What do you think?
Rate this book
Chrysalis
An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only in the right hands.
Not long after a disease leaves thousands dependent on blood transfusions, the UK’s blood reserves are stolen overnight.
The government’s response? Make blood into currency.
The stolen blood is sold by dealers being controlled by a mysterious implant.
Ginley and Sara, two rival political journalists with opposing agendas, cover the government’s handling of a country thrust into crisis. As they find out more about the blood heist and the implant, a political story turns personal, and they have to put their differences aside and work together to unravel a colossal conspiracy.
Not long after a disease leaves thousands dependent on blood transfusions, the UK’s blood reserves are stolen overnight.
The government’s response? Make blood into currency.
The stolen blood is sold by dealers being controlled by a mysterious implant.
Ginley and Sara, two rival political journalists with opposing agendas, cover the government’s handling of a country thrust into crisis. As they find out more about the blood heist and the implant, a political story turns personal, and they have to put their differences aside and work together to unravel a colossal conspiracy.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2022
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Harrison Murphy
5 books13 followersHarrison Murphy is a writer from Motherwell, Scotland. He specialises in downbeat, and often provocative, speculative fiction with elements of sci-fi and fantasy thrown into the mix. The Girl in The Tower – a cli-fi Rapunzel story – is his most recent novel. His fourth novel, IV, is an exploration of the afterlife, as well the limited agency we have in affecting this life. He also wrote the Chrysalis trilogy, set in a world where we can design our own minds.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 31, 2023
What if blood becomes currency? And the reserved blood is stolen by an implant? The situation is horrific. Loved the premise. But towards end it falls flat. Overall good read
June 7, 2022
Got the story for free in exchange for an honest review.
You will enjoy this book if you like: exploring a different crisis or worse-case what-ifs with a setting based on current/ongoing real-life events (AKA speculative fiction), politics specifically in UK, LGBTQIA+ characters
You will not enjoy this book if you don't like: multiple POV switching, timeline changes every chapter or so, very very mature and particularly controversial themes
The plot got me interested to read this, naturally, though I never expect this story to have lots of POV switching besides the timeline changing, not just two, based on the summary. At first, it sets me off, especially with how it was smoothly written.
Love the flow of the writing; the author seems to know when to ease down and put it up a notch, but once the POV changes it does break the rhythm at times. There's also some rare overdescriptive lines such as this:
-
"The camera pans out and he catches a glimpse of her; long brown hair plunging down perfectly straight, before curling in right at the tips, like a coconut shell enclosing the mouth-watering olive fleshy centre that is her beautiful face."
-
It was almost okay until the last sentence, which I personally find a bit weird to describe her skin and face lol.
What I also appreciate here is the natural dialogue between the characters. I think that's the strongest suit in this book. I enjoy the interaction a lot between different characters, despite barely being introduced to the story yet.
The addition to LGBTQIA+ characters and 'other aspects' to the story also doesn't seem out of place. It's not just a label for, uh, what some people may call it as 'queerbaiting.' Some of them being gay or not or 'something else' also has place in the story and in some parts that will shock you.
I don't know what this genre is per se, but if this is speculative fiction, this is positively realistic. Also, I'm assuming this book is not part of the thriller genre, with how some scenes that's meant to be serious is actually portrayed to be damn funny. Sure, at first I thought this is a thriller but I couldn't read it the same after this:
-
“There’s a situation developing that I wanted to keep you apprised of, boss. I had to make a split-second decision on something. There wasn’t enough time to consult you first.”
“What have you done?”
-
Classic.
Honestly, I don't really see anyone being the protagonist or the antagonist in the story. Sometimes they're used as plot devices to keep the narrative forward or throw in a huge plot twist that shifts everything you knew about the story to something completely different. Out of all, I like Isaac the most.
And speaking of plot twist, although the POV switching and the timeline changing in almost every chapter set me off initially, I now find it quite clever after reading through far enough and realized its purpose.
The ending gave me mixed feelings, and if it weren't for how the story was structured I would be disappointed. Now knowing all the revelations, the book has plus points for having a unique offer, in which you can read it more than once! I'm saying that is a must. And it so happens I love books that makes me read it more than once.
Conclusion, this book is a good read. Awesome to be able to have a new experience to read it twice. Extra that this gives a new fictional world for others to explore as well.
You will enjoy this book if you like: exploring a different crisis or worse-case what-ifs with a setting based on current/ongoing real-life events (AKA speculative fiction), politics specifically in UK, LGBTQIA+ characters
You will not enjoy this book if you don't like: multiple POV switching, timeline changes every chapter or so, very very mature and particularly controversial themes
The plot got me interested to read this, naturally, though I never expect this story to have lots of POV switching besides the timeline changing, not just two, based on the summary. At first, it sets me off, especially with how it was smoothly written.
