Strain

3.5 stars

I'll start with what I didn't like then end on a high note.

I don't feel like I really got to know the person that Darius is. There wasn't much depth there, or in his relationship with Rhys. I also never really understood Rhys' thought process when it came to his hang-ups about the multi-partner sex. Every time I thought I understood the problem, he seemed to say that wasn't it, so I was just confused. The worldbuilding left me with some questions: Why would they choose a virus that was spread by any open wound, even a small cut?? I assume soldiers get cuts all the damn time doing what they do. It's hard to believe any scientists would be dumb enough to think that would be a feasible idea. Also, why infect women with it knowing they'd be spreading it anytime they're on their period?. Finally, those soldiers had to be the most incompetent group I've ever read about. These are supposed to be highly trained individuals, yet they leave Jacob unattended after his fight with Rhys, knowing he could be planning something dangerous and that he's already shown signs of being a little unhinged?? Then they let Rhys fall behind in an unsecured area, far enough back that a rev has a chance to tackle him and bite him before the nearest Jug can stop it? Then, the medic doesn't think to immediately treat him with antibiotics, but instead waits until an infection takes hold to do something about it?? I'm surprised they'd survived as long as they had to get to that point!

I was forewarned that Darius called Rhys “boy” a ridiculous number of times in this book, so considering that the overuse of that word makes me feel violent, I used a find/replace tool to change it to Rhys, which gave me a laugh when I came across words like Rhysfriend and flamRhysant while reading.

I really liked the premise for the book, as it reminded me of 28 Days Later, my favorite movie of all time. It combined fighting scary infected people (good) with an excuse for lots of sex (even better). And how hot all that sex was, with Darius at least! An attitude adjustment would have made the rest of it better with the other guys, but I understand wanting to keep what was between Rhys and Darius special and separate from everyone else. Overall, it was pretty good!