Seanan McGuire, writing as Mira Grant, posits a world where illnesses are mostly cured/curable, and pandemics are a thing of the past.

Then a new outbreak happens, and Dr. Isabella Gauley is forced to confront the idea that to stop this disease, some very drastic measures will have to be taken.

The ending is quite shocking, however I'm not sure that it was needed. The story stands well enough on its own without having to make the statement it does through the ending.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read which I really enjoyed. This makes me want to get all books by this author and read them. I would like to get me a finished copy.

When a new variant on the measles shows up, it takes the world by storm, fueled by anti-vaccination groups that have made the population vulnerable. To make matters worse, this new disease renders its survivors unable to 'learn' from new vaccines, leaving them vulnerable to ailments that were thought long-since eradicated. Dr. Isabella Gauley decides there's only one way to save humanity and modern culture from the wave after wave of plagues that follow: take the healthy and the immunocompromised and make safe enclaves, guarded by force when necessary, to wait it out until a cure can be found.


Since it's such a short book, a lot of it is told through narration and summary, with only a few scenes made of dialogue and lengthy descriptions of medical jargon and logistics. Which is fine, I like both those things and the book didn't last long enough for the solid wall of text to get annoying. However... I think it was supposed to be a horror book but by focusing so much of the text on these 'healthy island' camps, we lost a lot of potential. The horror of the diseases were touched on but not the focus of anything, and the logistics going into the islands were straightforward and not scary. All the real gut-punch stuff happened off-page, or in the first quarter. There were some really good conversations about bodily autonomy, but again, by restricting our focus to these camps we didn't get a chance to really delve into and feel the horror of those topics going too far. Overall, just felt kind of...dull, considering the subject matter.


Good twist at the end, though.

(to be posted 8/23)

'The Kingdom of Needle and Bone' by Mira Grant is a short novel about a horrifying subject right from our headlines.

A medical doctor vaccinates her niece before her niece heads out on vacation. Her parting words are cautionary words to the parents to avoid the theme park as they are full of disease. Her niece gets sick with a new strain of sickness and dies before the vaccine takes hold. The aunt is left with grief and a resolve to protect people, even if it's against their wills.

This is a story about a horrible disease. It's also a good cautionary tale. Mira Grant writes characters that feel pretty real. Her situations seem pretty plausible to me as well. This is a timely story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Subterranean Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

A quick read that I'm glad to say I finally got around to reading. The ending was a little bit shocking and unexpected but what else do you expect from Mira Grant?

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, which has not altered my opinion of this book.

Once again, Mira Grant has proven that her writing never stops gripping me and leading me down the wrong idea. But it did and that ending…woooooo!! The more of her writing that I read, the more I find that I just want to dive into her stories. This was a take on the end of the world type of story that we are all getting a bit tored of, but it’s told differently and in a way I haven’t really heard of before. At least not from the POV that it was this time.

While this story was short, I really got to meet many of the different characters and understood them a lot more. The main character is a doctor and the amount of medical detail in this book is really quite impressive. This doesn’t follow any sort of magical creatures, but it shows the true horror that can show its face in the human race: disease.

I recommend this book as much as I recommend any other Mira Grant book: with pushing and shoving in that direction. I should know by now that I just need to read whatever she writes becuase it is always brilliant. 4.5 out of 5 from me!

Powerhouse author Mira Grant takes an idea that appears to be ripped right out of the newspaper headlines and makes it even more terrifying because we all know who close to truth this fictional story is.

In a world where medical and technology knowledge grows at a staggering pace and vaccinations are so common that we can easily forget how terrible the diseases were that are now vaccinated against, the next biggest danger to mankind is probably man him (or her) self.

It starts as a simple fever. Nothing too serious, right? Shortly after the fever there are the spots that appear and now it's already too late. The first person to contract this is dead and a pandemic has begun. But to add insult to injury, this is a disease that we've already fought and had vaccinations for. But the movement to <em>not</em> vaccinate children - especially for a disease that no one's contracted in decades - has opened the door for the disease to rush back in a lay claim to millions of people.

One doctor, related to the first person to contract the new strain of the old disease, sees a possible way out for humanity, but it's not exactly ethical and she will be vilified by anyone and everyone who might ever mention her name.

