I have conflicted feelings about this book. There’s a deadly outbreak of an airborne virus that keeps most of society locked underground, there’s manipulation of genes, and there’s hacking. This Mortal Coil combines everything I love into one book; science and a post-apacolyptic setting. The book took a total different direction than what I was hoping for. I really love reading about post-apacolyptic societies and I was hoping the story would be more focused on the virus side rather than the science and hacking side. That is not what I got. It seemed to me that the virus was just in the background. It was only acknowledged a few times. I mean, the point of this book was for Catarina and her friends to unlock and release the vaccine to the world, but it seemed to really focus more on the technology and hacking aspect. It just seemed like there was so much going on at once and having scientific and hacking terms being thrown everywhere just overwhelmed me. It felt more like a chore to read this book than actually being able to enjoy the story and relax. I really felt like at times I was reading a science book.

What I did love about this book were the characters. I loved Catarina as a main character. She was super intelligent and a genius hacker. She also had sympathy for those around her and always wanted to do the right thing.

Cole was another brilliant character. He had this amazing protective instinct that just really made me like him as a person. He really cared for Catarina and his feelings came across really well in the book.

Lachlan, Catarina’s father, was another interesting character. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can say he was a genius when it came to hacking and anything science-y. I thought he was a really well-written character.

The first half of this book really dragged for me. I think I was just too overwhelmed with all the information that was dumped on us. The second half of the book was much better. I really loved the ending! It was very unpredictable and surprising. At first, I didn’t think I was going to pick up the sequel to this book, but the ending may have changed my mind. I’m still deciding. If you love books that are techy and deal with science, I do believe you will really enjoy this book. I’ve changed my rating so many times for this book because of my conflicting feelings, but I think I am going with 3.5 out of 5 stars as my final rating.

Sorry if this review was rambly and kind of all over the place. I had a hard time putting into words how I felt about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Suvada for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.

First off, I read a TON of YA Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic books. And this is one of the reasons I didn’t like this one: is that it read like a mish mash of all these other plot lines from other novels. Secondly, a lot of the book happened in a convenient way for me. There were actions that kind of just happened to the main character, leaving her in a bind, which conveniently got worse or better.

Both of these being said, the ending part of the book redeemed a lot of its flaws for me. Something I love reading about in books is that moment when we have to realize our parents are humans, fallible, and have made, sometimes, awful mistakes. How do we reconcile our versions of them with the truth? At the same time, it was very much like - this plot is clearly winding down, so what is going to go colossally wrong so that we will have a sequel?

The synopsis of This Mortal Coil was intriguing! I don't normally read a lot of science fiction but I'm glad that I took a chance reading This Mortal Coil!  I really loved the author's writing style. Her writing kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. There is so much action and twists and turns that kept me wanting to read more! I thought the characters were well written and the story building was great!

I deeply apologize, I didn’t download this before it archived because I was having problems with my Bluefire Reaser app which is what I use for books like this. Look forward to picking up this book out in the wild, but again thanks so much for the great opportunity!

This Mortal Coil is strikingly genius! It is full of high adrenaline twists, exciting science fiction kicks, and rousing character hits! If you are looking for a fast paced, action packed Sci-fi, look no further!

This Mortal Coil was OUTSTANDING! I could not put it down! I knew I would love it after reading the synopsis, but WOW, am I impressed! The writing was impeccable. For as long as the book was, I never felt like it dragged anywhere or felt like anything was out of place, or needed to be shorter.

The world building and plot development were incredible. Suvada must have done immense research before writing this book, because the bits about the virus, the DNA coding, and the technology felt so real and possible. I felt like this was the type of story that fit perfectly with zombie video games and movies. I also felt like it reminded me a bit of Terminator, which I LOVED! The story flowed so smoothly, and kept on the edge of my seat! I loved the characters and their development as well.

Catarina was such an interesting character to read! She was strong, brave, and determined, but also vulnerable and emotional, and confused. She didn’t feel like the typical YA character, she felt real, and relate-able. Her back story was so well written, and her character, and personality transformation, was really unique and intriguing!

Cole reminded me a little of Kyle Reese from Terminator (I guess that you means you have to watch it if you haven’t yet ;-P). He was brave, protective, and alluring. He held dangerous secrets, and also had a deep, intriguing past, and a unique reason for his actions, and his protectiveness. He almost fit that trope of the “over-protective YA male,” but didn’t because of his unique situation.

