Cat, Cole, and Leoben are determined to release the right version of the vaccine. There's no way that they can just sit still and allow the virus to continue to mutate. But now, the people are even more wary of them because the first vaccine seems to have gone wrong. Cat is also struggling internally to uncover her past, and sometimes her old memories force her out of the present world and into the past. The team is worried about her emotional state, but they don't have time to stop as Lachlan needs to be found.

I loved the first book of this series, but this one might end up being my favorite. Just....wow. So much character development happened in this book, especially with Cat finding out about her past. I won't spoil it, but it's good. As Cat is finding out her past, the entire team has to adjust to her changes. She even finds out things about the others that she didn't' know before, and has to confront them on her true past. You are seeing everything from Cat's POV as you are reading, so you don't know anything about her past until she finds it out for herself. You also don't know the thoughts of the other characters. The fact that this series is only told from one POV works because each character has a piece of the puzzle, and story events help the reader piece the puzzle together.

Honestly, I need to see this book turned into a movie. Literally, as I was reading the end of the book, I could hear the soundtrack in my head. I've been dying for a good YA fantasy movie lately, and this could be a perfect one. The scenes are so vivid that I could visualize them, even though I struggle with visualizing. I get distracted easily when reading in a busy place, but I managed to read this over the din of the lounge at my college in between classes. One of my friends tried to say hi to me, and it took me a good minute to even hear them. This was simply so good!

The plot of these books is so smooth. I finished this book in a matter of hours, even though it wasn't that short. I just feel myself flying through the pages, soaking information, and then it's done. I need the next one!

I haven't even spoken about the world yet! This world is so intricate, and the characters are always in a morally grey area. I love how there isn't any specific good or evil, but that everyone has done both good and bad things in their lifetime. I don't know how it will end up in book three, but I hope that this moral grey is kept. It is interesting to see what things are like when you can't just point blame and call one character or another a "villain." I can't wait to learn more about Lachlan and Cartaxus.

This book discusses the history of the world as the characters have to figure out where the virus started, and what they can do to try to get the new vaccine out there. There are laws regarding the panels, and the characters learn the stories behind those laws and how they can get around them if need be. It really makes the world seem full, rather than just a blank slate before the virus.

I could go on and on about everything that I loved with this book, but I will let you read this amazing series for yourselves. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA fantasy/science fiction novel that doesn't focus on romance and has an extremely well-written and detailed plot.

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

This Cruel Design is the second installment in author Emily Suvada's Mortal Coil series. 18-year old Catarina "Cat" Agatta thought she had saved the world by eradicating a terrible virus that caused victims to detonate, and sent billions more to underground bunkers under the control of Cartaxus. To make matters worse, Cat discovered some troubling secrets about her own past, as well as her connection to Leoben, Cole, and Anna (who we meet in this book) who are all black-out agents.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, Dr. Lachlan Agatta has fled to parts unknown taking his plans to recode humanity with him. Thanks to his Daemon Code which gives him access to everyone on the planet, Lachlan believes that he can use make humanity better by erasing the wrath DNA from everyone. Cat doesn't want him to get away with it. But, things quickly change right from the beginning of this story. Even though the vaccine is out there and the virus should be dead, people are still detonating.

Brought out of their temporary reprieve by Cartaxus, thanks to an unknown virus that seems to be ramping up, Cat, Leo, and Cole must find a way to locate Lachlan, find a way to head off this new strain, while also dealing with Cat's repressed memories which are rapidly proving to be more of a clue as to what really happened to a certain unnamed character who walked away from Lachlan and let the others like Cole, Leo, and Anna behind.

This Cruel Design has plenty of action and twists and shocks, that left me reading as quickly as I could to see if the author was going to leave us any clues as to what is apparently going to be the finale of the series. New readers to this series may want to begin with the first volume before jumping into this story. If you are a fan of science-y things, you will love this story. If you're not, you might still enjoy it because it touches on so many technical questions about what scientists may have up their sleeves in the future for humanity.

