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Contagion #2
Immunity
Survivors of a deadly planetary outbreak take on a new, sinister adversary in the sequel to Contagion.
They thought their nightmare was over, but Thea, Coen, and Nova’s rescue was only the beginning. After being imprisoned on a ship they thought was their ticket to safety, it’s clear that the threat they left behind isn’t as distant as they’d hoped—and this time the entire galaxy is at risk.
Now that threat is about to be unleashed as an act of political warfare. To prevent an interstellar catastrophe, the survivors must harness the evil they faced on the planet Achlys and learn to wield the only weapon they have left: themselves.
They thought their nightmare was over, but Thea, Coen, and Nova’s rescue was only the beginning. After being imprisoned on a ship they thought was their ticket to safety, it’s clear that the threat they left behind isn’t as distant as they’d hoped—and this time the entire galaxy is at risk.
Now that threat is about to be unleashed as an act of political warfare. To prevent an interstellar catastrophe, the survivors must harness the evil they faced on the planet Achlys and learn to wield the only weapon they have left: themselves.
Audible Audio
First published July 2, 2019
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About the author
Erin Bowman
18 books1,967 followersErin Bowman is the critically acclaimed author of numerous books for children and teens, including the Taken Trilogy, Vengeance Road, Retribution Rails, the Edgar Award-nominated Contagion duology, The Girl and the Witch’s Garden, and the forthcoming Dustborn. A web designer turned author, Erin has always been invested in telling stories—both visually and with words. Erin lives in New Hampshire with her husband and children. You can visit her online at embowman.com, on twitter @erin_bowman, or on instagram @heyerin.
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PLEASE NOTE: Erin does not check goodreads mail. If you message her this way she will not see it. For contact methods, visit Erin's website.
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PLEASE NOTE: Erin does not check goodreads mail. If you message her this way she will not see it. For contact methods, visit Erin's website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
May 23, 2020
Many thanks to Wunderkind PR for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Another thanks to HarperAudio for sending me an audio file in exchange for an honest review
This is going to be a pretty brief review but here it is anyway.
I really enjoyed this novel and it had a very satisfying ending. Something I was honestly worried about, as all of my recent science fiction reads have been very disappointing. But we’re not here to talk about them.
Even though the ending was satisfying, I still am going to give this 3.5 stars. Why? Because it was not even 25% as scary or page-turning as Contagion. It suffered from a severe case of Middle Book Syndrome (Yes, I know it’s not the middle book but don’t @ me). I did enjoy the focus on Thea and Coen. So heartwarming. And I also enjoyed the race to save the universe from the corrupted government.
While yes, this book was great, it felt a lot more like a political thriller than a science fiction horror that focused more on the characters and plot than the good scares of the first book.
Bottom Line:
3.5 Stars
Age Rating: [ PG-13 ]
Content Screening (Spoilers) - Educational Value: [None] ~ Positive Messages: [Even without powers or abilities, you can still love and be loved the same, Sacrifice for those you love] ~ Violence: [Body horror, Toture] ~ Sex: [Kissing] ~ Langauge: [Brief Swearing] ~ Drinking/Drugs: [Sedation Drugs]
TW: Body Horror, Murder, Loss of a loved one
Reps: [Lesbian, PTSD]
Cover: 3/5 ~ Characters: 4/5 ~ Plot: 4/5 ~ Audio: 4/5
Publication Date: July 2nd, 2019
Publisher: HarperTeen
*************
What an ending!
*************
I HAVE IT! IT IS MINE!!! YAS!
*************
JUNE 2019!?!? ... Who wants to join me in camping out in front of HarperCollins?
Anyone?
Also, the cover is gorgeous!
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September 26, 2024
**3.5-stars**
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
After narrowly escaping an infectious zombie horde on Achyls, Nova, Thea and Coen find themselves facing a completely different threat altogether.
What they thought of as their salvation, may actually turn out to be their demise.
The three must band together, along with some new allies, to stop the possible destruction of the galaxy.
So, no pressure.
With fewer characters in this sequel, at least to start, I felt like I had a bit more time to get to know them. While that was nice, it did give it a slightly different feel to the first novel.
Don't get me wrong, there was still a ton of action here, but in my opinion, there was definitely more character examination.
Another difference in feel concerns the atmosphere. As high-stakes as Immunity was, we're talking possible interstellar catastrophe here, the atmosphere of this installment was completely different.
In the first book, we have the slightly unqualified crew heading out on a SAR-mission to an abandoned mining planet.
It's remote, cold, dark and dangerous. They have no idea what they are go to find and what they found was terrifying.
Contagion, the first book in this duology, grabbed me because of its edge of your seat SF-Horror narrative; one of my favorite subgenres within Science Fiction.
While this is still a good book, I would categorize this as strict Sci-Fi. So, for me, it lost its Horror-edge over the course of the story.
With this being said, the events were wrapped up nicely and I am happy to have another completed duology on my shelves.
Overall, this is a super solid YA Science Fiction duology that I would absolutely recommend to any fan of the genre.
Even though I didn't love this one quite as much as Contagion, I can definitely appreciate how fully developed this story is.
Well done. I look forward to reading more from Erin Bowman!
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
After narrowly escaping an infectious zombie horde on Achyls, Nova, Thea and Coen find themselves facing a completely different threat altogether.
What they thought of as their salvation, may actually turn out to be their demise.
The three must band together, along with some new allies, to stop the possible destruction of the galaxy.
So, no pressure.
With fewer characters in this sequel, at least to start, I felt like I had a bit more time to get to know them. While that was nice, it did give it a slightly different feel to the first novel.