The amazing thing about Mira Grant's writing is that she can make even the eradication of humanity seem poetic. She also manages to make everything incredibly plausible with her detailed research and the way she presents the science behind the horror.

On the one hand, the book appears to be about vaccinations and immunizations but it's the people in Grant's books that make her stories rise up. They are ordinary people. Maybe doctors, maybe news reporters, maybe day laborers, but they all seem like someone we know in our own towns, and they are asked, by the circumstances presented to them, to challenge themselves - to rise above what they thought were their limits to combat the horror in front of them. And Grant finds new ways for people to do that. And that is what keeps me reading her books ... whether she is writing as Mira Grant, or Seanan Maguire ... I'll keep reading.

Looking for a good book? Kingdom of Needle and Bone is a science fiction horror story by Mira Grant and it is captivating.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Mira Grant’s newest novel is a chilling vision of the near future, all the more frightening because of its possibility. Already we see the impact of the anti vaccination groups as polio and other diseases long eliminated return in virulent form. We wonder what comes next. Mira Grant gives an answer in the form of a question - what if herd immunity was fractured enough to allow a new form of an old disease to infect most of the population, and what if that disease prevented the infected from developing new antibodies. How do you protect the healthy? How do you save the sick? Naturally there are additional twists, but Mira Grant paints a picture both eminently possible and painful to see. I was captivated from beginning to end.

Kingdom of Needle and Bone is an excellent piece of near future speculative fiction. It is worth reading for many reasons, not the least of which is the importance of the vaccination issue. I highly recommend Mira Grant’s newest novel.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Kingdom of Needle and Bone from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

— Crittermom

Kingdom of Needle and Bone by Mira Grant
BLURB~
“We live in an age of wonders. Modern medicine has conquered or contained many of the diseases that used to carry children away before their time, reducing mortality and improving health. Vaccination and treatment are widely available, not held in reserve for the chosen few. There are still monsters left to fight, but the old ones, the simple ones, trouble us no more. Or so we thought. For with the reduction in danger comes the erosion of memory, as pandemics fade from memory into story into fairy tale. Those old diseases can't have been so bad, people say, or we wouldn't be here to talk about them. They don't matter. They're never coming back. How wrong we could be. It begins with a fever. By the time the spots appear, it's too late: Morris's disease is loose on the world, and the bodies of the dead begin to pile high in the streets. When its terrible side consequences for the survivors become clear, something must be done, or the dying will never stop. For Dr. Isabella Gauley, whose niece was the first confirmed victim, the route forward is neither clear nor strictly ethical, but it may be the only way to save a world already in crisis. It may be the only way to atone for her part in everything that s happened. She will never be forgiven, not by herself, and not by anyone else. But she can, perhaps, do the right thing. We live in an age of monsters.”
REVIEW~
Oh MY GOSH! That cover! This would be a total cover buy for me. I wouldn’t even read the synopsis. Truly. I’d pick this one up, drop it in the basket, and be on my merry way. This is an …a… I don’t even know what to say. Is there a better word for amazing? It’s a short, but extremely powerful and thought-provoking book. I can’t even begin to explain the complexities of this novel (novella maybe- it is short- only about 130 pages.) But it packs a punch! Right in your gut and in your sense of what you think you’d do in a similar, and may I say, plausible situation.
You have to know that I have been a registered nurse for nearly 10 years, and this story’s plot is within a medical setting. Naturally, I am watching for mistakes. There aren’t any, as far as I could tell. The author did a wonderful job of ensuring that. She is an extremely talented writer with nearly flawless word building skills. She writes in such an evocative way it leaves you stunned.
The basis of the story was exceptional and fascinating. This is an inimitable but convincing tale that draws upon our fears and makes you wonder just how far you’d go to ‘do the right thing.” Just so brilliant. From beginning to end, this book was unwaveringly intense. The ending will catch you so off guard. What a shocker! I read this book in a matter of a few hours and was enthralled the entire time.
The characters were so real. Grant has written them so thoroughly. Their humanity and the array of situations and emotions they go through are just magnificent. I can’t speak highly enough about this character development. These characters feel authentic, like people you could know in reality.
This was a short and splendid read. It is provocative, but easy to read. I highly recommend this to all sci-fi/ medical mystery lovers. 5/5 stars.