Love the flow of the writing; the author seems to know when to ease down and put it up a notch, but once the POV changes it does break the rhythm at times. There's also some rare overdescriptive lines such as this:
-
"The camera pans out and he catches a glimpse of her; long brown hair plunging down perfectly straight, before curling in right at the tips, like a coconut shell enclosing the mouth-watering olive fleshy centre that is her beautiful face."
-
It was almost okay until the last sentence, which I personally find a bit weird to describe her skin and face lol.
What I also appreciate here is the natural dialogue between the characters. I think that's the strongest suit in this book. I enjoy the interaction a lot between different characters, despite barely being introduced to the story yet.
The addition to LGBTQIA+ characters and 'other aspects' to the story also doesn't seem out of place. It's not just a label for, uh, what some people may call it as 'queerbaiting.' Some of them being gay or not or 'something else' also has place in the story and in some parts that will shock you.
I don't know what this genre is per se, but if this is speculative fiction, this is positively realistic. Also, I'm assuming this book is not part of the thriller genre, with how some scenes that's meant to be serious is actually portrayed to be damn funny. Sure, at first I thought this is a thriller but I couldn't read it the same after this:
-
“There’s a situation developing that I wanted to keep you apprised of, boss. I had to make a split-second decision on something. There wasn’t enough time to consult you first.”
“What have you done?”
-
Classic.
Honestly, I don't really see anyone being the protagonist or the antagonist in the story. Sometimes they're used as plot devices to keep the narrative forward or throw in a huge plot twist that shifts everything you knew about the story to something completely different. Out of all, I like Isaac the most.
And speaking of plot twist, although the POV switching and the timeline changing in almost every chapter set me off initially, I now find it quite clever after reading through far enough and realized its purpose.
The ending gave me mixed feelings, and if it weren't for how the story was structured I would be disappointed. Now knowing all the revelations, the book has plus points for having a unique offer, in which you can read it more than once! I'm saying that is a must. And it so happens I love books that makes me read it more than once.
Conclusion, this book is a good read. Awesome to be able to have a new experience to read it twice. Extra that this gives a new fictional world for others to explore as well.
August 21, 2022
I was given a free electronic copy for an honest review.
Firstly, I would definitely recommend saving this book for when you can read it in one day as it jumps through multiple povs and timelines. It can be quite confusing if you spread out your reading like I did.
That said, even though I found it hard to follow at times due to my sporadic reading schedule, I still found it satisfying in the way it all tied together in the end. There is some cheesy dialogue in phone calls where one refers to another as "boss" but I understood the purpose in terms of storytelling and we weren't supposed to know who they were yet. Still probably could've found a more organic way for that exposition/set up though. Actually just did another flip through for this review and found a scene where we know who all the characters are and character A unironically refers to character B as "boss". Hmm, do people do that in real life? Genuine question. I'm prepared to eat my own words if they do but unless I'm super out of touch, it does come across as cheesy to me, sorry!
Timeline labels also could've been "Future" as opposed to "Sometime in the future" which came off as a little clunky in my opinion. Maybe it even would've been smoother by adding an ellipsis at the end "Sometime in the future..."
Overall, a definitely well-thought out story that is #CovidCanon, along with UK politics (which I confess I do not know a lot about) that diverges/branches out into science fiction. Some plot points that may be triggering: .
There were a few punctuation (or lack of punctuation) errors but that may just be in the copy that I was sent. If it hasn't been edited since then, I would highly recommend the author have someone proof read it who hasn't read it before (as it can be easy to read what you want when you know what to expect) so that this can all be picked up and cleaned up in future copies.
I'm afraid I'll also have to disagree with another reviewer's assertion and, uh, definitely wouldn't read it for LGBTQIA+ characters. There's a gay character and an unlabelled non-straight character and while I don't think the portrayal of the gay character was offensive, bad, or problematic (jury's out for the unlabelled character actually), I think one would be disappointed if they went in for #representation reasons.
Firstly, I would definitely recommend saving this book for when you can read it in one day as it jumps through multiple povs and timelines. It can be quite confusing if you spread out your reading like I did.
That said, even though I found it hard to follow at times due to my sporadic reading schedule, I still found it satisfying in the way it all tied together in the end. There is some cheesy dialogue in phone calls where one refers to another as "boss" but I understood the purpose in terms of storytelling and we weren't supposed to know who they were yet. Still probably could've found a more organic way for that exposition/set up though. Actually just did another flip through for this review and found a scene where we know who all the characters are and character A unironically refers to character B as "boss". Hmm, do people do that in real life? Genuine question. I'm prepared to eat my own words if they do but unless I'm super out of touch, it does come across as cheesy to me, sorry!
Timeline labels also could've been "Future" as opposed to "Sometime in the future" which came off as a little clunky in my opinion. Maybe it even would've been smoother by adding an ellipsis at the end "Sometime in the future..."
