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erinthered's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ctrinka's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Mira Grant does it again. Her work is so well researched and planned out. It was unputdownable and quickly became one of the few 5 star reads for me this year. I can't wait to continue the trilogy and see where it leads!
cubfan82's review
4.0
I'm a huge Mira Grant fan, so it should be no surprise that I jumped at the chance to read this book when I saw it was available through the "read now" option on Netgalley.
One of my favorite movies is the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. One of the best things about that movie is how it slowly builds tension until everything is finally revealed. Parasite does much the same thing. It starts slowly (not in a bad way), introducing you to the characters and this alternate future where tapeworms are considered good things to have in our bodies. As you get deeper into the story, you start to get this uncomfortable, creepy feeling that things are about to go horribly wrong. You find yourself in Sal's position, trying to figure out what's going on. I figured it out before Sal did, but I believe that is intentional on Grant's part. It certainly didn't detract from the story. In fact, I found myself eager to get to the point where Sal would catch on because I wanted to see what would happen next.
I very much enjoyed this book. It fascinated and disturbed me in equal measure, and I can't wait to see what Grant has in store for me in the next installment.
One of my favorite movies is the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. One of the best things about that movie is how it slowly builds tension until everything is finally revealed. Parasite does much the same thing. It starts slowly (not in a bad way), introducing you to the characters and this alternate future where tapeworms are considered good things to have in our bodies. As you get deeper into the story, you start to get this uncomfortable, creepy feeling that things are about to go horribly wrong. You find yourself in Sal's position, trying to figure out what's going on. I figured it out before Sal did, but I believe that is intentional on Grant's part. It certainly didn't detract from the story. In fact, I found myself eager to get to the point where Sal would catch on because I wanted to see what would happen next.
I very much enjoyed this book. It fascinated and disturbed me in equal measure, and I can't wait to see what Grant has in store for me in the next installment.
ishade's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
very irritating writing i'm ngl. interesting enough premise and plot. easy read. but good god, the prose was so boring and redundant. i'm being rude but this was just how i felt and ig i'm irritable rn idk. very predictable plot points, forgettable characters, could have been cut down, especially because it's supposed to be a series.
nightjar656's review against another edition
3.75
I’ve been really loving sci fi horror lately, and this book was no exception. Sal was an intriguing main character- I did guess the main ‘twist’ before the end of the second chapter, but I thought the story was interesting enough to keep reading anyway. That being said, it felt like Grant almost overly foreshadowed the twists and overdid the establishment of certain details- I think this book didn’t really need to be as long as it is and ultimately more could’ve been left to the reader to decipher. It did make sense for the main character to take so long to figure it out however. Anyway, this didn’t ruin the book for me at all. I especially liked the various evil scientists- symbogen is the medical corporation you love to hate, while Shanti is the somewhat sympathetic mad scientist without morals, which made for some fun characters to read about. This book was really fun and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to read a unique take on zombies.
katelynking12's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
dogmomirene's review
1.0
I was so excited to read this book, which makes the let-down even greater.
To begin with, I thought the premise of the book would be hard to sell. In the future people allow tapeworms to inhabit their bodies? Sure, these tapeworms are there to administer prescription meds and protect people from disease. But people would have to co-exist with a tapeworm. I used to get grossed out when my cats got worms and they were rubbing their butts along the carpet. Not sure I want to see the human equivalent of that scenario. However, this is Mira Grant bringing us a thrilling medical tale. I loved her zombies in the Newflesh series, so I'm sure there's some plot detail or twist that I'm not considering that will allow me to suspend my disbelief. There wasn't. I don't believe that people in the future would allow tapeworms to be implanted into them for any kind of medical reason.
Secondly, I didn't particularly like any of the characters, so sympathizing with them was difficult. I liked the mixture of the characters. Grant has several different medical doctors, technicians, experts and their stories weave into the life of Sal Mitchell, the protagonist. These medical characters at least added some suspense to the book. I didn't like any of them, but at least I was guessing about who knew what. Who was really on Sal's side and who was manipulating her?
