Disruption by Jessica Shirvington
Series: Disruption #1
Also in this series: Corruption
on 1st April 2014
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Goodreads


Click here to buy the book from Amazon •Booktopia • Book Depository • Angus and Robertson

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.

I didn’t expect to get drawn into Maggie Steven’s life as quickly as I did. I read the blurb and thought Disruption sounded like my kind of book but wasn’t quite prepared to have found a book that I didn’t want to put down.

Maggie Stevens is on a mission to save her father from Mercer Corporation (M-Corp). A company which has created the ultimate in smart phones, M-Bands – a wrist attached device which works as smartphone, credit card, car keys and more. It even contains pheromone technology which scans others in the vicinity to find your suitable partners. Handy – except when ratings turn up negative. Negs are people who fail to rate and research indicates negs are more likely to be criminals and other undesirables. M-Corp tells the public that negs go to farms but Maggie knows better. She’s searched high and low for her father won’t stop until she finds him no matter who she has to use in the process.

Maggie is a fantastic character. She’s ruthless, resourceful and determined to find her dad. She is not above using blackmail or other less than honourable tactics to help in her quest. She’s smart and does whatever she can to make sure her intel of situations is accurate. I loved her. Her slightly shady moral code worked for her. She didn’t judge others on their actions but if she could use their flaws to help with her mission – she wouldn’t hesitate. With a techno expert for backup and a rich boy with connections on her side, Maggie navigates the underworld of M-Corp in a relentless pursuit trying to find answers and her dad. (Fans of Emily Thorne from Revenge are definitely going to like Maggie Stevens!)

Gus and Quentin are great back up for Maggie. Gus is an electronic genius and his partnership with Maggie interesting. He backs her up and the dynamic is complicated but great and I loved the humour in their interactions. I loved how the relationship developed from the first time readers met Quentin right up till the end. Pacing – it was handled beautifully and whilst I wasn’t a huge fan of Quentin – I could not fault how Shirvington grew their relationship and how it changed both Quentin and Maggie in a believable and realistic way. I don’t know much about technical workings of things but I felt like the world created was well researched and liked how the information was delivered. There was never a case where it felt like too much was being dumped on the reader at any time but rather a nice steady pacing of M-Corp’s inner workings.

Disruption is a novel I couldn’t put down. It’s exciting and different with a lot of action, drama and the perfect amount of romance. Not everything is as it seems. The world Shirivington created is a little bit out there but eerily plausible as being possible in the real world. Disruption has been my favourite Jessica Shirvington novel I’ve read so far and I’m already excited for the release of the second book in this series, Corruption.

 

 

 

PS. I was lucky enough to meet Jessica Shirvington at Indie Authors Down Under 2014 and she was lovely. I bought a copy on the spot and I’m very excited to own a signed copy of Disruption and get a photo with Jess! 😀