Review: Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

Title: Mortality
Series: The Hitchhiker Strain
Placement in Series: Book one.
Author: Kellie Sheridan
Format: e-galley

Quick Synopsis:

The first book in the Hitchhiker Strain series, Mortality tells the story of what happens when a virus wipes out most of the population, turning humans into zombies. It is told from two very different perspectives. We are first introduced to Savannah, who is living in her school with what is left of her community. The virus has already wiped out the city, and those who survived are doing whatever they can to fight back against the new strain of zombies - ones who seem to be capable of intelligent thought. When Savannah and her friends are sent on a mission for medical supplies, their 'camp' is attacked my a zombie hoarde, forcing the four teens to track down their friends, families, and neighbours. Zarah's story starts from the beginning, showing how the zombie strain began, separating her from everyone she loves. She and her school crush are surviving on their own until they hear of a cure, and seek it out, only to be separated (and I will leave it at that because spoilers). Savannah's and Zarah's stories intertwine as they both seek out the rumoured new cure to the virus.

My Thoughts:

This book is seriously amazing. It really drew me in right from the start. The POV switch worked really well as the stories of Zarah and Savannah slowly (but greatly paced) intersected. I did not realize how attached I was to the characters until the spoilery spoiler spoils I will not detail because spoilers. ;)

Savannah's story took up a good chunk of the book as she and her friends fight zombies, track down their community, and are separated a few times. I really enjoyed her character; Savannah is first introduced to us when she is bored of being stuck in the school, and wants to put her training to use. She is a very strong character with incredible loyalty to her friends. What drives her throughout the book is her attempt to find and save one of her friends. Though she could be incredibly impulsive, I really admired her determination and her focus. She never allowed herself to be swayed from what she wanted. She stuck to her plan, even if it went against what her companion wanted.

Zarah's story was equally interesting. I don't want to talk too much about hers, because it is very spoilery. Her character was great as well, though. She was not as impulsive or as kick-butt as Savannah, but when things got tough, she did everything she could to fight against forces out of her control. I really felt for her, and felt myself drawn to her story slightly more than Savannah's. Her story took a turn I did not expect, and I commend the author for the direction Mortality went towards the end. It was amazing, and very well-executed! I'm intrigued to see where book two takes us.

Definitely a book I would recommend! Especially if the whole apocalyptic/ zombie/ virus strain medley of genres is something you enjoy. Lots of suspense and action in this one, and the pacing and writing was fantastic! I look forward to reading the second Hitchhiker Strain book!

Fun fact: Mortality is a self-published book by a new Canadian author, which I found out after I read the book. So, bonus!
Thank you to Kellie Sheridan and Netgalley for providing me with an e-galley for review.

Rating: 
5/5 - Full of suspense, adventure, and action. The well-executed ending twist and cliffhanger has me looking forward to the sequel!
Recommended for anyone who loves post-apocalyptics - especially the zombie/virus types.

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You can visit Kellie Sheridan's website here.

Buy the e-book and paperback of Mortality on Amazon here or the Kobo e-book here.

Stacking the Shelves (7): Quite a Haul!

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where book bloggers share the books they've added to their shelves this week (physical or electronic).

Purchased from the bookstore:

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
I read the e-arc and loved it, so of course once it came in, I had to buy it. How did I get it when the release day isn't until ten days from now? Well there is this magical (loathesome in some cases) list called a 'Strict On Sale' list, and The Testing isn't on it! So some bookstores will put the book out once they receive it. It's perfectly legal for a book to be on sale before its release date as long as it is not on the magical, sometimes loathesome SOS list.

See my review on The Testing in a future blog post to find out why I loved it so much! I'm a part of The Testing tour, so keep an eye out. There's a giveaway, too!

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
Seems the reviews are mixed. Some are in love, some disappointed, but I don't care! I will be the judge of whether this book in enjoyable or not. And I'm excited to dive in. Not sure when the diving will be happening, since my to-read pile is massive, but hopefully I'll be reading this one sooner than later! I've yet to read anything by Andrea Cremer, but I read Levithan's Every Day and liked it, and I loved his colab with John Green for Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so we shall see!

Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
I've been wanting to read this series for a while. The hardcovers are gorgeous, but just a bit too heavy, so I waited for the paperbacks for this one. If I really enjoy the series, however, I'll be adding the hardcovers to my collection for sure. I mean, they are GORGEOUS. Depite their weight. <3

ARC (paperback) via author/publisher:

Control by Lydia Kang
This book isn't due out until December of this year, but I was lucky enough to win an advanced reader's copy from a YABC giveaway. A few months back I received some Control swag (promo buttons, bookmarks, bookplates, necklaces, magnets) with a note from Lydia Kang herself (on her own gorgeous stationary, I might add!) stating I would get the arc a little closer to summer, likely June/July, but it came now :D So I'm super excited to read this one, and will be bumping it up my list and reading it next week. This one sounds like one I will enjoy, so I'm looking forward to reading it asap.

E-galley:

It got a little crazy with the e-arcs from Netgalley this week, guys... *deep breath*

Contributor by Nicole Ciacchella
Blurb:
One of only three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship, seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow is eager to excel in the high-stakes competition and prove herself a devoted Contributor. Success means a prosperous future with her Job Creator. Failure means losing her standing in society.

But Dara’s competition is ruthless, and her exacting master has little patience for her. When her mother is injured, Dara’s prospects become even more uncertain. If she can’t learn to navigate the hazards of the system, she risks not only her own safety, but that of all those she loves.

Loving the sound of this one, that's for sure! PS: You can read an excerpt of Contributor - there's a link on the Goodreads page (click the title to be taken to Contributor's Goodreads)

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan
Blurb:
After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

Secret for a Song by S.K. Falls
Blurb:
Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.

She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special... (Click for the rest of the book's description)


Much heavier material than what I usually read, but I'm interested to see how the story goes and how I'll like it. This one's due out in June.

The Island by Jen Minkman
Blurb:
Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.
But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?

This one's a dystopian novella with an interesting premise. Should be fun.

Follow the White Rabbit by Kellie Sheridan
I didn't even notice until right now as I typed out the title and author's name that this is the second Kellie Sheridan book in this post! Pretty cool.

This book is the first in a series called Beautiful Madness, and follows, in case you haven't already guessed, the story of Alice in Wonderland. I love twists on classic fairy tales and stories, and one of my favourite books is just that (The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, if you're curious - another Alice in Wonderland re-telling and one I highly recommend). I'm interested to see how this one goes!

Dark Child (Omnibus Edition) by Adina West
This series was originally released in separate parts, but the edition I was approved for on Netgalley is for the entire story.

From Goodreads: "...this intriguing urban fantasy follows the story of Kat Chanter, who discovers that the world she knows is controlled by ancient creatures who feed on blood. And she might just be one of them ..."

 AND you can read the first part for free by searching Dark Child: Episode 1 on your preferred retailer's site or at www.momentumbooks.com.au!


*exhales slowly*
And there it is! My haul for the week. I tend to go a tad crazy with netgalley. Remind me to stay off of there for a few days so I can at least read what I've already requested and send reviews to the publishers!

How about you all? Anyone go a bit crazy with their haul this week? Link me in the comments so we can compare! :)