Don't get me wrong, there was still a ton of action here, but in my opinion, there was definitely more character examination.
Another difference in feel concerns the atmosphere. As high-stakes as Immunity was, we're talking possible interstellar catastrophe here, the atmosphere of this installment was completely different.
In the first book, we have the slightly unqualified crew heading out on a SAR-mission to an abandoned mining planet.
It's remote, cold, dark and dangerous. They have no idea what they are go to find and what they found was terrifying.
Contagion, the first book in this duology, grabbed me because of its edge of your seat SF-Horror narrative; one of my favorite subgenres within Science Fiction.
While this is still a good book, I would categorize this as strict Sci-Fi. So, for me, it lost its Horror-edge over the course of the story.
With this being said, the events were wrapped up nicely and I am happy to have another completed duology on my shelves.
Overall, this is a super solid YA Science Fiction duology that I would absolutely recommend to any fan of the genre.
Even though I didn't love this one quite as much as Contagion, I can definitely appreciate how fully developed this story is.
Well done. I look forward to reading more from Erin Bowman!
August 8, 2019
#1 Contagion ★★★★★
#2 Immunity ★★★★☆
They were monsters together now, forever altered by the contagion they'd encountered on Achlys.
If you've been around a while, you might remember my sudden and vocal obsession with the first book in this duology last year. I love sci-fi/horror crossover tales, and Contagion immediately cemented itself as one of my favorites. Between the characters, the plot, Erin's quick and fun writing, and the legitimately awful nature of the infection — coupled with a cliffhanger that I think I can safely say left us all reeling — the release of this finale couldn't possibly get here quickly enough for me.
While Contagion is my favorite of the two installments, and Immunity differs from it in a lot of ways, I still thought this was such a satisfying, fun, suspenseful end to the series. We got to spend more time with a couple of previously loved characters, but we also met someone new: Amber Farraday, a medic-intern who wants to do the right thing despite having plenty of motivation not to. Nova was still a struggle for me at times, much like I remembered her being in the first book, but how could I do anything but love Thea and Coen with their miserable little situations? These poor kids go through hell and then some, but they're so tough nevertheless.
Despite the fact that a lot of time is dedicated to the characters and a couple of romances — one of them being queer (f/f) — Erin Bowman's got a knack for weaving that into these plots that never really slow down or give you any breathing room. This was the fourth book I've read by her, and I'm always impressed by how fast I go through her books; they're the types of things you don't want to put down until you reach the end, because nobody feels "safe" and the twists and threats don't stop coming.
The only reason this is a little bit less lovable for me than Contagion was is that, while the first book meshed sci-fi and horror beautifully, the second book is definitely straight-up science fiction. Though the entire plot does more or less revolve around this terrifying infection, this one is more about the threats that other people create, and there's also a fair bit of what I call "space sci-fi", where the focus falls more on spacecrafts, travel, time-space warping, etc. None of that was bad by any means, but I did find myself missing the spooky atmosphere of Contagion from time to time.
All in all, Immunity didn't leave me disappointed or needing more; it ties up the loose ends nicely and felt like a tremendously satisfying finish to the duology (which is a huge compliment from me, considering how often I'm disappointed by finales). I think Erin Bowman is such a force to be reckoned with and I can't wait to see what she creates next.
Thank you so much to Wunderkind PR for providing me with this (absolutely stunning) finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 3, 2019
This duology is unputdownable: I devoured this book in essentially one sitting.
Chances are that you've heard me yell about how much I loved Contagion. Considering the first book in this duology was one of my top 5 reads for 2018, I was equal parts nervous and excited because my own expectations sometimes ruin a book for me. But I didn't need to worry. Immunity is an action-packed, smart, and satisfying end to the story.
Immunity raises the stakes and we learn a lot more about the world as our characters find out that escaping from Achlys was just the beginning... turns out their rescue ship has turned into a prison, and there's a reason that Hevetz was on Achlys despite the debacle with Witch Hazel fifty years prior. A certain conspiracy theorist was right all along.
This duology is ultimately about survival. Where the theme of Contagion was mistrust and fear, our characters have to learn to trust one another and themselves in Immunity. And looking at their journey across the duology, it is really satisfying to see their growth.
I really enjoyed how Coen, Thea, and Nova grow through the course of this book. While I would still consider this to be a plot-driven book, the characters all have dimension and drive. Even with the hive-mind telepathy ability, Coen and Thea continue to be their own people. We do have a new addition to our teen cast of characters: Amber Farraday, who is my new favorite. Caught in the case of wrong-place-wrong-time, she has to make a number of difficult decisions. I love when characters do the hard thing, and she is just a bamf.
There is some romance and it developed naturally in my opinion. I thought that the bonding vs. feelings debate our characters had worked well to subvert the insta-love trope (even though I think anyone who goes through something like this probably would form an intense connection with someone in a matter of weeks).
I personally really appreciated the PTSD representation in the book. The events of Contagion were horrific, and the survivors were forced to do things in order to survive. Nova's struggle hit home for me and it brought a very real component to the story.
I can't help but think about the duology as a whole. The overarching plot makes sense; however, the two books feel different. If what you enjoyed the most in Contagion was the horror, you will want to readjust your expectations. This book is about survival, but the enemy is of the human variety rather than zombie-like horror. The political groundwork was laid in Contagion, and that is the framework for Immunity.
I appreciated the plotting of this duology and am glad that the story didn't end with Contagion. All my questions were answered by the end of this book. This sequel is just as fast-paced and gripping as the first book, and I devoured it in one sitting! This is more strictly a science fiction story than the horror mashup in the first book, but you can tell the entire duology was intricately plotted and it feels right. I loved the book and can't recommend it enough to fans of science fiction, and gave this 4.5 stars!