Overall, a definitely well-thought out story that is #CovidCanon, along with UK politics (which I confess I do not know a lot about) that diverges/branches out into science fiction. Some plot points that may be triggering: .
There were a few punctuation (or lack of punctuation) errors but that may just be in the copy that I was sent. If it hasn't been edited since then, I would highly recommend the author have someone proof read it who hasn't read it before (as it can be easy to read what you want when you know what to expect) so that this can all be picked up and cleaned up in future copies.
I'm afraid I'll also have to disagree with another reviewer's assertion and, uh, definitely wouldn't read it for LGBTQIA+ characters. There's a gay character and an unlabelled non-straight character and while I don't think the portrayal of the gay character was offensive, bad, or problematic (jury's out for the unlabelled character actually), I think one would be disappointed if they went in for #representation reasons.
May 11, 2022
Chrysalis by Harrison Murphy
#ad #gifted
Well, what a book! This thriller begins in the not too distant future talking about covid and another pandemic and our country's responses. A very on the nose description of certain people in power and their decisions really makes you think, how far away are we from these things?
As the book progresses you begin to unravel more about this mystery implant and the intertwined web surrounding it.
A great read that really sets you thinking about the future.
Blurb
An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only if in the right hands.
The UK’s blood reserves vanish overnight.
The government’s response – make blood currency.
The stolen blood is sold by dealers seemingly controlled by a mysterious implant.
Ginley & Sara, two rival political journalists with opposing agendas cover the government’s handling of a country thrust into crisis.
As they find out more about the blood heist and the implant, the more they have to put their differences aside and work together to unravel a colossal conspiracy, risking their loved ones’ lives, and all that they’ve ever known, in the process.
Thank you @lovebookstours
#harrisonmurphy for a place on the tour in exchange for an honest review.
#bookreview
#LoveBooksTours
#chrysalistour
#ad #gifted
Well, what a book! This thriller begins in the not too distant future talking about covid and another pandemic and our country's responses. A very on the nose description of certain people in power and their decisions really makes you think, how far away are we from these things?
As the book progresses you begin to unravel more about this mystery implant and the intertwined web surrounding it.
A great read that really sets you thinking about the future.
Blurb
An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only if in the right hands.
The UK’s blood reserves vanish overnight.
The government’s response – make blood currency.
The stolen blood is sold by dealers seemingly controlled by a mysterious implant.
Ginley & Sara, two rival political journalists with opposing agendas cover the government’s handling of a country thrust into crisis.
As they find out more about the blood heist and the implant, the more they have to put their differences aside and work together to unravel a colossal conspiracy, risking their loved ones’ lives, and all that they’ve ever known, in the process.
Thank you @lovebookstours
#harrisonmurphy for a place on the tour in exchange for an honest review.
#bookreview
#LoveBooksTours
#chrysalistour
April 22, 2023
Surprising and refreshing
I finished this book a couple of hours ago and I’m still thinking about the plot twists that I didn’t see coming!
I wasn’t honestly sure I was going to like Chrysalis, as blood makes me very nauseous but let me reassure you, it’s not remotely squeamish and even if it were, you’d be so sucked into the story, the politics, the mystery and the conspiracy, that there wouldn’t be space for nausea!
The story takes place in the not too distant future, following both the Covid pandemic and a second viral pandemic that affects blood. This leaves the life giving fluid infinitely valuable, and therefore open to abuse and those seeking money and power.
I’m very interested in politics and I found the dealings between the MP’s, the political parties and the press very realistic and intriguing.
There are multiple plot strings in play, but they intertwine well and as you approach the last chapters of the book, I think you’ll be as open mouthed as I was as they all tie together.
I finished this book a couple of hours ago and I’m still thinking about the plot twists that I didn’t see coming!
I wasn’t honestly sure I was going to like Chrysalis, as blood makes me very nauseous but let me reassure you, it’s not remotely squeamish and even if it were, you’d be so sucked into the story, the politics, the mystery and the conspiracy, that there wouldn’t be space for nausea!
The story takes place in the not too distant future, following both the Covid pandemic and a second viral pandemic that affects blood. This leaves the life giving fluid infinitely valuable, and therefore open to abuse and those seeking money and power.
I’m very interested in politics and I found the dealings between the MP’s, the political parties and the press very realistic and intriguing.
There are multiple plot strings in play, but they intertwine well and as you approach the last chapters of the book, I think you’ll be as open mouthed as I was as they all tie together.
June 22, 2022
Un implante con el potencial de salvar a la humanidad, pero solo en las manos adecuadas, no mucho después de que una enfermedad deja a miles de personas dependientes de las transfusiones de sangre, las reservas de sangre del Reino Unido son robadas de la noche a la mañana. ¿La respuesta del gobierno? Convierte la sangre en moneda. La sangre robada es vendida por traficantes controlados por un misterioso implante. Ginley y Sara dos periodistas rivales terminan investigando esta noticia, pasando de lo político a lo personal, tienen que unir fuerzas para descubrir toda la verdad.
