Monday, October 7, 2013

Review: Parasite by Mira Grant



This really is the perfect creepy Halloween-y read! Anyone who likes dystopians with an edge of sci fi will love this one.

Don't forget to check out today's Something Wicked tour Stops with Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings and author J.L. Bryan.
And Maja@The Nocturnal Library with Author Gina Linko

Also tomorrow stops will be just as fun with:
Tressa@Tressa's Wishful Endings: Melissa Wright: Bound by Prophecy

Maja@The Nocturnal Library : Darynda Jones: Death and the Girl He Loves




Title: Parasite
Author: Mira Grant
Series: Book One in the Parasitology Series
Published By: Orbit (October 29, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher ( in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: Dystopian/Sci Fi
My Rating: 3 Stars!

Book Description:
A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.





My Thoughts and Review:
I have seen a lot of hype about this so I was pretty excited to start it even though this isn't a favorite genre and I tend to shy away from anything too sci fi feeling. And even though I was excited, I tried to go into it with little to no expectations because I didn't want to feel disappointed in the least. 

I am going to be brutally honest, I had a hard time getting into the storyline. There was a lot of scientific talk in the very beginning and I wasn't sure I was in love with what little I knew about Sally  and her initial circumstances. And if I am being  honest, I wasn't sure where the storyline was leading and how it would end. But what did fascinate me was the sheer possibility that something like this could exist, that it could happen. That something very real could be said about the storyline. 

I have always been more afraid of the horror movies that seemed real. Giant spiders, werewolves, vampires I could handle. Creepy murderers, deadly viruses and parasites, not so much. So yeah, at times this kept me on the edge wondering what in the world was going to happen next and then other things (The big reveal) were a little too obvious way too early.


This did pick up towards the end with more action and a whole lot more going on and like I said, I loved how realistic and unique the storyline was. I think this series has potential and I also believe that anyone who loves sci fi and a very dystopian feel thrown in for good measure would really enjoy this.









*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

11 comments:

  1. Honestly I have seen a lot of fuss around this one but I wasn't sure. Usually when the plot starts too confusing I love to discover what happens, so I should really give this one a try. Great review :)

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  2. This one definitely has gotten a lot of hype and I admit to being curious about it, but I feel like I might struggle with the same things you did. SciFi is a genre that's hugely hit or miss with me, and it usually misses when the science behind it, while no doubt impressive, goes right over my head and I just can't connect to the story at all. I'm glad it picked up toward the end for you though Ali!

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  3. I haven't heard a whole lot about this book yet, but so far people seem to be rather fond of it. I think Mira Grant is known for writing intense book with great sci fi premises, and I do love sci fi themed books, so this sounds very appealing :) I'm glad that even though the sci fi parts didn't blow you away, you enjoyed this one enough to give it 3 stars! Thanks for the great review!

    Evie @Bookish

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  4. I haven't really had a strong urge to pick this one up, I'm just not sure it's for me. I have heard that the author is fantastic though!

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  5. Thanks everyone!

    I agree that I think you really have to like sci fi to love this one and that it wouldn't be for everyone.

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  6. I was so excited to read this and I haven't seen any glowing reviews, still I am going to give it a whirl!

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  7. I requested this one because of all the hype to. I've started it several times, then stopped and gone to something else. I will eventually finish it. Hopefully the mood will strike me one day and I can fly through it. Thanks for your honest review.

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  8. I hope you like it Heidi. I think maybe my expectations were a little too high on this one.

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  9. Ali, I gotta tell you, I friggin loved this from the first page to the last and I totally ate up all the scientific world building. I am sorry this one was just ok for you.

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  10. Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you didn't get into this one. I really loved her Newsflesh series, so I'd hoped this would be one I'd adore too. I started it and had to set it aside for tour commitments, but I have to agree, it's definitely not as immediately immersive as the Newsflesh books. Hopefully you'll have better luck with those, or with a future book of hers. Thanks for your balanced, honest review!

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