REPRESENTATION: lgbtqiap+ (f/f), PTSD
CONTENT WARNINGS: medical experimentation without consent, torture
Many thanks to Harper Teen and the Fantastic Flying Book Club for sending me an eARC for my honest review and letting me participate in the blog tour! Thank you Wunderkind PR for sending me a finished copy, you have my eternal gratitude! I switched to reading the finished copy after page 65.
Chances are that you've heard me yell about how much I loved Contagion. Considering the first book in this duology was one of my top 5 reads for 2018, I was equal parts nervous and excited because my own expectations sometimes ruin a book for me. But I didn't need to worry. Immunity is an action-packed, smart, and satisfying end to the story.
Immunity raises the stakes and we learn a lot more about the world as our characters find out that escaping from Achlys was just the beginning... turns out their rescue ship has turned into a prison, and there's a reason that Hevetz was on Achlys despite the debacle with Witch Hazel fifty years prior. A certain conspiracy theorist was right all along.
"They'll try to replicate us, and then they'll try to control us."The book picks up at the exact moment where Contagion ends. Thea and Coen are taken into custody and it's quickly learned that the two of them managed to survive the infection the wiped out all of Black Quarry. Considering they are essentially now superhuman, that doesn't bode well for them: they are poked, prodded, and tortured to test the breadth of their abilities.
This duology is ultimately about survival. Where the theme of Contagion was mistrust and fear, our characters have to learn to trust one another and themselves in Immunity. And looking at their journey across the duology, it is really satisfying to see their growth.
I really enjoyed how Coen, Thea, and Nova grow through the course of this book. While I would still consider this to be a plot-driven book, the characters all have dimension and drive. Even with the hive-mind telepathy ability, Coen and Thea continue to be their own people. We do have a new addition to our teen cast of characters: Amber Farraday, who is my new favorite. Caught in the case of wrong-place-wrong-time, she has to make a number of difficult decisions. I love when characters do the hard thing, and she is just a bamf.
There is some romance and it developed naturally in my opinion. I thought that the bonding vs. feelings debate our characters had worked well to subvert the insta-love trope (even though I think anyone who goes through something like this probably would form an intense connection with someone in a matter of weeks).
I personally really appreciated the PTSD representation in the book. The events of Contagion were horrific, and the survivors were forced to do things in order to survive. Nova's struggle hit home for me and it brought a very real component to the story.
I can't help but think about the duology as a whole. The overarching plot makes sense; however, the two books feel different. If what you enjoyed the most in Contagion was the horror, you will want to readjust your expectations. This book is about survival, but the enemy is of the human variety rather than zombie-like horror. The political groundwork was laid in Contagion, and that is the framework for Immunity.
I appreciated the plotting of this duology and am glad that the story didn't end with Contagion. All my questions were answered by the end of this book. This sequel is just as fast-paced and gripping as the first book, and I devoured it in one sitting! This is more strictly a science fiction story than the horror mashup in the first book, but you can tell the entire duology was intricately plotted and it feels right. I loved the book and can't recommend it enough to fans of science fiction, and gave this 4.5 stars!
REPRESENTATION: lgbtqiap+ (f/f), PTSD
CONTENT WARNINGS: medical experimentation without consent, torture
Many thanks to Harper Teen and the Fantastic Flying Book Club for sending me an eARC for my honest review and letting me participate in the blog tour! Thank you Wunderkind PR for sending me a finished copy, you have my eternal gratitude! I switched to reading the finished copy after page 65.
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July 24, 2019
This was a highly anticipated book for me as Contagion was a 5 star read. Full review to come soon but 4 solid stars for sure.
November 16, 2019
Ugh, cliffhangers.
I feel like I flew through my audio of Immunity. Seriously, it went by so fast that I'm slightly peeved that it's over. Besides that, I still freaking love Coen and Thea because I am all about those two getting better acquainted (if you know what I mean). Then there's Nova and Amber and ugh.. I just can't. Seriously I love all of these characters but some of the stuff that went down was insane.
I wouldn't necessarily say that this book was more horror than anything. Pretty sure the first book had more horrific stuff happening in it anyways. This one was a smidge more fluffy but definitely upped the mystery aspect (I guess). It was highly interesting and I kept anticipating on what was going to happen next.
Throughout the book, the pacing was okay for me. I feel like the beginning was a smidge slow and then the end felt that same. Probably because of the damn cliffhanger that I will never get over. Definitely hoping that the next book (if there is one) comes out soon. I hate the waiting game and really can't accept how this one ended.
I feel like I flew through my audio of Immunity. Seriously, it went by so fast that I'm slightly peeved that it's over. Besides that, I still freaking love Coen and Thea because I am all about those two getting better acquainted (if you know what I mean). Then there's Nova and Amber and ugh.. I just can't. Seriously I love all of these characters but some of the stuff that went down was insane.
I wouldn't necessarily say that this book was more horror than anything. Pretty sure the first book had more horrific stuff happening in it anyways. This one was a smidge more fluffy but definitely upped the mystery aspect (I guess). It was highly interesting and I kept anticipating on what was going to happen next.
Throughout the book, the pacing was okay for me. I feel like the beginning was a smidge slow and then the end felt that same. Probably because of the damn cliffhanger that I will never get over. Definitely hoping that the next book (if there is one) comes out soon. I hate the waiting game and really can't accept how this one ended.