The story dives deeper into the world of Cartaxus, hackers and what Lachlan did to Catarina. One of the plot lines of this book is the ying and yang of Cat and her suppressed memories and who she may or may not be. I won't spoil things, but Cat is wading into a new world with the terrifying prospect that she might be losing who she is. If she gets to the point where she does lose herself, what happens then? Will the yang part of her take control, or will she have the strength to stand and take control of her own life and her own fate? We shall see.

A depressing part of the story is the romance angle between Cat and Cole. Put me down for not being a fan. Cole is hiding secrets from Cat, while Cat is trying to deal with troubling secrets that slowly unravel. There are some new intriguing characters in this story including Mato, and Regina, a genehacker who runs what is known as Entropia where people have gone beyond the boundaries of what one can do to their own bodies.

I will leave you with this. There is no second book let down syndrome for This Cruel Design. It takes things even further than readers saw in the first installment and leaves so many twists and revelations, even the jaded among us will be happy. The author leaves a really cruel ending for readers to swallow. I honestly thought this was a duology for some lame reason, so imagine my surprise at what came for readers in the last several chapters?

Initial Thoughts: "I found I had to reread This Mortal Coil before I could start This Cruel Design because the one picks up right after the end of the other with no exposition to explain what happened. I did not mind because it is such an excellent story. In this sequel, it is as if Ms. Suvada ripped my heart from my chest and tore it into little pieces in front of my eyes. If you think the first novel has plenty of twists and turns, Ms. Suvada ups the ante to make a story that is impossible to set down for real life. This ode to girl power and coding is such an adrenaline rush that I want to read the two novels all over again. Considering the gut punch of an ending, I might have to do just that while I wait for the finale."

Now: Can I give a shout-out to whoever designed these covers? Not only are they spectacularly eye-catching, but they capture such a crucial piece of the story. They are so simple but so damn beautiful and speak volumes once you read the novels. Kudos to the design team!

A great novel always makes me feel a little drunk when I am reading it. I get giddy and overly emotional. The line between reality and fantasy blurs. I forget where I am; when a novel is particularly fantastic, I even forget who I am for a brief moment. I finished This Cruel Design four days ago, and I still feel just a little bit drunk. The story and its many twists make me feel like I am participating in a UFC fight, but it is the characters that make me the giddiest. Everything about Cat hits every empathy button I own, and her fledgling relationship with Cole makes me feel like it is my first love, complete with fluttering butterflies in the stomach. I am still reeling from the final scenes of the novel. They hit me like a sucker punch to the throat, a punch to the gut, and a box to my ears all at the same time. I want to crawl under the covers and wail even though I want more. I want to read both novels over and over again to feel those same emotions. I want to search for clues as to how the series might end. I want to bask in Cat's and Cole's relationship. I want to learn as much as I can about coding and DNA and genetics. I am like a junkie, looking for her next fix, except my next fix does not even have a publication date yet. I will survive because somehow I always do in these situations. It does not make the wait any easier, and given that ending, this wait is going to be particularly interminable.

Not as great as the first. Seemed too convoluted and left me not wanting to read the next one. I think sci fi readers would still enjoy it; it’s just not love for me.

Five stars. Love, love, love. 🖤

For both books, I got swept away in the plot and the complexities of this dystopian world. (I’m trash for dystopian.) I kept thinking I knew what was coming, but plot twist after plot twist kept me rethinking and guessing and hanging on to each chapter. Plus, almost every chapter—not to mention book—ended on a cliff hanger, and I was desperate to know what would happen next. (I’m also desperate for the third book in this series.)

Dystopians, I love them, but they can end up feeling repetitive—but this was a unique take on the genre. Hacking, coding, cloning. It’s science fiction, but it’s also now, so the story felt more immersive and believable.

I also loved Cat, complex yet compassionate Cat. She’s likeable but not too likeable, which is basically my perfect protagonist. 👍🏻 The secondary characters are also so incredibly developed, particularly our love interest Cole and goofy brother Leoben.

From the world building to the characters to the plot, I’m honestly in awe of Emily Suvada’s writing style. ✨ This is such a big story and she keeps pulling it off. Fingers crossed I love the third book just as much! 🤞🏻

While I didn't particularly LOVE This Mortal Coil, I was still so hyped for This Cruel Design! I was not disappointed either tbh; this book was so thrilling and fast-paced and plot-twisty. It was such a good sequel, and I can't wait to see where Emily Suvada goes for the third book.