I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review, or portions thereof, will be posted (when able) on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, IG, FB, Pinterest, Litsy, and my own blog.
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide links to all sites as I am using my phone.
On various sites I am:
Pinterest~ Pinterest.com/katskraps
Barnes & Noble~ Karyl-Ahn-white_7
Litsy~ Karylahn or Karyl White
I have already posted to Amazon, but haven’t received the link as of yet.

AND REGARDLESS, this novella still has that thematic punch that lets you know exactly who wrote it. It comes at you cold and controlled, not as a gentle shoulder-touch telling you what’s wrong, but as someone pulling you to show you a wreck to say, “This is what is happening, and I will tell you what will result from this because of actions you have undertaken.” Like, thank god I’m firmly in the camp of “vaccinate your damn kids” because if I wasn’t, this story reads you to filth real quick.

Now, I don’t want to dig in too deep because of spoilers. But I can lay it out enough so you get the gist. In KINGDOM OF NEEDLE AND BONE, we’re given a snapshot of a world just a few years older than ours, where humanity is struck with a disease that does the unthinkable: a disease that cannot and will not be stopped by vaccines. Not only does it eradicate any defenses the body has built it, it destroys its ability to create any new defenses.

Scary, right?

Felt a bit like a first draft. An excellent idea, and good writing, but poorly fleshed out. I was particularly disappointed with the villain aspect. I didn't need the villain; the situation was dramatic enough.

Do enjoy a side of complicated social questions with your fiction? Do you have an opinion on the ongoing issues of the anti-vaccination movement? Are you a reader of medical thrillers? Have I got the book for you!

Kingdom of Needle and Bone (2018)
Written by: Mira Grant
Genre: Sci-fi/thriller/horror (don’t look at me like that, they all apply)
Pages: 128 (Kindle)
Publisher: Subterranean Press

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

Why I Chose It: I don’t even read the premise before I pick up a book by Grant (or Seanan McGuire, who plays Grant in the sci-fi industry). When I saw the ARC available on NetGalley, I had to throw my hat in for it.

The premise:

We live in an age of wonders. Modern medicine has conquered or contained many of the diseases that used to carry children away before their time, reducing mortality and improving health. Vaccination and treatment are widely available, not held in reserve for the chosen few. There are still monsters left to fight, but the old ones, the simple ones, trouble us no more. Or so we thought. For with the reduction in danger comes the erosion of memory, as pandemics fade from memory into story into fairy tale. Those old diseases can’t have been so bad, people say, or we wouldn’t be here to talk about them. They don’t matter. They’re never coming back. How wrong we could be. It begins with a fever. By the time the spots appear, it’s too late: Morris’s disease is loose on the world, and the bodies of the dead begin to pile high in the streets. When its terrible side consequences for the survivors become clear, something must be done, or the dying will never stop. For Dr. Isabella Gauley, whose niece was the first confirmed victim, the route forward is neither clear nor strictly ethical, but it may be the only way to save a world already in crisis. It may be the only way to atone for her part in everything that’s happened. She will never be forgiven, not by herself, and not by anyone else. But she can, perhaps, do the right thing. We live in an age of monsters.
No spoilers

Discussion: Novellas, when done well, are complete little nuggets of story. Oh, you sometimes wish that they were longer, but these stories are, generally, perfectly fine on their own. Grant’s short fiction frequently leaves the reader craving more. Rather than a luscious chocolate truffle, think of Grant’s novellas as hits of the perfect drug. The highs are glorious, but when you come down, you’re craving the next hit. This is the case with Kingdom of Needle and Bone.

The story, at first, seems straightforward enough. An outbreak happens; mass death follows. One doctor has an idea that’s just insane enough to possibly save humanity from extinction. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. This is a Grant story, after all.

One theme in the story is the idea of what it means to have body autonomy, and the complicated issues that accompany it. Such issues are, of course, never simple; if one is free to do what one wishes with one’s body, are there any limits? If a woman is free to choose whether or not to terminate a pregnancy, should one also be free to avoid scientifically sound vaccinations that have been proven to lessen or even completely eliminate the chance that one will become infected with a potentially deadly disease? It’s a problem without a clear answer. It’s also a timely social problem: diseases that had become rare seem to have made a roaring comeback in the last few years. Measles cases are on the rise. Should vaccinations be mandatory? Is the greater good worth more than personal freedom? These are sticky, complicated questions that are explored in Kingdom of Needle and Bone.

