A post-apocalyptic genetic engineering thriller?  I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, and it far exceeded my expectations.

I'm a little bit of a science geek, so all the talk of DNA sequencing, gene mutation, and computer coding had me doing a happy dance.  Given, none of this is possible in the present, (to my knowledge), but it sure makes for a riveting story, and is explained in understandable terms.  I've read quite a few post-apocalyptic novels, and several times while reading this book was on the verge of disappointment, certain I knew the often traveled path this plot was taking.  I was overjoyed when it veered off into new directions, cheering with the numerous twists and surprises.

Early on, I caught a whiff of the dreaded YA love triangle, but trust me when I say that's not what develops.  Yes, there's romance, but it's far from the primary focus.

This Mortal Coil is a complex, intelligent, intricately-plotted novel combining post-apocalyptic, thriller, and science genres, and is at the top of my favorite YA reads this year.  I'll definitely continue with this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I don’t think I’ve ever had such mixed feelings about a book in my entire life. On one hand, I LOVED so much of it - the world building, the high stakes, the grey morality, the desperate tone - all things I really enjoyed. However, one twist left me feeling pretty weird, and created this uncomfortable feeling that lasted the rest of the book. Regardless, This Mortal Coil was an experience that I will not soon forget.

We follow gene-hacking genius, Catarina Agatta, as she searched for the key to rebuild a vaccine to the deadly Hydra virus and stay out of the clutches of Cartaxus - the shadow organization that captured her father two years ago. With the help of a childhood friend and a few reluctant partners in the form of Cartaxus soldiers, Cat discovers shocking secrets about her past and the world she thought she knew.

Things I Liked
I really love all the sciencey and genetics aspects in the story. Color me shocked because science really isn’t my thing, but it was all so interesting and believable. I really liked learning all about DNA and genetics. I thought the gene-hacking things was really cool, and I liked that each child who was a part of the Zarathurstra Initiative (Cole, Leoben, Jun Bei, Anna, and Ziana) has some special capability related to their DNA. It was all very compelling and kept me engaged.

There was this creepy and anxious overall tone that created tension and uneasiness throughout the whole story, and made it a perfect book to read during this time of the year. There are also SO MANY unexpected revelations. The threats and dangers all seem very real making a high stakes environment that makes you want to keep reading.

This world is so morally grey, and I was so here for it. In this world, survival is paramount and most people are willing to do anything to ensure they survive. There are lies and schemes and underhandedness that all blur the lines between right and wrong. I loved seeing Cat confronting this reality that she wanted to ignore.

With such high stakes and fast action plot, I was worried the characters would fall to the wayside. But I really became invested in the characters. My heart kept going out to characters and they drew emotion from me.

Things I Didn’t Like
The book did feel a little too long. I don’t necessarily feel like anything was filler-y, but some parts did drag a bit.

The romance started to feel a little forced the more we got into the story. I felt like there were some plot choices made, just to directly influence the romances, and is started to get a little heavy handed.

Now for the big twist that made for feel kinda weird. Massive spoilers for this paragraph.... At around the 90% mark we learn that Cat is actually Jun Bei. Jun Bei’s ability is to be able to mimic and change her DNA, and Dr. Lachlan Agatta made her into Cat, erasing all memories of her early life. This reveal made me feel pretty uncomfortable - it felt like we got rid of an Asian American character in Jun Bei, and turned her into a white character, Catarina. I know Lachlan talked about how the knockout kids that were part of the Zarathursa program were born from plague DNA, and we never really get to actually see Jun Bei, but it still made me feel weird. I understand the Cat is fundamentally, and genetically, a different person from Jun Bei. They have different DNA and a different mind, but Cat could hear Jun Bei’s voice in her head, she started to remember her life as Jun Bei, interacting with the other kids from the program. After this reveal, I had this lingering weird feeling that made me enjoy the last 10% of the book less than I expected, given that I really enjoyed everything leading up to it.

I still have kinda mixed feeling about this, and I don’t know if I’m overthinking things or what. I really loved so many aspects of the story, and it was an addicting read that kept the pages turning. Unfortunately, the ending was a let down for me and sort of clouded my overall view of the book. Overall, my thoughts are a mess and I don’t really know what I’m feeling.

