This Mortal Coil (Mortal Coil, #1)

by Emily Suvada

"In a world where people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, gene-hacking genius Cat must decrypt her late father's message concealing a vaccine to a horrifying plague"--

• ISBN10: 1481496336
• ISBN13: 9781481496339
• Publish Date: 7 November 2017 (first published 2 November 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon Pulse
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 432
• Language: English

Reviews

[kalventure]

It's been a long time since a book has set my soul ablaze, leaving me anxious to devour its pages but wanting to savor every word. I loved this book with every ounce of my being: this is the epitome of why I love the science fiction genre all wrapped up into one. Fantastically written with masterful exposition and worldbuilding; the characters are complex, scarred, and so perfectly human.

This Mortal Coil is set in a future where genetic modifications are commonplace and everyone is implanted with technology that allows them to change the way they look, VR technology embedded in their ocular nerves, healing apps and more. The apps allow people the utter freedom to express themselves however they want, but it also becomes a method of control in a post-apocalyptic world where a deadly disease known as Hydra threatens humanity. And Cat is the one with the key to save everyone... but who can she trust?

Nature designed this plague as a double-edged sword: it either takes your life, or it takes your humanity.

Fast-paced and action-packed, This Mortal Coil is non-stop from start to finish. Every single chapter was full of twists and turns that I couldn't see coming, but it all clicked once I had the full picture and I love when that happens! The worldbuilding was steady throughout and never felt like an info-dump, which it very easily could have fallen into given how much technology and science play a part in this narrative. While this book is science and tech heavy, it never felt overwhelming or confusing for me to follow and also managed to be plausible. I never needed to suspend my disbelief in order to enjoy this world and story, and that is so damn rare. I do have a small science background and an intense personal interest in microbiology, so I do want to acknowledge that while I found this very accessible it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

This book is written captivatingly well. The writing is lyrical and beautiful without being overly poetic in prose, and quite literally made me a ball of anxious feelings for the entire time that I read it. There is a LOT going on in this book, but it is plotted intricately well. From a writing perspective, I really appreciated the parallels in how chapters one and two opened and closed - it was a nice touch to frame the before and current. This is a book where both the plot and the characters drive the action forward in tandem, and the book is all rising action. I will admit that the climax did feel a little anti-climactic after the journey of the whole book, but the ending redeemed it for me. This was a 5-star read through and through.

"Sometimes we need to do awful things to stop worse things from happening. You're still thinking in terms of right and wrong, but this is war, and the rules have changed.

Themes of morality and choice are at the fore of this narrative; utilitarianism and governmental control for the "greater good." There is a clear line of right and wrong according to our main characters, but they along with the reader struggle to reconcile moral rigidity with doing the most good for the most people. (Also can I say that my heart soared when I saw Zarathustra Initiative mentioned for the first time, my Nietzsche-loving soul loved the philosophical nod!) But even more than that, we see our characters struggle with their consciences in their fight for survival and I think that Suvada did an excellent job depicting how conflicted people in situations like this would feel. What lengths people will go to for freedom. To live.

"The only damn thing that makes life worthwhile is people looking after each other."

I absolutely adored Catarina: she is strong, brave, and selfless without needing to be all hard and rough (unlike many other strong female MCs). She takes comfort from the people around her and it is her compassion that makes her such a strong character for me. Cole, Leoben, and Dax all are complex characters with their pasts shrouded in mystery and with the narrative being in Cat's first person perspective I approached each of them with a healthy dose of skepticism. The romance set the lump of coal where my heart should be aflutter. I don't normally care much for romance in general, but I have been known to swoon now and again (hi Alistair you are still my first love). I have seen some negative reviews talking about insta-love and honestly I am wondering if we read the same book? Because I witnessed a beautiful, slow-burn romance develop between conflicted characters over time. I suppose there are some plot points which I think could be construed as insta-love, but honestly the relationship felt very organic to me. And this is coming from a person that almost always dislikes romance and loathes insta-love.

Honestly I could gush about this book all day. All I can say is WOW. This Mortal Coil is the book that I didn't know I needed until I opened its pages and I am so thankful that I got to share my reading experience with Becca & Taylor! I really enjoyed how this book kept me on my toes and turned everything that I thought I knew upside down. This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking start to a new trilogy, and I honestly cannot believe that this was Suvada's debut! Have I convinced you to read this yet? Because seriously, this book was so much fun to read! I recommend this book with all my heart and soul to lovers of science fiction, especially infection-type stories with heavy science and technology.

[Stephanie]

Maybe more like 3.5?

[bookishzelda]

Wow, so This Mortal Coil is packed full of Coding, DNA, hacking, suspense, apocalyptic world, twist and turns. I both couldn’t put it down and had to take a break sometimes. It was a great story and loved how easy it was to understand the Science parts of it.