I promised no spoilers, but it is so damned hard to avoid them right now. The novella’s ending floored me. I had to go back and re-read the last few pages a couple of times. A little voice in my mind was whispering, over and over, “Does this mean what I think it means?? Did she…? And did SHE…? OH. EM. GEE.” Imagine that I am hopping up and down and flailing helplessly at you right now, because that’s essentially what my brain is doing as I do my best to avoid spoiling anything for you. And Grant’s a sly one — she hints, strongly, at the circumstances that set the entire story in motion, and the reader must be astute, but it is so, so worth it. It is equal parts terrifying and heartbreaking.

In Conclusion: If you’re a fan of medical thrillers, and a fan of Grant’s work, you should head over to Subterranean and pre-order the hardcover. If you’re not a hardcore Grant/McGuire collector, the ebook version may be pre-ordered for a modest 4.99. It’s a great read with a shocking ending that I honestly never saw coming. Please, somebody, read this book so that I have somebody to flail with.

There's not much I love more than a plague book. A plague book written by Mira Grant? Absofreakinglutely.

The premise of this one was one of those post-apoc stories that are so scarily plausible that you read the entire thing in a constant state of discomfort, in the best way possible. The story started off incredibly strong but by the end I had two very major issues.
1. There was too much story to squeeze into a novella. There was so much more material that could have and should have been fleshed out to make this even more enjoyable.
2. The beating of a dead horse about the importance of vaccinations. This novella read at times like a public safety message about the perils of choosing not to vaccinate and the science behind it. That was all very interesting and actually incredibly informative and I can honestly say I learned quite a bit about it myself. The issue is, I'm not an anti-vaxxer. The people that pick up this book aren't going to be anti-vaxxers. So really, it felt like for me the "message" was preaching to the choir. I understand the message she wanted to present to the world, but it just felt overly preachy.

Since this story was pretty short, I won't give away any details. All I can say is that this could happen!
I am a huge fan of this author, and as usual I really enjoyed her writing.

Subterranean Press has done it again. Kingdom of Needle and Bone is the newest science-horror novella from Mira Grant, pseudonym of Seanan McGuire and it is bold and political and terrifying. 

My 4-star rating is actually an average because for this book I have two ratings. Five stars if you're new to Mira Grant or haven't read much from Seanan's alter-ego. Three stars if you have read Mira Grant's previous works and are familiar with her favorite tropes. Kingdom of Needle and Bone is Peak Mira Grant, absolutely on brand. This is a boon as much as it is a challenge. 

I am an avid reader of Seanan's and I have read nearly everything she's written - so unfortunately I saw some of the twists near the end of the book coming. 

But, that aside, Kingdom of Needle and Bone is a searing takedown of the Anti-Vaccination movement. Seanan also brings up interesting points in the bodily-autonomy and reproductive rights spheres. This book is unflinchingly political and will be loved and hated likely based on how the reader feels about those topics. 

My heart broke for some of the characters and I put the book down shaken. Kingdom of Needle and Bone is unrelenting and unflinching and a terrifying view of a potential future. 

Thank you to Subterranean Press for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kingdom of Needle and Bone is Mira Grant’s (AKA Seanan McGuire) latest novella, and it is not for the faint of heart. Seriously, I was about eighty percent of the way through this novella when I realized I have compulsively sanitized my hands more than six times while reading.
Unlike Mira Grant’s other works, this novella is entirely human. There are no mythical creatures swimming through the ocean terrorizing the characters, there’s no zombies munching on anybody. This is all about humans, diseases, and how we handle a crisis.
While I would have read this novella regardless, because of the author, I would like to think that the cover would have caught my attention and made me tempted to read it. The cover itself is quite beautiful, but also does a fantastic job portraying the subject inside.
Before I begin my review, I just want to make a quick note. While I’m sure you’ll be able to grab a digital copy of this novella at any time, I know that the print run for it is rather limited (I think it’s around one thousand copies – which isn’t much when you think about it). So if you want a copy you should grab it from Subterranean Press while you can.

