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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
This was such a crazy book, but I loved every page of it. So many twists and turns and crazy confusing DNA genetic science, but it worked so well together. Can’t wait for the follow up!
This one would have passed me by if not for Liz at Liz Loves Books mentioning it. I loved this one! It is packed full of action, has great characters and a really interesting story. There’s a lot of technological stuff, like coding and DNA modifications and so on, but it wasn’t hard to get into it. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hmm pretty meh. The concept was really interesting but it was just a bit silly. The whole conflict within yourself was annoying. And I didn't find any of the characters likeable (except Agnes, and she disappeared and was never mentioned again). And Cat kept repeating things in her inner monologue she said like 3 sentences ago. All the arguments were so pointless, like just get over it please. And I know Cole was familiar because of the "past self" thing but really. Why was she basically in love when they'd only known each other for a day?
(And of course the dad didn't die...)
WOW. wowwowwowwow - new favorite sci fi! So many science concepts seamlessly incorporated with an incredible plot, intriguing twists, and stimulating ethical dilemmas. I can't wait to read the sequel! Highly recommend to any and all nerds.
Wow! I enjoyed this first book. I must say I was not expecting the villain.
The best way to describe this book is as a post apocalyptic cyberpunk. Everyone has these silicon panels in their arms that are grown inside them that can do everything from cure the flu to make your skin blue via different downloaded apps that send nanites through your body. There is a huge conglomerate, Cartaxus, that created the tech and most of the apps. The book starts at the outset of the big plague where people get sick and eventually explode sending the virus out to anyone nearby. It also sends non infected people into the Wrath where they lose control and become super violent and eat people. This was revealed on page ten and I was just like omg wtf?! Its great. Next chapter is 2 years later. Cartaxus is now world corporation and government. Most people still alive live in bunkers created by them though there are those that live on the surface who resist Cartaxus control. The book follows Cat who is the daughter of the guy trying to make a vaccine for the plague. She also doesn't live in the bunkers because she has a disorder that most apps would kill her and the forced panel wipe that Cartaxus does to ensure you only have Cartaxus apps would kill her. She finds out he is dead and is tasked with finishing what he started. The beginning hooked me with the Wrath induced cannibalism and it just gets more wild from there. It's a crazy ride with lots of twists and turns.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
A fun, fast-paced sci-fi with a terrifying virus plague - I mean, it spreads by literally EXPLODING its host in a mini mushroom cloud of virulent smoke. & the only way to obtain temporary immunity is to EAT THE FLESH OF THOSE ALREADY INFECTED. Like???
Content Warning: Cannibalism, Gore, Plague/Illness, Violence, Human Experimentation
Part of the reason I gave a lower rating to this book is because of the brutal depictions of injury and overall gore. I am extremely squeamish and was not expecting this much gore in the novel; I think it was made worse by the fact that I did listen to the audiobook.
This book had such an amazing premise - a virus that causes people to blow up, and when in the second stage people are brought to madness and must murder to gain immunity to the virus? Coding and genetic enhancements? Badass female character who loses her father? Dope! Unfortunately, I felt that the novel had missed the mark. I still enjoyed it, but it did not really meet my expectations.
One of my biggest gripes with this book was the romance. Maybe it's because I'm just tired of the insta-love trope in YA novels, but there was no reason for the romance subplot. I felt like Cat and Cole went from sort of enemies to lovers way too quickly and I felt like there was no real reason for the romantic aspect of their relationship. There was this weird love square relationship with Cat, Jun Bei, Cole, and Dax, but it all gets resolved easily which is kind of annoying. Catarina even mentions potentially being in love with Cole, when they've known each other for less than a week I believe. Just not realistic. I think the romance took up too much time that could've been dedicated to the relationship between Lachlan and Catarina, because that seemed like an important aspect of the novel, especially with some of those plot twists.
The plot twists, by the way, were great. I saw a few reviews talking about "That Plot Twist" and wasn't sure which one it was because there were a lot, but once I figured out which one they were talking about I totally understood. I just felt like some of this stuff, especially the last 20% of the book, could have just been part of the next book.
Also, the narration was really weird. Many people mentioned the narrator having monotonous voices for all the characters, making it hard to figure out who was speaking (or in Cat's case, when she was speaking and when she was thinking) and also her mispronunciation of words. I get that she's British, but she's using an "American accent" - maybe use the pronunciation that Americans do? Another reviewer mentions the narrator's pronunciation of Leoben as "Loban" and that confused me a lot because Cole called him Lee throughout the novel and I had no idea why he was calling him Lee if his name was Loban (I assumed his name was something like Loban Lee or Lee Loban, but no it was Leoban) and this just really frustrated me for some reason.
Catarina also had this sort of complex were she felt that everything was her fault and she felt guilt for things that she didn't really need to be guilty about. That got old quick. The more I think about this book for my review the more I realize it wasn't really a favorite for me.
I'll likely continue with this series because I want to find out what happens next, but part of me is unsure of if I will read the next book because I was unhappy with the way things were handled in the book.
Part of the reason I gave a lower rating to this book is because of the brutal depictions of injury and overall gore. I am extremely squeamish and was not expecting this much gore in the novel; I think it was made worse by the fact that I did listen to the audiobook.
This book had such an amazing premise - a virus that causes people to blow up, and when in the second stage people are brought to madness and must murder to gain immunity to the virus? Coding and genetic enhancements? Badass female character who loses her father? Dope! Unfortunately, I felt that the novel had missed the mark. I still enjoyed it, but it did not really meet my expectations.
One of my biggest gripes with this book was the romance. Maybe it's because I'm just tired of the insta-love trope in YA novels, but there was no reason for the romance subplot. I felt like Cat and Cole went from sort of enemies to lovers way too quickly
Spoiler
(though once we learn that Cat is apparently Jun Bei - who Cole was in love with before - it makes the instalove a little more understandable, but it was still way too much)The plot twists, by the way, were great. I saw a few reviews talking about "That Plot Twist" and wasn't sure which one it was because there were a lot, but once I figured out which one they were talking about I totally understood.
Spoiler
At first I thought the plot twist was that the Skies were sort of like the bad guys, because they kind of made Novak seem like a villain for a while, but learning that Cat is Jun Bei was the major plot twist. The others, like her surviving the decryption, and Lachlan not actually dying (the first time) were easy to detect.Also, the narration was really weird. Many people mentioned the narrator having monotonous voices for all the characters, making it hard to figure out who was speaking (or in Cat's case, when she was speaking and when she was thinking) and also her mispronunciation of words. I get that she's British, but she's using an "American accent" - maybe use the pronunciation that Americans do? Another reviewer mentions the narrator's pronunciation of Leoben as "Loban" and that confused me a lot because Cole called him Lee throughout the novel and I had no idea why he was calling him Lee if his name was Loban (I assumed his name was something like Loban Lee or Lee Loban, but no it was Leoban) and this just really frustrated me for some reason.
Catarina also had this sort of complex were she felt that everything was her fault and she felt guilt for things that she didn't really need to be guilty about. That got old quick. The more I think about this book for my review the more I realize it wasn't really a favorite for me.
I'll likely continue with this series because I want to find out what happens next, but part of me is unsure of if I will read the next book because I was unhappy with the way things were handled in the book.