The characters are way more developed in this book, and there's more friendly joking aka slight found family, which you all know I'm weak for. We are also introduced to a few new characters, and there was one who I sorta kinda fell in love with. And I hate that I did because it's sooo typical of me to like this uh type of character.

I didn't really like the romance in the first book because I felt like it was very instalove, but I was willing to deal with it. However, I really did not like them in this book. It felt a bit like Mal and Alina where the love interest doesn't really want the protagonist to reach her full potential. I will say that I ended up being fine with the end of the Shadow and Bone trilogy, so we'll see how I feel with the next book in this trilogy.

I think I love most about this series is that it takes a lot of tropes we saw in 2012 dystopia (post-apocalypse, protagonist is the chosen one, instalove, love triangle, etc.) but pairs them with such great plot twists and such an original plot. I love the science-heavy plot, especially because we need more STEM heroines. And the plot twists!! I was literally gasping at some parts.

This Cruel Design is a stunner of a sequel; I loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the next book, especially because I am so not over that last plot twist. Check this book out this Tuesday!

Yet again, this cover draws my eye. The blue was a great choice. Take note that the cloud is not more mist like rather than an explosion...that is important. We also see that the double helix is still there...yay for science.

Things I didn't like:

Cliff Hanger...
Ugh, now I have to wait for the third book. I need more now!
Things I liked:

Plot
Oh my goodness! I did not think there could be any more twists but I was proven wrong. Where does she even come up with some of these? As with the first novel, the reader jumps back and forth trying to determine who the true antagonist is. It keeps you on your toes, guessing what will come next. I think I made a crazy amount of notes while reading this on my kindle that was simply... "What the What?" "OMG" "What the heck...did not see that coming!"
Characters
We see more character development here and I am so happy about that. Cole and Cat continue building their relationship but this time there are even more tensions. With struggling to determine who you really are, an epidemic virus, not knowing who to trust, how can a relationship possibly be easy...
Mato...I was not sure what to think of him in the beginning. I did not trust him for some reason.
Lee...awww I am so happy that he has a romantic interest and psst...it is not a girl. Yay for representation even during this crazy epidemic.
Pace
As with the first book, the amount of action here is insane! I couldn't get enough...always kept on my toes.
Science...again...
Do I really need to gush again about how much I love this? I will say that I was super happy to see that you can download a birth control app on your panel...how cool is that?! These novels really show how convenient yet dangerous such advanced technology can be.
Quotes
"I survived the outbreak with six measly apps, but now I have thousands: reflex enhancers, built-in painkillers, even eyebrow management" (I laughed so hard at this one. I know so many women who would love that last app. Personally, I am at a loss when it comes to that...Tomboy who grew up in the country)
"Maybe because he's your ex and because the last time you two saw each other, he shot you, and you bit his ear off." (Talk about a poor end to a relationship)
"You can't confuse protectiveness with love."
"There are those who cannot look at this universe, with all its living creatures and humanity itself, without believing that it has been intelligently designed. As a scientist, I can't rule out the chance that they're right-in fact, that question is what drives me."
Final Thoughts

Many things that were left unanswered in the first book were concluded here. I was so happy to have this to jump into right away because of talk about a cliffhanger in the first novel!! I cannot gush any more about how amazing the science and technology are. Add to it a strong female is an amazing coder!! Bring on the strong, smart women. I want to say so much about this, but I refuse to give away spoilers.

Ugh...just go buy it and read it already so we can talk about it!! Emily also has some amazingly interactive things on her website, so be sure to check those out. I am going to learn the pigeon poem so that I can talk to her that way! She truly is an amazing author and I am now her biggest fan...no you can't fight me for it because I said so. This truly is now my favorite series! I cannot wait to read the next installment. Be sure to read the free short story These Precious Scars as well.

