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Sudden Onset
UC Berkeley Professor of Microbiology, Dr. Mira Wallace, searches for ancient life in the most extreme environments on Earth. While sampling an ancient subterranean lake, the US Army summons Mira to investigate a mysterious biological threat in a Southern Utah desert.
SONA (Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent) is a new pathogen unlike anything known to science. Resilient and aggressive, it threatens Earth's entire biosphere, making Mira fear that she may have just found evidence of the ancient life she’s been searching for.
SONA (Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent) is a new pathogen unlike anything known to science. Resilient and aggressive, it threatens Earth's entire biosphere, making Mira fear that she may have just found evidence of the ancient life she’s been searching for.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2021
5 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Tom Dardick
1 book15 followersWhen not singing and playing drums in two rock bands, following the NY Giants, or hiking with his wife, Tom mostly thinks about how we might improve the human condition. His professional focus is helping people develop, specifically with regard to inter-personal communication and manifesting manifest real, lasting, positive change in people's lives. Much of this process is profoundly influenced by the stories we tell ourselves. He is on a lifelong quest for more powerful, life-affirming story lines. He hopes the ones he helps to create have those effects for those gracious enough to devote time and energy to read.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 11, 2021
Full Disclosure, one of the authors of this novel reached out to me directly asking if I would read and review an advance copy of this novel and this is how I came to read it.
I've had authors reach out to me before asking me to give their novels a shot and, quite frankly, most either sounded terrible based on their premise or sounded alright but were in fact pretty bad. I've found those hard to review as I feel like I'm pouncing on somebodies dreams and years of work. That said, I truly enjoyed this novel an awful lot. If you're someone who enjoys hard science fiction novels like The Martian, this one is probably right up your alley.
The premise here is simple, a rogue microorganism-like thing is found in the middle of nowhere in Utah after an army exercise and it appears to be unstoppable, yet there's way more at play here. Upon bringing in some of the best and brightest minds the unknown life form presses the boundaries of scientific understanding and how we know what we know, while also bringing it into the debate of a science versus a creator. There's a lot going on here, yet I truly had a hard time putting this one down and cranked through it in just a couple of sittings. My only real negative here would be that the authors go a bit too in depth with the science at times and the reader gets lost in the weeds a bit. As one of the authors has a PhD in molecular biology, this isn't surprising as he's clearly speaking on what he knows, but it may bet a bit much for some readers at a few brief points in the book. That said, I don't think it takes away from it at all. For a first novel, this is really well done and I'd recommend it.
Merged review:
Full Disclosure, one of the authors of this novel reached out to me directly asking if I would read and review an advance copy of this novel and this is how I came to read it.
I've had authors reach out to me before asking me to give their novels a shot and, quite frankly, most either sounded terrible based on their premise or sounded alright but were in fact pretty bad. I've found those hard to review as I feel like I'm pouncing on somebodies dreams and years of work. That said, I truly enjoyed this novel an awful lot. If you're someone who enjoys hard science fiction novels like The Martian, this one is probably right up your alley.
The premise here is simple, a rogue microorganism-like thing is found in the middle of nowhere in Utah after an army exercise and it appears to be unstoppable, yet there's way more at play here. Upon bringing in some of the best and brightest minds the unknown life form presses the boundaries of scientific understanding and how we know what we know, while also bringing it into the debate of a science versus a creator. There's a lot going on here, yet I truly had a hard time putting this one down and cranked through it in just a couple of sittings. My only real negative here would be that the authors go a bit too in depth with the science at times and the reader gets lost in the weeds a bit. As one of the authors has a PhD in molecular biology, this isn't surprising as he's clearly speaking on what he knows, but it may bet a bit much for some readers at a few brief points in the book. That said, I don't think it takes away from it at all. For a first novel, this is really well done and I'd recommend it
I've had authors reach out to me before asking me to give their novels a shot and, quite frankly, most either sounded terrible based on their premise or sounded alright but were in fact pretty bad. I've found those hard to review as I feel like I'm pouncing on somebodies dreams and years of work. That said, I truly enjoyed this novel an awful lot. If you're someone who enjoys hard science fiction novels like The Martian, this one is probably right up your alley.
The premise here is simple, a rogue microorganism-like thing is found in the middle of nowhere in Utah after an army exercise and it appears to be unstoppable, yet there's way more at play here. Upon bringing in some of the best and brightest minds the unknown life form presses the boundaries of scientific understanding and how we know what we know, while also bringing it into the debate of a science versus a creator. There's a lot going on here, yet I truly had a hard time putting this one down and cranked through it in just a couple of sittings. My only real negative here would be that the authors go a bit too in depth with the science at times and the reader gets lost in the weeds a bit. As one of the authors has a PhD in molecular biology, this isn't surprising as he's clearly speaking on what he knows, but it may bet a bit much for some readers at a few brief points in the book. That said, I don't think it takes away from it at all. For a first novel, this is really well done and I'd recommend it.
Merged review:
Full Disclosure, one of the authors of this novel reached out to me directly asking if I would read and review an advance copy of this novel and this is how I came to read it.
I've had authors reach out to me before asking me to give their novels a shot and, quite frankly, most either sounded terrible based on their premise or sounded alright but were in fact pretty bad. I've found those hard to review as I feel like I'm pouncing on somebodies dreams and years of work. That said, I truly enjoyed this novel an awful lot. If you're someone who enjoys hard science fiction novels like The Martian, this one is probably right up your alley.
The premise here is simple, a rogue microorganism-like thing is found in the middle of nowhere in Utah after an army exercise and it appears to be unstoppable, yet there's way more at play here. Upon bringing in some of the best and brightest minds the unknown life form presses the boundaries of scientific understanding and how we know what we know, while also bringing it into the debate of a science versus a creator. There's a lot going on here, yet I truly had a hard time putting this one down and cranked through it in just a couple of sittings. My only real negative here would be that the authors go a bit too in depth with the science at times and the reader gets lost in the weeds a bit. As one of the authors has a PhD in molecular biology, this isn't surprising as he's clearly speaking on what he knows, but it may bet a bit much for some readers at a few brief points in the book. That said, I don't think it takes away from it at all. For a first novel, this is really well done and I'd recommend it
June 4, 2021
I was approached by Tom Dardick, one of Sudden Onset’s authors, to review this book and I am very pleased to have been given an Advanced Reader’s Copy. In brief, Sudden Onset is a science-thriller about a deadly biological threat that threatens life as we know it. Dr. Mira Wallace, a renowned microbiologist, is in search of the oldest surviving life-form and what she believes to be the mother of all subsequent life when she is suddenly pulled from her mission regarding her life’s work in order to help the U.S. government combat the deadly new pathogen they’ve named SONA (Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent). With little time to figure out just exactly what SONA is and how to control its spread before it destroys everything in its path, Dr. Wallace and other scientists must race to find the answers before it’s too late. Age-long questions arise along the way: Does everything happen for a reason? Is life on Earth unique or the result of a higher power?