Trigger Warning for gore and graphic medical procedures

I received a copy of the book from Simon Pulse via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Did not download as don't like to read PDFs on Kindle

I really wanted to read this book and review it. I have no way to read this type of file since I use a kindle for reading. Sorry but I have no way to read this book.

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Quite possibly the best book I've read this year... Not even kidding.

This Mortal Coil is like being on a runaway train. There's no "fat" to this novel. Every little piece of info that is doled out is important and will be revisited. The main characters are people you come to know and love. You root for them to win and overcome the situations they find themselves in. Each is unique and different, but together they weave a fabric that ties them together as a family. Yes, this is an apocalyptic tale, but the story line feels fresh. I haven't seen anything like it yet. The world building seems natural. You understand the players and the game, but the info is provided in a way that doesn't drag the storyline down. If things like the end of the world, advanced tech and gene hacking speculation are up your alley, than this is the title for you. Don't forget that I mentioned this is a runaway train. Be prepared for the twists and turns and a huge revelation at the end. Now I'm left waiting, and I'm invested... I need to know what happens next like I need my next breath!

Sci-Fi, Romance, Dystopian, YA, Thriller – this one novel covers a wide spectrum of interests to please the masses. Throw in some villains, heroes, plagues, and conspiracies on top of the multi-genre and you are not going to be bored with this unpredictable story with its plot twists and depth.

You can tell from the writing style and detail that Suvada put time and effort into research as the believability factor was high considering the type of storylines presented. Even within the concept of a deadly virus overtaking the world, how she had her characters act felt realistic to the situations they faced. I’m fairly certain what happened to the infected is a new twist because the Walking Dead phenomena definitely was not copied here. The scientific principles used such as genetic coding and manipulation made sense because that already happens in real life.

With her strong background in science and math it’s easy to see how the author was able to create a fantasy with this much realism. She must have employed a great deal of her own experience and knowledge into the characters. The main character, Cat has scary talents with tech so I’m wondering how much of herself the author poured into forming this character. She’s incredibly strong and a wonderful female character which I enjoyed since too often strong characters in SciFi novels are given to men while women get the supporting roles but that was flipped in this book.

Even if you have an unfamiliarity with the tech, science and language Suvada employs in her novel there is enough context to get you through or you can look at this as a learning experience to expand your interests through some google searches to fill in the holes of what you don’t know.

This novel is going to explode through the YA genre and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a movie option not too far off in the future.

One of the best sci-fi books I've read in awhile. It's high-energy, tech-driven but well explained and something I didn't want to put down. Highly recommend

I am a huge fan of dystopian / post-apocalyptic type novels, but I'm finding it's hard to find one these days that has an original angle. Not only does This Mortal Coil take a tried-and-true storyline (widespread disease turning humans into monsters), it dives deep into the world of DNA and genetics manipulation.

This Mortal Coil takes place in an unnamed point in the future where humans have created technology that allows them to manipulate their own DNA. Each person is equipped with a GenKit, that then can be personalized with apps for clearing acne, healing injuries, etc. Catarina Agatta is the daughter of esteemed scientist, Lachlan Agatta, who is known for writing vaccine code for seemingly undefeatable diseases. Her father and his assistant (and her sig. other), Dax, are taken by the superpower, Cartaxus, which controls GenTech. Catarina is left alone in an isolated cabin to fend for herself during the Hydra plague. After a period of time, she is visited by Lt. Cole Franklin, who claims that she holds the key to unlocking the vaccine that will save humanity from the virus.

And, of course, more shenanigans ensue.

Suvada goes into great detail about the coding technology of the GenKits, how they work, and how they are manipulated throughout the novel. You're going to be tempted to skim or skip around, and I would highly discourage this. I tried—and you're going to be confused enough to go back and reread. The twist came out of left-field for me, but made perfect sense once it was revealed. And, um, that CLIFFHANGER? I need book 2, please.

There's also a couple to root for (if that's your thang), and a love triangle...kind of? Plenty of betrayal and twists and turns, and a kick ass heroine.

Solid [nearly] 4 stars. I really enjoyed This Mortal Coil and will definitely check out the sequel. It kept me interested throughout and I was really impressed by the original direction Suvada took the plot. And it doesn't hurt that the cover is gorge.