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writingwwolves's review
5.0
I feel beyond privileged that I was accepted on NetGalley to review a book by one of my top 2 authors & I'm now heartbroken that I've finished it.
I fell totally in love with False Hearts & so I was really excited about Shattered minds. I think I prefer False Hearts (because I loved learning about Mana-Ma & the Hearth) but Shattered Minds was still excellent.
The world building in this series is on another level to other sci-fi books I've read - Laura has put so much thought into how every aspect of this world functions & there's never been a moment where I've thought I've spotted a plot hole.
The characters in Shattered Minds were very different from the first book, but Carina was so, so interesting (especially as I'm a psychology student) & I loved Dax, mainly because he didn't see Carina as someone who needed fixing - he knew she had mental health issues & was always okay with that... so many books have love interests who want to fix the main character & I'm so, so grateful that Laura didn't absolutely destroy this book by going down that path. I also really enjoyed Roz's character, despite how disturbed she is & it would be cool to have a novella or short story explaining why/how Roz came to be how she was.
Admittedly, some of the read was quite disturbing & I think there needs to be a trigger warning on the back of the book & within the first few pages to say that it does contain discussion of suicide & torture. Laura did write these scenes very well though, & I cringed A LOT; there must have been a lot of research done for certain scenes & I commend Laura for her hard work (even if I'm sure I'll have nightmares because of it).
I really want to thank the publishers for letting me review this book before it's release, & I will be writing a more detailed blog post about the book over the next few days. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys futuristic science fiction - as long as they are able to handle some of the more intense writing.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-26
I fell totally in love with False Hearts & so I was really excited about Shattered minds. I think I prefer False Hearts (because I loved learning about Mana-Ma & the Hearth) but Shattered Minds was still excellent.
The world building in this series is on another level to other sci-fi books I've read - Laura has put so much thought into how every aspect of this world functions & there's never been a moment where I've thought I've spotted a plot hole.
The characters in Shattered Minds were very different from the first book, but Carina was so, so interesting (especially as I'm a psychology student) & I loved Dax, mainly because he didn't see Carina as someone who needed fixing - he knew she had mental health issues & was always okay with that... so many books have love interests who want to fix the main character & I'm so, so grateful that Laura didn't absolutely destroy this book by going down that path. I also really enjoyed Roz's character, despite how disturbed she is & it would be cool to have a novella or short story explaining why/how Roz came to be how she was.
Admittedly, some of the read was quite disturbing & I think there needs to be a trigger warning on the back of the book & within the first few pages to say that it does contain discussion of suicide & torture. Laura did write these scenes very well though, & I cringed A LOT; there must have been a lot of research done for certain scenes & I commend Laura for her hard work (even if I'm sure I'll have nightmares because of it).
I really want to thank the publishers for letting me review this book before it's release, & I will be writing a more detailed blog post about the book over the next few days. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys futuristic science fiction - as long as they are able to handle some of the more intense writing.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-26
leahkarge's review against another edition
4.0
Shattered Minds is the story of a small but determined group of hackers and scientists who are working to destroy the corporation that would seek to control all of Pacifica, and it’s an incredibly masterful piece of work. I look forward to (hopefully) more from this series.
Check out the full review on my blog!
Check out the full review on my blog!
pixieauthoress's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Child abuse
keeley22's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
howlsmovinglibrary's review
4.0
*I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review*
Shattered Minds is a sequel to False Hearts, although the stories and characters do not really overlap. What connects the two is the setting, the concept of Zeal (a drug which allows people to plug into fantasy dreamscapes and live out any fantasies or unfortunate ‘urges’) and Sudice – a corporation that is tied into the very infrastructure of Pacifa, and so obviously evil that they might as well have an secret volcano base, a load of swivel chairs with fluffy cats sitting on them ready for whenever they need to reveal an evil plan, and a compulsory uniform that requires all employees to have evil villain moustaches (fake or otherwise) to twirl when concocting dastardly schemes.
The thing that differs Shattered Minds from False Hearts is that it takes a lot of the sci-fi tropes in the series to their sinister extremes. While Zeal was a periphery plot tool in False Hearts, it takes centre stage in this book. Shattered Minds is a deliberately dark book, and does contain triggering material, particularly graphic violence. But (spoilers) it does have a reasonably happy ending, so if you’re worried you’re going to finish this book just as depressed as you were when you started it, don’t worry, the outlook is not as bleak as it might appear when 50 pages in.
Things I liked about it:
The protagonist. The reason I picked this book up is because I love morally grey characters, and particularly protagonists, because I think its interesting to see how unlikeable you can make a person and still have sympathy for their story. Carina is a strong anti-hero; you spend a lot of the time watching her grapple with depraved thoughts, but also see her genuine good intentions and the strong will she requires to adhere to them. It was not a comfortable place to be, and certainly at times I didn’t sympathise with her at all, but (without spoilers) I think I can genuinely say that Laura Lam gets the balance right and you end up still on Carina’s side.
