I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Apocalypse Strain by Jason ParentPublished by Flame Tree Press on August 11, 2020
ISBN: 9781787583566
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, General, Thrillers, Suspense, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 240
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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A multi-national research team, led by a medical genomics expert suffering from MS, study an ancient pandoravirus at a remote Siberian research facility. Called "Molli" by the research team, the organic substance reveals some unique but troublesome characteristics, qualities that, in the wrong hands, could lead to human extinction.
The researchers soon learn that even in the right hands, Molli is a force too dangerous to escape their compound. But the virus has a mind of its own, and it wants out.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Funnily enough I really enjoy reading about viruses and the potential of how these can wreak havoc upon our world. Our world is hospitable to a deadly virus, you only must examine the spread of Covid-19 to see that we have the conditions that allows deadly viruses to destroy our way of living, our health and oftentimes take away our lives. The Apocalypse Strain enforces that knowledge when scientists in a Siberian Research Facility discovers a potent Pandora virus, something that we have never experienced before. Sergei is the lucky scientist to have discovered it but since then memories of his daughter’s death have been haunting him…alongside the voice of her urging him on…urging him to set it free.
The virus is affectionately known as Molli, which kind of seems cute. This virus is anything but cute, its destructive, out of this planet weird and it doesn’t care who you are – it will tear you atom from atom. The Protagonist, Clara St. Pierre, a Doctor in Medical Genomics and bioinformatics (trying saying that with a drink in you) arrives to lend her expertise to the research. She is wheelchair bound after being diagnosed with MS. Clara is fascinated with the subject and can’t wait to discover its secrets.
Mollivirus Sibericum was extracted from seeds in an ancient squirrel’s nest which was buried deep in the Siberian permafrost. It’s such a fascinating idea, and I have no doubt in my mind that something like that could be lurking, just waiting to be disturbed.
The Apocalypse Strain is mind bending crazy. It’s a virus but its not and the consequences of letting it loose had me panicking. Oh no, not another Covid-19, it isn’t, its far worse and I’m fairly sure my eyes were fully dilated the entire time whilst reading this book. The body horror had me both shocked and scrambling inside my head for reasons that this virus could do this. Let me tell you, there doesn’t need to be a rhyme or a reason…it just fucking can! We have a virus that manifests as a creature and just to throw some shits and giggles into the mix – it seemingly can’t be destroyed either…these characters will be laughing all the way to the funny farm…if they survive!
The Apocalypse Strain is intelligent, and the level of research really blows my mind. Viruses are a specialist subject for me, I could read about them all day and I really appreciated Jason Parent’s attention to detail. The story felt a lot like The Thing vs. Contagion. Not at all a bad thing either. Enough twists and turns to keep me invested but let me just be clear…this kind of thing really scares the crap out of me.
ABOUT JASON PARENT
In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Rhode Island.
In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he wanted a change, he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he’s back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that’s another story.
When he’s not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, and travel any place that will let him enter. And read and write, of course–he does that too sometimes.
Please visit the author on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonParent?ref=hl, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AuthorJasParent, or at his website, http://authorjasonparent.com/, for information regarding upcoming events or releases, or if you have any questions or comments for him.
