Scan barcode
A review by fae713
Parasite by Mira Grant
5.0
Parasite is set in the near future, just over one decade from now in 2027. It is, for all intents and purposes, another take on a possible zombie-scenario, only this time using genetically modified parasites where the original organisms already are known to be able to alter the behavior of their host. I like this idea because it seems even more plausible than the Kellis-Amberly virus from the News Feed trilogy.
The characters are pretty well done, especially given that there are only the possible sources for finding out information about them: Sal's storytelling, or the notes/excerpts that start each chapter. Because of the limited viewpoints some of the characters do seem a little flat. However, I personally feel that it is clear based on how well the characters that Sal spent the most time with and had developed a strong, positive (mostly) emotional attachment with are developed that any flat appearing characters are due to the limits of single focus narration. I feel that the fact that we saw "one dimensional" characters from Sal's pov actually helped to give me a far greater understanding of how far along in her recovery Sal was rather than anything else.
I won't lie though, my favorite character is Beverly, one of the sweetest dogs ever. I feel bad for my husband and the puddle of sniffling wife he'll have to figure out how to console if anything happens to her in the next book or two.
The only thing about the entire storytelling aspect that disappointed me was that I had been waiting the whole book to see the reaction to what had to be the big reveal and never got that. The big reveal happened on the very last page, but I had already known what it was for the majority of the book and so I was disappointed that there was nothing further there. I suppose I can understand from the writer standpoint of finishing on a cliffhanger bit, but Oy! How long do we have to wait for the next part?!
The characters are pretty well done, especially given that there are only the possible sources for finding out information about them: Sal's storytelling, or the notes/excerpts that start each chapter. Because of the limited viewpoints some of the characters do seem a little flat. However, I personally feel that it is clear based on how well the characters that Sal spent the most time with and had developed a strong, positive (mostly) emotional attachment with are developed that any flat appearing characters are due to the limits of single focus narration. I feel that the fact that we saw "one dimensional" characters from Sal's pov actually helped to give me a far greater understanding of how far along in her recovery Sal was rather than anything else.
I won't lie though, my favorite character is Beverly, one of the sweetest dogs ever. I feel bad for my husband and the puddle of sniffling wife he'll have to figure out how to console if anything happens to her in the next book or two.
The only thing about the entire storytelling aspect that disappointed me was that I had been waiting the whole book to see the reaction to what had to be the big reveal and never got that. The big reveal happened on the very last page, but I had already known what it was for the majority of the book and so I was disappointed that there was nothing further there. I suppose I can understand from the writer standpoint of finishing on a cliffhanger bit, but Oy! How long do we have to wait for the next part?!