen had said that he could knock the stun gun out of her hand before she could shoot him, I was like "Ohhhh, I get it now," but then about a dozen pages later, the author made that thought flash through Thea and I just kind of rolled my eyes. It's frustrating, because it makes thinking back on the book worthless. I know everything there is to figure out because the author blatantly told me.
I read through this so quickly because I've been reading really challenging stuff recently and I wanted a quick read and a bit of a scare. Delivered on both fronts, so I'm not really complaining. As a book, 2.5/5 stars, rounded down