Author: Sarah Mussi
Standalone
Genres: Thriller | Young Adult
Release Date: 7th May 2015
Publishers: Hodder Childrens
Source: Review Copy - Hodder Childrens
Rating:
When Genesis goes on a blind internet date, she just wants to get over her ex-boyfriend Naz. She just wants someone to like her again. But when Genesis wakes up the morning after the date, she can't remember a thing. She doesn't know where she is, or how she got there. And she can hardly move because she is strapped into some kind of body armour..
Before she has time to figure it out, she receives an order through an earpiece stuck in her ear. And then a voice sounds in her head: 'You have been chosen for an assignment.. The vest you're wearing is packed with high explosives. And with one mobile call we can detonate it.'
To her horror Genesis has become an agent of mass destruction, a walking weapon in the hands of a terrorist cell. The countdown to detonation has begun: Genesis must re-examine everyone and everything she loves and make terrifying choices, all in the face of certain death.
I was quite the black sheep when I read Riot by Sarah Mussi last year, and it's safe to say, there are many people that just can't take her books. I, thankfully, am not one of those people, and although I've only read Riot, and now Bomb, checking out more of her work is a big must for me. Bomb reminded me what it is I like about Mussi's novels - her realistic approach to subjects that other authors wouldn't dare cover, her action packed story-lines and her characters I always end up emotionally invested in, they're quick reads with important messages; books like these don't come about often.
Right from the start of this novel, I felt like I was in the moment with Genisis, and the present tense writing only cemented this feeling. I shared her horrors and fears, I questioned everything she knew and everyone she trusted, and I questioned my own decisions, and what I do, if I had been through the events Genisis goes through in Bomb. Genisis was a lot stronger, a lot braver, a lot more gutsy than I would ever have been, she thought on her feet, kept herself in the know and wasn't afraid of the future she had, for as long as she had one, and her emotional development and growth and how she matured throughout the 400+ pages was just joyful to read, although joyful might be a poor choice of words. Sure, as a character, Genisis had her issues - her constant overwhelming thought processes were sometimes a little much, and her past relationship with Naz, although important to the story and plot itself, did get a little annoying early on and took away some of the action-packed thriller feeling Bomb had. Her relationships with other characters; Holly and their heart-warming, completely innocent and beautiful friendship, Dave and their complicated past but unwavering loyalty towards one another, and her horrible conflicting connection to Naz, which was completely bonkers and a little too far fetched for me personal - they all brought some much needed depth, lightness or accountability to the plot, the pacing and the overall reveal of events. As far as leading characters preparing their last hours alive, all while strapped to a bomb goes, Genisis was realistic, and I could really feel for her situation, and understand just how horrifying the experience could be.
Considering the subject that Bomb explores, it's important to express that not once does Mussi imply that the terrorist actions that take place within the novel are excusable, nor acceptable in any way shape nor form, not through religion, through any other sort of believes, and even karma. She constantly explored how the actions affected everyone throughout the novel, whether that be Genisis herself, Holly or Dave, The Brightness or the general nobody's who's lives are put at risk. Sure, the action does glaze over the fact that certain characters caused some really terrible scenes to occur, and that avoiding the police with the hand of a certain navy officer is handy and surprisingly easy (which it most definitely isn't - not that I know this, but Bomb is fictional, and it's important to remember that fact) but the general plot, execution, twists, turns and entertainment this book supplied me with was impressive, and really eye opening. Taking into account things such as online privacy and public recording laws, freedom of speech and beliefs, and just how blurred the lines between good and bad are, it's features like these that make Mussi a great and talented, even brave author, and I will always commend and read her work because of it. Her work is one of a kind, and definitely love or hate.
Bomb's ending felt final from within the first few pages, and sometimes, knowing how a story ends can impact your enjoyment, but Bomb's aim was to share the story of how Genisis reached the end of her line, the people who supported and surrounded her, who and what brought her to where she was, and took her to where she finished, and unlike many journey stories, Bomb was worthy of my tears. With strong, impactful characters full of development and growth, balanced with well crafted relationships and a tiny bit of sad romance, a plot that constantly moves and never feels static or stationary, and a message that speaks volumes, Bomb is a strong novel to add to Mussi's collection; a novel I would recommend to people open to exploring new writing styles and controversial subjects, even those who disliked Riot.
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