novelheartbeat's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I read this, so this will be a short review. But I really enjoyed it! This one was SUPER creepy, I loved that about it! It had a very strong Alien meets Pitch Black feel to it (which basically means it was awesome). It was incredibly fast paced and cinematic! I loved the mystery to it in the beginning - you don't know much about what's going on, and it keeps you interested. This would make such a great movie!
The world building was fabulous - I loved the way Bowman set everything up. It felt so realistic! And the contagion part of it was so cool! I don't want to say much else because I don't want to spoil anything. I went in knowing little to nothing about what was going on and that's part of the intrigue - figuring things out for yourself!
I loved the little snippets we got of the boy in the beginning! It tied the story together nicely and kept it moving. The only real complaint I have about this one is that I didn't connect emotionally as well as I'd hoped. When things happened I didn't really feel much of anything.
I don't have much else to say about this one other than I enjoyed it and you should definitely give it a go!
This review was originally posted on Novel Heartbeat. To see a breakdown of my assessment, please visit the full review here.
perusinghannah's review
4.0
(8/10) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Contagion is one of those books I just need from time to time - fun, fast paced, and intriguing enough to keep turning pages. Plus, I love a good sci-fi horror!
This is my second time reading this before I finally get to the sequel, and just like the first time I thought this was well plotted and equally well paced. There's enough to these characters to make sense of their actions, and the setting made a great backdrop to the story being told.
However, while the writing is perfectly solid and I appreciate the grit in this YA, the way this is narrated left something to be desired for me. There's hinting at things and intentions in an effort of foreshadowing, but it gives a little bit too much away and gets predictable at times.
All in all, a strong 4-star read I'd recommend to those in need of something quick.
Contagion is one of those books I just need from time to time - fun, fast paced, and intriguing enough to keep turning pages. Plus, I love a good sci-fi horror!
This is my second time reading this before I finally get to the sequel, and just like the first time I thought this was well plotted and equally well paced. There's enough to these characters to make sense of their actions, and the setting made a great backdrop to the story being told.
However, while the writing is perfectly solid and I appreciate the grit in this YA, the way this is narrated left something to be desired for me. There's hinting at things and intentions in an effort of foreshadowing, but it gives a little bit too much away and gets predictable at times.
All in all, a strong 4-star read I'd recommend to those in need of something quick.
tonishadows's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my lordy, Erin Bowman... This is how you do space horror!
The writing in this was fantastic, it was so well written and the history of the universe was explained perfectly. The horror felt claustrophobic and anxiety inducing, I had moments where I had to pause due to me feeling anxious and claustrophobic (That dumbwaiter scene? Holy shit!)... It was just what you'd want out of a space horror. This definitely lived up to my hype for this book, it took me beyond my expectations. Ticking all the boxes I look for in sci-fi horrors.
I adored everything about this book, it was fast paced, kept me guessing and the story was amazing and chilling.
I cannot wait to devour the sequel, I need to know what happens!
The writing in this was fantastic, it was so well written and the history of the universe was explained perfectly. The horror felt claustrophobic and anxiety inducing, I had moments where I had to pause due to me feeling anxious and claustrophobic (That dumbwaiter scene? Holy shit!)... It was just what you'd want out of a space horror. This definitely lived up to my hype for this book, it took me beyond my expectations. Ticking all the boxes I look for in sci-fi horrors.
I adored everything about this book, it was fast paced, kept me guessing and the story was amazing and chilling.
I cannot wait to devour the sequel, I need to know what happens!
ajwa's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn’t finish it. There were too many awful clichés that ruined it
linaria's review against another edition
3.0
So, going into the book, I was kinda expecting like Dead Space or something.
What I got? Definitely the deadly outbreak, and despite the characters INSISTING there are no such thing as zombies, they were kind of zombie-like.
So this crew consists of the dumbest commander ever - Dylan. Despite the fact that the planet is the site of a former massacre, and receiving an SOS, she insists that her incredibly unqualified crew investigate. Even though there are repeated warnings about the danger of the planet, she doesn't back down and initiates a series of events that gets the majority of her crew killed.
Nova - the temp flight pilot is one of the few characters that I could stand. She actually makes (mostly) reasonable decisions.
Sullivan, Cleaver and Toby didn't live long enough or have enough page time to actually make an impression.
The doctor, Thea and Coen are COMPLETELY fine starting a global pandemic because they want their selfish asses to get off the planet that they are currently on. It's totally just an acceptable risk. I just could not believe how dumb they acted with regards to the future of the HUMAN RACE.
The writing was decent and it was nice seeing a horror/sci-fi book. But the characters make the DUMBEST choices, I couldn't even deal. I was worried that I would rage-quit with anger.
What I got? Definitely the deadly outbreak, and despite the characters INSISTING there are no such thing as zombies, they were kind of zombie-like.
So this crew consists of the dumbest commander ever - Dylan. Despite the fact that the planet is the site of a former massacre, and receiving an SOS, she insists that her incredibly unqualified crew investigate. Even though there are repeated warnings about the danger of the planet, she doesn't back down and initiates a series of events that gets the majority of her crew killed.
Nova - the temp flight pilot is one of the few characters that I could stand. She actually makes (mostly) reasonable decisions.
Sullivan, Cleaver and Toby didn't live long enough or have enough page time to actually make an impression.
The doctor, Thea and Coen are COMPLETELY fine starting a global pandemic because they want their selfish asses to get off the planet that they are currently on. It's totally just an acceptable risk. I just could not believe how dumb they acted with regards to the future of the HUMAN RACE.
The writing was decent and it was nice seeing a horror/sci-fi book. But the characters make the DUMBEST choices, I couldn't even deal. I was worried that I would rage-quit with anger.
penguingin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
storiedadventures's review
4.0
Full review on my blog, Storied Adventures
I LOVED this book! It was non-stop heart pounding action and it was right up my alley. I don't like super scary books or movies but I do love what I call Monster/ Creature books and movies. This fell into that category for me. It was so much fun and entertaining to read. There was a cast of well rounded characters, there was a mysterious "contagion", there was plenty of action, and a major cliff hanger that has me clamoring for the next book! I could not put this down!
I LOVED this book! It was non-stop heart pounding action and it was right up my alley. I don't like super scary books or movies but I do love what I call Monster/ Creature books and movies. This fell into that category for me. It was so much fun and entertaining to read. There was a cast of well rounded characters, there was a mysterious "contagion", there was plenty of action, and a major cliff hanger that has me clamoring for the next book! I could not put this down!
happybirb's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
litwrite's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun space horror YA title - plotwise it's a combo of Aliens, the Doom video game movie adaptation, and the first Resident Evil video game movie adaptation. So let's just say, not particularly original. This is not a bad thing at all as I love all 3 of those movies and they are all huge guilty pleasures of mine (like multiple viewing kind of guilty pleasure). In all honesty, I think it's pretty hard to do original space horror stuff. Usually it's discover gross new alien life on planet that somehow attacks the unwitting human explorers so this is about par for the course. The writing was well done though some of the characters grated a little too much - a complaint I don't normally have, I have a high tolerance for annoying characters as I know that it's usually a characterization that the author meant to have and not all characters are meant to be appealing. There's one in this book though that I really, really wanted to punch in the face.
I'd still recommend to space horror fans looking for something light but fun.
I'd still recommend to space horror fans looking for something light but fun.
elidyyr's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Lazy symbolism and obvious foreshadowing for anyone with a passing understanding of Greek myth.
The ending literally made me roll my eyes.
The ending literally made me roll my eyes.