August 14, 2019
I really enjoyed the first book, loved the tension, the mystery the action, it worked with the characters and their world fit very well. This one didn't. The main characters seemed to have reverted in age and common sense. The story became ridiculous. It was filled with fantastical moments all just when needed, the eye rolling almost gave me a headache. I wished I'd left it at book 1, it was ending enough.
August 19, 2022
* i looooooved book 1, and this was okay too, i just wasn't as invested
* i thought it was a bit long, although i didn't feel like it dragged
* good character development, good plot, but the surprise horror element of the first book was unfortunately lacking, which affected my enjoyment
* still one of the best scifi books i've ever read, so i definitely recommend it
* i thought it was a bit long, although i didn't feel like it dragged
* good character development, good plot, but the surprise horror element of the first book was unfortunately lacking, which affected my enjoyment
* still one of the best scifi books i've ever read, so i definitely recommend it
August 12, 2019
Not sure: 3-3.5 stars. I’m annoyed by a plot point I found implausible, which was critical to moving the story forward.
October 1, 2019
*ALL SPOILERS ARE MARKED*
this really is one of the most satisfying duologies that i’ve read in a while. i absolutely loved the first book; its zombie-esque atmosphere, the suspense, the action. immunity is a little different in the sense that it is more about the survival and logical aspect of it, instead of the exploring. i really liked it though. i assume some people would want to stay for the thrills and creepiness, but if you're expecting that here, you're not gonna find it.
but i enjoyed the change of tone. i think last books in series should always be a bit different than the others for obvious reasons. otherwise, it doesn't feel like an ending. this, apart from what i mentioned before, focuses more on the characters and their build-up, though you should keep in mind that these are not character-driven books.
okay, first of all: thea and coen...😩❤️️ i loved their dynamic and growth since contagion and i've honestly been shipping them since that bunker scene mY GOSH I LOVE THEM. their interest in each other is pretty justified considering their situation and what they're been through and it's been slow-burn from the start, so there's no reason for me to not like it.
there was something thea said (well, the author did) that i've not been able to get out of my head because i can really relate and it's giving me such a...scorpio vibe? is thea a scorpio? I CLAIM HER AS ONE OF US. even besides that, i've felt very connected to thea for some reason. i'm usually more interested in the side characters than the main one, so it's not very common that i'd follow the MC so closely. nova gives me MAJOR raven vibes from the tv show, the 100. the resemblance is just so uncanny—sometimes i even confused her mental face with lindsey morgan from the show.
i also think it's worth mentioning that i adore bowman's PTSD portrayal. i love how she doesn't hold back from difficult feelings/situations. every one of them is so raw and perfect and it made the story that much more realistic.
but of course, the downfalls. my main problem was just the lack of probing a bit deeper into the characters. if a teen character is skilled at something, i’d really like to know why. we never get these explanations for nova and thea, a seventeen-year-old med intern who is going to find a cure for a planetary virus. yes, i get being good at something, but their skills were just so conveniently used that i found them unbelievable.
however, this duology is so gorgeous inside and out. i'd forever be thankful for jay kristoff for recommending this to me as well as being a hella good author himself. everyone: READ these books if you ever need a fast-paced, creepy, healthy dose of sci-fi.
TW (contains spoilers): torture, violence, and unconsented medication.
➝ 4.25 stars
this really is one of the most satisfying duologies that i’ve read in a while. i absolutely loved the first book; its zombie-esque atmosphere, the suspense, the action. immunity is a little different in the sense that it is more about the survival and logical aspect of it, instead of the exploring. i really liked it though. i assume some people would want to stay for the thrills and creepiness, but if you're expecting that here, you're not gonna find it.
but i enjoyed the change of tone. i think last books in series should always be a bit different than the others for obvious reasons. otherwise, it doesn't feel like an ending. this, apart from what i mentioned before, focuses more on the characters and their build-up, though you should keep in mind that these are not character-driven books.
okay, first of all: thea and coen...😩❤️️ i loved their dynamic and growth since contagion and i've honestly been shipping them since that bunker scene mY GOSH I LOVE THEM. their interest in each other is pretty justified considering their situation and what they're been through and it's been slow-burn from the start, so there's no reason for me to not like it.
there was something thea said (well, the author did) that i've not been able to get out of my head because i can really relate and it's giving me such a...scorpio vibe? is thea a scorpio? I CLAIM HER AS ONE OF US. even besides that, i've felt very connected to thea for some reason. i'm usually more interested in the side characters than the main one, so it's not very common that i'd follow the MC so closely. nova gives me MAJOR raven vibes from the tv show, the 100. the resemblance is just so uncanny—sometimes i even confused her mental face with lindsey morgan from the show.
i also think it's worth mentioning that i adore bowman's PTSD portrayal. i love how she doesn't hold back from difficult feelings/situations. every one of them is so raw and perfect and it made the story that much more realistic.
but of course, the downfalls. my main problem was just the lack of probing a bit deeper into the characters. if a teen character is skilled at something, i’d really like to know why. we never get these explanations for nova and thea, a seventeen-year-old med intern who is going to find a cure for a planetary virus. yes, i get being good at something, but their skills were just so conveniently used that i found them unbelievable.
however, this duology is so gorgeous inside and out. i'd forever be thankful for jay kristoff for recommending this to me as well as being a hella good author himself. everyone: READ these books if you ever need a fast-paced, creepy, healthy dose of sci-fi.
TW (contains spoilers): torture, violence, and unconsented medication.
➝ 4.25 stars
July 9, 2019
Immunity is a five star novel. It is a worthy end to the duology.
