Title: Parasite
Series: Parasitology #1
Author: Mira Grant
Genre: Adult, sci-fi, horror
Publication date: October 2013
Published by: Orbit
Source: Borrowed form library
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Synopsis: A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.
We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.
But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.
Mira Grant is an author I am very happy to have found because I just really like the stories she writes. Plus the blend of horror and sci-fi is SO good! And this book was no different! I really enjoyed it! It was intriguing and genuinely horrifying 😰
I don't even know how to begin to explain this book because it is so bizarre. But it works! And like I said, it was genuinely horrifying! Basically, in this alternate future of the world, everyone has a tapeworm implant, a tapeworm that helps its host live a better and healthier life. It does things like protect people from illnesses and it even secrets medicines that the host needs. It is completely tailored to each person. Cool, right? No. I think it's creepy 😆 But more than creepy, these tapeworms inside people that are supposed to help... well, they start fighting back 😬 And it ain't pretty. And since the synopsis doesn't mention in what way they fight back, I won't either. Lol. But it is SO scary! Especially when our main character Sally was amidst them just trying to survive the encounter.
Speaking of Sal, I really liked her! She was in an accident 6 years back and was in a coma for a long time. She eventually woke up (with severe amnesia, unfortunately) and the doctors all said it was thanks to her implant. She was the first person whose life was saved in this way by an implant. But because of her amnesia, people around her were always walking on eggshells and just treating her like a child. There were so many moments where I was so frustrated on her behalf and how she was being treated, especially as we got further into the book and we discovered what was going on with these tapeworms and found out secrets people close to her were keeping. But I loved the character development she went through and the way she stood up for herself!
And I know I said everyone around her treated her like she was fragile, but that's not entirely true! Her boyfriend Nathan was the sweetest, kindest person ever! He's the only one who treated her like a person, like Sal, and I just loved him for that! I was not expecting romance in this book, but boy did I eat it up! Don't get me wrong, this doesn't really have a romance subplot, it's just two characters who already had an established romantic relationships trying to survive a tapeworm upsising, if you will lol, but I still loved it. Their banter was fun and they were just so cute together!
I really enjoyed this book overall! It was horrifying and interesting all at the same time! The science in Mira Grant's books is something I really love about them. It's so interesting! I don't know how accurate the science is to real life, but that doesn't really matter to me because I think it works well in the stories she's trying to tell.
There were also some pretty crazy plot twists, which I loved. Most I did not see coming, but there was one I did. It didn't deter my enjoyment of the book though because I feel like that was the only possible outcome that made sense. And I also really liked the characters, even the bad guys because they just felt like real people. Oh, and most importantly, Nathan and Sal inadvertently adopted a dog, Beverly, and she was the cutest, bestest dog ever! I loved her! 🥰 (And don't worry, nothing bad happens to her in this book. Lol.) But this was a really solid start to the series! I definitely recommend this sci-fi horror book!
Speaking of Sal, I really liked her! She was in an accident 6 years back and was in a coma for a long time. She eventually woke up (with severe amnesia, unfortunately) and the doctors all said it was thanks to her implant. She was the first person whose life was saved in this way by an implant. But because of her amnesia, people around her were always walking on eggshells and just treating her like a child. There were so many moments where I was so frustrated on her behalf and how she was being treated, especially as we got further into the book and we discovered what was going on with these tapeworms and found out secrets people close to her were keeping. But I loved the character development she went through and the way she stood up for herself!
And I know I said everyone around her treated her like she was fragile, but that's not entirely true! Her boyfriend Nathan was the sweetest, kindest person ever! He's the only one who treated her like a person, like Sal, and I just loved him for that! I was not expecting romance in this book, but boy did I eat it up! Don't get me wrong, this doesn't really have a romance subplot, it's just two characters who already had an established romantic relationships trying to survive a tapeworm upsising, if you will lol, but I still loved it. Their banter was fun and they were just so cute together!
I really enjoyed this book overall! It was horrifying and interesting all at the same time! The science in Mira Grant's books is something I really love about them. It's so interesting! I don't know how accurate the science is to real life, but that doesn't really matter to me because I think it works well in the stories she's trying to tell.
There were also some pretty crazy plot twists, which I loved. Most I did not see coming, but there was one I did. It didn't deter my enjoyment of the book though because I feel like that was the only possible outcome that made sense. And I also really liked the characters, even the bad guys because they just felt like real people. Oh, and most importantly, Nathan and Sal inadvertently adopted a dog, Beverly, and she was the cutest, bestest dog ever! I loved her! 🥰 (And don't worry, nothing bad happens to her in this book. Lol.) But this was a really solid start to the series! I definitely recommend this sci-fi horror book!
This sounds so disgusting but why do I kinda wanna read it anyways??? 😂😂 ahhh they even get a dog, that's so cute 🤩 Sal sounds like an amazing character, I'm glad you enjoyed this book!
ReplyDeleteIt was totally disgusting... I loved it! 😆 Lol. I just finished the series a couple days ago and it was really good overall!
DeleteI have wanted to read this author for a long time, and I didn't know exactly what the book was about, but now I HAVE to read it! Great review! I have copies of 3 books in a Feed series by her? Need to read something soon.
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature
Yay!! I hope you like it! I have the Feed series on my tbr but I have not started it yet.
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