La lectura se disfruta bastante hasta cierto punto, ya que llega a adentrarse en temas políticos y es donde podría ser algo confuso, en general estuvo bastante bien, tenia bastante intriga, misterio, algunas de las cosas sucedidas en la historia bien podrían salir cualquier día en las noticias y es un poco inquietante, me agrada el estilo de escritura del autor y como da saltos en el pasado, presente y futuro y puede manejar lo de tal manera que no te quedes perdido.
Es un libro bastante interesante, fácil de leer, si te gusta historias en un futuro distópico y con bastante misterio seguramente te enganchara, eso si el final te puede dejara pensando durante un buen rato.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only in the right hands, not long after a disease leaves thousands dependent on blood transfusions, the UK's blood stocks are stolen overnight. The government response? Turn blood into currency. The stolen blood is sold by traffickers controlled by a mysterious implant. Ginley and Sara two rival journalists end up investigating this news, going from the political to the personal, they have to join forces to discover the whole truth.
The reading is quite enjoyable up to a certain point, since it gets into political issues and that is where it could be somewhat confusing, in general it was quite good, it had a lot of intrigue, mystery, some of the things that happened in the story could well come out any day in the news and it's a bit unsettling, I like the author's writing style and how he jumps into the past, present and future and can handle it in such a way that you don't get lost.
It is a very interesting book, easy to read, if you like stories in a dystopian future and with a lot of mystery, it will surely hook you, that if the ending can leave you thinking for a long time.
La lectura se disfruta bastante hasta cierto punto, ya que llega a adentrarse en temas políticos y es donde podría ser algo confuso, en general estuvo bastante bien, tenia bastante intriga, misterio, algunas de las cosas sucedidas en la historia bien podrían salir cualquier día en las noticias y es un poco inquietante, me agrada el estilo de escritura del autor y como da saltos en el pasado, presente y futuro y puede manejar lo de tal manera que no te quedes perdido.
Es un libro bastante interesante, fácil de leer, si te gusta historias en un futuro distópico y con bastante misterio seguramente te enganchara, eso si el final te puede dejara pensando durante un buen rato.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An implant with the potential to save humanity, but only in the right hands, not long after a disease leaves thousands dependent on blood transfusions, the UK's blood stocks are stolen overnight. The government response? Turn blood into currency. The stolen blood is sold by traffickers controlled by a mysterious implant. Ginley and Sara two rival journalists end up investigating this news, going from the political to the personal, they have to join forces to discover the whole truth.
The reading is quite enjoyable up to a certain point, since it gets into political issues and that is where it could be somewhat confusing, in general it was quite good, it had a lot of intrigue, mystery, some of the things that happened in the story could well come out any day in the news and it's a bit unsettling, I like the author's writing style and how he jumps into the past, present and future and can handle it in such a way that you don't get lost.
It is a very interesting book, easy to read, if you like stories in a dystopian future and with a lot of mystery, it will surely hook you, that if the ending can leave you thinking for a long time.
October 5, 2023
As a person who likes science fiction and political thrillers, this book was a pleasure to read. The author skillfully combines the best parts of both genres to weave a story that hooks you in.
As a dystopia set in the near future, the world building proves more familiar than alien and unsettles the reader in an enjoyable way. Though the concepts are foreign, typical of sci-fi, the setting and the people are well known and immerse the reader in a well crafted alternate universe.
A wide variety of characters are introduced in parallel threads that eventually combine towards the climax in a complex web that has a rewarding reveal. Rereading the book a second time is a treat when the reader knows where the road the character is on will lead to.
As the first book in the series, it also lays a good base that piques curiosity and makes the reader want to pick up the next book to figure out what happens next.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read. Sara and Ginley were my personal favourites!
(Disclaimer - the book was gifted in exchange for an honest review)
As a dystopia set in the near future, the world building proves more familiar than alien and unsettles the reader in an enjoyable way. Though the concepts are foreign, typical of sci-fi, the setting and the people are well known and immerse the reader in a well crafted alternate universe.
A wide variety of characters are introduced in parallel threads that eventually combine towards the climax in a complex web that has a rewarding reveal. Rereading the book a second time is a treat when the reader knows where the road the character is on will lead to.
As the first book in the series, it also lays a good base that piques curiosity and makes the reader want to pick up the next book to figure out what happens next.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read. Sara and Ginley were my personal favourites!