January 20, 2021
#1) Contagion ★★★★☆
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Thea (mc) Turkish-Korean; Nova (mc) brown, vision impaired (degenerative eye condition) & sapphic; sapphic scs.
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September 1, 2019
Not as good as the first book, Contagion, but not bad.
October 22, 2022
Wasn't worth it. The plot was lame. I should've stopped after Contagion.
July 25, 2019
I LOVED the first book and have been waiting impatiently for this sequel for many months, so to admit that I didn’t like it at all is extremely hard.
The first book was creepy and atmospheric and fast-paced, but this one was just boring. It finally got good at the end, but by then it was “too little too late” for me. Most of this book is just a boring romance between Thea and Coen, and all of the suspense and creepiness from the first book is gone. It didn’t even feel like the same story, and it left me wondering what the point of this sequel even was.
Even with my disappointment I can’t seem to give this 1 star, mostly because of how much I loved the first one, but I really am just so bummed that this was the sequel I got after looking forward to it for months.
The first book was creepy and atmospheric and fast-paced, but this one was just boring. It finally got good at the end, but by then it was “too little too late” for me. Most of this book is just a boring romance between Thea and Coen, and all of the suspense and creepiness from the first book is gone. It didn’t even feel like the same story, and it left me wondering what the point of this sequel even was.
Even with my disappointment I can’t seem to give this 1 star, mostly because of how much I loved the first one, but I really am just so bummed that this was the sequel I got after looking forward to it for months.
October 8, 2019
7 out of 10
A bit worse than the first installment. Still fast-paced, still nicely written, but I'd prefer it to be a story about a virus and zombies instead of an open-world story. Also too much romance. I'm shocked I say it! I'm always up for kissing and tension, but I needed horror here. Despite the cons, I liked this series much. Yes, it has genre cliches, but everything is tropes, so... Hope the author would write more stories in the style of Contagion to give us chills)
July 5, 2021
Overall Rating : B
"The world is a complicated place, Nova. People are complicated, too. Throw us all together and you get one horrible mess."
Way less horror and way more prison breaks and political intrigue. And the horror is why I got this series in the first place. At least it ended on a "ooohhhhhh mmmmyyyyyyy" moment.
"The world is a complicated place, Nova. People are complicated, too. Throw us all together and you get one horrible mess."
Way less horror and way more prison breaks and political intrigue. And the horror is why I got this series in the first place. At least it ended on a "ooohhhhhh mmmmyyyyyyy" moment.
October 27, 2020
2,5 tan 3...orjinal hiç bir şey yok, yer yer zorlama ve ufak mantık hataları var...mucize iyileşme yolunu da çok saçma buldum...
August 20, 2019
MY RATING⇢ 4 STARS | GRADE B+
FEATURING⇢
Duology
Deadly Virus With Some Being Immune-ish
Telepathy & Super Human Strength
Tween Romance
Deep Space
Interstellar Traveling
Book #1 Rating 5 STARS
With Audio Performed by Amy McFadden
MY THOUGHTS⇢
Contagion, the first book absolutely blew me away. The Zombie-Esque virus, the scary intense action, the mystery of what the flip is going on. Unfortunately, Immunity dragged a bit for me...without giving away any spoilers...I was wondering if the story was ever going to progress from where it was, at the end of Book One. I get that the author was trying to expand on the relationship between Thea and Cohen, but I just wasn't always feeling it...and I wanted more of the action.
Thankfully the last third did kick it back up, way up, and I thought the ending was a perfect way to end the duology. It even left it open for a continuation of series, which I would totally listen too. I also believe…
Amy McFadden gave good narration...I just couldn't tell when things shifted to a new POV, because she never changed her voice at all. But, I always say this and I'm hoping if I say it enough, they'll start to listen.
THE BREAKDOWN⇢
Plot⇢ 4/5
Narration Performance⇢ 3.5/5
Characters⇢ 4/5
The Feels⇢ 4/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4.3/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 4.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.7/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4/5
Originality⇢ 4.3/5
Ending⇢ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇢ Nah...but it might not be fully contained...
_____
Book Cover⇢ I freaking Love it!!! The colors are amazing.
Setting⇢ Mostly Conna 7 (not sure of the spelling because of Audio) A space station.
Source⇢ Audiobook (Library)
Length⇢ 9 hours, 14 minutes
FEATURING⇢
Duology
Deadly Virus With Some Being Immune-ish
Telepathy & Super Human Strength
Tween Romance
Deep Space
Interstellar Traveling
Book #1 Rating 5 STARS
With Audio Performed by Amy McFadden
MY THOUGHTS⇢
Contagion, the first book absolutely blew me away. The Zombie-Esque virus, the scary intense action, the mystery of what the flip is going on. Unfortunately, Immunity dragged a bit for me...without giving away any spoilers...I was wondering if the story was ever going to progress from where it was, at the end of Book One. I get that the author was trying to expand on the relationship between Thea and Cohen, but I just wasn't always feeling it...and I wanted more of the action.
Thankfully the last third did kick it back up, way up, and I thought the ending was a perfect way to end the duology. It even left it open for a continuation of series, which I would totally listen too. I also believe…
Amy McFadden gave good narration...I just couldn't tell when things shifted to a new POV, because she never changed her voice at all. But, I always say this and I'm hoping if I say it enough, they'll start to listen.
THE BREAKDOWN⇢
Plot⇢ 4/5
Narration Performance⇢ 3.5/5
Characters⇢ 4/5
The Feels⇢ 4/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4.3/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 4.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 3.7/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇢ 4/5
Originality⇢ 4.3/5
Ending⇢ 4.3/5 Cliffhanger⇢ Nah...but it might not be fully contained...