I feel I must first state that after reading C.S. Lewis's The Space Trilogy, I found it difficult to engage with works of science fiction. This was due to the fact that Lewis clearly finds his narrative element and transitions accordingly regardless what genre frontier he chose to embark on. So as a reader, I consider Lewis to be a great pillar of science fiction that has stood alone on the threshold of literature.



Until Emily Suvada.



Suvada's This Mortal Coil and This Cruel Design hold everything that readers crave in a great read. The plot twists blindside you and you become the characters and match your heartbeat accordingly to their fates. Simply put, I was torn between wanting to finish these books immediately and pacing myself so that the story would continue for an extended period of time.



I am also convinced Suvada was a boxer at one point in her life because her plot twists just leave readers utterly breathless.



This Cruel Design & This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada
October 23, 2018

|

Alex Lopez

Hello everyone!



Today at The Reading Corner for All we're featuring This Mortal Coil and its sequel, This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada.



I feel I must first state that after reading C.S. Lewis's The Space Trilogy, I found it difficult to engage with works of science fiction. This was due to the fact that Lewis clearly finds his narrative element and transitions accordingly regardless what genre frontier he chose to embark on. So as a reader, I consider Lewis to be a great pillar of science fiction that has stood alone on the threshold of literature.



Until Emily Suvada.



Suvada's This Mortal Coil and This Cruel Design hold everything that readers crave in a great read. The plot twists blindside you and you become the characters and match your heartbeat accordingly to their fates. Simply put, I was torn between wanting to finish these books immediately and pacing myself so that the story would continue for an extended period of time.



I am also convinced Suvada was a boxer at one point in her life because her plot twists just leave readers utterly breathless.



In collaboration with The Fantastic Flying Book Club, two copies of This Cruel Design (US only) will find their way to two lucky readers in a giveaway after the 'About the Author' section of this blog! Be sure to visit the rest of the great stops on this blog tour by clicking the banner below.




About the Books








This Mortal Coil


by Emily Suvada

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: November 7, 2017

Genre: Young Adult -- Science Fiction



































This Cruel Design

by Emily Suvada

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Genre: Young Adult -- Science Fiction





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About the Author



Emily Suvada was born and raised in Australia, where she went on to study mathematics and astrophysics. She previously worked as a data scientist, and still spends hours writing algorithms to perform tasks which would only take minutes to complete on her own. When not writing, she can be found hiking, cycling, and conducting chemistry experiments in her kitchen. She currently lives in Portland, OR, with her husband.

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Giveaway



Prize:

2 copies of This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada

(USA only)

Starts: 10/22/18

Ends: 10/31/18



Click here







Reviews




This Mortal Coil



From the very beginning the title caught my attention because of its subtle reference to Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. This allusion to one of Shakespeare's grandest works already set a stage of high expectations for readers.



The story opens with an integration into Catarina "Cat" Agatta's life in a not-so-far future where genetics can alter everything about human appearance and behavior. Because of all these genetic enhancements, humans became susceptible to the Hydra virus which results in humanities near annihilation. Cat's father, Dr. Lachlan Agatta, has been working for years to find a cure until he is taken away by the orginazation known as Cartaxus.



Two years later, Cat follows in her father's footsteps by honing her skills as a hacker to create medicinal codes to help others along with viral sabotage against Cartaxus. When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, shows up with the news of her father's death, Cat must rethink find a way to continue her father's legacy without delivering his lifetime work to the enemy.


Yet, as Cat's journeys farther from home, the more Cat realizes that there are two sides to every person and that there is an entire, more sinister side to her father that is more frightening than the Hydra virus.



The story development just seizes readers and renders you incapable of thinking about anything other than Cat's journey through this apocalyptic world. I thoroughly enjoyed how Suvada brought up the question about what qualities make a person human. It was also interesting to see the character dynamics change from complete warriness and distrust to absolute reliance to help save humanity.



As I've mentioned before, nothing thrills my bookish heart more than a story with plenty of plot twists and unexpected endings. Suvada expertly navigated This Mortal Coil with suspense, horror, and thrills so that you never really expected the major blow that waited you on the next page.


Overall, I'd give this work a solid 5 star review and a place on my top five favorite science fiction list. This book is definitely for you if you like works like The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman or Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida.

