I haven't been part of a blog tour in so looooong. It feels so good to be doing these again, especially for one of my favourite authors ever!
Disruption is Jessica Shirvington's latest book, a thriller in a two part series! I've already read the book and found it fantastic.
Thanks to HarperCollins Australia for organising the blog tour, clicky the blog tour banner above or on my sidebar to see the tour schedule on Jess's website. Also, thanks to Amanda and the team from HarperCollins for the awesome Disruption launch event at Dymocks George St Sydney last Wednesday! It was great to see Jess again and hear her talk about her books and sign copies of Disruption (:
For my stop today I've got my review of the book and then an excerpt (: I hope you all enjoy.
Synopsis:
"What if a microchip could identify your perfect match?
What if it could be used against you and the ones you love?
Eight years ago, Mercer Corporation’s M-Bands became mandatory. An evolution of the smartphone, the bracelets promised an easier life. Instead, they have come to control it.
Two years ago, Maggie Stevens watched helplessly as one of the people she loves most was taken from her, shattering her world as she knew it.
Now, Maggie is ready. And Quentin Mercer – heir to the M-Corp empire – has become key to Maggie’s plan. But as the pieces of her dangerous design fall into place, could Quentin’s involvement destroy everything she’s fought for?
In a world full of broken promises, the ones Maggie must keep could be the most heartbreaking."
What if it could be used against you and the ones you love?
Eight years ago, Mercer Corporation’s M-Bands became mandatory. An evolution of the smartphone, the bracelets promised an easier life. Instead, they have come to control it.
Two years ago, Maggie Stevens watched helplessly as one of the people she loves most was taken from her, shattering her world as she knew it.
Now, Maggie is ready. And Quentin Mercer – heir to the M-Corp empire – has become key to Maggie’s plan. But as the pieces of her dangerous design fall into place, could Quentin’s involvement destroy everything she’s fought for?
In a world full of broken promises, the ones Maggie must keep could be the most heartbreaking."
---
“But people should have the right to become whatever they’re going to be before they are judged and sentenced.”
Everybody who knows me knows I’m a massive Jessica Shirvington fan and that I love all her books. Thus there is always this fear that when I read a favourite author’s new book, I won’t like it. I am pleased to say Shirvington has stunned me once again. Shirvington’s latest is different to all her previous books with her genre and story, and yet the same because Disruption, like TVEC and Between the Lives, leaves the reader with lasting messages.
Set in a future not so distant from our own, technology has taken a step further in controlling the people of the world. The Mercer Corporation, an American monopoly, has created something called the M-Band; it reads a person’s vitals and pheromones and gives them the ability to tell how compatible they are with someone else. It can tell someone who their “true match” is but it can also rate someone negatively – someone who is detrimental to society. Apparently. This is what protagonist Maggie’s father was rated two years – a neg. Two years ago, Maggie’s world was shattered and since then she has sworn she would get her father back.
“It had only taken nine years for the world to change completely… You’d have thought we’d fight harder and stronger.”
Margaret (Maggie) Stevens is a manipulative, blunt, sly and conniving bitch. She is the villain you hate in every other book. She is the protagonist I immediately pitied in Disruption. I STILL don’t know how I feel about Maggie even after having finished the book. There is no denying she is an extremely strong and independent young-woman – and that’s something I definitely love about Shirvington’s books, she doesn’t ever write a useless damsel-in-distress – but Maggie was also callous and despite being in her head her actions were so inexcusable! She definitely grew as the novel moved on, but not to the point where it was unbelievable (points again to Shirvington). Oh there is a heaping of regret towards the end, but I like that before everything went to shit she stood by her choices and decisions. Her resilience was admirable. Her actions were not. So many times I wanted to shake her and go “QURRLLLL WHAT YOU DOING. WHERE IS YOUR REMORSE YO? ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN?” Obviously I sort of hate her and at the same time her choices were understandable.
“I’d see this through to the end… This promise above all others, I will gladly keep.”
Being the type to work alone, there aren’t many secondary characters to support Maggie in her endeavours. There’s Gus the guy she’s blackmailing, but more important is Quentin Mercer. He’s they key to her plan. Oh did I mention she screws him over? In typical YA fashion he’s not aware of much, but open his eyes and he becomes the book’s moral compass. He is the antithesis to Maggie. Warm where Maggie is cold. Full of emotions where Maggie hides all her feelings. I really liked how this polarisation really accentuated their personalities. Seriously, how does Shirvington manage to do all this awesome? I don’t even know.