Let me just start off by saying Sudden Onset far exceeded my expectations, especially for a debut novel. Far too many times, science fiction novels and media blow past reality and make the story so outlandish that it is hard to relate to real life, but Sudden Onset puts the science in science fiction as it was written partially by someone with real expertise in this particular scientific field, molecular biologist Dr. Christopher Dardick. While parts of the novel did feel a bit too dense with all of the scientific terminology and explanation, I do think it added to the overall story and “thriller” aspect of the book because it made the threat all the more tangible.
The short chapters, descriptive writing style, and multiple characters really helped propel the story, and in my opinion, made the story read as though it were a film. I would love to see Sudden Onset made into a movie or even television series, and I believe it could easily rival things such as the show The Walking Dead or the movie Contagion.
I also applaud the authors for their abundance of diversity in their characters, such as Dr. Wallace being a successful autistic woman in science. Women in STEM are seldom portrayed as the heroine or main character, and I believe they did an excellent job in showcasing how her autism was an advantage throughout the course of the book. I applaud the authors for a great first novel and hope to see additional books for this story in the future!
Let me just start off by saying Sudden Onset far exceeded my expectations, especially for a debut novel. Far too many times, science fiction novels and media blow past reality and make the story so outlandish that it is hard to relate to real life, but Sudden Onset puts the science in science fiction as it was written partially by someone with real expertise in this particular scientific field, molecular biologist Dr. Christopher Dardick. While parts of the novel did feel a bit too dense with all of the scientific terminology and explanation, I do think it added to the overall story and “thriller” aspect of the book because it made the threat all the more tangible.
The short chapters, descriptive writing style, and multiple characters really helped propel the story, and in my opinion, made the story read as though it were a film. I would love to see Sudden Onset made into a movie or even television series, and I believe it could easily rival things such as the show The Walking Dead or the movie Contagion.
I also applaud the authors for their abundance of diversity in their characters, such as Dr. Wallace being a successful autistic woman in science. Women in STEM are seldom portrayed as the heroine or main character, and I believe they did an excellent job in showcasing how her autism was an advantage throughout the course of the book. I applaud the authors for a great first novel and hope to see additional books for this story in the future!
May 19, 2021
“But life had a unique property. It could evolve. Life was powered by an elegant, balanced machinery driven by mistakes- a kind of imperfect perfection.”
I was approached by the author to review this book in exchange for an advance copy, and my first thought was that the premise sounded like fascinating classic science driven fiction. This book did not disappoint! It is a science thriller about the spread of a mysterious flesh eating substance that could potentially destroy the world, and definitely delivers both on the science and the thrills. I also appreciated that the main character is an autistic woman scientist. The book also explores deeper issues of faith and science. The fact that this is a debut book is impressive as the writing is excellent and the characters well developed. Although science is not my strong point, I was able to follow all the action. You can really tell that this was written by someone who knows their business, which I always appreciate! I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are into science fiction thrillers such as The Martian. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and makes me extremely intrigued as to what will happen in the second book of the series!
I was approached by the author to review this book in exchange for an advance copy, and my first thought was that the premise sounded like fascinating classic science driven fiction. This book did not disappoint! It is a science thriller about the spread of a mysterious flesh eating substance that could potentially destroy the world, and definitely delivers both on the science and the thrills. I also appreciated that the main character is an autistic woman scientist. The book also explores deeper issues of faith and science. The fact that this is a debut book is impressive as the writing is excellent and the characters well developed. Although science is not my strong point, I was able to follow all the action. You can really tell that this was written by someone who knows their business, which I always appreciate! I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are into science fiction thrillers such as The Martian. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and makes me extremely intrigued as to what will happen in the second book of the series!
June 3, 2021
I was provided with this ARC by Mr. Tom Dardick in exchange for a review.
Dr. Mira Wallace, a brilliant microbiologist is on the hunt to find the origin of all life, on the Continent of Antarctica. However, her scientific expedition is cut short when her impressive knowledge is needed elsewhere to solve an even bigger problem - SONA (sudden onset necrobiosis agent).
SONA suddenly makes a deadly appearance on a desolate Utah Desert and shows no sign of stopping its spread. It seems like all attempts at finding a biocontrol solution by Dr. Wallace and team has failed. But this doesn't dampen her spirits at finding an organism capable for the successful remediation of SONA.
Science and faith also becomes deeply intertwined in this Novel. Dr. Wallace, a firm believer of scientific evidence is not entirely keen on the idea of the existence of a Creator but is given a valuable lesson by Eleanor and even CSM Rain Somerdale.
Where did SONA originate from? Will Dr. Wallace find the solution she's looking for? Is there a Creator who is responsible for all that's happening?
This is my first 5 star read for the year. I was absolutely hooked right from the beginning because 1. the main character is an introverted WOMAN. Not too often do I come across books with the main character being a highly intelligent woman in her late 40s. A no nonsense kind of woman who is serious about her work and nothing else. Mira does not allow room for any type of distractions in her life. 2. The deep intertwine of faith and science. Being taught that as a scientist you have to leave the notion of creation behind if you are to advance further in your field, however, the authors of the book illustrates that both concepts can go hand-in-hand quite neatly. I dislike a cliffhanger ending though. Which this book sort of ended with 😔
Dr. Mira Wallace, a brilliant microbiologist is on the hunt to find the origin of all life, on the Continent of Antarctica. However, her scientific expedition is cut short when her impressive knowledge is needed elsewhere to solve an even bigger problem - SONA (sudden onset necrobiosis agent).
SONA suddenly makes a deadly appearance on a desolate Utah Desert and shows no sign of stopping its spread. It seems like all attempts at finding a biocontrol solution by Dr. Wallace and team has failed. But this doesn't dampen her spirits at finding an organism capable for the successful remediation of SONA.
Science and faith also becomes deeply intertwined in this Novel. Dr. Wallace, a firm believer of scientific evidence is not entirely keen on the idea of the existence of a Creator but is given a valuable lesson by Eleanor and even CSM Rain Somerdale.
Where did SONA originate from? Will Dr. Wallace find the solution she's looking for? Is there a Creator who is responsible for all that's happening?
This is my first 5 star read for the year. I was absolutely hooked right from the beginning because 1. the main character is an introverted WOMAN. Not too often do I come across books with the main character being a highly intelligent woman in her late 40s. A no nonsense kind of woman who is serious about her work and nothing else. Mira does not allow room for any type of distractions in her life. 2. The deep intertwine of faith and science. Being taught that as a scientist you have to leave the notion of creation behind if you are to advance further in your field, however, the authors of the book illustrates that both concepts can go hand-in-hand quite neatly. I dislike a cliffhanger ending though. Which this book sort of ended with 😔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2021
Thanks to Tom Dardick for the Advanced Reader Copy of Sudden Onset.
The first thing that stood out for me with this book is how accomplished it was. At times it was hard to believe this was the debut book of two previously unpublished fiction writers.
There are many characters to get your head round but they are all fleshed out and well defined. There is no overlapping or jarring characters; they are all their own person and they all have an important purpose in the story. There is a risk when a book has many characters that some will inevitably fall into the background and you start to question their role in the story, but I didn’t get that feeling here.