_____
Book Cover⇢ I freaking Love it!!! The colors are amazing.
Setting⇢ Mostly Conna 7 (not sure of the spelling because of Audio) A space station.
Source⇢ Audiobook (Library)
Length⇢ 9 hours, 14 minutes
November 19, 2019
For the first 50% I was livid. I wasn’t hating the book but damn if the circumstances didn’t have me plotting the brutal deaths of a number of characters. Even Thea and Coen pissed me off, making smart moves but then even dumber ones that only made their situation worse. I’m still festering an apocalyptic rage at Burke and even Ambers father, Dr. Farraday. Regardless of the circumstances there is something so unimaginable about people who can and torture others, in this case children. I don’t consider myself a violent person but damn if I didn’t want to skin Burke alive, I mean he’s the reason for so much torture-oh yeah and Thea’s finger being cut off.
I really enjoyed this book and it was very hard to put down. I think the storyline was very well thought out and it certainly got more intense as time went on. I’m glad so many situations were resolved particularly Thea reconnecting with her mom. Even the maneuvering of the author to include her mom in the grand scheme was enjoyable especially how her mom exacts her revenge on Sol in the end. No matter what he kept mother and daughter apart for over a decade and it didn’t seem he tried to ever have them be reconnected so he got what was coming to him.
I do think the first book was a crap ton better. The contagion was bound to drive governments and militaries crazy as it did with Burke so I don’t see many alternative storylines that would work following up book 1. I’ve seen others wish for a part 3 but I liked the ending of this one and the air of unknown readers are left with. Given the size of the universe it’s easy to imagine that this particular contagion in and of itself is only the tip of the iceberg. A minor danger to humankind with many worse things still waiting to be uncovered. We can only hope this situation will prove to be a rude awakening and lead to the Union being more cautious and aware but I’ll be the first to admit we are a flawed species and more than that we’re cocky, vain and given time will lie prey to something like this or worse in the future. Sad to see it end but glad I and all the characters got the HEA they deserved.
I really enjoyed this book and it was very hard to put down. I think the storyline was very well thought out and it certainly got more intense as time went on. I’m glad so many situations were resolved particularly Thea reconnecting with her mom. Even the maneuvering of the author to include her mom in the grand scheme was enjoyable especially how her mom exacts her revenge on Sol in the end. No matter what he kept mother and daughter apart for over a decade and it didn’t seem he tried to ever have them be reconnected so he got what was coming to him.
I do think the first book was a crap ton better. The contagion was bound to drive governments and militaries crazy as it did with Burke so I don’t see many alternative storylines that would work following up book 1. I’ve seen others wish for a part 3 but I liked the ending of this one and the air of unknown readers are left with. Given the size of the universe it’s easy to imagine that this particular contagion in and of itself is only the tip of the iceberg. A minor danger to humankind with many worse things still waiting to be uncovered. We can only hope this situation will prove to be a rude awakening and lead to the Union being more cautious and aware but I’ll be the first to admit we are a flawed species and more than that we’re cocky, vain and given time will lie prey to something like this or worse in the future. Sad to see it end but glad I and all the characters got the HEA they deserved.
February 18, 2020
1) Contagion: ★★★★ (4.5)
2) Immunity: ★★★
I can confidently say that Immunity, a good book by itself, did not live up to its predecessor, Contagion. I don’t want to give the impression that Immunity isn't a good book, because it is, Immunity just had an intensely different feel from Contagion and had a considerably smaller amount of ‘deep space horror’ that it didn't resonate in my mind as Contagion did.
Contagion - along with the Illuminae Files Trilogy - is easily my favorite sci-fi/horror novel. Contagion fully encompassed the idea of a deadly plague in space; everything from the characters to the heart-racing moments of escaping the bacteria-filled zombies by meer seconds was done artfully. Immunity, on the other hand, had very little of this unputdownable action and read strongly like a YA dystopian/sci-fi novel. The majority of Immunity was political warfare with our main characters, Thea and Coen, caught up in the middle of it.
Overall, Immunity was appropriate, albeit less exciting, ending to the Contagion duology. When trying to write this review, I found myself remembering more of the plot from Contagion that I do from Immunity despite reading Contagion well over a year ago. I think that alone explains my feelings towards Immunity: good, but less rememberable.
Pre-read review:
This duology needs more hype!! Erin Bowman deserves more recognition because her books are amazing but are hardly talked about. I already know this sequel will be great!
2) Immunity: ★★★
I can confidently say that Immunity, a good book by itself, did not live up to its predecessor, Contagion. I don’t want to give the impression that Immunity isn't a good book, because it is, Immunity just had an intensely different feel from Contagion and had a considerably smaller amount of ‘deep space horror’ that it didn't resonate in my mind as Contagion did.
Contagion - along with the Illuminae Files Trilogy - is easily my favorite sci-fi/horror novel. Contagion fully encompassed the idea of a deadly plague in space; everything from the characters to the heart-racing moments of escaping the bacteria-filled zombies by meer seconds was done artfully. Immunity, on the other hand, had very little of this unputdownable action and read strongly like a YA dystopian/sci-fi novel. The majority of Immunity was political warfare with our main characters, Thea and Coen, caught up in the middle of it.
Overall, Immunity was appropriate, albeit less exciting, ending to the Contagion duology. When trying to write this review, I found myself remembering more of the plot from Contagion that I do from Immunity despite reading Contagion well over a year ago. I think that alone explains my feelings towards Immunity: good, but less rememberable.
