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Sunday 12 November 2017

CONTAGION by Teri Terry


URGENT! 
An epidemic is sweeping the country. You are among the infected. There is no cure, and you cannot be permitted to infect others. You are now under quarantine. 
 The very few of the infected who survive are dangerous and will be taken into the custody of the army. 

 Young runaway Callie survived the disease, but not the so-called treatment. Her brother Kai is still looking for her. And his new friend Shay may hold the key to uncovering what truly happened. 

 From the author of the international sensation Slated comes the first book in a powerful new story of survival and transformation; love and power. 


I picked this up on Friday night with the intention of checking it out. You know, to get a feel for the story? I ended up reading over 100 pages in one sitting! 

So yeah, I was instantly hooked. :)

Something strange is happening to Callie in the facility she lives in. Shay is trying to escape bullies when she stumbles on a flyer that sparks a forgotten memory. Kai is desperate to find his missing sister, so when he gets a call out of nowhere from a girl who claims she saw Calista a year ago, he rushes to gather information.

When Shay and Kai meet, they realise there's an instant connection between them, but neither realise just how deep it really is. Or that they're not alone, because someone is shadowing their every move. When a deadly epidemic hits out of nowhere and spreads across the country faster than it can be contained, they find themselves in serious danger. And in the middle of a terrible secret capable of destroying everyone in their path...

Wow. This is one addictive book. It's also very trippy--in the best way possible. I loved how the author blended science and New Age ideas in such creative ways, and fills the reader with so much wonder you HAVE to keep going forward.

I'm serious. As I said above, I grabbed it on Friday night and was so captivated by what was going on that I was finished by Sunday afternoon. I couldn't stop reading. I had to know where the first book in the trilogy was going to take me.

The story is told in the alternating POV of two characters--Callie and Shay. It's written in such a fast-paced way that the volatile events and tension mount to fever pitch very quickly. The stakes keep getting higher, and don't stop. Not even when you reach the shocking conclusion!

Shay is a great narrator. A smart girl with an understanding mother whose entire life changes from ordinary to extraordinary because of one seemingly forgotten, and very random, moment a year before. This changes her life in a wonderful way because she meets the handsome Kai, and in him finds a kindred spirit. Yet at the same time fills her with devastation because she stands to lose everything, including herself. I loved her POV. And her interactions with Kai were awesome.

I always love when two lost characters find strength in each other.

Callie gives an amazing, and very unexpected angle to the story. She's a girl who's suffered so much cruelty and destruction, without truly understanding why she got there in the first place. Her POV was fascinating and I can't wait to see how she evolves.

You might have noticed that I haven't mentioned much about the actual story, and that's on purpose. I remember the first time I read the blurb and wondered why the details were so vague, but once I started reading I totally got it. This is one of those books that is better enjoyed the less you know going in. Trust me. At first it might seem disorienting, but it doesn't take long to get your bearings. 

And when you do, you won't want to stop 

Contagion is an awesome and super clever book full of sciency goodness, and a lot of heart. It's scary, creepy, mysterious, interesting and a definite page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There's just something very special about Teri Terry's writing style, and the concept is captivating.

Loved this book. What a fun, thrilling and melancholy ride!

BTW, the cover captures the story perfectly. And the red edge pages are cool, plus add to the urgency of this story.

I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.



Contagion, May 2017, ISBN 9781408341728, Orchard Books

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