At fist, I felt the “excerpt” sections, dotted in between every few chapters, were a bit jarring, I couldn’t see how they fit with the story. Having said that, once you get further into the story, and further into Mira’s research, these all become clear to the reader.
The reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is that I felt some of it was a little bit too technical and difficult to read. I understand it was written by someone with an expertise in this kind of science, and it might be hard to “dumb it down” to the extent a non-scientific reader can understand. Overall I could understand what was happening, but when reading the scientific explanations, I found myself getting slightly lost.
I am more than happy to recommend the reading of this book. It’s engaging and threatening and fast-paced and exciting. And luckily for us, it’s only the first book in a hopefully as thrilling series.
The first thing that stood out for me with this book is how accomplished it was. At times it was hard to believe this was the debut book of two previously unpublished fiction writers.
There are many characters to get your head round but they are all fleshed out and well defined. There is no overlapping or jarring characters; they are all their own person and they all have an important purpose in the story. There is a risk when a book has many characters that some will inevitably fall into the background and you start to question their role in the story, but I didn’t get that feeling here.
At fist, I felt the “excerpt” sections, dotted in between every few chapters, were a bit jarring, I couldn’t see how they fit with the story. Having said that, once you get further into the story, and further into Mira’s research, these all become clear to the reader.
The reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is that I felt some of it was a little bit too technical and difficult to read. I understand it was written by someone with an expertise in this kind of science, and it might be hard to “dumb it down” to the extent a non-scientific reader can understand. Overall I could understand what was happening, but when reading the scientific explanations, I found myself getting slightly lost.
I am more than happy to recommend the reading of this book. It’s engaging and threatening and fast-paced and exciting. And luckily for us, it’s only the first book in a hopefully as thrilling series.
May 28, 2021
Disclaimer: I did multiple significant edit passes on this book.
I appreciate the detail that went into the scientific aspects of this book to give it a solid background using well-explained tech (including a teacher-friendly appendix), but the characters are where it shines in how they work together and against each other. Characters (as seen in this book) are much more easily understood and related to when they're easy to tell apart through actions, attitudes, beliefs, and mannerisms. It's great to understand such a wide range of motivations, and to have such distinctive characters to experience the story through.
I appreciate the detail that went into the scientific aspects of this book to give it a solid background using well-explained tech (including a teacher-friendly appendix), but the characters are where it shines in how they work together and against each other. Characters (as seen in this book) are much more easily understood and related to when they're easy to tell apart through actions, attitudes, beliefs, and mannerisms. It's great to understand such a wide range of motivations, and to have such distinctive characters to experience the story through.
June 4, 2023
I couldn't finish it, I'm sorry 😬 It wasn't bad, it's just not for me. I'm not interested in science AT ALL but when the author asked me to read the advanced copy I was excited and honestly felt honoured. I told myself I'd try but as interesting as the book is, I just don't have the urge to read it at all and I don't wanna force myself to do it if I can't enjoy it. Please don't let my lack of interest get in the way of your decision to get this book, because it's really good.
July 23, 2021
I recieved an ARC in exchange for honest review.
A saga that stimulates your Brain and Soul
This was my first time reading a proper Hi Sci Fi thriller. The plot is what matters to me the most in the stories I read and this book delivers. The book has a very well plotted story. Once all the pieces are in their position the big plot is revealed. The readers are kept guessing about what's about to happen till the very end.
The characters are well developed and even meaningful representation of people from different walks of life can be seen. The character that stood out to me other than our Protagonists Rain and Mira is Gigi, a hyperactive ball of fun and positivity. Her dynamics with Juan provides the readers with moments to cherish.
Rain and Mira have a dynamics that works well. Their relationship is treated with much realism without making them the typical main couple of the story.
The coming together of a storyteller and a scientist served well in delivering us a thrilling journey of scientific and philosophical thoughts.
The hardcore scientific part of the story was something I found hard to grasp but the supplement helped to a long way. Even though some stuff still remained cloudy (but these part do not effect the enjoyment of the plot)
The only nitpicking i have to do is about the pacing, the plot picks momentum only once it reaches the half way point, as I often read thrillers just for the thrill. Even then I understand why we needed that much time for setting up the characters and world because without that the story will not hit hard in the ways it did.
A saga that stimulates your Brain and Soul
This was my first time reading a proper Hi Sci Fi thriller. The plot is what matters to me the most in the stories I read and this book delivers. The book has a very well plotted story. Once all the pieces are in their position the big plot is revealed. The readers are kept guessing about what's about to happen till the very end.
The characters are well developed and even meaningful representation of people from different walks of life can be seen. The character that stood out to me other than our Protagonists Rain and Mira is Gigi, a hyperactive ball of fun and positivity. Her dynamics with Juan provides the readers with moments to cherish.
Rain and Mira have a dynamics that works well. Their relationship is treated with much realism without making them the typical main couple of the story.
The coming together of a storyteller and a scientist served well in delivering us a thrilling journey of scientific and philosophical thoughts.
The hardcore scientific part of the story was something I found hard to grasp but the supplement helped to a long way. Even though some stuff still remained cloudy (but these part do not effect the enjoyment of the plot)
The only nitpicking i have to do is about the pacing, the plot picks momentum only once it reaches the half way point, as I often read thrillers just for the thrill. Even then I understand why we needed that much time for setting up the characters and world because without that the story will not hit hard in the ways it did.
June 8, 2021
It’s launch day for Sudden Onset!
I can only imagine the slew of emotions the authors Tom and Chris are experiencing after their decade-long dedication to this project. Congrats to you both, and the team of people who helped bring this book to life.
Sudden Onset follows one of my favorite characters to date: Mira. She’s an autistic microbiologist who has been hired by the U.S. Army to assist in curbing a deadly biological threat discovered in the Utah desert.
As they trudge through the mysteries of said threat, Mira’s beliefs on the origin of life are rocked. Answers beget more questions and the quest to discover the inner workings of this threat becomes much larger than expected.
This story intrigued me from the start. The constant debate on how life began has always fascinated me. I’ve had my firm beliefs for years, but to listen to the various arguments for or against our world having been created versus spontaneously coming into existence piques my interest every time.
While I’m far from worthy of scientific thought - these things fly over my head - I felt the brothers did an amazing job of incorporating that world with true emotion and inner thought throughout the book. It was a truly enjoyable read. Educational, heartwarming at times, surprisingly gut-wrenching at others… a must-read for those who have even an inkling of curiosity about the “onset” of life.
I can only imagine the slew of emotions the authors Tom and Chris are experiencing after their decade-long dedication to this project. Congrats to you both, and the team of people who helped bring this book to life.
Sudden Onset follows one of my favorite characters to date: Mira. She’s an autistic microbiologist who has been hired by the U.S. Army to assist in curbing a deadly biological threat discovered in the Utah desert.
As they trudge through the mysteries of said threat, Mira’s beliefs on the origin of life are rocked. Answers beget more questions and the quest to discover the inner workings of this threat becomes much larger than expected.
This story intrigued me from the start. The constant debate on how life began has always fascinated me. I’ve had my firm beliefs for years, but to listen to the various arguments for or against our world having been created versus spontaneously coming into existence piques my interest every time.