(Disclaimer - the book was gifted in exchange for an honest review)
May 7, 2022
As far as speculative dystopian books go, Chrysalis is one of the best I have read this year. The synopsis is enough to draw you in while the story definitely holds your attention. Imagine a world where we are addicted to human blood after yet another pandemic, only to find the UK supply has been stolen. The government turns blood into a form of currency, encouraging the population to donate more and more blood. What a cracking idea! Some parts of the story could easily have just been on the evening news, which made for a little uncomfortable reading.
The world building was very nicely done and the characters were three dimensional and credible. I really liked Ginley and Sara; two diametrically opposed journalists using their differences to their advantage and find out who actually stole the blood and is selling it on the Black Market. A few times I wondered if the government were involved in the theft as a form of crowd control, and it wasn't easy to work out who to trust.
Overall, I found this to be a well written, compelling read, which I am happy to recommend to all readers. I gave Chrysalis, by Harrison Murphy, four stars.
The world building was very nicely done and the characters were three dimensional and credible. I really liked Ginley and Sara; two diametrically opposed journalists using their differences to their advantage and find out who actually stole the blood and is selling it on the Black Market. A few times I wondered if the government were involved in the theft as a form of crowd control, and it wasn't easy to work out who to trust.
Overall, I found this to be a well written, compelling read, which I am happy to recommend to all readers. I gave Chrysalis, by Harrison Murphy, four stars.
October 7, 2023
ARC review; I got this from @booktasters_ on IG.
I was between a 2.5 and a 3-star rating, so I decided to just round it up.
I really liked the premise of the book; the idea of blood becoming currency and an implant that can control people is very cool.
However, even though it's very easy and quick to read, there's a lot of exposition in the writing, making the character's thoughts and dialogue feel a bit unnatural.
Overall, I vibed with certain elements of this, but not all of them. So, it wasn't super engaging to me personally. I liked the twist at the end, but wish that the road there was executed a bit better.
You'll like this book if you like politics, unraveling a mystery through journalism, speculative fiction, controversial themes, timeline switches, and multiple POVs.
I was between a 2.5 and a 3-star rating, so I decided to just round it up.
I really liked the premise of the book; the idea of blood becoming currency and an implant that can control people is very cool.
However, even though it's very easy and quick to read, there's a lot of exposition in the writing, making the character's thoughts and dialogue feel a bit unnatural.
Overall, I vibed with certain elements of this, but not all of them. So, it wasn't super engaging to me personally. I liked the twist at the end, but wish that the road there was executed a bit better.
You'll like this book if you like politics, unraveling a mystery through journalism, speculative fiction, controversial themes, timeline switches, and multiple POVs.
July 19, 2022
So I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy reading a book about a pandemic whilst we've not fully recovered from one, but actually found it hard to put this one down towards the end.
The book deals with a world that suffers a second Pandemic not long after Covid, known as Hemo. The UK has changed it currency from sterling to Globins as the country deals with a shortage of blood supplies.
Mystery surrounds a black market blood supply, which leads to two rival journalists joining forces to investigate as the issue become personal.
This book has a real sense of reality to it especially concerning politicians and journalists. And the main concept of the book is a really cleaver idea and well thought. The author plans to write more in the series and I look forward to seeing the ideas develop and grow. (rating 3.5 rather than 3)
The book deals with a world that suffers a second Pandemic not long after Covid, known as Hemo. The UK has changed it currency from sterling to Globins as the country deals with a shortage of blood supplies.
Mystery surrounds a black market blood supply, which leads to two rival journalists joining forces to investigate as the issue become personal.
This book has a real sense of reality to it especially concerning politicians and journalists. And the main concept of the book is a really cleaver idea and well thought. The author plans to write more in the series and I look forward to seeing the ideas develop and grow. (rating 3.5 rather than 3)
October 30, 2022
Read in day - slow build, lots of characters to build the plot. I enjoyed the confusion as the plot intrigued and held my attention.
As a political journalist, Sara chases intense stories.
Her nemesis, Grinley works closely with the Prime Minister to help build his reputation.
Sean, Sara's love interest, enjoys the inside tip of investing in a new tech company.
The blood crisis created a tense political stance - the theft of reserves not helping. Now blood sellers have metal implants - are they being controlled?
Very enjoyable - though at times the narrative changed from third person to first. My only complaint.
As a political journalist, Sara chases intense stories.
Her nemesis, Grinley works closely with the Prime Minister to help build his reputation.
Sean, Sara's love interest, enjoys the inside tip of investing in a new tech company.
The blood crisis created a tense political stance - the theft of reserves not helping. Now blood sellers have metal implants - are they being controlled?
Very enjoyable - though at times the narrative changed from third person to first. My only complaint.
November 3, 2022
The cover of the book drew me in right away, but I was not prepared for what I read in this book. The commentary on government control, the blood trade, and implants while in a world post Covid was meaningful to all readers.
