YpeM-I: Redemption by Billy Quantro follows Vassili Kolobkov, a bioengineer tied to the creation of YPEM4, a genetically modified pathogen with devastating ecological and human impacts. After being ambushed and captured in China, Vassili awakens in a secret Russian bioweapons facility where he learns that Russia and China have allied to use YPEM4 for geopolitical domination. Vassili’s knowledge makes him a target and a pawn in their schemes. Liisá Koskinen, a Finnish scientist working on YPEM4’s genetic code, is kidnapped and held captive. Vassili attempts a risky escape with Liisá through a hidden tunnel, with devastating consequences. Meanwhile, Mark, Ana, and others researching YPEM4’s unique genetic features find they are assassination targets. Political pressure escalates as President Murt and foreign leaders confront covert biological warfare plans, with Vassili caught at the heart of a looming conflict between East and West.

YpeM-I: Redemption by Billy Quantro explodes with inventive science and far-reaching global conflict. As a science nerd, I love that Quantro thrusts readers into a virtual supermarket of engineered DNA sequences, including Mark’s discovery of a unique nucleotide pattern that hitches itself to shocking connections between mysterious pathogens and covert operations across continents. For those who prefer adrenaline over genetics, Quantro serves up high-level diplomacy attempts at the White House, daring escapes near the Russian border, and even Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses. Of course, there's also the risk of World War III, which is always an excellent turn of the screw. Overall, this novel rewards readers seeking a sharp, fast story filled with scientific twists and international intrigue. Fans of bold, innovative thrillers will find YpeM-I: Redemption unforgettable and impossible to put down.

YpeM-I: Redemption by Billy Quantro takes place from 2013 to 2015. It moves between countries, like the U.S., Russia, China, Europe, Central America, and the Arctic. The main problem starts when a new version of the plague bacteria, called YPEM4, is created in a lab. It is made as a weapon and can adapt on its own, communicate across different species, and possibly wipe out life on Earth. Two main characters are Dr. Vassili Kolobkov, a troubled Russian scientist who once worked on bioweapons, and Liisá Koskinen, a Finnish scientist with a discovery that could change everything. The narrative mentions real-world topics, like DNA tracking, intriguing aspects of the human genome, ethnic-specific weapons, and the risk to seed banks that store the world’s crops. The aftermath of these connected events could very well alter the world as we know it.

Billy Quantro's YpeM-I: Redemption is the second book in his modern biohorror series. It delivers a thought-provoking exploration of what happens when science is exploited in dangerous and irresponsible ways in our interconnected world. The book mixes science-based thrills, spy action, political drama, and metafiction concepts in a narrative that is hard to put down once you have started reading. If you are not a fan of hard sciences, bioengineering, and biotechnology, some of the concepts may take a while to grasp, but as you continue to read, the plot unfolds effortlessly in a thrilling story. The narrative is fast-paced, drawing together scientists, spies, journalists, and political leaders as they face a plague that threatens the entire planet. I enjoyed the exciting story jumps between characters, timeframes, and continents. With a riveting combination of danger and moral complexity, this book offers readers an unmissable adventure.