Dax. Dax is a really good character, both in the sense that he provides a much needed ray of moral light on the aforementioned bleak landscape, and is also just genuinely complex and likeable. His portions of the story almost provide a ‘breathing space’, where you see things compassionately, with common sense, and without the veil of violence that pervades Carina’s chapters. I can’t really comment on the accuracy of his representation, but I think this is the first book I have personally read that has a trans male love interest so I’m glad that dynamic was included, and sensitivity readers were mentioned in the acknowledgements so *fingers crossed*.
The plot. The plot revolves around unpicking the images in Carina’s mind to solve both the mystery of her current mental state, and to reveal a conspiracy that could destroy Sudice forever. It’s a good basis for a thriller, because it has both the small scale mystery of Carina’s past that the reader definitely wants to find out, and the large scale stakes that give the plot consequences.
Things I didn’t like:
The third person narration. This is the first book by Laura Lam that I’ve read that isn’t in first person, and I have to say I prefer her first person voice. I can see why it was done, because I think a book entirely in the head of any of the characters would either be a) unrelentingly dark and bleak or b) extremely limited and unable to deliver the dramatic irony that is a central part of the story. But I have to include it in the ‘things I didn’t like’ section because it did definitely put me off in the first few chapters until I was able to push past it, and I do think that I genuinely prefer her first person writing.
Shattered Minds is a dark sci-fi mystery thriller which includes conscious diverse rep, but also some triggering material. It is released in the UK on the 15th June.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Shattered Minds is a sequel to False Hearts, although the stories and characters do not really overlap. What connects the two is the setting, the concept of Zeal (a drug which allows people to plug into fantasy dreamscapes and live out any fantasies or unfortunate ‘urges’) and Sudice – a corporation that is tied into the very infrastructure of Pacifa, and so obviously evil that they might as well have an secret volcano base, a load of swivel chairs with fluffy cats sitting on them ready for whenever they need to reveal an evil plan, and a compulsory uniform that requires all employees to have evil villain moustaches (fake or otherwise) to twirl when concocting dastardly schemes.
The thing that differs Shattered Minds from False Hearts is that it takes a lot of the sci-fi tropes in the series to their sinister extremes. While Zeal was a periphery plot tool in False Hearts, it takes centre stage in this book. Shattered Minds is a deliberately dark book, and does contain triggering material, particularly graphic violence. But (spoilers) it does have a reasonably happy ending, so if you’re worried you’re going to finish this book just as depressed as you were when you started it, don’t worry, the outlook is not as bleak as it might appear when 50 pages in.
Things I liked about it:
The protagonist. The reason I picked this book up is because I love morally grey characters, and particularly protagonists, because I think its interesting to see how unlikeable you can make a person and still have sympathy for their story. Carina is a strong anti-hero; you spend a lot of the time watching her grapple with depraved thoughts, but also see her genuine good intentions and the strong will she requires to adhere to them. It was not a comfortable place to be, and certainly at times I didn’t sympathise with her at all, but (without spoilers) I think I can genuinely say that Laura Lam gets the balance right and you end up still on Carina’s side.
Dax. Dax is a really good character, both in the sense that he provides a much needed ray of moral light on the aforementioned bleak landscape, and is also just genuinely complex and likeable. His portions of the story almost provide a ‘breathing space’, where you see things compassionately, with common sense, and without the veil of violence that pervades Carina’s chapters. I can’t really comment on the accuracy of his representation, but I think this is the first book I have personally read that has a trans male love interest so I’m glad that dynamic was included, and sensitivity readers were mentioned in the acknowledgements so *fingers crossed*.
The plot. The plot revolves around unpicking the images in Carina’s mind to solve both the mystery of her current mental state, and to reveal a conspiracy that could destroy Sudice forever. It’s a good basis for a thriller, because it has both the small scale mystery of Carina’s past that the reader definitely wants to find out, and the large scale stakes that give the plot consequences.
Things I didn’t like:
The third person narration. This is the first book by Laura Lam that I’ve read that isn’t in first person, and I have to say I prefer her first person voice. I can see why it was done, because I think a book entirely in the head of any of the characters would either be a) unrelentingly dark and bleak or b) extremely limited and unable to deliver the dramatic irony that is a central part of the story. But I have to include it in the ‘things I didn’t like’ section because it did definitely put me off in the first few chapters until I was able to push past it, and I do think that I genuinely prefer her first person writing.
Shattered Minds is a dark sci-fi mystery thriller which includes conscious diverse rep, but also some triggering material. It is released in the UK on the 15th June.
Overall Rating: 4/5
charliebowden's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
bookfessional's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
This book . . . Gah.
I didn't know what I was getting into.
I didn't know the outside world would cease to exist the moment I started it until the moment I finished it (at roughly 3am, FYI). I didn't know I would be haunted by the images from Carina'sdreamzealscape.
