Parasite

Parasite by Mira Grant

As a series, Parasitology is not Newsflesh. As a narrator, Sal Mitchell is not George Mason. These two facts must be accepted before attempting to read Mira Grant's latest novel, which is the opening to a new series. Parasitology takes place in a world where a trio of mad scientists has genetically engineered a parasite that can be implanted into human beings for the purpose of curing and preventing all of humanity's medical ailments. As expected, things go very, very wrong.

Our narrator is the public face of the wonders of Symbogen, our evil mad scientist-backed corporation. Sally Mitchell was in a car accident and never woke up. Just as her family was ready to say goodbye, Sal Mitchell woke up. Same body, different personality. Our story takes place six years later, when Sal has a job, a boyfriend, and a yearning for answers.

There is a lot of promise in this premise. I don't think the writing or the plotting did much to fulfill the potential. Sal is an unfortunate narrator. This person has only been around for six years, so there is much she does not know. It's not quite reading an adult story narrated by a six-year old child, but it is very much like reading from the mind of a mentally advanced tween. It's maddening, and I often lacked the patience to deal with the thoughts inside of Sal's brain.

The primary mystery of the novel turns out to not be a mystery at all. I figured out the "twist" very early on. I feel that anyone who does not figure it out by the 51% mark is either not paying attention or not intelligent. I had hoped that Grant would get the reveal out of the way so we could get on to the real story, but she didn't. She saved it until the last several paragraphs of the novel. She hinted at Sal's figuring it out, but did not pull the trigger. And the wording of the reveal suggests that Sal's boyfriend did not know either. I find nothing about that believable. I think that interfered with the plot and the conspiracy. In short, Parasite reads like a young adult novel. I doubt that was the intention.

To me, the best parts of the book were the scenes with Sal and Dr. Banks, the accredited inventor of the miracle parasite. Their interplay was fun to read. Many of Sal's other interactions were stilted and cliché. The interactions with her mother were often painful to read.

I just didn't like it. I will read the follow-up, though. I'm hoping for better.

C-