Pre-read review:
This duology needs more hype!! Erin Bowman deserves more recognition because her books are amazing but are hardly talked about. I already know this sequel will be great!
August 9, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, SyFy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Immunity is the second and final installment in author Erin Bowman's Contagion duology. Immunity picks up right where Contagion left off. Althea Sadik, Coen Rivli, and Nova Singh thought they had survived the evil they faced on the planet Achlys. They were wrong. Althea and Coen are forever altered by the Psychrobacter achli contagion and are now lab experiments and prisoners onboard the UBS Paramount. Thea and Coen find themselves evolving over the course of the first part of the book.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, SyFy
*Rating* 4.0
*Thoughts*
Immunity is the second and final installment in author Erin Bowman's Contagion duology. Immunity picks up right where Contagion left off. Althea Sadik, Coen Rivli, and Nova Singh thought they had survived the evil they faced on the planet Achlys. They were wrong. Althea and Coen are forever altered by the Psychrobacter achli contagion and are now lab experiments and prisoners onboard the UBS Paramount. Thea and Coen find themselves evolving over the course of the first part of the book.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
March 19, 2020
4 / 5
Solid follow-up to Contagion, just ever so slightly less entertaining.
It wasn't quite as adrenaline packed as the first book and it focused more on romance, but that's the only negatives I have.
Solid follow-up to Contagion, just ever so slightly less entertaining.
It wasn't quite as adrenaline packed as the first book and it focused more on romance, but that's the only negatives I have.
August 10, 2023
Okay, before I begin, I must stress this was not a bad read, I did enjoy it for what it was... BUT this was not what I expected going into it, and for me, that was a bit of a letdown.
I absolutely adored the first book, Contagion, it was fast paced, claustrophobic and an all round good sci-fi horror. Immunity was more just sci-fi, and didn't really have the horror element that helped make the first in this duology excel.
A big chunk of this book felt long, and just when I thought I was gonna get some infected action, it was over and done with, it felt rushed. Not to say we didn't get action in this book, there was some moments, but again, it didn't have the same impact as the first installment.
I love the characters in this series, this book did a good job of fleshing them out more. I enjoyed Thea and Coen's relationship throughout also.
Overall, I gave this 4 stars because, as I said, this was not a bad read, it was just not what I thought it was gonna be and it lost it's horror factor, so I deducted a star.
I absolutely adored the first book, Contagion, it was fast paced, claustrophobic and an all round good sci-fi horror. Immunity was more just sci-fi, and didn't really have the horror element that helped make the first in this duology excel.
A big chunk of this book felt long, and just when I thought I was gonna get some infected action, it was over and done with, it felt rushed. Not to say we didn't get action in this book, there was some moments, but again, it didn't have the same impact as the first installment.
I love the characters in this series, this book did a good job of fleshing them out more. I enjoyed Thea and Coen's relationship throughout also.
Overall, I gave this 4 stars because, as I said, this was not a bad read, it was just not what I thought it was gonna be and it lost it's horror factor, so I deducted a star.
July 7, 2019
Hi! Welcome to my review of Immunity by Erin Bowman!
The spoiler-free review:
I can’t even remember how I came across Contagion (the prequel for Immunity) but I absolutely loved it. It was scary, the stakes were high and the characters could not be trusted.
I couldn’t wait for the next book and then it finally arrived! Seven months of waiting and now it’s over!
We follow Thea, Coen, and Nova as they find themselves onboard the ship they thought rescued them but was really the Radicals capturing them for testing. Thea and Coen are being tested constantly to explore all the superpower-like abilities the virus gave them, also while looking for an escape.
My hopes and expectations were sky-high going into this book. I absolutely wasn’t disappointed but there were a few things that bothered me. But other than that, I really enjoyed it (Hence me finishing the entire book in one afternoon)!
I was rooting for the characters all the way through and chewed on my nails as the stakes were raised even higher.
All in all, if you’re looking for a quick-ish, sci-fi series that is scary but not too scary, then look no further! This duology will pull you right out of your reading slump!
The review full of spoilers:
You have been warned.
Overall:
4 stars out of 5!
I’m really happy with this conclusion!
This was probably one of my most anticipated reads of 2019, so with my high hopes and expectations, it did not disappoint!
Feel free to comment down below!
“Impossible is just an excuse not to try.”
The spoiler-free review:
I can’t even remember how I came across Contagion (the prequel for Immunity) but I absolutely loved it. It was scary, the stakes were high and the characters could not be trusted.
I couldn’t wait for the next book and then it finally arrived! Seven months of waiting and now it’s over!
We follow Thea, Coen, and Nova as they find themselves onboard the ship they thought rescued them but was really the Radicals capturing them for testing. Thea and Coen are being tested constantly to explore all the superpower-like abilities the virus gave them, also while looking for an escape.
My hopes and expectations were sky-high going into this book. I absolutely wasn’t disappointed but there were a few things that bothered me. But other than that, I really enjoyed it (Hence me finishing the entire book in one afternoon)!
I was rooting for the characters all the way through and chewed on my nails as the stakes were raised even higher.
All in all, if you’re looking for a quick-ish, sci-fi series that is scary but not too scary, then look no further! This duology will pull you right out of your reading slump!
The review full of spoilers:
You have been warned.
Overall:
4 stars out of 5!
I’m really happy with this conclusion!
This was probably one of my most anticipated reads of 2019, so with my high hopes and expectations, it did not disappoint!
Feel free to comment down below!
“Impossible is just an excuse not to try.”
July 4, 2019
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I liked and enjoyed Contagion , but Immunity definitely took the series to the next level! And now, I am going to tell you why I thought that this book really outdid its predecessor, which let's be real, is a rare feat!
