Review: This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada
Series: This Mortal Coil #1
Published by Simon Pulse (11.7.2017)
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 425 pages
Source: I own it

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?

My thoughts

The truth is that when you’re facing death, there’s no telling what you’ll do.

WHY did I put this one off for so long?! Oh my lord!! I had seen it around back when it first came out, but they hype died down and I really never see it mentioned anywhere. I had a feeling I’d love it, but I put it off anyway. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, and I ended up being BLOWN AWAY!

Words can’t describe how epic this book is. The concept is so different than anything else I’ve ever read – it’s so unique and interesting! I was also hooked from the very first chapter because it grabs you right away and doesn’t let go! This book is explosive, action-packed, and bloody brilliant. It’s been a long time since I loved a book this much.

The Hydra virus was positively disturbing O__O but also so intriguing that I couldn’t help but love it? The virus makes infected explode after a certain incubation period, and basically the only way to become immune so that you don’t explode in a bloody fleshy cloud too is to eat the infected. Yes, that’s right. Cannibalism. Is. The. Cure.

Like I said, disturbing. But also right up my alley! (What does that say about me that I’m fascinated by a cannibalistic virus lmao?!)

I was also intensely fascinated by the coding. People coded themselves – to be stronger, faster, more beautiful – any kind of genetic modification you could think of. How freaking cool is that?! Like I said, the concept was absolutely brilliant!

“You’re still thinking in terms of right and wrong, but this is war, and the rules have changed.”

This book also kind of gives you a glance into humanity and the things we’d be willing to do in order to survive. It was kind of chilling, really. Suvada makes you think about things and I liked that. I really enjoyed her prose! It was engaging, and there’s something about it that just grabs you and keeps you hooked no matter what was happening. I gobbled this book up in less than 24 hours, which rarely happens for me!

“You think we’re controlled by our instincts, that we’re just the sum of our genes. But you’re wrong. I’ve faced death, and I’m not afraid anymore. I’m ready to die to stop you.”

Cat was such a badass! I loved her! She was fierce and unflinching. I loved Cole, I was intrigued by him from the very start. And I loved the romance between Cat and Cole, it was so swoonworthy!

There was a nice little twist at the end that I didn’t see coming – and THAT ENDING!! I can’t wait to start the next book!

Overall Assessment

Plot: 5/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4.5/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World-building: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Feels: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 5/5

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