Speaking of Carina, I didn't know I could like a heroine as messed up as she is. I'm talking Dexter-level messed up. So I guess I did know I could like a character as messed up as Carina b/c I bloody loved Dexter.
Carina lives in near(ish) utopian(ish) future version of our world where the USA has been divided by war. Pacifica, the region that covers what used to be California, has practically zero crime . . .
BUT.
As anyone with the most basic understanding of human nature knows, Utopia is an unrealistic daydream, and Pacifica is nowhere near as crime-free as the government would have its citizens believe.
BUT.
The illusion is maintained by a drug called Zeal. This drug allows people to enter a make-believe world in which they can act out their deviant urges, returning to themselves sated of the need for violence.
So in all fairness, yes, crime has been drastically reduced for the average person.
For Carina? Not so much.
Why?
READ THE BOOK.
My only complaint is purely a matter of preference . . . There are certain scenarios that just don't work for me. "Secret" identical twin siblings, for example. Anytime a Secret Twin makes an appearance as a plot twist, I . . . can't. Similarly, anytime the major conflict involves, I roll my eyes and grind my teeth. It's just so . . . Pinky and the Brain.
But that's my issue, (probably) not yours. And I loved it anyway. The second I figured out that SHATTERED MINDS is a companion novel for another book (FALSE HEARTS) set in this world, I downloaded it immediately.
Verdict: SHATTERED MINDS is the first book I've read of Lam's, but it won't be the last. Recommended for anyone who likes the sound of a gritty sci-fi lite thriller.
This book . . . Gah.
I didn't know what I was getting into.
I didn't know the outside world would cease to exist the moment I started it until the moment I finished it (at roughly 3am, FYI). I didn't know I would be haunted by the images from Carina's
Speaking of Carina, I didn't know I could like a heroine as messed up as she is. I'm talking Dexter-level messed up. So I guess I did know I could like a character as messed up as Carina b/c I bloody loved Dexter.
Carina lives in near(ish) utopian(ish) future version of our world where the USA has been divided by war. Pacifica, the region that covers what used to be California, has practically zero crime . . .
BUT.
As anyone with the most basic understanding of human nature knows, Utopia is an unrealistic daydream, and Pacifica is nowhere near as crime-free as the government would have its citizens believe.
BUT.
The illusion is maintained by a drug called Zeal. This drug allows people to enter a make-believe world in which they can act out their deviant urges, returning to themselves sated of the need for violence.
So in all fairness, yes, crime has been drastically reduced for the average person.
For Carina? Not so much.
Why?
READ THE BOOK.
My only complaint is purely a matter of preference . . . There are certain scenarios that just don't work for me. "Secret" identical twin siblings, for example. Anytime a Secret Twin makes an appearance as a plot twist, I . . . can't. Similarly, anytime the major conflict involves
Spoiler
mind controlBut that's my issue, (probably) not yours. And I loved it anyway. The second I figured out that SHATTERED MINDS is a companion novel for another book (FALSE HEARTS) set in this world, I downloaded it immediately.
Verdict: SHATTERED MINDS is the first book I've read of Lam's, but it won't be the last. Recommended for anyone who likes the sound of a gritty sci-fi lite thriller.
wordshaker12's review
4.0
Well that was pretty twisted! What a ride. I would love to read more Pacifica novels in the future.
lushr's review against another edition
5.0
Pacifica is a fantastic series, the fact each book is standalone with different characters in the same world means that each book is a complete arc. mind you this one does finish abruptly!
i started reading this book, and then 10 pages in realised there was another book that came first Pacifica #1. when i restarted this book it made so much more sense and i cared so much more about the characters knowing what they would face.
it’s just a fascinating world, i’m really enjoying these adventures against a big evil company, they’re satisfying and exciting, and it’s just a fun world that really makes you think about where our society is headed - which is the main reason i love sci fi.
this series is the new Hunger Games. read it. love it.
i started reading this book, and then 10 pages in realised there was another book that came first Pacifica #1. when i restarted this book it made so much more sense and i cared so much more about the characters knowing what they would face.
it’s just a fascinating world, i’m really enjoying these adventures against a big evil company, they’re satisfying and exciting, and it’s just a fun world that really makes you think about where our society is headed - which is the main reason i love sci fi.
this series is the new Hunger Games. read it. love it.
ordinarilybi's review against another edition
4.0
Content Note:
brutal violence, mainly carried out in a dreamscape
You'll find the entire review (in German) on my blog.
If you loved "False Hearts", you definitely have to have a look at "Shattered Minds" as well. You don't know the series yet? If you need a thrilling story, like morally grey characters and love to puzzle over how everything connects, this one's for you.
brutal violence, mainly carried out in a dreamscape
You'll find the entire review (in German) on my blog.
If you loved "False Hearts", you definitely have to have a look at "Shattered Minds" as well. You don't know the series yet? If you need a thrilling story, like morally grey characters and love to puzzle over how everything connects, this one's for you.