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A review by patchworkbunny
Symbiont by Mira Grant
4.0
Tansy’s story is shocking and heart-breaking. Her viewpoints are probably the most powerful parts of this story, even if they are limited. The world Sal now lives in is starting to become very cruel indeed and there’s some hard to swallow scenes. Fishy, new to the scene, is delusional, refusing to accept the apocalypse is really happening and he thinks he’s just inside a video game. In some of the final chapters, this becomes endearing and also made me chuckle in the face of imminent doom.
Without giving too much away, I loved the parts that were set in an abandoned chocolate factory that was kitted out to resemble Wonka’s. Apocalyptic tales are usually full of derelict buildings and a limited colour palette. It’s such fun to put in such a contrasting location. There were others living in a mall that gave a nod to Dawn of the Dead.
The sleepwalkers may not technically be zombies, but Symbiont feels much more like a zombie story than Parasite did. The tapeworms are driven by hunger, and they might nosh down on the healthy, but they are killable and they will starve. There’s a point where, through Sal’s eyes, you start to feel pity towards them. They’re not evil monsters intent on destroying humanity, unlike some people she knows. They are simply confused and starving.
My main gripe about Symbiont that meant it didn’t quite live up to Parasite, was what felt like a lack of editing. There’s a lot of repetition in Sal’s thoughts, going over and over how she has her phobia of cars and it was all SymboGen’s fault. She also keeps telling us how she came to be. If you’re halfway through the second book and haven’t grasped that yet, you’re really not paying attention. I think it would have been a lot stronger book if it were 100 pages shorter.
I’m starting to tire a little of Sal but I love the world and many of the supporting characters. The idea of tapeworms being gender neutral gives Mira Grant a chance to incorporate a trans character. Someone who is trapped inside a female body feeling that they are male. I also loved the dogs continued presence by Sal’s side. Just because it’s the end of the world, doesn’t mean there’s not time for doggy affection.
Without giving too much away, I loved the parts that were set in an abandoned chocolate factory that was kitted out to resemble Wonka’s. Apocalyptic tales are usually full of derelict buildings and a limited colour palette. It’s such fun to put in such a contrasting location. There were others living in a mall that gave a nod to Dawn of the Dead.
The sleepwalkers may not technically be zombies, but Symbiont feels much more like a zombie story than Parasite did. The tapeworms are driven by hunger, and they might nosh down on the healthy, but they are killable and they will starve. There’s a point where, through Sal’s eyes, you start to feel pity towards them. They’re not evil monsters intent on destroying humanity, unlike some people she knows. They are simply confused and starving.
My main gripe about Symbiont that meant it didn’t quite live up to Parasite, was what felt like a lack of editing. There’s a lot of repetition in Sal’s thoughts, going over and over how she has her phobia of cars and it was all SymboGen’s fault. She also keeps telling us how she came to be. If you’re halfway through the second book and haven’t grasped that yet, you’re really not paying attention. I think it would have been a lot stronger book if it were 100 pages shorter.
I’m starting to tire a little of Sal but I love the world and many of the supporting characters. The idea of tapeworms being gender neutral gives Mira Grant a chance to incorporate a trans character. Someone who is trapped inside a female body feeling that they are male. I also loved the dogs continued presence by Sal’s side. Just because it’s the end of the world, doesn’t mean there’s not time for doggy affection.