About the Book
-
Author:
- Erin Bowman
- Genres:
- Action-Adventure
- Boy-Girl Romance
- Girl-Girl Romance
- Horror
- Science Fiction
- Suspense
- YA Romance
Cover Story: Under A Microscope, Light Version
BFF Charm: Destiny’s Child
Talky Talk: A Change Of Pace
Bonus Factors: Superpowers, Space Love
Relationship Status: Better Off Friends
Careful, Sweetie: spoilers! This is the second book in the Contagion series, so if you haven’t read the previous one, you should probably hop back in the TARDIS and go curl up in the library by the pool with the first book before continuing.
Cover Story: Under A Microscope, Light Version
This is very similar to the first book’s cover, except it’s like when my phone switches from light mode to dark mode based on the time of day. The whites and blues have a more calming effect than the previous swirl of greens, but it still feels kind of sinister to me with that glowy light in the middle.
The Deal:
Picking up right where Contagion left off, Immunity follows the survivors of Black Quarry as they are imprisoned by Lt. Burke, a military official secretly a part of the Radicals who want to declare independence from the main governing body, UPC. Thea and Coen have been infected with the contagion Psychrobacter achli, but they haven’t become raging monsters; instead, they have formed a sort of symbiosis with the organism. It’s bestowed upon them super-strength, heightened senses, and the ability to speak mind-to-mind with one another. Nova, the Hevetz pilot who was also on the doomed rescue mission to Achlys, is still in an induced coma, but she’s being cared for by one of their captors’ daughters. Amber, a med student who isn’t exactly down with this whole treason thing her dad is into, may be the key to helping our trio break out and avoid an all-out infection. Because as Thea and Coen learn what Burke plans to do with them—create infected super-soldiers who obey his every comman—their biggest fear is unleashing the horrors they faced onto the entire galaxy…
BFF Charm: Destiny’s Child
These guys can NOT catch a break. Getting rescued from one hell situation only to be thrown into another one! But kudos to them for (almost) never giving up and doing anything to survive. Amber is a new addition to the trio that made it off Achlys and she starts off a bit mousy but ends up having more depth than anyone (possibly even herself included) expects. Nova is a very Raven-esque figure (a la The 100) in my mind. Homegirl does not deserve everything that’s happening to her, yet she’s still a loyal and brave friend.
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Amber’s job is to take care of Nova like she’s a futuristic Snow White in a med-pod. The two are able to talk via Nova’s eye twitches, and Amber is massively curious about what awake-Nova would be like. Meanwhile, Coen and Thea had a bit of a moment back when they were running away from the infected, but there’s been zero downtime for them to process their feelings—and now they’re privy to each other’s most intimate thoughts, which can make things QUITE awkward.
Talky Talk: A Change Of Pace
I think Immunity pretty much met my expectations spot-on, in that I didn’t really think it could live up to the intense horror-movie-esque feel of Contagion. And, to be fair, it’s not set up to be that kind of book at all. This is solidly more of a sci-fi prison break story with a bit of political intrigue and a dash of threat to human life all thrown in together. I could have done with a bit less of Coen, Nova, and Thea stuck in captivity and a little more of the third act shenanigans as that’s where the action really starts to pick up.
Bonus Factor: Superpowers
Kind of a bonus and anti-bonus, really, because as cool as Coen and Thea’s powers are, hearing the every thought of someone else sounds like WAY too much closeness for me. Plus if they ever accidentally bleed on anyone they are risking an outbreak of epic proportions. “With great power” and all that.
Bonus Factor: Space Love
Man, to be able to live in a time where we will one day have intergalactic travel and visit new worlds. It’s so exciting…and so far away! Less fun is the thought that no matter where we humans go, there will always be constant political push-and-pull about rights, freedoms, and complete access to basic things like healthcare.
Relationship Status: Better Off Friends
We got together because of an intense situation, Book, but now that things have slightly(?) calmed down some, I think we may have rushed into this relationship because of our stressful, heightened emotions. I still think you’re swell, but I don’t think we’re in a long-term place right now. Let’s stil be friends.
FTC Full Disclosure: I purchased my own copy of this book. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. Immunity is available now.
