Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Pulse for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
432 Pages
Synopsis: Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius.
That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.
When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race.
Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself?
Mortal Coil is an original, inventive, and highly entertaining beginning to a new YA dystopian series, that checks off all the right boxes.
I’ve read a ton of post-apocalyptic books where the plot is centered on some sort of deadly plague which has wiped out most of humanity, leaving zombie-like creatures, survivors desperately trying to save the world, and opportunistic villains who either caused the calamity to begin with, or who are now trying to exploit it. While this novel follows this formula, it also deviates into something different and refreshing.
First, although this is science fiction, Emily Suvada makes the events that transpire believable. I think I’ve mentioned before that I do not have a scientific mind, so with all the DNA sequencing, gene hacking, computer coding and nano-technology that’s in this story, it would have been all too easy for someone like me to get lost. Instead, Suvada provides an understandable explanation for everything, and she accomplishes this without slowing the story down.
What also adds to the authenticity are the characters. Each of them are well-rounded and came across as realistic individuals, which allowed me to become fully invested in them and the increasingly dangerous situations they found themselves in. There’s a semi love triangle that happens, but there’s so much action going on that I didn’t find it nearly as annoying as I usually do in YA books.
There are also quite a few twists and turns, some of which I guessed, but there was one in particular that took me completely by surprise. These helped move the story along even more quickly and I wound up finishing this in two sittings.
This Mortal Coil is definitely one of my favorite science fiction reads of 2017. By the time I was halfway through the story I was already thinking of my dream cast if this is ever adapted for film or tv. I would caution though that it’s quite graphic. For example: people explode, hence the cover. Because of this I recommend the book for older teens and adults. With a kick-ass heroine and fantastic world-building, this is sure to have wide appeal. It’s the first book in a planned trilogy, so I can’t wait to see what the second book has in store!
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Definitely going to my TBR! An understandable Sci-Fi is so rare to find and I guess this works that way. I love graphic descriptions, too, even if people are exploding…oops! SO this one sounds like my cups of tea 😀
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Awesome! I didn’t mind the graphic scenes myself, but I thought I’d better put in the warning in case anyone has a squeamish stomach.🤢
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You did that right! 🙂
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Okay: post apocalyptic genre, check. Plagues, check. Why check? Well these are things that I love to read. This book really sounds absolutely awesome. Definitely want to check this one out. Don’t really mind the graphic aspects, considering I watch the walking Dead, I’m prepared for pretty much anything. Fantastic review Kim, really want to read this one! 😀
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Thanks Michel! I think you should definitely “check” this out!😁
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Lol: I will definitely do that 😉 My to read list has ready been updated 😂😂
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👍🏻👍🏻
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Love your review and this is right up my alley so it’s going on my TBR list.
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Thanks Lelia! I hope you enjoy it.😊
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I like the sound of this one, I can think of a few people I’d program to explode 😊
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Hahaha! Same here Fraggle.😈
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Back with a bang after your break, Kim! This looks like a good one, and I am glad that you enjoyed it so much.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete. I’m still taking a bit of a break but I hadn’t posted a review in ten days and was feeling rather guilty.
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Never feel guilty! 🙂
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I’m glad this was way more original than the plot originally let know! It’s awesome when a story surprises us 🙂 And to call it one your favorites of the year is quite the achievement!
Wondeful review, Kim ❤
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Thanks Sophie. It was a nice surprise.😊
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Thanks for the mindful review, Kim. I would have put the book down at the first indication of yet another zombie. But you made it sound interesting and worth reading. Have a thriving Thursday!
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Thanks Teagan.This definitely wasn’t your typical zombie story.😊
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I had no idea that people explode in this one (although I’ve seen the book). That kind of reminds me of Joe Hill’s The Fireman, with people who spontaneously combust. I will have to look into this one some more. It’s already on my to-read list!
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It’s a different kind of virus than the one in The Fireman, but the results are definitely the same.😒
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Excellent review Kim! I’m happy this one was a winner.
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Thanks Sophie!🤗
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Love your review, Kim! I’m so glad you loved this book as much as I did! It was really a great YA sci-fi read. That ending though, I didn’t see that coming too. I really can’t wait to read the next book.
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That was a shocker!😱
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Firstly, I really like the name and cover. Secondly this sounds like it was done really well and I’m glad it had some great twists! Really sounds worth checking out. Awesome review!
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I think you might like this one.😊
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Great! 😊
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AHHHHH! I keep pushing this one down my TBR list, damn it!😆Looks like I’m going to have to bump it up because your review was fabulous and I can’t wait to read it now. Thanks so much for the awesome review!
Hope you have a wonderful and safe Happy New Year!
-Helena 💋 xoxo
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Thank you so much Helena! You definitely need to read this ASAP. Happy New Year!😙
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WOW, what a fantastic review Kim!!!😍📚💃 You really are one amazing lady!😗 This sounds like one helluva book! I mean people explode!!??😱😱😱 The premise and the characters sound fantastic! Definitely going on my TBR!😗💜📚🔥😍🤘
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Thanks Ms Dani! Exploding people always peak my interest.😈 I think you’d enjoy this.🤗
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Sounds like it!!!😈😈😈 And your welcome lovely!😊🤗😘
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Great review! This one sounds really good so I’ll have to add it to my library list to possibly pick up someday. 🙂
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I’d love to know what you think if you read it Carrie.😊
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It does sound like something I would like but I always have such an endless pile of ARCs. 😦
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Sounds good.
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My library just got this book, YAY! And thank you so much for the warning….that’s a little disturbing that’s what the cover is 😨, but going in knowing that will help me a ton. So thank you!
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Ooh Jen! You’ve got to let me know what you think if you read it.🤗
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Will do!! 🙂
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I love it when you start to picture the actors you want for the story. Really make it all come to life:)
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Most definitely!😊
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I love when you run into these novels that have something original and refreshing to them! The characters also sound fantastic. Glad you enjoyed it so much, Kim! 😀
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Thanks Lashaan!🤗
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Nice post, wish I could parallel process a lot of info.
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Thank you!😊
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