This Cruel Design






This Cruel Design picks up the story right from the shocking revelation in This Mortal Coil. Cat must piece together the fragmented pieces of her past as well as come to terms with her growing attraction to Cole....and the lost history that connects them together. As the Hydra virus cure reaches some complications, Cat and her friends must find the cure before humanities time runs out.



The ending to This Cruel Design was definitely a harsh one to process. In this work, Suvada emphasized how the true cure for humanity was one based on sacrifice by traveling along the road of hardship and utter despair. The author pushes scientific boundaries and presses her characters against monumental tasks that leave readers with plenty of jaw dropping moments.



While it is rare for a sequel to be up to par with the first book in a series, Suvada surpassed the narrative she establish in This Mortal Coil by creating a stunning sequel full of incredible plot developments and character revelations.



Emily Suvada is an author to watch out for!

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

**I received this ARC for the Fantastic Flying Book Club blog tour for an honest review. All thoughts are my own**
*4.5 stars*
DUDE this was nuts! This second book is one crazy ride and not being able to breathe lol. While it was harder for me to remember some side characters and a few plot details from book one (having read book one last year and the recap in the beginning didn't help as much as I wanted), it was still crazy and very good. You get a good amount of answers and development, with the craziest ending I've read in some time. Full review will be up and linked here on Saturday.

You know that super rare feeling where a sequel is as awesome as the first book in a series? Where it doesn't suffer from that "second book slump"? Such a unicorn, right? WELL. It happens here, friends! After the amazing twistiness that was This Mortal Coil, I was kiiiind of unsure if the author could replicate such amazing plot twists and surprises. Could she keep the characters developing and still likable? She sure could, and she did!

Sequel reviews are hard, because you don't want to give away anything about the sequel of course, but nor do you want to give anything away about its predecessors. So I am going to talk, in the vaguest of terms, about the junk I loved:

•More information on the post- (and pre-) virus world. Lots of details that I was yearning for in the last book have come to light- and I know there are more to come. The author manages to give just enough information to satisfy, while still leaving you excited for whatever she throws at you next. And I love it.

•Not only is there character growth, but relationship growth. Cat has to redefine a lot of how she sees herself after the events in the last book. But she also has to transform, grow, rebuild (and in some cases, begin) lots of relationships. I loved watching how the characters navigated all the changes, and all the new things they themselves learned about their world and the people around them.

•Incredibly high stakes. It's the sort of series where no one and nothing feels safe. At any moment, the rug can be pulled out from under any character it seems, and so I was always on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome, but terrified for the worst. Definitely tons of good tension.

•Again, I was so shocked by so many things in this book! Honestly, I am hard to shock at this point. So when the author somehow manages to do it over and over, and in really quality ways that make sense in the story... it's impressive, to say the least.

Bottom Line: Someone give me book 3 immediately. Please? Waiting is hard.

Wow...so wow. This Cruel Design is an amazing sequel to This Mortal Coil but I almost wish I had written my review while reading. So much happens!!!!! So much!!!! Again Emily Suavada takes on a journey that is fast paced and interesting.

Crap...okay. There is no good way to talk about the book without giving away too much so I’m not going to delve into the plot too much. We pick up right where This Mortal Coil leaves off and Cat is trying to reconcile all that she has learned with all that she knows. Yet she knows there are still so many more mysteries about herself and Lachlan that she has to uncover. As well as, understanding where Jun Bei fits into everything. When it looks like the virus might not be as dead as they thought. The characters are once again on a course to save humanity as they know it.

So we do meet some new characters that bring some perspective on the past lives of the experimental children. As well as fill in some missing pieces for Cat. Again I really like how these stories explore different ideologies about merging tech into our lives. From one spectrum to the other. How far are you willing to be modified? I liked nothing was forced on you as being wrong but let you see why people chose the different ways to live. It was super interesting.

Again I love how Suavada makes what could be confusing topics, coding and DNA, and makes them easy to understand. I never felt like I was lost or confused. I could follow the thought pattern to what each person was trying to accomplish.