Dax and Leoben were both enjoyable, supporting characters. They were each unique in their own way, had interesting back stories, and add depth to the book. Dax added nostalgia and a little conflict, while Leoben added humor and intrigue.

There was not one piece of this story that I did not enjoy. It had a great pace, fantastic plot twists, well developed characters, and awesome bits of Science Fiction, Horror, and Suspense! I could see everything so clearly while I was reading and felt my heart pounding the entire time! I will definitely read more from this author in the future!

Thank you to The Flying Fantastic Book Club and Simon & Schuster/ Simon Pulse for sending me this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, and as part of the blog tour.

Title: This Mortal Coil (Mortal Coil #1)
Author: Emily Suvada
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 2017 (Nov 7)
Genre: YA Dystopian, YA Science Fiction

**I received a copy of this book free from the tour in exchange for an honest review**

This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page

My Review:

First of all, you must know that I’m a HUGE science fiction fan. HUGE. When I got this book, I loved the cover and the blurb. 

Looks pretty and abstract, right?

Never would have thought that was the remains of a person, would you? Is it pretty now? (Well, yes, but ultimately creepier. Much much creepier).

I loved this book! And I didn’t even know it was going to be a series. So I was of course surprised by the cliffhanger, but it’s ALL worth it. The book will blow your mind 🤯.

From the very beginning, you can tell this book is different than all the others you’ve read.

“It’s sunset, and the sky is aflame, not with clouds or dust, but with the iridescent feathers of a million genehacked passenger pigeons. They soar across the sky like a live impressionist painting in brilliant swirling arcs of tangerine and gold. Their strange cries sound like pebbles tossed against a window, and they move in perfect unison, blocking out the sun.”


In a dystopian future, Catarina Agatta is smart. She should be as the daughter of the infamous Lachlan Agatta. In an age where a deadly virus is spreading and causing people to blow up, he is the only chance for mankind to find a cure.

But when Cartaxus, the military/government complex that has taken over, decides they need Lachlan, they come into Catarina’s house and steal him away. Her father insists she hide, and while she does, they take her father and his handsome lab assistant/Catarina’s boyfriend with them.

Catarina is left on her own to survive. With the Hydra virus and no vaccine, she must do what she can...her healing tech is slow in a world where everyone uses codes for their DNA, so she must be extremely careful. All alone in an apocalyptic world, Catarina just tries to get through day to day survival.

“My father’s words were fresh in my ears, and they still echo there two years later. Never let them take you. Sure enough, even though the bunkers were faradayed and guarded, rumors drifted out about deplorable conditions. People were living in dark, dirty cells. Cartaxus had taken control of their panels, wiping nonstandard apps and code. Security was brutal. Families were ripped apart.

The choice was clear: risk your life on the surface, or swap your rights for an airlocked cell.”


While Catarina hides, a Cartaxus soldier comes and claims that her father is dead, and any chance of the vaccine is left up to her. With a message from her father locked into Cole’s DNA, she wants to trust him, but after two years on her own, she’s not eager to go with anyone with Cartaxus equipment.

But she must trust Cole.

“My heart stills. Suddenly it all makes sense. Staring at the scars on Cole’s chest, I can finally see what my father has been trying to show me. It’s so utterly, painfully simple. He sent me instructions to unlock the vaccine, but they aren’t in the ghost memo at all.

They’re standing right in front of me, hiding in plain sight, like the sonnet in the pigeons.

They’re inside Cole.”


But can she really trust a soldier that represents the one company that took her father and controls the world?

Is it Classroom-Appropriate?

Oh, how I would LOVE to use this in a classroom! There’s so much information, so much science...I learned so much about DNA and genes and it blew me away. The research that Suvada must have done to write this is mind-boggling!

This would be great in any middle of high school classroom (preferably HS bc the concepts are so complex).

I can imagine talking about sequencing and the genes that make up eye and hair color...discussions could be had about the moral implications of changing genes and behavior, as well as born traits. The activities that could be done!

I would have to give This Mortal Coil ★★★★★ for classroom use alone!

Age Range

I’d like to think that because this book doesn’t have any inappropriate scenes or swearing that I could recommend it for MG readers...however, I think the book might be too advanced with its concepts for a reader so young. I would say it’s great for ambitious readers and if you have one at 13 and up, this book would be great as a challenge.