While I’m far from worthy of scientific thought - these things fly over my head - I felt the brothers did an amazing job of incorporating that world with true emotion and inner thought throughout the book. It was a truly enjoyable read. Educational, heartwarming at times, surprisingly gut-wrenching at others… a must-read for those who have even an inkling of curiosity about the “onset” of life.
June 4, 2021
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
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I am in awe. This is one of the best ARCs Ive ever received. This is one of the best books of the year, period. In this mysterious sci-fi thriller we follow a scientist trying to stop a new pathogen from spreading and ending humanity as we know it. We get to feel the claustrophobia of being in an isolated place. We get to feel the fear of the unknown and the heart racing panic of the ticking clock. When I first read the description of the book I did not expect to feel so stressed and chilled to the bone as I did. Because many sci-fi reads dont tend to knock my socks off, I was not expected to feel fear like I did. To top it all off, this book is so beautifully written. Its smart and extremely well researched. I did have the occasional moment where the book was a bit too smart for me, but I managed to catch back up. I enjoyed the variety of characters and how well fleshed out they were. I cared about them amd what happened to them. This book was well rounded, but I enjoyed it so much I want more. If you love science and find the mysteries of the universe scary, then this is the perfect book for you. This wonderful story will be available for purchase on the 8th of June (2021). So dont forget to grab yourself a copy, this is a good one guys, you wont regret it!
.
I am in awe. This is one of the best ARCs Ive ever received. This is one of the best books of the year, period. In this mysterious sci-fi thriller we follow a scientist trying to stop a new pathogen from spreading and ending humanity as we know it. We get to feel the claustrophobia of being in an isolated place. We get to feel the fear of the unknown and the heart racing panic of the ticking clock. When I first read the description of the book I did not expect to feel so stressed and chilled to the bone as I did. Because many sci-fi reads dont tend to knock my socks off, I was not expected to feel fear like I did. To top it all off, this book is so beautifully written. Its smart and extremely well researched. I did have the occasional moment where the book was a bit too smart for me, but I managed to catch back up. I enjoyed the variety of characters and how well fleshed out they were. I cared about them amd what happened to them. This book was well rounded, but I enjoyed it so much I want more. If you love science and find the mysteries of the universe scary, then this is the perfect book for you. This wonderful story will be available for purchase on the 8th of June (2021). So dont forget to grab yourself a copy, this is a good one guys, you wont regret it!
June 26, 2021
A cross between science fiction and a thriller, Sudden Onset follows microbiologist Mira as she is recruited by the US military to help identify and fight a biological threat.
This book was right up my street, I love both science fiction and thrillers, so I was super excited when I was offered the chance to read an advanced copy of this one. It has moments of pure brilliance, but overall I think it fell a little flat. My main issue with it was that it felt over complicated and too science-led. While a relative amount of science helped the story and gave it credibility, I found some passages (even chapters!) hard to read because I just didn’t understand them.
I loved a lot of the characters, the characterisation was thoughtful and it really worked with the story. I became very attached to Mira, Eleanor, and Rain, although I did get a bit confused with some of the side characters as there were so many!
The pacing was brilliant - very even throughout, but a little more pacy when the story required it! It reminded me a lot of The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton, and I suspect if you liked that, you’d like this.
Thank you to Tom Dardick, who offered me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
This book was right up my street, I love both science fiction and thrillers, so I was super excited when I was offered the chance to read an advanced copy of this one. It has moments of pure brilliance, but overall I think it fell a little flat. My main issue with it was that it felt over complicated and too science-led. While a relative amount of science helped the story and gave it credibility, I found some passages (even chapters!) hard to read because I just didn’t understand them.
I loved a lot of the characters, the characterisation was thoughtful and it really worked with the story. I became very attached to Mira, Eleanor, and Rain, although I did get a bit confused with some of the side characters as there were so many!
The pacing was brilliant - very even throughout, but a little more pacy when the story required it! It reminded me a lot of The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton, and I suspect if you liked that, you’d like this.
Thank you to Tom Dardick, who offered me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2021
A big thanks to Tom Dardick for giving me an advanced copy of the book!
The story is about a sudden outbreak of a mysterious and deadly biological agent. The US Army brings a microbiologist, Mira Wallace to help mitigate it. As Mira struggles to understand the nature of this threat and intention of people around her, she finds herself asking questions like 'how did life really originate on the planet?', 'was it a mere coincidence?', 'can it happen again?'...
I'm so glad I read this book! The premise is very interesting and one of my favourite topics to talk about. This book was packed with mystery, thrill and science! It was really really hard to put this down! The characters had so much depth and I connected with a lot of them instantly! I personally liked the science part of it, but there are too many scientific terms which might confuse some people. And the ending left me wanting to read more!!
The story is about a sudden outbreak of a mysterious and deadly biological agent. The US Army brings a microbiologist, Mira Wallace to help mitigate it. As Mira struggles to understand the nature of this threat and intention of people around her, she finds herself asking questions like 'how did life really originate on the planet?', 'was it a mere coincidence?', 'can it happen again?'...
I'm so glad I read this book! The premise is very interesting and one of my favourite topics to talk about. This book was packed with mystery, thrill and science! It was really really hard to put this down! The characters had so much depth and I connected with a lot of them instantly! I personally liked the science part of it, but there are too many scientific terms which might confuse some people. And the ending left me wanting to read more!!
May 18, 2021
I was so excited when I was approached about the idea of getting to read Sudden Onset before it came out. When I was contacted about it, I was immediately interested in the big questions it posed; about science, about life, about faith in itself. I haven’t read a lot of scientific-based type books, so I was a little out of my comfort zone, but excited to be. And boy, did it pay off! This was an incredible book, and I don’t say that lightly. The questions that all life revolves around, that are the center of everything, are explored with nuance and complexity, but also care and compassion. The characters, especially Mira, our protagonist, grow and develop deeply, but not linearly, which I absolutely love. This is a novel that really strikes a chord in a lot of ways. The science-stuff is clearly from an extremely well educated point of view, and yet as someone who doesn’t understand science at all, it made sense and was extraordinarily interesting in a way I didn’t anticipate. Also, while juggling the science with the deep inquiries about life and the interwoven character development, exciting twists and turns were still managed, and managed well.
June 12, 2021
Full disclosure - I was approached by one of the authors to read and review this book.
I was equally excited and nervous about this book. Although interesting, the premise was slightly intimidating due to the science focus. This is not the type of book I'd usually be drawn to.
Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The main character Mira, an autistic microbiologist, was exceptionally portrayed. Being on the spectrum myself, I was keen to see how the authors presented this throughout the book. A lot of books I've read with autism representation can appear negative and show autism as a burden. The authors did a fabulous job in presenting Mira's struggles but also showing the wonderful side of autism through her character.
There was a lot of technical language used throughout the book which was to be expected, although I did struggle with a lot of the language I was still able to fully enjoy and understand what was happening.
The writing style was brilliant and the pacing was great.
The story was interesting and I really enjoyed reading such a different genre to what I am used to. I look forward to reading the following books.