I love the writing and I love the story. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait for the next book. Not after everything that has happened. I felt a little thunderstruck at the end, but in a good way. Like, wait, what?? I’m so excited to continue on.

A copy of this ebook was provided to me from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Set in a Futuristic USA where everyone is implanted with a control panel in their arm at birth that is used to code DNA to alter appearance and abilities. With so much constant access to technology people give up basic bodily functions and turn it over to algorithms to create space in their brain to think and code faster. Everyone is hackable, and that's a scary thought. This story picks up right after book 1 ends. Vaccine for the deadly Hydra virus that caused victims to violently explode was distributed to everyone via a mass distributed code thanks to Cat. Lachlan, the crazy scientist Catarina thought was her dead father is still on the loose with a plan to alter without permission the human race's genes. Cat and her friends are trying to stay undiscovered and recover from the aftermath.

Cat suffered a brain injury and the healing tech is causing side effects like hallucinations and memory recovery. She is also learning how to use all the tech, like VRR, that was previously unavailable to her when Cat thought she had hypergenesis. The Zarathusa gang has a hard time with Catarina's identity as she takes on more of June Bei's mannerisms. Catarina isn't as strong of a character as in book one but there is definitely a lot of growth.

New mutated strand of the Hydra virus kills faster and is immune to the vaccine. Cartaxus wants to raze the ground and start over but Catarina hopes there is another way.

The pacing was great. I like discovering more about June Bei and her parentage. Also I'm a total nerd for all the Sci-Fi! It really makes me think, do all the pros that comes full access in this world outweigh the very real potential cons. I can see society actually going in that direction.

I'm still not a fan of Cat and Cole together but I adored Leo and his nickname and easy going presence with Cat.

The twist ending!!! I hate that I have to wait for the conclusion- this is NOT a duology.

"Erasing memories is easy- but suppressing them is hard." I felt the need to start here with this review because this is the main focus, in my mind of this book. A lot of betrayal has happened since book one started so Catarina is in a place where she doesn't know who she can trust even more than the last book. I love that the second book started with a bit of a re-cap of the first book. Even if I hadn't read This Mortal Coil right before this one, I would be able to pick right up.

I found this book way more romance heavy, but it didn't bother me since it seemed like that was where it was going to go after the first book ended. You got way more of a backstory pretty quickly in this book, I almost felt like I was reading about different characters, since they had all matured so much. There was a lot more DNA changing throughout this one, which I found pretty cool. People were changing their DNA in some of the coolest ways I can think of.

I love that this author is so descriptive in her writing, but not overwhelming. I felt each scene unfolding in front me vividly. I did find this book a lot more graphic than book one, but nothing too much for me to handle personally. This book is one to pick up if you want a twisty, roller-coaster of a ride through the most amazing sci-fi setting I've ever read about.

Having recently finished This Mortal Coil, I was really excited to jump right into reading this one! The premise is interesting and played out relatively well, I think. It reminds me a bit of Resident Evil but for teenagers? Idk. I did remember to note one TW/CW so let's list that and then I'll dive into the full review. As always, if you've read this novel and you know of other TW/CWs that need to be added, please let me know and I'll update the list! :)

glorification of self harm (talking about hurting self is better than hurting others)
The characters got a bit more character development in this one and there were quite a few new characters as well. However, I don't think the protagonist got enough development in This Cruel Design to have the novel be able to stand alone in any way. I did enjoy that Emily Suvada kept with her pattern of using the character development in her plot twists. It's not something I get to see very often and I really enjoyed it. Especially the ones involving Cat.

In This Mortal Coil, we got a good bit of general "this is how things work" world building as well as a bit of development on Cartaxus labs and bunkers. It was really great to get a bit more of the surface world built up in This Cruel Design, especially with the genehacker city, Entropia. The general way the world is developed might be enough to support it by itself, but its definitely not a standalone. It does add nicely onto the world building we got earlier in the series.