Warnings first: Kingdom of Needle and Bone covers a lot of heavy subjects, specifically those revolving around disease and outbreaks. If you’re prone to being freaked out while talking or thinking about sick people, this may not be a good call for you. Also, Mira Grant did a wonderful job of bringing the tragedy of it all down to a human level, but that also makes you that much more aware of the people affected, including children.
Kingdom of Needle and Bone is one of the heavier novellas I’ve read this month, and I don’t have any regrets about that. I read it all in one sitting, and part of me even wished that there was more to it when it was all over. I would love to see a novel or two set in this world.
Morris’s disease isn’t a real disease, but it sure felt like it while I was reading. The disease is based off of real-life Measles, but with even more dreadful results. I love that Mira Grant had them name the disease after the first known victim – that made it all feel so much more real. I feel like that is something that would have been done in real life. The thought of it all sent chills down my spine.
Mira Grant did a brilliant job of blending science and science fiction here. While there were leaps made here, they were all done in disturbingly believable ways. The reason a disease like Morris’s could take hold to begin with, the hidden side effects of a disease like that, the following outbreaks, and the panic. It all made sense, and that’s the most disturbing part. It would have been a lot easier to digest if we could just brush it off as ‘typical science fiction’ but the truth of the matter is that we can’t.
There was absolutely a political statement being made in this novella, and I applaud Mira Grant for doing so. That may be my bias showing, since I wholeheartedly agree with the points that were being made here. More than that though, Mira Grant explored the complexities of the political side of this sort of situation. How something that seems so simple can get all twisted up and torn apart, thanks in part to human nature and politics.
This was a chilling read, through and through. I loved every moment of it, from the parts that really did hit me quite hard, to the parts that made me stop and think about the logistics of everything. It was all brilliantly written. I know it’s early to talk of it, but I can’t wait to see what her next novel or novella will be about.

I’m not a big fan of the horror genre, but I cannot resist a Mira Grant novel. For those not in the know, Mira Grant is one of Seanan McGuire’s pen names, and I’m a ridiculous superfan of hers. The only other Mira Grant I’d read was her killer mermaids book, Into the Drowning Deep, which I absolutely adored, so even if the blurb didn’t initially sound like something in my wheelhouse, I was eager to read it. Oh boy, I was not disappointed!

“A world that had been willing to reject the efficacy of vaccines suddenly found itself on the verge of being forced to live without them, and it was not prepared.”


Morris’ disease – named after the first known patient, Lisa Morris – has swept across the world, killing millions and leaving the survivors searching for answers. Though most agree that the disease was too well-engineered to be anything other than a human creation, no group ever took credit for it, and most of the public blame falls on anti-vaxxers for weakening the herd immunity and allowing the pandemic to take hold and spread. For Dr. Isabella Gauley, the disease has had both personal and professional ramifications, as Lisa was her niece and Izzy is one of the few remaining pediatricians, whose offices are protested at like today’s abortion clinics. When shocking new ramifications of the disease are discovered, Izzy makes choices that both connect and separate her from her surviving sisters, Angela and Brooke.

“A single person could transform everything. She had started off doing everything she did for Lisa’s sake, and now, with Lisa gone, she was still doing it all for the little girl who had loved her, and trusted her, and died under her care.”


For me, this is a story about three sisters – Izzy, Angela, and Brooke – bound together by the death of their niece and daughter, Lisa. Izzy focuses on being a doctor and trying to convince parents to vaccinate their (remaining) kids. Brooke mourns her daughter in her own quiet way. Angela, on the other hand, is drawn to vaccination activism, inciting the groups protesting outside Izzy’s office and always eager to provide another soundbite for the media. While they’re each mourning Lisa, they do it in their own ways, often setting them at odds with each other.

“We have quarantine. Quarantine says that the government can impede your ordinary movement if you present a danger to others. Vaccination should be treated as something on the same level. You get vaccinated, not because you want to protect yourself, but because you want to be a part of society, and being a part of society means protecting everyone around you.”