I was equally excited and nervous about this book. Although interesting, the premise was slightly intimidating due to the science focus. This is not the type of book I'd usually be drawn to.
Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The main character Mira, an autistic microbiologist, was exceptionally portrayed. Being on the spectrum myself, I was keen to see how the authors presented this throughout the book. A lot of books I've read with autism representation can appear negative and show autism as a burden. The authors did a fabulous job in presenting Mira's struggles but also showing the wonderful side of autism through her character.
There was a lot of technical language used throughout the book which was to be expected, although I did struggle with a lot of the language I was still able to fully enjoy and understand what was happening.
The writing style was brilliant and the pacing was great.
The story was interesting and I really enjoyed reading such a different genre to what I am used to. I look forward to reading the following books.
June 6, 2021
First of all, I would like to thank Tom Dardick who sent me the Advanced readers copy of Sudden Onset. To be honest, I was impressed by the book from the first pages and I can’t believe this is a product of two previously unpublished authors. It was just so good! The attention to scientific details, the story - I was just glued to this book for a couple of days. Characters are beautifully written, I was so invested in them that I often worried that something bad might happen or already happened off-screen to them. And I still worry about their well-being, even though the story of the book 1 ended. Can’t wait for the sequel!
June 4, 2021
Sudden Onset is a science fiction book about a biological agent that destroys everything it comes in contact with. Mira is a brilliant scientist tasked with trying to find a way to stop this destructive life form before it is too late. The science driven plot was very smart and believable, explained in a way that is understandable to people who don’t have a scientific background. I found the characters to be likable and the story exciting. My only issue was some believability about how certain characters were described or spoke. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m excited to see what happens next. Looking forward to reading the next book. Sudden Onset is out June 8! Thank you so much to one of the authors @tomdardick for the ARC.
June 5, 2021
Thank you Chris for reaching out to me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!
I’m not a Sci-Fi gal normally, but the premise of this sounded interesting enough so I gave it a shot! I’m glad I did! This was interesting, enticing and kept me turning the pages!
I enjoyed Mira and Marcel. I thought they were great characters, well fleshed out and complex enough to make you wonder about them. This was a likable book, especially if you’re big into sci-fi! It’s such a great concept and it’s very well fleshed out. The pacing is nice and it doesn’t drag too much. There are points when it’s a bit of a lull, but not too bad! I enjoyed it!
I’m not a Sci-Fi gal normally, but the premise of this sounded interesting enough so I gave it a shot! I’m glad I did! This was interesting, enticing and kept me turning the pages!
I enjoyed Mira and Marcel. I thought they were great characters, well fleshed out and complex enough to make you wonder about them. This was a likable book, especially if you’re big into sci-fi! It’s such a great concept and it’s very well fleshed out. The pacing is nice and it doesn’t drag too much. There are points when it’s a bit of a lull, but not too bad! I enjoyed it!
June 4, 2021
I enjoyed "Sudden Onset" at so many levels. The story is exciting and the characters complex and well developed. In many ways it reminds me of a Tom Clancy novel. In addition, I grew up near some of the locations in the story. If you are familiar with the Fort Detrick, MD area, you may recognize local references, although the story ranges from Antarctica to the Utah desert. I remember hearing about Fort Detrick as a kid and its role in the study of deadly pathogens. "Sudden Onset" is chilling in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Definitely a page turner. I can't wait for the sequel!
August 5, 2021
Thanks to the author for the advance reader copy of this book.
This is a hard sci fi thriller. I really enjoyed the concepts discussed in the book. If you enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir, Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton or the tv show Devs you will enjoy this.
This is a hard sci fi thriller. I really enjoyed the concepts discussed in the book. If you enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir, Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton or the tv show Devs you will enjoy this.
June 17, 2021
Sudden Onset is the debut novel by brothers Tom and Chris Dardick. This scithri (science fiction thriller) is extremely well written and packed with suspense, mystery, and action. While the US Army is doing top-secret tests in the desert a soldier is killed. The Army takes action and pulls Mira away from her world-changing research in Antarctica to help identify and stop the unknown contagion from spreading).
I absolutely loved the main character, Mira. Mira is a highly intelligent woman with Autism. Her brain functions on a level that is beyond what others can even comprehend. Although, her autism does cause issues with social situations, overstimulation, and she speaks the blunt, honest truth. As a parent of a high-functioning autistic child, I love seeing such a brilliant main character thrive.
I also enjoyed how well the story was written and the depth of information/research that was put into creating this novel. It was a nice change of pace to read a novel that was packed with scientific information as well as intriguing.
However, there were a couple of aspects of the book I did not enjoy. There were times when the scientific information was beyond the realm for your everyday reader. When the scientific information was over the top it was hard to follow along with what discoveries were being made. However, the authors did include sections where the main characters explained their findings that made sense to your average person.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves science-fiction, thrillers, suspense, and strong female leads.
I absolutely loved the main character, Mira. Mira is a highly intelligent woman with Autism. Her brain functions on a level that is beyond what others can even comprehend. Although, her autism does cause issues with social situations, overstimulation, and she speaks the blunt, honest truth. As a parent of a high-functioning autistic child, I love seeing such a brilliant main character thrive.
I also enjoyed how well the story was written and the depth of information/research that was put into creating this novel. It was a nice change of pace to read a novel that was packed with scientific information as well as intriguing.
However, there were a couple of aspects of the book I did not enjoy. There were times when the scientific information was beyond the realm for your everyday reader. When the scientific information was over the top it was hard to follow along with what discoveries were being made. However, the authors did include sections where the main characters explained their findings that made sense to your average person.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves science-fiction, thrillers, suspense, and strong female leads.
May 29, 2021
This book is fantastic. I love the way the authors incorporate interesting scientific details with the well written story. I am a very visual person so the detailed descriptions were wonderful! It really made the book come to life. The book was a great pace and easy to read. The authors do a great job at capturing your attention and keeping it. This isn’t usually my genre but after reading it’s making me go back and take a look at books I have passed over before! I look forward to seeing more from these authors.
May 12, 2021
5 Stars! I really enjoyed reading this advanced readers copy. What really grabbed my attention immediately, as I started reading, was just how well-written this book is. SONA, an acronym for Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent is infiltrating the country at an alarming rate. A group of scientists must work hard to save the people of the United States of America. But, SONA has other plans.....
May 26, 2021
UC Berkeley Professor of Microbiology, Dr. Mira Wallace, searches for ancient life in the most extreme environments on Earth. While sampling an ancient subterranean lake, the US Army summons Mira to investigate a mysterious biological threat in a Southern Utah desert. SONA (Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent) is a new pathogen unlike anything known to science. Resilient and aggressive, it threatens Earth's entire biosphere, making Mira fear that she may have just found evidence of the ancient life she's been searching for. (Goodreads)
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
If you are like me and you are not the best at understanding science, this book may seem a bit intimidating to you at first. Yes, I knew it was science fiction going into it. However, I also knew it would be really focused on microbiology and that one of the authors has a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology, so the book would most likely have technical terms that I know nothing about. Well, I was right about that. Luckily for me and for others who are not the strongest with science, the authors do a great job explaining everything. I never truly felt super confused. There were times when I didn't completely grasp a concept right away, but it was always explained fairly quickly in a way that was easy to understand. Just in case you don't though, or you don't know much about the government agencies mentioned, the authors provide a very handy supplement in the back with further explanation.