It's fascinating to explore how the UK government capitalizes on blood shortages and turns it into currency. It is a fast-paced book that is relevant to our climate today, even within its fictional ideas. It is a great dystopian read, and I look forward to seeing more from this author.
It's fascinating to explore how the UK government capitalizes on blood shortages and turns it into currency. It is a fast-paced book that is relevant to our climate today, even within its fictional ideas. It is a great dystopian read, and I look forward to seeing more from this author.
July 20, 2022
This book is amazing. I love how it’s written and the plot is just mindblowing. I usually am not a fan of timeline changes but the way this written made me enjoy it. Iove that it has diverse characters and that there are parallels to real life issues. Also I am a huge fan of plot twists in books so while I was reading it I was shocked but happy.
Thank you to booktasters and Harrison Murphy for sharing the book with me.
Thank you to booktasters and Harrison Murphy for sharing the book with me.
May 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this read that was filled with mystery, intrigue and politics. Although I found the politics a bit heavy at first, and hard to get into, once I had got my head I to it I was able to whizz through it.
The writing style was engaging and I liked the way that it seamlessly jumped from the past, present and future.
The bolk was fast paced, twisty, unpredictable and left me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down.
The writing style was engaging and I liked the way that it seamlessly jumped from the past, present and future.
The bolk was fast paced, twisty, unpredictable and left me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down.
July 5, 2022
Not my usual read, dystopian meets the near future within the UK post-pandemic, with a sprinkle of mystery and politics. Multiple POV’s and timelines surrounding a time where blood is considered currency and sold by dealers controlled by some sort of implant; does the implant do what they say, or is it a scare tactic to keep dealers in line? Overall I really enjoyed the way it was written, at first the polictics seemed a little heavy but was easy to get into and quickly had me hooked. It’s a book you want to read again to see what you missed to begin with. Gifted in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2022
Great book, with my favorite journos - Sara and Ginley- different, yet working for the same purpose.
The author covers a bit of reality as regards politicians, and lots of backdoor shenanigans.
A good read, if you're up for a blend of medicine, science and journalism!
Well done, Harrison Murphy!
The author covers a bit of reality as regards politicians, and lots of backdoor shenanigans.
A good read, if you're up for a blend of medicine, science and journalism!
Well done, Harrison Murphy!
January 25, 2023
From the onset the book is captivating. The author talks to the reader calls them to read further. The authority the author uses through a mien full of confidence alerts the reader that what they are about to delve into is serious business. Reality strikes the reader and makes one want to pay heightened attention to what is about to be revealed by the author. Tackling the theme of "exploitation by big businesses" makes one want to really know more about the world they are so much entangled in yet oblivious of it's nitty gritties. As the plot unfolds corruption, crime and social chaos capture the readers ' attention. A superb read for those who want to understand the Underworld of exploitation.
July 26, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I love thrillers but I’m not that knowledgeable about politics, it goes over my head entirely. Despite that, I found it pretty easy to follow and I was intrigued throughout the whole book. It was an enjoyable read from start to finish. The idea of blood being used as currency was enjoyably creepy and unsettling.
May 7, 2022
This book surprised me. During the first third I found the story overly political and quite hard to get into. However as the story built I found myself engrossed in the mystery and trying to figure out what was going on! Murphy does a fantastic job of flicking between ‘before’, ‘after’ and ‘present’ with just the right amount of detail and breadcrumbs to allow the reader to piece things together. He leaves clues in such a subtle way that the story keeps it’s mystery and the reader remains intrigued until it finally all clicks together!
August 30, 2022
The opening really captures your attention and makes you want to keep reading. There are some things that i personally did not like as much. This is a pretty “read all at once” type of book rather than over time due to the multiple POVs. I got lost a couple times and had to reread to refresh my memory. Overall, the book is good and basically a #covidcanon with a twist.
May 10, 2022
Chrysalis was absolutely amazing. I was so intrigued by the synopsis that I just knew this book was going to be a great read, and it did not disappoint. I was hooked from page one. This fast pace read will have you turning pages so you can find out how it ends, and how each character plays their part. Chrysalis takes place after several pandemics. One in particular has the world addicted to blood. When the blood supply a stolen, the government decides to turn blood into currency. I would highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.
October 2, 2023
At first when i started the book, i was quite lost cause it wasn’t the type of mystery i had expected. And i love multiple pov’s but this one was a bit confusing. All in all i liked that it was a pandemic setting which was quite rare. The book was good for me because i read it at once.
September 4, 2023
I don’t like to write essays in the name of reviews; I like keeping the reviews short and simple.
I got the story for an unbiased review, and it was a well worth it.
The book is a must-read for the enthusiasts of the genre because it has detailed world-building and an exciting plot.
I got the story for an unbiased review, and it was a well worth it.
The book is a must-read for the enthusiasts of the genre because it has detailed world-building and an exciting plot.