So in the world of This Mortal Coil everyone is fitted with a panel in their arm that pretty much acts like how you would picture futurist VR worlds to work. You can do everything from texting/calling to changing what you look like and downloading an app to heal yourself. Despite all of this, Mother Nature still finds it’s way in and people have retreated to underground bunkers do to a breakout of a plague called Hydra.

There is lots of talk about DNA, coding and hacking systems. I never once found any of it confusing. It was actually really interesting and written in a way that I felt was easy to understand. You might not grasp every concept perfectly but you get the jist of it enough to understand what is happening. I really loved learning about the characters and what makes them all tick. In a DNA respect and through the panels in their arms.

So the plot is very fast paced and a curvy road to get to the end. There were plot twist throughout, so much so that I don’t want to talk about anything. I’m afraid I would give something away. What we do know and that is important is that Catarina plays an important role in finding the Vaccine for Hydra.

Again I loved the characters. I thought they were all super interesting, from their background to their motivations for their actions. I can’t wait to see where they go in the future. Catarina most of all, is very cool. Really, she’s brilliant and savvy yet even though she lives for code, still keeps her compassion. She is not a robot or a slave to technology.

[Ashley]

SO cool!! I love all the tech/coding stuff. Definitely recommend if you're into that + thriller + romance. What a great combo!

[Kelly]

The earth is a desolate wasteland, a virus decimating humanity, survivors abandoned to starvation. Catarina Agatta is a survivor. Catarina is the seventeen year old daughter of the renowned geneticist Lachlan Agatta, a magnate and former Cartaxus programmer and genetic engineer, now recaptured along with his assistant to manufacture an antidote.

Catarina has survived within the isolated Black Hills, a resourceful young woman evading Cartaxus capture. At birth, humans are implanted with advanced technology to allow gene manipulation, applications are downloaded to enhance humans physically, cognitively and aesthetically. Diagnosed with Hypergenesis, Catarina remains genetically unenhanced, relying upon her intellect and perception to survive. As the pandemic escalates, thousands shelter in underground communities, sacrificing their freedom to Cartaxus.

Although an agent of Cartaxus and a young man with enhanced abilities, disciplined in warfare, Lieutenant Cole Franklin has been assigned to protect Catarina after an explosion at the Cartaxus laboratory claimed her father and the vaccine. Humanity will depend on Catarina.

The essence of This Mortal Coil is genetic manipulation and biotechnology, developed by Lachlan Agatta and administered to infants as nanotechnology. It allows programmers to create applications that download directly into the body, collaborating with our human genetics. Cartaxus monopolises the genetic applications, abandoning and denying survivors essential health enhancements. The airborne virus infects healthy humans, accelerating before causalities detonate, bodies vaporising into a contagious, airborne cloud. Survivors can inoculate themselves by consuming the flesh of those infected, ensuring their immediate survival but Catarina is determined to preserve her humanity. The scientific elements are surprisingly uncomplicated and woven throughout the narration, rather than overhwleming expositions.

Catarina's relationship with her father Lachlan is portrayed as distant and indifferent, a young woman pursuing approval. Catarina begins a tentative relationship with Lachlan's assistant, a conventional young man who also appeared manipulative and egotistical. Their relationship seemed little more than based on convenience and no genuine connection between the two other than her father.

Catarina reluctantly establishes a companionship with Cole and I enjoyed their interactions. The attraction between the two is undeniable but Cole is preoccupied with the former Cartaxus programmer, the mysterious Jun Bei. Catarina is physically malnourished, she refuses to allow Cole to become her saviour and appreciated that although intellectually superior, is never pretentious or conceited.

Oh and those plot twists. Surprised eyebrows for days.

This Mortal Coil is an intelligent, captivating and atmospheric science fiction dystopian. Absolutely phenomenal.

[Beth C.]

Short version? It was AMAZING.

Cat is a hacker—but she doesn’t just hack computers. She hacks genes, people’s DNA. Most people have been implanted with machines that control apps, and the apps control people’s features. Want a tail? Grow one. Want different color eyes? Change them. But then, along comes a virus—it spreads by causing its host to explode, spreading far and wide in a cloud. People either give up all non-approved apps (many of which are life-saving) to go live in shelters run by a large corporation, or they live on the surface and take their chances with the virus.

Cat is one of the latter. Her father, the world’s best geneticist, was taken by the corporation to try and create a vaccine to the virus. He hid her and warned her to never be taken—to live on the surface and hide. Then she is tracked down by an app-ed up soldier sent by her father, and Cat’s life—and everything she believed–will be changed.

I was absolutely blown away (no pun intended) by this book...

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