The entire concept of this novel is fascinating and I think that will be a pretty universal statement made in its reviews. It's a wonderful blend of questions about science and religion that truly makes you question everything you may have previously thought about the creation of life. Too often I come across books with great ideas behind them that are executed poorly. I am very happy to say that this is not one of those books. The execution was done very well. I was engaged the entirety of the novel and found myself reading a chapter here and there while I was in class because of it (oops!). At least that says something about the book though.
I enjoyed the characters and thought they were well written. Of course I loved Mira, our protagonist, but I also loved Rain and Gigi a lot. I even liked Quon (maybe not his personality, but his character in general). They all added something to the story and, when they were in danger, I genuinely cared about what happened to them (which is why my nerves were going crazy towards the end but no more on that to avoid spoilers).
Overall, I am happy that I did not let my intimidation cause me to turn down this book. The concept was interesting, the book written well, and the characters loveable. Everything was explained in a way that a non-science person such as myself could understand easily. After that ending, I have quite a few questions, so I will definitely be looking forward to the second book and recommending this first book to people while I wait. Now I am going to go eat pizza while I contemplate every question this book has made me think about and all of the possibilities my eyes have opened up to because of this novel.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Authors: Tom M. Dardick and Dr. Christopher D. Dardick
Publisher: Immortal Works
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: The Seed Series (Book 1)
Publication Date: June 8, 2021
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
If you are like me and you are not the best at understanding science, this book may seem a bit intimidating to you at first. Yes, I knew it was science fiction going into it. However, I also knew it would be really focused on microbiology and that one of the authors has a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology, so the book would most likely have technical terms that I know nothing about. Well, I was right about that. Luckily for me and for others who are not the strongest with science, the authors do a great job explaining everything. I never truly felt super confused. There were times when I didn't completely grasp a concept right away, but it was always explained fairly quickly in a way that was easy to understand. Just in case you don't though, or you don't know much about the government agencies mentioned, the authors provide a very handy supplement in the back with further explanation.
The entire concept of this novel is fascinating and I think that will be a pretty universal statement made in its reviews. It's a wonderful blend of questions about science and religion that truly makes you question everything you may have previously thought about the creation of life. Too often I come across books with great ideas behind them that are executed poorly. I am very happy to say that this is not one of those books. The execution was done very well. I was engaged the entirety of the novel and found myself reading a chapter here and there while I was in class because of it (oops!). At least that says something about the book though.
I enjoyed the characters and thought they were well written. Of course I loved Mira, our protagonist, but I also loved Rain and Gigi a lot. I even liked Quon (maybe not his personality, but his character in general). They all added something to the story and, when they were in danger, I genuinely cared about what happened to them (which is why my nerves were going crazy towards the end but no more on that to avoid spoilers).
Overall, I am happy that I did not let my intimidation cause me to turn down this book. The concept was interesting, the book written well, and the characters loveable. Everything was explained in a way that a non-science person such as myself could understand easily. After that ending, I have quite a few questions, so I will definitely be looking forward to the second book and recommending this first book to people while I wait. Now I am going to go eat pizza while I contemplate every question this book has made me think about and all of the possibilities my eyes have opened up to because of this novel.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Authors: Tom M. Dardick and Dr. Christopher D. Dardick
Publisher: Immortal Works
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: The Seed Series (Book 1)
Publication Date: June 8, 2021
July 2, 2021
I want to agree with and echo what other 4- and 5- star reviewers here are saying about Sudden Onset: it is an edge-of-your-seat thriller!
The characters feel organic and naturally drive the plot (LOVE Mira, Gigi, and Kyle!). I really do love that the main protagonist, Mira, is a middle-aged woman on the autism spectrum, as others have noted. Beloved people in my family deal with these spectrum issues, and I love how the book shows that such people can flourish in life, have prodigious gifts, and be complete, fascinating, lovable people. I love novels that give me a deeper dive into an interesting science or other current area of interest like this. Specifically, I enjoyed the glimpse into protocols at BioHazard Level 4 labs. I completely geeked out over the “Green Car” idea. Just cool. Though the science bits can require a little focus, I find that edifying and fun. Entrepreneur and writer Tom Dardick co-wrote this book with his brother, Chris, microbiologist for the USDA, and the science in the book obviously has been well-researched. Extensive footnoting explains some of the hard science on which the story is based. I really like that, because I felt I could flip back and forth between learning something new and enjoying the telling of the story. The book does a good job, in my opinion, of balancing technical insight (necessary for immersion into the plot and the characters’ world) with dynamic, tension-building story-telling. For that reason, it is excellent for a book discussion group and for any adults, tweens or teens interested in reading, writing and “hard” science fiction based in current microbiology. I am struck by how the book has an uncanny timeliness given our experiences over the last 18 months or so with Covid.
I appreciate that the while the book is a page-turner, its “PG-13” content means I can still recommend it to a young teen or my grandmother without worrying about the appropriateness of the content. What a welcome feature that is! While I really am impressed with the book on its own merits, the fact it is a first-time effort is even more impressive. I am giving Sudden Onset as gifts to friends I think would enjoy it and I heartily recommend it. Well done, Dardick brothers. Please hurry on the sequel!
The characters feel organic and naturally drive the plot (LOVE Mira, Gigi, and Kyle!). I really do love that the main protagonist, Mira, is a middle-aged woman on the autism spectrum, as others have noted. Beloved people in my family deal with these spectrum issues, and I love how the book shows that such people can flourish in life, have prodigious gifts, and be complete, fascinating, lovable people. I love novels that give me a deeper dive into an interesting science or other current area of interest like this. Specifically, I enjoyed the glimpse into protocols at BioHazard Level 4 labs. I completely geeked out over the “Green Car” idea. Just cool. Though the science bits can require a little focus, I find that edifying and fun. Entrepreneur and writer Tom Dardick co-wrote this book with his brother, Chris, microbiologist for the USDA, and the science in the book obviously has been well-researched. Extensive footnoting explains some of the hard science on which the story is based. I really like that, because I felt I could flip back and forth between learning something new and enjoying the telling of the story. The book does a good job, in my opinion, of balancing technical insight (necessary for immersion into the plot and the characters’ world) with dynamic, tension-building story-telling. For that reason, it is excellent for a book discussion group and for any adults, tweens or teens interested in reading, writing and “hard” science fiction based in current microbiology. I am struck by how the book has an uncanny timeliness given our experiences over the last 18 months or so with Covid.
I appreciate that the while the book is a page-turner, its “PG-13” content means I can still recommend it to a young teen or my grandmother without worrying about the appropriateness of the content. What a welcome feature that is! While I really am impressed with the book on its own merits, the fact it is a first-time effort is even more impressive. I am giving Sudden Onset as gifts to friends I think would enjoy it and I heartily recommend it. Well done, Dardick brothers. Please hurry on the sequel!
