Psychological Thriller / Horror
NetGalley ARC - Clash Books (SMPR)
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"Waking up without any symptoms reminds a person of everything they lack"

This books is split into three acts following the protagonists Will and Olivia after very low points in their lives they start to crave feeling sick as a way of coping with depression. I assume this is similar to bodily harm in that the goal is to feel something different and as they often refer to, attempt to become immune to the world they live in. They find a group of Chasers that pass on information about where exotic illnesses are out breaking so that these people can be the first in line to experience the new infections.
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"The feeling of being immune, not to any viral strain, but rather to others. People."

Act I is like if Fight Club was about catching viruses instead of hitting people. Chasing the high of near death. Trying to feel something, anything. All about finding a way to experience sickness, licking handles, accessing used medical equipment.

"For so many the thought of infection accentuates their greatest fears. Yet for a few, the word opens doors."

Act II becomes very Thelma and Louise, Alice in Wonderland, fever dream as the two protagonists explore a bit more of the supernatural and experience some quite gruesome horror scenes. Still not fully sure what was real or what was fake in this Act, similar to how the protagonists experience the events. However, the psychological part definitely lingers and leads us into Act III

"My temperature was so high...It rewrites how you think. It makes you see past all this bullshit, the people, the money, the so-called American Dream, and it shows you just how little we have control over anything."

Act III is a bit more subtle, focusing on the human experience and what we can and cannot control in life, and when we get what we want how long can it last

First and foremost, reading this while in recovery from COVID made the story all the more visceral. I love depraved stories about morally bankrupt characters, and this one was a wild ride which left me surprised, shocked, and grossed-out at every turn. I’m a big fan of B-movies, and this felt like something straight out of the mind of Cronenberg or H.G. Lewis. Definitely recommend for those who like splatterpunk/extreme horror.

Three solid stars. I took a chance on this one though I always say I don't like when COVID related subjects show up in media (outside of the news of course). But after experiencing it as a society, I just don't like when it shows up in fictional work.

With that being said;

"The Body Harvest" unfolds in three distinct acts or sections. The initial act was by far my favorite. This section perfectly delivered on the promises outlined in the book's back-cover summary: two fractured individuals seeking their next viral fix within an online community that proves to be as treacherous as the viruses it peddles.

Act two, however, took an unexpected turn. Here, the narrative veered into the supernatural, presenting a fever dream of bizarre occurrences—wounds healing in the blink of an eye, actions rewound with lingering mental scars, and inexplicable Jedi mind trick moments. This departure into the supernatural realm felt abrupt and disorienting, catching me off guard with no prior indication of the subgenre shift.

The third act delves into existential territory, intertwining social commentary with the devolution of the characters—a reversal of character growth. The author's themes around media, the virality of viruses, and the perils of "success" culture are evident, as is the recurring motif of individuals feeding on each other in a survival-of-the-fittest scenario.

While I recognize the thematic resonance of the supernatural elements, I found myself yearning for a narrative more aligned with the gripping realism of the first act. The abrupt shift into weirdness, reminiscent of a fever dream hallucination, could have been more enjoyable if there had been a clearer indication of the book's subgenre from the outset. My initial expectations of a grim tale involving the investigation of an online forum and a group of organ harvesters, bent on inducing global sickness for their own sinister goals, were somewhat overshadowed by the unexpected turn into the supernatural.

While I acknowledge that this isn't quite my cup of tea, I suggest readers just give it a shot.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This is a strange little book! I had trouble getting into it but it picked up, it's an interesting concept for a story, and really captures the grossness of the main characters