Because this series is so fast paced, there's so much that could be lost by skipping ahead even a little between novels so I'm really glad that the story picks up right where it left off. The story is really fast paced pretty much from beginning to end, making it hard to put down and easy to finish in a single sitting. The one thing that holds me back from rating this any higher is the slightly confusing cliffhanger ending. I can't explain why it's a little confusing without spoiling something from both of the existing novels in this series so I'll just 🤐

I do want to go ahead and say that, while this book definitely does give a bit of a bridge between the first and third books of this series, it's not what I would consider a bridge novel. It's not a story that exists simply to get us from point a (This Mortal Coil) to point b (Untitled Book 3), but is definitely its own story. Since it's not something that I see often with YA series, so I feel like it's important that I point this out. :) I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

This Mortal Coil was everything I needed in a book and this continues the series strongly! Emily Suvada is a fabulous author who creates a truly unapologetically brilliant female main character.

I started this immediately after finishing This Mortal Coil, and finished it within a day, so that should tell you all you need to know about my feelings about this book. This Cruel Design was just as fast-paced, well-written, and absolutely addicting as the first book.

The book picks up right where This Mortal Coil leaves off, and the action begins almost instantaneously. Readers have no cause to worry as there’s no second book syndrome here! I could hardly put it down and there are plenty more plot twists and reveals that kept me hooked. As with the previous book, the science and technology elements continue to be really intriguing and unique. I had no problem following along with all of the terminology and jargon.

I was under the impression that this was a duology, so the last couple of chapters really had me nervous! The ending is a total cliff-hanger and I have so many questions! I’m not sure how I’m going to survive the wait for the final book. The Cruel Design was a fun, action-packed, thrilling sequel to This Mortal Coil.

This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada picks up where This Mortal Coil left off. With Lachlan on the run and a mutated strain of virus on the loose, it's up to Cat to save everyone above ground.

To put it quite simply: this book was SO good! I had a hard time putting it down and couldn't wait to find out what misadventures Cat and her unlikely team got into. This was a book of answers, and I was pleased to learn more about Cat, her past, her family, and her motivations. I had a lot of questions coming out of This Mortal Coil, so I was happy to have some of those questions answered.

The writing was beautiful in This Cruel Design, and the pace was quick. Cat raced against time in this book, which kept the storyline moving along swiftly.

The plot is wicked cool in this series, and I really liked the direction This Cruel Design took. Cat's backstory was a real bomb dropped, and I didn't see it coming. The storyline between Cat and Cole continued to progress, though not without some tension. I'll be curious to see where their relationship goes in the next book.

The ending of the book was a whirlwind of fast-paced action. Sides were chosen, and not everyone made it out alive. The ending also left me eagerly anticipating the next book. At this point, I have no idea what's going to happen next, but I can't wait to find out!

All of the characters in the book were delightfully written, unique and original. Some of the new characters, like Mato and Regina, added to the story nicely. Where there's good, there's bad, and Mato and Regina, both morally gray characters, were fun to get to know. Jun Bei's story also ramped up in This Cruel Design. The more I learn about Jun Bei, the more I like her character. She has a streak of compassion but all the hardness of someone who's had a really hard life.

If you like science fiction, strong characters, and lots of action, I highly recommend you check out this wonderful series!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first book in this series, This Mortal Coil, was one of my most captivating reads last year. Any books involving genetic engineering? Yes, please. I was so excited to receive an ARC of This Cruel Design, but also cautiously optimistic that it would live up to my heightened expectations. No worries - it more than delivered, and is just as addictive as the first book.

I had no trouble falling right back into Cat's world, but still appreciate the recap in the first couple of chapters. Strong characterization is one of the strong points of this series, and I thought I knew these characters' secrets - wrong. So very wrong. More gasp-worthy secrets, hidden agendas, surprising relationship reveals - strap yourselves in and be prepared. The coding technology continues to thrill my inner science geek, and comes across as absolutely realistic the way it's written.

With a unique plot line, strong, likable characters pushed to their limits, a fast pace, and futuristic technology, this series will appeal to YA sci-fi fans, and is easily a crossover. My wait for the next book will not be patient or pleasant.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am unable to read and review this book due to the e-arc PDF file format I received. I only have a phone and kindle available to me and PDF files will not open. I’m sure this book is as ever amazing as it’s first, however!