June 21, 2021
Intense!
Pulled from the frigid summer of Antarctica by military escort, Mira Wallace's life changed radically in this thriller by first-time author, Tom Dardick.
Mira was a fascinating character! I had forgotten reading in the synopsis that she was autistic. Yet very shortly into Sudden Onset, I came to that conclusion for myself. The authors portrayed her realistically and sensitively. One of the things I appreciated about Mira was her willingness to take time to study the facts instead of attempting to use science to prove her position on things. And her willingness to listen to opposing opinions.
The characters were all well developed - I loved many of them. But don't get too attached! You just might discover that one or two of your favorites come to an untimely and painful end. Because, yes, SONA is highly destructive. And because of this and the measures taken to stop it, there was a bit of gore - but not described in detail.
Filled with peril and a race against time, this Sci-Fi Thriller was heavy with scientific details - which were admittedly a bit over my head. I do love learning from the stories I read but confess that I ended up skimming through some of them to get on with the rest of the story because there were so many.
While I didn't see any indication of a sequel, the ending lent itself to the conclusion another story is on the way. Yes, loose ends were tied up, mostly, yet all indications were for more to come. (Update - I learned since I wrote this that Sudden Onset is indeed the first of a series.)
Readers who love thrillers should give this debut novel a go.
Originally Reviewed on Among The Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Pulled from the frigid summer of Antarctica by military escort, Mira Wallace's life changed radically in this thriller by first-time author, Tom Dardick.
Mira was a fascinating character! I had forgotten reading in the synopsis that she was autistic. Yet very shortly into Sudden Onset, I came to that conclusion for myself. The authors portrayed her realistically and sensitively. One of the things I appreciated about Mira was her willingness to take time to study the facts instead of attempting to use science to prove her position on things. And her willingness to listen to opposing opinions.
The characters were all well developed - I loved many of them. But don't get too attached! You just might discover that one or two of your favorites come to an untimely and painful end. Because, yes, SONA is highly destructive. And because of this and the measures taken to stop it, there was a bit of gore - but not described in detail.
Filled with peril and a race against time, this Sci-Fi Thriller was heavy with scientific details - which were admittedly a bit over my head. I do love learning from the stories I read but confess that I ended up skimming through some of them to get on with the rest of the story because there were so many.
While I didn't see any indication of a sequel, the ending lent itself to the conclusion another story is on the way. Yes, loose ends were tied up, mostly, yet all indications were for more to come. (Update - I learned since I wrote this that Sudden Onset is indeed the first of a series.)
Readers who love thrillers should give this debut novel a go.
Originally Reviewed on Among The Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
June 14, 2021
First of all, I’m thoroughly impressed how the authors managed to incorporate so much scientific facts and still keeping the storyline so clear.. Sometimes it can almost be a bit too much but as someone who loves to learn new things and especially about science, I found it very interesting altogether.
The book is definitely on the heavy side. Sudden Onset contains quite a few very detailed descriptions of several procedures and although I had quite a good understanding for microbiology going in, some of the most complicated procedures went over my head. However, those paragraphs were quite easy to “speed through” without risking to miss something which is essential to the plot itself.
The beginning was a tad slow and it took quite some time getting used to the informative and fact-filled writing style since I don’t have a lot of experience reading books like this one. However, the more I read, the more attached I became to the characters - and especially the main character Mira. All characters in this book are wonderfully multi-layered which gives the entire story a very realistic feel. I loved to read about how they all interacted and follow so many differing line of thoughts. It is easy to imagine that what is described in the book is more or less how it actually is to work in a laboratory.
I especially liked how all the characters felt like such ordinary people. There were no remarkable heroes or perfect people in this book, just ordinary people trying to what they think is right. Despite the struggles I had with this book, I really enjoyed it and I’m more than glad I gave this book a fair chance. It definitely gave me a taste of Science Fiction when the focus is mostly on the science-part rather than fiction.
***Thank you Tom Dardick for reaching out and providing me with a copy of Sudden Onset in exchange for an honest review!***
The book is definitely on the heavy side. Sudden Onset contains quite a few very detailed descriptions of several procedures and although I had quite a good understanding for microbiology going in, some of the most complicated procedures went over my head. However, those paragraphs were quite easy to “speed through” without risking to miss something which is essential to the plot itself.
The beginning was a tad slow and it took quite some time getting used to the informative and fact-filled writing style since I don’t have a lot of experience reading books like this one. However, the more I read, the more attached I became to the characters - and especially the main character Mira. All characters in this book are wonderfully multi-layered which gives the entire story a very realistic feel. I loved to read about how they all interacted and follow so many differing line of thoughts. It is easy to imagine that what is described in the book is more or less how it actually is to work in a laboratory.
I especially liked how all the characters felt like such ordinary people. There were no remarkable heroes or perfect people in this book, just ordinary people trying to what they think is right. Despite the struggles I had with this book, I really enjoyed it and I’m more than glad I gave this book a fair chance. It definitely gave me a taste of Science Fiction when the focus is mostly on the science-part rather than fiction.
***Thank you Tom Dardick for reaching out and providing me with a copy of Sudden Onset in exchange for an honest review!***
June 10, 2021
Sudden Onset by Tom Dardick and Dr. Christopher Dardick is about Mira Wallace, a microbiology professor who researches ancient life in extreme environments such as Antarctica. When a new, unfamiliar pathogen is discovered in Southern Utah, Mira is summoned to help investigate, and she soon realizes that this serious threat could hold the answers about the origin of life that she has been searching for. Right from the start, I loved how science-heavy the story was. The plot was based on fundamental biological and chemical principles, and as someone who wants to be a scientist someday, it was really satisfying to see the concepts I am learning about in my classes be utilized in such a creative way. I was impressed by the amount of research that must have gone into this book, and I know that anyone who enjoys science will greatly appreciate it too. The characterization was also really well done. The main character Mira was very compelling, and I liked the way the authors showed her personality through her actions. They also did a good job tugging at my heartstrings; I found myself caring deeply about characters I had just met. There were a few side characters that could have been fleshed out more, but this wasn’t a huge issue for me. I also liked the pacing of the plot; there was a good mix of action/drama and more relaxed moments. However, I thought there were some sections that were a bit boring, and the ending felt somewhat anticlimactic. But overall, I was very impressed with this book, and will definitely read any sequels the authors put out. If you are a reader who also loves science, this is a must read! Thank you to Tom Dardick for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book!
June 17, 2021
This book is not something that I would normally read, but after finishing it I think I actually quite liked it!
This book follows Dr Mira Wallace, professor of microbiology, as she attempts to find ancient microbial life in the Arctic. However, during her work she is summoned by the US army to investigate a deadly mysterious biological threat in the Utah desert.
At first, I thought this was too complicated for me. This book is full of science and theories, but there are lots of explanations of the science being discussed along the way. It took me a while to get into this because I was a little confused as to where it was going. However, having finished it now I think I liked it! It discusses science, evolution, God, religion, and more. By the time I got to the final conclusion of how to beat SONA I knew what it was going to be! So although the story seems confusing at first, it really makes sense in the end and comes to the most logical conclusion for this book.