“… his light to my dark. His truth to my lies. His sacrifices to my selfishness.”
At the heart of the plot, this is a book about morals and ethics – about the changing nature of the world and how technological forces are taking over our lives and their dire consequences. Strip back the layers and it’s about betrayal and lies, right and wrong… Or rather grey. So, so much grey. So many questions. Is it right to trust the M-Band? Are Maggie’s actions right? Are they wrong? Emotion or reason? So many possible answers. And, I as the reader, was left to ponder all these after the last page. Also, that bombshell. Absolutely fantastic. More questions! AND THEN THAT CLIFFHANGER ENDING. I didn’t even know what hit me.
“For the first time in my life, I’m right where I’m supposed to be”
All in all, Disruption is another masterpiece. I’m inventing a new term. It’s called Jessica-Shirvington-feels. I was left with so many FEELS at the end of this, and I realise this happens in every single one of her books. They possess a quality and flavour that is very distinct to her work. Hence, Jessica-Shirvington-feels. Be prepared for them. And be prepared to question everything you thought was right and wrong when you finish. Now, I implore you, go get your hands on the bling *stares at shiny gold cover*.
“Never forget. I know that you know.”
My Review
Date Read: March 19 - 24 2014
Release Date: April 1st 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
Source: Review copy via publisher
Genre: Suspense/thriller
My rating: ♕ ♕ ♕ ♕ (4.5)
Release Date: April 1st 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
Source: Review copy via publisher
Genre: Suspense/thriller
My rating: ♕ ♕ ♕ ♕ (4.5)
“But people should have the right to become whatever they’re going to be before they are judged and sentenced.”
Everybody who knows me knows I’m a massive Jessica Shirvington fan and that I love all her books. Thus there is always this fear that when I read a favourite author’s new book, I won’t like it. I am pleased to say Shirvington has stunned me once again. Shirvington’s latest is different to all her previous books with her genre and story, and yet the same because Disruption, like TVEC and Between the Lives, leaves the reader with lasting messages.
Set in a future not so distant from our own, technology has taken a step further in controlling the people of the world. The Mercer Corporation, an American monopoly, has created something called the M-Band; it reads a person’s vitals and pheromones and gives them the ability to tell how compatible they are with someone else. It can tell someone who their “true match” is but it can also rate someone negatively – someone who is detrimental to society. Apparently. This is what protagonist Maggie’s father was rated two years – a neg. Two years ago, Maggie’s world was shattered and since then she has sworn she would get her father back.
“It had only taken nine years for the world to change completely… You’d have thought we’d fight harder and stronger.”
Margaret (Maggie) Stevens is a manipulative, blunt, sly and conniving bitch. She is the villain you hate in every other book. She is the protagonist I immediately pitied in Disruption. I STILL don’t know how I feel about Maggie even after having finished the book. There is no denying she is an extremely strong and independent young-woman – and that’s something I definitely love about Shirvington’s books, she doesn’t ever write a useless damsel-in-distress – but Maggie was also callous and despite being in her head her actions were so inexcusable! She definitely grew as the novel moved on, but not to the point where it was unbelievable (points again to Shirvington). Oh there is a heaping of regret towards the end, but I like that before everything went to shit she stood by her choices and decisions. Her resilience was admirable. Her actions were not. So many times I wanted to shake her and go “QURRLLLL WHAT YOU DOING. WHERE IS YOUR REMORSE YO? ARE YOU EVEN HUMAN?” Obviously I sort of hate her and at the same time her choices were understandable.
“I’d see this through to the end… This promise above all others, I will gladly keep.”
Being the type to work alone, there aren’t many secondary characters to support Maggie in her endeavours. There’s Gus the guy she’s blackmailing, but more important is Quentin Mercer. He’s they key to her plan. Oh did I mention she screws him over? In typical YA fashion he’s not aware of much, but open his eyes and he becomes the book’s moral compass. He is the antithesis to Maggie. Warm where Maggie is cold. Full of emotions where Maggie hides all her feelings. I really liked how this polarisation really accentuated their personalities. Seriously, how does Shirvington manage to do all this awesome? I don’t even know.
“… his light to my dark. His truth to my lies. His sacrifices to my selfishness.”