May 17, 2022
Captured by the cover and intrigued by the synopsis
Chrysalis is a fast paced action packed read that takes place after several pandemics, one of which leaves humanity dependent on the blood banks. Blood reserves vanish overnight and the government steps in and turns blood into currency.
The author does a phenomenal job at switching and shifting from the 'before', the 'after' and the 'present'. The characters (especially the MC) and the world building was smoothly written. At first it was a tad bit hard to fall into with the politics but by the second bit after I had connected all the dots it was an overly interesting book. A satisfying mystery.
Thank you to Book Tasters and the author, as I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Chrysalis is a fast paced action packed read that takes place after several pandemics, one of which leaves humanity dependent on the blood banks. Blood reserves vanish overnight and the government steps in and turns blood into currency.
The author does a phenomenal job at switching and shifting from the 'before', the 'after' and the 'present'. The characters (especially the MC) and the world building was smoothly written. At first it was a tad bit hard to fall into with the politics but by the second bit after I had connected all the dots it was an overly interesting book. A satisfying mystery.
Thank you to Book Tasters and the author, as I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
A very visceral and frighteningly real tale of modern politics and sci-fi which rockets forward with incredible pace. Through its chaotic narrative, it crescendos towards a strange, unpredictable, but enjoyable, ending.
June 10, 2023
I received this book for an honest review, and it took me out of my comfort zone because I don't read in this genre. The book explores politics, journalism, and multiple points of view, all within an intense plot about people trading blood for money in the near future.
While I loved the premise and the characters, I found the writing style challenging to follow. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, and the paragraphs were too dense with information at times. I found myself skimming through quite often.
Overall, this book did not get me hyped to keep exploring this genre, but I can see a whole range of people who would love it.
While I loved the premise and the characters, I found the writing style challenging to follow. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, and the paragraphs were too dense with information at times. I found myself skimming through quite often.
Overall, this book did not get me hyped to keep exploring this genre, but I can see a whole range of people who would love it.
August 13, 2024
Well what an unexpected gem this was. This is type of book is the reason why i not only review big, posh, shiny famous books but also the little quiet ones that nobody hears. Most of the quiet ones are exactly that, but every now again one starts to whisper in your ear as you begin reading. It gradually grows to become an ear-worm and by the end it's up there with the big boys, solidly ensconced in your head.
The story is set in the near future after another global pandemic. This one affects the body's ability to clot blood, so basically air-borne haemophilia. It is known as hemo. It's traits are only hinted at up until you are 20% into the book, which, if I'm honest, I found very frustrating and why I'm telling you upfront! On top of this the country's blood supply is stolen. Thus uninfected blood becomes super valuable. Blood replaces £s as a currency. As intriguing as this scenario is, it is only the starter.
A back street trade in blood soon develops. However all these new blood dealers have one thing in common. A powerful microchip implant that ensures that they are under surveillance 24hours a day. In addition to this the implant also acts as a kill switch. So with this the scientific premise is set. I will divulge no more of the plot for fear of spoilers.
However the book is far more than a scientific think tank. It is a critical look at politics and politicians. It holds a mirror up to the dark hearts of society in showing how inventions or institutions that can be used for the benefit of the whole planet are eventually always used as tools to make the rich and powerful even more rich and more powerful. Think how the potential for nuclear power or the NHS has been corrupted from its altruistic inception and used as a resource to lever power for the few and you get where the author is trying to get to.
The author is obviously a keen observer of British politics and all the subtle and not so subtle dark arts within. He marries it well with the currently just out of reach technology that is just around the corner. It reminded of a Michael Crichton novel albeit a UK version, a bit darker on a smaller, somehow more seedier scale. The blend of short range science fiction and contemporary political corruption makes for a heady blend. Like having a vision of a car crash your about to be in.
Wonderful book
from grumpyoldbooks.blogspot.com
The story is set in the near future after another global pandemic. This one affects the body's ability to clot blood, so basically air-borne haemophilia. It is known as hemo. It's traits are only hinted at up until you are 20% into the book, which, if I'm honest, I found very frustrating and why I'm telling you upfront! On top of this the country's blood supply is stolen. Thus uninfected blood becomes super valuable. Blood replaces £s as a currency. As intriguing as this scenario is, it is only the starter.
A back street trade in blood soon develops. However all these new blood dealers have one thing in common. A powerful microchip implant that ensures that they are under surveillance 24hours a day. In addition to this the implant also acts as a kill switch. So with this the scientific premise is set. I will divulge no more of the plot for fear of spoilers.
However the book is far more than a scientific think tank. It is a critical look at politics and politicians. It holds a mirror up to the dark hearts of society in showing how inventions or institutions that can be used for the benefit of the whole planet are eventually always used as tools to make the rich and powerful even more rich and more powerful. Think how the potential for nuclear power or the NHS has been corrupted from its altruistic inception and used as a resource to lever power for the few and you get where the author is trying to get to.