Simply put, I would use and recommend this book for readers in high school level reading score range. The story is great but complex...and it’s full of surprises, twists, and turns. I never knew what was going to happen next. I would use this book in a lesson plan, so I can’t see myself keeping it out of the hands of any reader who loves science fiction and a challenge.

End Result:

If you haven’t guessed by now, I give This Mortal Coil ★★★★★ as a whole. I would give it more if I could. I couldn’t put it down.

The writing quality is beyond compare. There are so many amazing quotes and turns of phrase.

“Every touch from Cole, every glance and smile is a burst of warmth that chases the shadow of the decryption from my mind. When he looks at me, I can almost believe I am the girl in his drawing, with her head held high and her eyes ablaze. He is like a drug, and a powerful one. The strength of my feelings frightens me - I don’t know how my heart entwined with his so quickly. Maybe it’s what we’ve been through, or maybe we really are broken in the same way, our jagged edges aligning perfectly. I wish we had more time together. I wish I could tell him the truth.”

All I can say: read this book. It’s INCREDIBLE.

I participated in the Fantastic Flying Book Club's blog tour for this book and it's fantastic! Check out  my review with 5 reasons why you should read this book. This is a genuine YA scifi with detailed science/coding/genetics for any science fan and a great fast paced story!

Urgh. I must have been going through too much last month because I even disliked this one. I read the description and it sounded a bit like X-Men so I thought I’d like it but alas, no. I did like the originality in this and what the “fix” and resolution was but everything else fell flat for me. Including Cat and Cole’s romance that involves a little bit of emotional manipulation and also the foreshadowing for what was going on was a little too obvious. I didn’t mind the science references but I just didn’t enjoy this one like I thought I would.

Oh. Em. Gee. 

This, right here, is my favorite sci-fi/dystopian in AGES. From the very first page, I was enthralled. And I was worried that the scientific aspects would be tough to follow. But, Suvada did a fantastic job of making something so complex, SIMPLE. Understandable. 

I loved the apocalyptic story. This was a whole different take on "illnesses." It felt a little like a zombie book, but also mixed with some aspects of The 5th Wave. But please if you aren't a fan, ignore that and just give this a chance. It's so unique in so many ways. 

Also, the romance. I definitely wanted something to happen between two of the characters. And maybe those aren't the two everyone else shipped, but there's something to be said for chemistry and time spent together. One guy really won me over right away. The other, I didn't trust whatsoever. 

Catarina was a great character. Not arrogant. Just someone trying to survive. Do her best until her father (hopefully) came home. She was able to take care of herself. I found her to be smart and a little bit of a bad ass, if I'm honest. 

This story is really engrossing. I didn't think there was ever a dull moment. I didn't ever want to stop reading. And I'm not kidding when I say that several scenes had my heart racing with anticipation and worry. Lots of twists and mystery to keep the reader guessing. What version of things Catarina has been told is true? Is her father the man she thought him to be?

This Mortal Coil is now possibly my top read of the year. It's easily going to remain in my top 5 for 2017. With its smart heroine, intricate plot, and bits of romance, this story has it all and is something readers of ALL genres shouldn't miss!

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.

THIS BOOK! In my opinion this should be required reading for science classes because the science level in this book is beyond from what I've seen in any YA book. It's amazing. The cast of characters are so unique in each way. Cat and Cole seem to come from different worlds but they have so many similarities  And the reader "thinks" they know what's going on but in reality there are so many twists and turns that are so unexpected. I was left on the edge of my seat. This Mortal Coil is one of my favorite books in 2017 and maybe one of my favorite books ever. I love the complexity and the science behind it. I'm so glad I found this book and I wait eagerly for book 2.

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.

WHAT DID I JUST READ?!

I don't think I can put into words how well-developed and intricate this world is. My brain is still trying to comprehend. The science is futuristically flawless and wonderful, the characters were developed so well, the stakes were high the whole time. I was on the edge of my seat. It's 1 am as I'm writing this, if that gives any indication.

Cat is a narrator I connected with deeply, and COLE. Cat and Cole forever, y'all. All of the characters were complex and flawed and I can't believe this is a debut!

Maybe my thoughts will be more coherent by the time I review this on my blog?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to the author for this banana-pants world. Please put that in your Twitter bio. 😊

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.