This Mortal Coil - Softcover

Emily Suvada was born in Australia, where she went on to study mathematics and astrophysics. Her interest in science and tech never waned, particularly in genetic engineering and the question of what it means to be human. She thought it would be fun to explore these interests through characters running for their lives in a futuristic hellscape, so she wrote This Mortal Coil. She now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband. When not writing, she can be found hiking, cycling, and conducting chemistry experiments in her kitchen.

This Mortal Coil redefines "unputdownable." A thrilling, exhilarating read that's crackling with intelligence. Compelling characters and and incredible twists come together perfectly—I loved this book. This is brilliant science fiction.

  (Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of Illuminae)

In Catarina’s world, changing your body is as simple as pressing a few buttons. Technology implants allow people to alter their DNA. Cat’s father, Dr. Lachlan, is a renown geneticist. When he is kidnapped by the shady organization Cartaxxus, Cat is left to fend for herself. Two years later, she is struggling to survive in a world where a disease with no cure has run rampant and her father has not returned. On the surface of the earth, humanity struggles to struggles to survive, while underground bunkers serve as safe havens. Entrance to the bunkers is limited to only those willing to give up their personal technology to Cartaxxus. Cat’s life assumes a new purpose when Cole, a Cartaxxus soldier, shows up with an encrypted message for her from her deceased father. The message contains information the doctor left regarding a vaccine for the killer disease. Cat must decide whom she can trust with her life, and the future of the world.

Based upon today’s technological advances and the rate at which they are evolving, the futuristic world Suvada has created is believable. Teens will relate to the setting, the worldbuilding, and the characters as society deals with the consequences of technological advancement. Cat’s disease prevents her body from handling new technology. She struggles with not being able to share what other people experience—a relatable issue for most teens. The attraction between Cole and Cat is painfully palpable and engaging, another enticement for teen readers. Suvada’s debut novel balances characterization and action with an intensity that readers of dystopian fantasy will find infectious.—Tom Malinowski.  (VOYA Oct 1, 2017)

For two years, 17-year-old Catarina Agatta, a talented hacker, has survived on her own in the Black Hills: her scientist father, Lachlan, was taken by the powerful Cartaxus organization after the Hydra plague brought humanity to its knees. It’s dangerous outside: mindless, cannibalistic humans called Lurkers roam, and those infected with the virus explode at the final stage of the disease, spreading it through the air. Only eating a victim’s flesh provides temporary immunity (“This is the Hydra virus’s cruelest side: It forces the healthy to eat the sick”). When Cole Franklin, a Cartaxus soldier, brings news that Lachlan is dead and Cat must decrypt a Hydra vaccine that he developed, she agrees to help. Suvada’s scary, action-packed debut novel barely takes a breath, and its exploration of what makes us human goes well below the surface. Despite some familiar elements in the novel—such as Cat’s struggles with her father’s motives, a love triangle, and her own identity—Suvada’s vibrantly imagined technology will spark readers’ imaginations. A genuinely shocking twist sets up a planned sequel. (Publishers Weekly September 18, 2017)