The author is obviously a keen observer of British politics and all the subtle and not so subtle dark arts within. He marries it well with the currently just out of reach technology that is just around the corner. It reminded of a Michael Crichton novel albeit a UK version, a bit darker on a smaller, somehow more seedier scale. The blend of short range science fiction and contemporary political corruption makes for a heady blend. Like having a vision of a car crash your about to be in.
Wonderful book
from grumpyoldbooks.blogspot.com
April 20, 2022
When I read the summary for Chrysalis I knew right away without a doubt that I had to read it. And boy am I ever glad I did. When I went into Chrysalis I wasn’t sure what to expect and let me tell you what lies between its pages is not what I did expect at all. Going in I expected Chrysalis to be a great read but it was so much more than that.
Chrysalis lies somewhere between contemporary and fiction. It reads like it was pulled from today’s headlines. But some of it just didn’t quite add up for me as I am certain that parts of it could not have actually happened like that in real life. But hey, don’t get me wrong it was still one of the best dystopian books I have read.
Chrysalis takes place after several pandemics. One disease, in particular, has left the world addicted to blood. Then one night the UK’s blood supply is stolen. The government decides to turn blood into currency encouraging people to donate more blood.
Chrysalis was a fast-paced read that had me hooked from the first page or should I say more like the summary. It pulled me in until the world around me was no more. It had me racing to the end to see how each character would play their part in all of it. I was racing to the end to see where the story would lead next and to see how it would all turn out in the end.
I enjoyed Chrysalis so much that I would definitely recommend it to all dystopian and or political thriller fans! One-click your copy of Chrysalis today!
Chrysalis lies somewhere between contemporary and fiction. It reads like it was pulled from today’s headlines. But some of it just didn’t quite add up for me as I am certain that parts of it could not have actually happened like that in real life. But hey, don’t get me wrong it was still one of the best dystopian books I have read.
Chrysalis takes place after several pandemics. One disease, in particular, has left the world addicted to blood. Then one night the UK’s blood supply is stolen. The government decides to turn blood into currency encouraging people to donate more blood.
Chrysalis was a fast-paced read that had me hooked from the first page or should I say more like the summary. It pulled me in until the world around me was no more. It had me racing to the end to see how each character would play their part in all of it. I was racing to the end to see where the story would lead next and to see how it would all turn out in the end.
I enjoyed Chrysalis so much that I would definitely recommend it to all dystopian and or political thriller fans! One-click your copy of Chrysalis today!
December 31, 2023
-I was a bit nervous going into this one. It sounded like a great idea for a book and something a little different to what I usually read! I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it!
The actual story was a little confusing at first but once I ended up getting used to what was going on it was really enjoyable. I thought there were some great characters throughout the book, all quite sneaky in their own little ways, but all played a great part in the story.
The book actually had 3 different timelines which was very interesting. It had past, present and future which was really good to read about, it meant we got the whole story about who was dealing the blood and who was involved and also what happens to them as well, so to see it evolve over three different perspectives was really good!
Overall- I would recommend this book, after you're past the confusing part and get used to it all, it's easy flowing and really enjoyable.
The actual story was a little confusing at first but once I ended up getting used to what was going on it was really enjoyable. I thought there were some great characters throughout the book, all quite sneaky in their own little ways, but all played a great part in the story.
The book actually had 3 different timelines which was very interesting. It had past, present and future which was really good to read about, it meant we got the whole story about who was dealing the blood and who was involved and also what happens to them as well, so to see it evolve over three different perspectives was really good!
Overall- I would recommend this book, after you're past the confusing part and get used to it all, it's easy flowing and really enjoyable.
November 5, 2022
Set in the not too distant future this is a twisty, chilling dystopian thriller that is very, realistic. In this post pandemic world we see that blood is so rare the Government has decided to make it into an actual currency.
Following multiple characters we are told a story that doesn't slow down at all. It isn't a light read, but it is so intriguing. Told from multiple timelines. Harrison Murphy has written this so well that the story weaves between each timeline so smoothly that it never once jarred me out of the world I was transported too.
Dystopian thrillers are a quite new genre that I discovered I have a love for and Chrysalis checked every box. I do hope Harrison Murphy writes some more!
Thanks to Love Books Tours and Harrison Murphy.
Following multiple characters we are told a story that doesn't slow down at all. It isn't a light read, but it is so intriguing. Told from multiple timelines. Harrison Murphy has written this so well that the story weaves between each timeline so smoothly that it never once jarred me out of the world I was transported too.
Dystopian thrillers are a quite new genre that I discovered I have a love for and Chrysalis checked every box. I do hope Harrison Murphy writes some more!
Thanks to Love Books Tours and Harrison Murphy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews