Review: Alien: Echo by Mira Grant

Author: Mira Grant
Publisher: Imprint
Date of publication: April 2019

An original young adult novel of the Alien universe

Olivia and her twin sister Viola have been dragged around the universe for as long as they can remember. Their parents, both xenobiologists, are always in high demand for their research into obscure alien biology.

Just settled on a new colony world, they discover an alien threat unlike anything they’ve ever seen. And suddenly the sisters’ world is ripped apart.

On the run from terrifying aliens, Olivia’s knowledge of xenobiology and determination to protect her sister are her only weapons as the colony collapses into chaos. But then a shocking family secret bursts open—one that’s as horrifying to Olivia as the aliens surrounding them.

The creatures infiltrate the rich wildlife on this virgin colony world—and quickly start adapting. Olivia’s going to have to adapt, too, if she’s going to survive...

I'm a big fan of the Alien movie franchise.  The first and second movies are in my top favorite horror movies of all time.  I didn't even know that people wrote books set in that "world".  So, when this book came up as a suggestion at my library, I knew I had to give it a try.  The story involves Olivia and her twin sister Viola.  Their parents are scientists who travel from planet to planet helping out colonies on new worlds.  They are experts in alien biology.  

I wish I could say I liked this book, but I really didn't.  It's a quick read, so that is one good thing I can say about it.  The first half of the book is kind of dull.  It was mostly Olivia thinking about how much she liked a girl in her class and wondering if that girl liked her in return.  The real action doesn't take place until the last quarter of the book and even then it wasn't very suspenseful.  I didn't feel any of the tension that I feel when I watch an alien movie.   Especially, when the main character kept thinking about her girlfriend and how much she wanted to make out with her.  I'm sure that is what would be going through your mind when you are being hunted by a killer alien.

I think had this been told in third person and with more then just Olivia's perspective I might have enjoyed it more.  I felt like was spent way too much time in her head and she was annoying. The other characters were cliche and forgettable.  There were a couple of reveals toward the end that were a surprise.  But it wasn't enough to save the book.  I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series.

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Author: Mira Grant
Publisher: Orbit
Date of publication: November 2017

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

I went into Into the Drowning Deep completely blind.  I had really no idea what it was about other than it was a potential thriller/horror story about killer mermaids.   After finishing it, I am having a hard time deciding how much I did or didn't like it.  The book ended up being a mixed bag for me.

 What I liked:  The pacing was fairly steady with a few lags.  I did appreciate that the author took her time in developing the characters before they got on the ship.  It made me care about them a bit more than I would have normally.  I genuinely didn't want to see most of them die.  There were definite moments of tension.  There was one scene in particular when I was clenching my jaw and holding my breath because I didn't want to find out what was going to happen to a certain character. Even though he kind of made a dumb decision. I did like most of the characters.  The two hunters were the most enthusiast of the bunch.  I loved their relationship and they were my favorites.

What I didn't like:  This book is like one of those cheesy horror movies where everyone keeps making stupid decisions and they end up dead because of those decisions.  Honestly, the ones who ended up dead kind of deserved it because they didn't listen or pay attention.  I didn't love the parts where we got the dolphin or mermaid perspective.  I pulled me out of the story too much because it was so implausible and bordered on dumb. I get what the author was trying to do, but it just didn't work for me.

I never got the sense that most of the characters really understood how much danger they were in until it was too late.  Two people die and everyone is kind of carrying on like usual and not freaking out.  Two of the characters even decide it's a great time to take a sex break. They know that killer mermaids are going to descend on the ship, but who cares?  Let's go to my room and get naked.  Who does that?  I found the solution was really dumb and anti-climactic.   I don't know if the author just ran out of steam and couldn't figure out a way to end the story, or what. I found it incredibly frustration. I'm not sure if there is a sequel in the works or if this was a stand alone, but more closure would have been nice.  

I'm not going to say this is a bad book.  It did have strengths.   If there is a sequel, I'll probably pick it up just to see what happens next for the people who are left.  

Series Week: Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant

From miragrant.com:  In 2014, two experimental viruses—a genetically engineered flu strain designed by Dr. Alexander Kellis, intended to act as a cure for the common cold, and a cancer-killing strain of Marburg, known as "Marburg Amberlee"—escaped the lab and combined to form a single airborne pathogen that swept around the world in a matter of days. It cured cancer. It stopped a thousand cold and flu viruses in their tracks.

It raised the dead.

Millions died in the chaos that followed. The summer of 2014 was dubbed "The Rising," and only the lessons learned from a thousand zombie movies allowed mankind to survive. Even then, the world was changed forever. The mainstream media fell, Internet news acquired an undeniable new legitimacy, and the CDC rose to a new level of power.

Set twenty years after the Rising, the Newsflesh trilogy follows a team of bloggers, led by Georgia and Shaun Mason, as they search for the brutal truths behind the infection. Danger, deceit, and betrayal lurk around every corner, as does the hardest question of them all:

When will you rise?

Book #1  Feed

When Senator Peter Ryman of Wisconsin decides to take a team of bloggers along on his run for the White House, Georgia and Shaun Mason are quick to submit their application. They, along with their friend Georgette "Buffy" M. are selected, and view this as the chance to launch their careers to a whole new level...that is, if they can survive the campaign trail.
I had heard about this book way back in 2010 and ordered it and it ended up sitting on my bookshelf for a year.  I finally got around to it in an attempt to clean up my books...and of course prepare for Series Week.  How I loved this book!

Let me start off with the thing that I didn't particularly care for.  It's not that I didn't like it, I just thought it was weird.  Georgia and Shaun's relationship was completely bizarre.  I don't know of any siblings that are attached to each other.  I have twins that never want to be apart from each other that aren't that attached to each other.
Things I liked were...the bloggers and their role in "saving the world".  They didn't really save the world, but the world realized that they could rely on the bloggers for the real news when they couldn't rely on the media.  I also liked Georgia's affliction of Retinal Kellis-Amberlee.  It was an interesting handicap that provided for unique situations.

The ending was a complete surprise.  I didn't expect to be sitting there crying over a ZOMBIE book.  Really??

Ok, I just fell down on the job with this series.  I intended to read Deadline for today and didn't make it.  But this is the second book in the Trilogy.  The third book, Blackout comes out this June.  So, it's a perfect time to start reading.  No, waiting for the ending!