As for the characters, I do like Mira even though she is very focused on her work and not very skilled socially. I could see how throughout the book she learnt though. I love Rain, and I really liked his relationship with Mira and I felt like it wasn’t forced for the sake of it. I LOVE Juan and Gigi. Their ending was not the best because you don’t actually know what happens for them, but in my head I’m going to assume they live happily ever after 😅 there are a lot of characters in this book, a lot of whom didn’t seem very important, but I think that was because they were high ranking officials so it made sense to mention them.
Overall, I did like this book! It’s so unique, I’ve never read a story like this. It was hard for me to get into but if you really like science then you would love this!
This book follows Dr Mira Wallace, professor of microbiology, as she attempts to find ancient microbial life in the Arctic. However, during her work she is summoned by the US army to investigate a deadly mysterious biological threat in the Utah desert.
At first, I thought this was too complicated for me. This book is full of science and theories, but there are lots of explanations of the science being discussed along the way. It took me a while to get into this because I was a little confused as to where it was going. However, having finished it now I think I liked it! It discusses science, evolution, God, religion, and more. By the time I got to the final conclusion of how to beat SONA I knew what it was going to be! So although the story seems confusing at first, it really makes sense in the end and comes to the most logical conclusion for this book.
As for the characters, I do like Mira even though she is very focused on her work and not very skilled socially. I could see how throughout the book she learnt though. I love Rain, and I really liked his relationship with Mira and I felt like it wasn’t forced for the sake of it. I LOVE Juan and Gigi. Their ending was not the best because you don’t actually know what happens for them, but in my head I’m going to assume they live happily ever after 😅 there are a lot of characters in this book, a lot of whom didn’t seem very important, but I think that was because they were high ranking officials so it made sense to mention them.
Overall, I did like this book! It’s so unique, I’ve never read a story like this. It was hard for me to get into but if you really like science then you would love this!
June 13, 2021
This debut science-thriller book was fascinating. As someone who doesn't read many science fiction books, I was concerned I wouldn't enjoy it, but gladly, I was wrong.
Synopsis:
Dr. Mira Wallace, an autistic microbiologist, searches for the oldest living form on Earth - the top of the tree of life. Mira works in one of the most extreme environments on Earth when the U.S. army summons her to investigate a mysterious and deadly biological threat.
Mira and other strong scientists are in a race against time to find answers and to stop SONA (Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent) - the deadly new pathogen - from spreading and destroying Earth.
Sudden Onset by Tom Dardick and Chris Dardick tells a fictional and very realistic science-fiction story. One of the authors, Chris Dardick, is a molecular biologist, and it is evident. The excellent scientific knowledge and explanations the authors share throughout the book, make the story feel believable and real.
With that being said, I did get lost multiple times when the authors went, in my opinion, too much in-depth into molecular biology.
The new biological threat seemed to emerge out of nowhere in a Southern Utah desert, which led the book to explore the crossing between science and a Creator - between knowledge and faith. I enjoyed that part of the book a lot. The book has characters from both sides: characters who believe in god and a creator, and characters who believe in the knowledge we get from science.
I loved the thriller aspect of the book. It made me so much more invested in the characters and the story.
The whole time reading this book, I wished it had a movie adaptation. I think Sudden Onset has all the necessary elements to become a successful movie in the future - great plot, developed and lovable characters, a proper 'bad guy', and a race against the clock to save the world.
Thank you to Tom Dardick and StoryOrigin for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Dr. Mira Wallace, an autistic microbiologist, searches for the oldest living form on Earth - the top of the tree of life. Mira works in one of the most extreme environments on Earth when the U.S. army summons her to investigate a mysterious and deadly biological threat.
Mira and other strong scientists are in a race against time to find answers and to stop SONA (Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent) - the deadly new pathogen - from spreading and destroying Earth.
Sudden Onset by Tom Dardick and Chris Dardick tells a fictional and very realistic science-fiction story. One of the authors, Chris Dardick, is a molecular biologist, and it is evident. The excellent scientific knowledge and explanations the authors share throughout the book, make the story feel believable and real.
With that being said, I did get lost multiple times when the authors went, in my opinion, too much in-depth into molecular biology.
The new biological threat seemed to emerge out of nowhere in a Southern Utah desert, which led the book to explore the crossing between science and a Creator - between knowledge and faith. I enjoyed that part of the book a lot. The book has characters from both sides: characters who believe in god and a creator, and characters who believe in the knowledge we get from science.
I loved the thriller aspect of the book. It made me so much more invested in the characters and the story.
The whole time reading this book, I wished it had a movie adaptation. I think Sudden Onset has all the necessary elements to become a successful movie in the future - great plot, developed and lovable characters, a proper 'bad guy', and a race against the clock to save the world.
Thank you to Tom Dardick and StoryOrigin for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2021
This is a science thriller and not my normal genre, but when the author contacted me it sounded interesting so I thought I would give it a try.
Well-known microbiologist Dr. Mira Wallace is looking for early life in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. While in the middle of one of her investigations she is notified by the Army that she is needed to look into a mysterious biological event in the middle of the Utah desert. A new pathogen has been discovered, a pathogen that is very aggressive and resistant to anything thrown at it. This pathogen is called Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent or SONA. Mira fears this may just be the ancient life she was looking for.
The scientists race to find a solution to this threat before it destroys everything. This story also looks at the question of things happening randomly or if it is due to a higher power. They did a good job of exploring the issues of science and faith. I don’t normally like to explore this issue, but this book did a good job of it. I also liked that the MC was a woman in STEM, she also has autism, but does not allow that to define her.
I have a biology degree so I just loved all the science and technical jargon that was thrown at us while reading. I like when an author goes in-depth when explaining something scientific (I can see how it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it). It’s great that they are writing about what they know. Once of the authors has a PhD in molecular and cell biology so you know the science is pretty accurate.
If you like science based thrillers, and enjoy when authors don’t hold back on technical terminology, I can definitely recommend this book.
I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Well-known microbiologist Dr. Mira Wallace is looking for early life in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. While in the middle of one of her investigations she is notified by the Army that she is needed to look into a mysterious biological event in the middle of the Utah desert. A new pathogen has been discovered, a pathogen that is very aggressive and resistant to anything thrown at it. This pathogen is called Sudden Onset Necrosis Agent or SONA. Mira fears this may just be the ancient life she was looking for.
The scientists race to find a solution to this threat before it destroys everything. This story also looks at the question of things happening randomly or if it is due to a higher power. They did a good job of exploring the issues of science and faith. I don’t normally like to explore this issue, but this book did a good job of it. I also liked that the MC was a woman in STEM, she also has autism, but does not allow that to define her.
I have a biology degree so I just loved all the science and technical jargon that was thrown at us while reading. I like when an author goes in-depth when explaining something scientific (I can see how it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it). It’s great that they are writing about what they know. Once of the authors has a PhD in molecular and cell biology so you know the science is pretty accurate.
If you like science based thrillers, and enjoy when authors don’t hold back on technical terminology, I can definitely recommend this book.
I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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