At the heart of the plot, this is a book about morals and ethics – about the changing nature of the world and how technological forces are taking over our lives and their dire consequences. Strip back the layers and it’s about betrayal and lies, right and wrong… Or rather grey. So, so much grey. So many questions. Is it right to trust the M-Band? Are Maggie’s actions right? Are they wrong? Emotion or reason? So many possible answers. And, I as the reader, was left to ponder all these after the last page. Also, that bombshell. Absolutely fantastic. More questions! AND THEN THAT CLIFFHANGER ENDING. I didn’t even know what hit me.
“For the first time in my life, I’m right where I’m supposed to be”
All in all, Disruption is another masterpiece. I’m inventing a new term. It’s called Jessica-Shirvington-feels. I was left with so many FEELS at the end of this, and I realise this happens in every single one of her books. They possess a quality and flavour that is very distinct to her work. Hence, Jessica-Shirvington-feels. Be prepared for them. And be prepared to question everything you thought was right and wrong when you finish. Now, I implore you, go get your hands on the bling *stares at shiny gold cover*.
“Never forget. I know that you know.”
---
Excerpt
For you, my dear readers, I have an excerpt from the book.
From page 129:
I hope you guys enjoyed that!
Buy DISRUPTION from Booktopia: http://www.booktopia.com.au/disruption-jessica-shirvington/prod9780732296285.html
Buy DISRUPTION from Bookworld: http://www.bookworld.com.au/book/disruption/46422266/
Buy DISRUPTION e-book from Amazon Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/Disruption-Jessica-Shirvington-ebook/dp/B00H1GC4BY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1396254615&sr=1-1&keywords=Disruption
‘Oh shit, Maggie,’ came Gus’s voice.
‘What?’ I asked, now alert.
‘Get out of there. It’s a cleaning day.’
I felt the blood drain from my face. ‘A cleaning day,’ I repeated, my voice dropping to a whisper. Quentin, as if sensing the problem, turned to me.
‘At Junction 18. You’re too close. Haul ass,’ Gus insisted. He almost sounded worried about me, but I knew better. I had tech on me that, in the right hands, could be traced back to him. He was in danger too.
I didn’t respond. Silence surrounded me, but inside my mind was screaming out orders to do something. Quentin was watching me intently, wondering what the hell was happening. I stared back at him briefly, wondering the same thing.
‘Damn it, Maggie. I can hear your mind thinking something very, very bad,’ Gus said.
‘How long left on the elevator?’ I asked.
‘Seventeen minutes. You don’t have time!’
‘We’ll be back in time.’ And then I hung up the phone as Quentin stepped closer.
‘What’s a cleaning day?’ Quentin asked.
I huffed, angry that he could be so naive. ‘Where do you think they all go, Quentin? The negs?’
He wet his lips, feeling my anger. ‘Rehabilitation farms,’ he answered, trying to stand tall, but already wavering.
I started walking back the way we’d come, careful to make sure everything was as we found it.
‘And how many farms have you visited?’ I hissed as we exited the lab and returned to the tunnels.
‘A few. Three, maybe four. There is one in every state.’
I couldn’t stop the bitter laugh that bubbled out. ‘Gus was right. You really have no idea. Do you honestly think all the negs go to rehab?’ Before he could answer, I walked on, in the opposite direction to the one that led us back to the elevator and out of here. ‘Let me ask you this, Quentin Mercer.’ His name fell harshly from my lips. ‘How many negs do you know who have been reintroduced to society?’
Keeping pace, he answered, ‘We’re not supposed to know them. They’re given new identities and places to live so that they can start fresh. That’s how we protect them, Maggie,’ he said my name with the same vehemence that I’d just delivered to him.
Moving faster now, increasing to a run, I could feel myself beginning to shake with fury.
‘Where are we going?’ he snapped.
Not slowing, I looked over my shoulder at him. ‘You’ll never believe it until you see it.’
‘What else is down here?’
I slowed when I saw the opening that signalled we were at Junction 18 and blew out a breath before meeting his eyes, keeping my voice low. ‘Down here is where M-Corp plays God.’---
I hope you guys enjoyed that!
Add DISRUPTION to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19032994-disruption?from_search=true
Buy DISRUPTION from Booktopia: http://www.booktopia.com.au/disruption-jessica-shirvington/prod9780732296285.html
Buy DISRUPTION from Bookworld: http://www.bookworld.com.au/book/disruption/46422266/
Buy DISRUPTION e-book from Amazon Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/Disruption-Jessica-Shirvington-ebook/dp/B00H1GC4BY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1396254615&sr=1-1&keywords=Disruption
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