Sal was originally Sally, a girl who sounded like a sorostitute. Sally got into a major car accident and was brain-dead. Somehow the tapeworm saved her, but when she woke up she had no memories of her sorostitute self. Actually she had no memories of being human. She had to re-learn how to walk, communicate with language, and interact appropriately with the world around her. Once these tasks were accomplished, she naturally shortened her name to Sal.
We pick up Sal's story six years after she's been "re-born." Sal witnesses a man turning into a sleepwalker. Seriously, by this time in the book, I was debating putting it down. I kept reading because I had faith in Mira Grant. I should have put the book down.
More and more of these sleepwalkers appear. People suddenly stop being themselves. They may slump over and pass out. They may get violent. They are all zombie-like. Following the plot to discover what could possibly be creating this situation was horrifically dull. Worse. Grant completely ruins her own book by beaming the "big plot twist." The fact that the certain characters could't figure out the plot twist just makes me think they are incredibly dumb. Sure, Grant tries to write that one off as the characters are in denial. No one should be in denial for over 200 pages of this book, where everyone else is practically shouting the answer at you.
As much as I like Mira Grant, I couldn't stand this particular book. I hope she writes this series quickly, so she can focus on some other medical thriller that might appeal to me.
To begin with, I thought the premise of the book would be hard to sell. In the future people allow tapeworms to inhabit their bodies? Sure, these tapeworms are there to administer prescription meds and protect people from disease. But people would have to co-exist with a tapeworm. I used to get grossed out when my cats got worms and they were rubbing their butts along the carpet. Not sure I want to see the human equivalent of that scenario. However, this is Mira Grant bringing us a thrilling medical tale. I loved her zombies in the Newflesh series, so I'm sure there's some plot detail or twist that I'm not considering that will allow me to suspend my disbelief. There wasn't. I don't believe that people in the future would allow tapeworms to be implanted into them for any kind of medical reason.
Secondly, I didn't particularly like any of the characters, so sympathizing with them was difficult. I liked the mixture of the characters. Grant has several different medical doctors, technicians, experts and their stories weave into the life of Sal Mitchell, the protagonist. These medical characters at least added some suspense to the book. I didn't like any of them, but at least I was guessing about who knew what. Who was really on Sal's side and who was manipulating her?
Sal was originally Sally, a girl who sounded like a sorostitute. Sally got into a major car accident and was brain-dead. Somehow the tapeworm saved her, but when she woke up she had no memories of her sorostitute self. Actually she had no memories of being human. She had to re-learn how to walk, communicate with language, and interact appropriately with the world around her. Once these tasks were accomplished, she naturally shortened her name to Sal.
We pick up Sal's story six years after she's been "re-born." Sal witnesses a man turning into a sleepwalker. Seriously, by this time in the book, I was debating putting it down. I kept reading because I had faith in Mira Grant. I should have put the book down.
More and more of these sleepwalkers appear. People suddenly stop being themselves. They may slump over and pass out. They may get violent. They are all zombie-like. Following the plot to discover what could possibly be creating this situation was horrifically dull. Worse. Grant completely ruins her own book by beaming the "big plot twist." The fact that the certain characters could't figure out the plot twist just makes me think they are incredibly dumb. Sure, Grant tries to write that one off as the characters are in denial. No one should be in denial for over 200 pages of this book, where everyone else is practically shouting the answer at you.
As much as I like Mira Grant, I couldn't stand this particular book. I hope she writes this series quickly, so she can focus on some other medical thriller that might appeal to me.
asamandawanders's review
5.0
I am not much of a sci-fi fan, but I love this author. Her books are always about more than you might think going into them.
_nandor's review
3.0
3.5/5
Medio punto más porque el final remontó lo suficiente para querer seguir con el siguiente libro.
Medio punto más porque el final remontó lo suficiente para querer seguir con el siguiente libro.