The novella itself is quite addictive, and I devoured it in one sitting. Ms. Grant is excellent at creating a sense of unease that permeates the book, even when the main characters are – should be – happy and hopeful, the sort of readerly equivalent of the feeling that there’s something hiding in the dark at the edges of your vision. Her characters, too, leap off the page, including the main character, Dr. Isabella Gauley, who could’ve easily fallen into the typical mad scientist stereotype but instead has so much more depth. I thought Ms. Grant did a great job also of giving enough medical background to make it chillingly realistic but not so much as to bog down the story. The thought of some sort of superbug wiping out millions of people is, unfortunately, too realistic. Unfortunately, it also turned into a bit of a screed about mandatory vaccination and bodily autonomy, and the whole anti-vax movement. While I felt this was warranted, especially as we’re coming at it from the point of someone who’s failed to save so many children, it was a bit too much, and also the reason why I only rated this four stars instead of five.

“I’m really hoping that your desire to do good is going to outweigh your desire to follow the rules. So what do you say? Will the two of you run away from home with me, so that we can try to save the world?”


There’s a nice twist at the end of the novella that definitely put a new spin on the actions of certain characters throughout the book. Who are the monsters? Is it the uncaring disease itself, the anti-vax crowd that lessened the herd immunity, the radical groups that have linked mandatory vaccinations with anti-abortion rhetoric, the parents who love their children enough to sacrifice them in order to save them? And in trying to fight these monsters, how far do we go before we become monsters ourselves?

While I very much hope that Ms. Grant chooses to treat this as the beginning of a series, I also feel that it’s pretty well wrapped up in and of itself. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a quick and engrossing sci-fi horror read!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4/5☆
Oh. My. God. This was SO good. This is my second Mira Grant book and I have to say, Grant/McGuire is a genius. I dont like horror anything but she writes the creepiest, most scary shit ever.
This story follows the world during and after a horrific disease wipes out the majority of the population because of anti-vaxers. (If you are an anti-vaxer please reevaluate your life choices. You are screwing us all)
What makes this story so creepy is the fact that it COULD happen. And that is terrifying. Grant really captured the fear and hysteria of the public as well as addressing political concerns for bodily autonomy and mandatory vaccinations.
My only complaint is that this could have been longer. At 128 pages, I just feel like there could have been more that was expanded and we could have gone a little deeper into the way the Islands work and gone deeper into ending and some of the character motivations.

I received an ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review.

5 out of 5 stars!

KINGDOM OF NEEDLE AND BONE has a very interesting premise that I find quite intriguing! I was totally immersed in this novel. However, I was worried I’d received an incomplete e-book because the progress was advancing too fast. And then, boom, the book ended when it got super interesting.

I wanted more!

I got the same feeling I experienced while reading THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin, where the first 100 pages are an extremely interesting introduction to what happens next. In that case, I felt a bit cheated when suddenly a chapter starts with “One hundred years later” or something like that. Again, I wanted more of those masterfully crafted first 100 pages.

In the KINGDOM OF NEEDLE AND BONE case, I didn’t feel cheated–just wanted more and more and more. But maybe, this short novel is the intro to another, more lengthy one?

Highly recommended! Just beware: This novel is short and the story feels rushed toward the end.

4.5 Stars

Mira Grant, aka Seanan McGuire loves a good biological horror story. And you don't need to look very far afield for sci-fi inspiration these days when you look at the current news with things like measles outbreaks surging in the face of anti-vaxxer madness. Writing on a topic in which she excels- the non-selective brutality of viruses and potential for disastrous mistakes with genetic engineering- McGuire envisions a world in which herd immunity to measles has broken down because there is no longer a protective veil of a substantial vaccinated population. It is a world which the death toll from a new strain of a virus similar to measles dwarfs that of the Spanish Flu of 1918. But what if such a virus also damaged your immune system's ability to form new immune reactions to other diseases? From a scientific standpoint it's not too far a stretch, and from a social/public health standpoint, you're talking about the potential to wipe out wide swaths of the earth's population. Isolating the uninfected seems likely to be the only way to secure the species' future.

While this book, to some extent, covers conceptual terrain that McGuire/Grant has previously covered in her Newsflesh series, Kingdom of Needle and Bone makes a marked departure from her previous works in terms of it's overtly political stance and its crystal clear thoughts on things like social welfare (greater common good) and reproductive choice. Longtime readers of McGuire will not be particularly surprised.

This is a very important topic, swathed in the velvet of fiction. It's a bold stance in that many in the sciences will applaud.

I'll be discussing this book on the blog with Alex and Janelle. KIngdom of Needle and Bone releases on Monday, December 31st.