Virals by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

Virals by Kathy Reichs
 and Brandon Reichs

4/5 stars on Goodreads

95% 

Recommended for: Lovers of Bones TV show, PJO, Pendragon, Nancy Drew, science fiction.

Review: SPOILER FREE

I was walking through Chapters innocently one day, checking out the discounted "New and Hot" shelf. Casually looking through the books, I glanced upon Seizure (sequel to Virals), and did a massive double take because KATHY REICHS                                               WROTE A YA SERIES!
I don't know if you know this, but I am absolutely in LOVE with Bones. It is one of my all time favourite TV shows. Ever. (Hodgins and Angela are my OTP.) However, I haven't actually ever read one of the Temperance Brennan books. I definitely plan to, but I haven't gotten around to it. SO when I saw that Kathy Reichs had written a YA series about Brennan's great-niece, I bought it right away. And man oh man, I am so glad I did.

The basic plot of the books is about this young girl named Tori Brennan, who was living with her mother up until she died. Tori is then sent to live with her father, whom she did not really know much of (other than that she had one), who is a scientist. He is, of course, related to the famous Temperance Brennan, of the Bones series. Tori's father is a research scientist for this institute called the Loggerhead Island Research Institute, a secretive facility hidden away on fictional Loggerhead island, off the coast of Charleston. The kids of the scientist all attend this elite school on the main land, but they're branded as the 'island kids,' and are outsiders in a school reminiscent of that from the CLIQUE series or Gossip Girl. Nevertheless, the island kids are all brilliant, and band together to form their own sort of 'crew.' Plenty of scientific shenanigans ensue as the crew explores Loggerhead, in tandem with a real mystery for them to solve. 

I definitely loved reading this book. It reminded me a lot of Nancy Drew, because of the mysterious aspect that is apparent with the mystery of Katherine Heaton. It was really refreshing to read a story where there wasn't really any romance. It was a straight up mystery/science fiction novel, and I loved that. Because there was no romance, there was a LOT of plot. There were so many aspects to both the mystery, and the science behind the virus that were explored; it was very reminiscent of Bones. The entire plot was enthralling, and I was on my toes (figuratively, of course) while reading it. 

Tori reminded me so much of Temperance Brennan, but I think that she was supposed to. They're both these hot-headed, set in their ways scientists. Unlike Brennan, however, Tori was more sentient, and receptive to the feeling of others (like Brennan has grown to be, unlike season 1 Brennan.) But she was definitely as stubborn, and certainly as dedicated to science. The moments where she gushed over Chance were adorable and reminded you that she was only 13, and still a teen aged girl. 

The science aspect with Coop and the virus was cool as well, and it really added to the complexity of the novel. That aspect is what is going to be constant throughout the series, and I can't wait to see where it progresses as the kids learn more about their unique abilities. I hope to pick up the rest of the series soon!