Friday, September 7, 2018

Thoughts While Listening To... | Contagion by Erin Bowman

Title: Contagion

Author: Erin Bowman

Series? Yes, a duology

Pages: The hardcover edition has 432 pages. The audiobook is 9 hours and 37 minutes long.

Publication Date: July 24, 2018

Source: I listened to the auidobook of Contagion via my online local library!
Perfect for fans of Madeleine Roux, Jonathan Maberry, and horror films like 28 Days Later and Resident Evil, this pulse-pounding, hair-raising, utterly terrifying novel is the first in a duology from the critically acclaimed author of the Taken trilogy.

After receiving a distress call from a drill team on a distant planet, a skeleton crew is sent into deep space to perform a standard search-and-rescue mission.

When they arrive, they find the planet littered with the remains of the project—including its members’ dead bodies. As they try to piece together what could have possibly decimated an entire project, they discover that some things are best left buried—and some monsters are only too ready to awaken.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CONTAGION:

“Gripping, thrilling and terrifying in equal measures, Contagion is the perfect intersection of science fiction and horror—I couldn’t look away.”—Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae and Unearthed

“Few understand the true horror that lies in the empty unknown of space, but Erin Bowman nails it in Contagion. Read this one with the lights on!”—Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series and Star Wars: Rebel Rising

“Erin Bowman’s Contagion is everything I want in my science fiction: a cast of smart characters on a desperate rescue mission forced to confront an elusive and unstoppable enemy. I absolutely loved this layered and thrilling adventure and can’t wait to dive back into this world again.”—Veronica Rossi, New York Times bestselling author of the Under the Never Sky series



1) Differentiating between all the POV's is a bit hard. They all have distinct personalities, but it can be disorienting when it jumps among 4 or 5 people in quick succession.

2) Contagion was a little slow at first, but it's really picking up! Ever since Toby got hurt, Contagion has been non stop action!

3) I like that the focus of the book is on action and survival, and not the romance. There's just hints of romance, and I'm digging it.

4) Something is super fishy about Dr. Tarlow and Carver! I know something is up, but I'm not certain to make a prediction about either of them.

5) I had an inkling that is what happened with Tarlow!!! BUT I was surprised about Carver, and possibly what will happen to Thea and the others. Hey, at least they had a modicum of safety now, because most of the book has been me at the edge of my seat freaking out! I can take a small breath right now.

6) Okay, I know there's not a lot of bullet points, but it's because I was non stop listening to it yesterday! I was around 30 percent of the way through, and now I'm approaching the 80 percent mark! The book really picked up, and I couldn't stop listening. This is my first books by Erin Bowman and I'm really enjoying myself!!

7) Since bullet six, I have since finished the book! Like I mentioned, I couldn't stop listening! Here are some of my ending thoughts:
  • the first 30 percent was hard to keep track of, as there were so many POVs/main characters and I didn't know who was who. 
  • once I figured out who everyone is, the book was SO much better
  • the ending really went in a direction I was NOT suspecting. I don't know why...but I thought it was a standalone? LOL it is definitely not! 
  • the ending makes me want the second book so badly! I'm sure it's going to be epic
  • there were some character deaths near the end that I did not see coming! Erin Bowman isn't afraid to do her characters dirty!
  • Throughout the book, Thea was my favorite! I love where her story line is going! 
8) Lastly, as a little not about the audiobook. With such an extensive cast, several narrators would have added much more clarity to the novel. Amy McFadden did a great job, but I think I would have liked a full cast, with McFadden narrating one or a couple of the leads, instead.


I give Contagion 
4 out of 5 Flowers!

8 comments:

  1. Ooh nice! I'm looking forward to reading this one though I am thinking more about waiting to read it when I have the sequel in my hands because the consensus seems to be that there's a lot of cliffhangers to this one! Lol! Nice review!

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    1. Since the first book ends with a cliffhanger, I would recommend reading them back to back! :) I just got a little too impatient, haha! Thanks for stopping by Jessica!

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  2. This sounds so suspenseful! I sometimes have problems with audiobooks when there's only one narrator trying to do multiple parts.

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    1. I also tend to have a problem with narrators doing multiple parts as well! It's much easier to differentiate when there's multiple people. :)

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  3. Oooo this sounds so creepy and cool! The blurb kind of reminds me of the movie Red Planet (if you haven't seen it, watch it!! But be prepared for being massively creeped out) which I loooved. I'm actually really intrigued by the multiple perspectives because ever since last year, I've been kind of obsessed with multiple POV books. I'll definitely have to check this out sometime!

    Laura @BlueEyeBooks

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    1. It is creepy and cool! I never heard of the movie, but I'll look it up! I thought the multiple POVs were good, it just didn't easily translate through audio. :)

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  4. Ahh I'm so excited for my copy to arrive of this one! I loved this author's Vengeance Road books so eeep I am here for creepy survival stories.😂Bit worried about all the POVs but eep, I hope I end up liking it too.😂

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    1. After reading Contagion, I'm really interested in Vengeance Road! I think you'll like it Cait! :D

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