•The stakes are higher than ever, which is actually saying a lot! I mean, the plot of book 1 is space zombie virus, so. It's safe to say that upping the ante was going to be a challenge, but the author absolutely succeeded. Without giving anything away, we still have a space zombie virus, but it hits so much closer to home, and the ramifications are huge.
•I felt so much more connected with the characters! This was actually my biggest issue with the first book. While I liked the characters enough, I just didn't feel a huge emotional pull to them. That definitely changed in Immunity! Even though there are still several POV characters, I felt like we got to know them a lot more intimately. They felt very fleshed out in this book, and I genuinely cared about their fates!
•Still tons of action and a fast, unputdownable pace. This is truly the kind of book that you want to keep reading, as it's so full of adventure and high stakes.
•I must reiterate... Zombie. Space. Virus. Come on, if the premise alone doesn't make you need this series in your life, trust that it absolutely delivers on its promise of what-the-fuckery. It's a pretty bananas situation, made even more so because of the fact that they're trapped. This is not The Walking Dead where you can meander through the southern US as you please. You're stuck in a space ship with literal monsters. That obviously is going to make for some compelling situations!
•Loads of difficult choices and gray morality! See, this is why I love this sort of book. Oh, the impossible choices a person finds themselves making in the space zombie plague!
Bottom Line: If the premise sounds cool (and it does), you should give it a go- especially because you now know you won't be let down by the sequel/conclusion!
I liked and enjoyed Contagion , but Immunity definitely took the series to the next level! And now, I am going to tell you why I thought that this book really outdid its predecessor, which let's be real, is a rare feat!
•The stakes are higher than ever, which is actually saying a lot! I mean, the plot of book 1 is space zombie virus, so. It's safe to say that upping the ante was going to be a challenge, but the author absolutely succeeded. Without giving anything away, we still have a space zombie virus, but it hits so much closer to home, and the ramifications are huge.
•I felt so much more connected with the characters! This was actually my biggest issue with the first book. While I liked the characters enough, I just didn't feel a huge emotional pull to them. That definitely changed in Immunity! Even though there are still several POV characters, I felt like we got to know them a lot more intimately. They felt very fleshed out in this book, and I genuinely cared about their fates!
•Still tons of action and a fast, unputdownable pace. This is truly the kind of book that you want to keep reading, as it's so full of adventure and high stakes.
•I must reiterate... Zombie. Space. Virus. Come on, if the premise alone doesn't make you need this series in your life, trust that it absolutely delivers on its promise of what-the-fuckery. It's a pretty bananas situation, made even more so because of the fact that they're trapped. This is not The Walking Dead where you can meander through the southern US as you please. You're stuck in a space ship with literal monsters. That obviously is going to make for some compelling situations!
•Loads of difficult choices and gray morality! See, this is why I love this sort of book. Oh, the impossible choices a person finds themselves making in the space zombie plague!
Bottom Line: If the premise sounds cool (and it does), you should give it a go- especially because you now know you won't be let down by the sequel/conclusion!
November 16, 2019
Thea, Coen and Nova were rescued from the disaster that was the planet Achlys, but aboard the military vessel they face even worse dangers. Nova must recover from being incorrectly taken out of cryo-freezing which results in her slipping into a coma where she relives memories with Dylan. Coen and Thea are imprisoned and experimented on as the revolutionaries hope to use their enhanced abilities to make super soldiers.
I loved seeing Thea and Coen test their abilities and become even closer. I ship these two so dang much. The way they had to learn about each other without boundaries was incredible and definitely stress inducing. But they proved they were smarter and stronger than their adversaries thought.
The addition of Amber worked really well. Her caretaker personality helped smooth out the rough edges of the group, especially on Nova. I loved seeing Amber become a part of their little quartet.
Contagion was a complete thriller of horror and craziness, but Immunity is a bit less high octane. I still loved this book just as much, because we really get to dive into the sci-fi and science aspects of the world and Psychrobacter achli. The ending was a bit farfetched science wise, but I still really enjoyed this conclusion.
I loved seeing Thea and Coen test their abilities and become even closer. I ship these two so dang much. The way they had to learn about each other without boundaries was incredible and definitely stress inducing. But they proved they were smarter and stronger than their adversaries thought.
The addition of Amber worked really well. Her caretaker personality helped smooth out the rough edges of the group, especially on Nova. I loved seeing Amber become a part of their little quartet.
Contagion was a complete thriller of horror and craziness, but Immunity is a bit less high octane. I still loved this book just as much, because we really get to dive into the sci-fi and science aspects of the world and Psychrobacter achli. The ending was a bit farfetched science wise, but I still really enjoyed this conclusion.
August 29, 2020
This book was really good, but it different from the previous one. For one, it wasn't quite as horror-y or fast-paced as the first one was, but it still had a really good plot. In this book especially, we see a lot more character development and the introduction of new characters.
I can't really say much about the plot without spoiling the ending of the previous book (!!!), other than it was pretty good, other than being a bit slow at times, and I definitely saw the romances coming from a mile away.
I can't really say much about the plot without spoiling the ending of the previous book (!!!), other than it was pretty good, other than being a bit slow at times, and I definitely saw the romances coming from a mile away.
December 11, 2020
I've been "reading" this March, it's time to just let it go LOL I'm still going to rate this book because I read more than half of it and then skimmed the end. It was honestly a let down for me. It felt really redundant and I just stopped caring. I tried to push through but I was so bored. I loved the first book but I kind of wish the author had just wrapped that one up and left it there.
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