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tashaseegmiller's review
5.0
This is a fantastic ride. Great characters, twists, fast paced, and a heroine who I adore. As soon as I started I had to finish. So much fun.
halynah's review
5.0
Well, this book is absolutely brilliant!!! Not like anything I've ever read! For dystopia it is rather emotional and with not much violence, it's perfect for readers, who love gripping and eventful plot, great style of writing and unexpectedness. I liked the main heroine, Kira, and despite everything I loved Simon and was pretty devastated about his fate. The author is really good at creating villainous characters - from school bullies to criminals with superpowers, and she depicted positive characters realistically, with all their faults and bad features, not walking pefections. The book captures you so powerfully, that reading it you forget about reality and live in the book, so it's pretty good, if you need escape. Those, who are not fans of dystopia, may read it safely - the book is so amazing, that it doesn't matter, what genre you prefer. So, a definite must-read!!!
alyssaindira's review
3.0
Hey, so i just finished MindJacked by Susan Kaye Quinn, and I have to say, i'm glad this book was free on google play because i dont think i would have wasted my money on it. Like, the first part was cool, seeing the aspects of a totally different society and what not, and then what Kira could do and stuff like that. But then it kinda got disinteresting as it took off in an unexpected angle. Like, i wasnt even effected by a characters death, thats alarming. Lol, anyways, i breezed through it in 2 days. Questions?
that_kitten's review
4.0
As far as I'm concerned, Susan Kaye Quinn has done a great service to self-published YA lit. OPEN MINDS is a book that was clearly treated with care, plotted with skill, and edited with interest in producing a clean product. All self-pub and indie authors should take note: this is what a quality self-publication should look like. Hell, this is a book written with more finesse and mindfulness than I've seen from some traditionally published works.
While not without its flaws, this story is an intriguing page-turner with (generally) likeable characters and wonderfully high stakes. Kira is a sympathetic protagonist with a lot on her shoulders, and she performs admirably. Quinn is not afraid to take risks. While I openly admit that I'm not a fan of love triangles, this (sorta kinda) triangle was handled in a way that didn't make me want to pull my hair out. Though I felt that the story might have tried to pack too much into this first installment and got a little convoluted toward the end, I never felt lost or like the plot got away from the author.
I did notice at least one, maybe two, typos and a few spacing errors, but they were easily overlooked. Overall, the writing was clean and grammatically sound. I had a bit of issue with. There was a slight flavor of insta-superpowered heroine who masters her super special skills quickly and easily. Still, in the end, I thought Kira had to face enough external hardship that I didn't feel she was let off too easy.
All in all, a great first installment and an entertaining addition to the futuristic/science-fiction section of YA. I look forward to the next installment. I'll state here that this is the first "indie" book I've read that I'm actually heartily recommending, picky reader that I am. I think Quinn has set a great precedent.
While not without its flaws, this story is an intriguing page-turner with (generally) likeable characters and wonderfully high stakes. Kira is a sympathetic protagonist with a lot on her shoulders, and she performs admirably. Quinn is not afraid to take risks. While I openly admit that I'm not a fan of love triangles, this (sorta kinda) triangle was handled in a way that didn't make me want to pull my hair out. Though I felt that the story might have tried to pack too much into this first installment and got a little convoluted toward the end, I never felt lost or like the plot got away from the author.
I did notice at least one, maybe two, typos and a few spacing errors, but they were easily overlooked. Overall, the writing was clean and grammatically sound. I had a bit of issue with
Spoiler
Kira's relationship with Simon, who I felt edged a little into manipulative/abusive behavior during their courtship, but this was acknowledged and I felt was done intentionallyAll in all, a great first installment and an entertaining addition to the futuristic/science-fiction section of YA. I look forward to the next installment. I'll state here that this is the first "indie" book I've read that I'm actually heartily recommending, picky reader that I am. I think Quinn has set a great precedent.
jenny17's review
3.0
i would say 3 1/2. Took me awhile to get into it. Wasnt really fond of Kira but towards the end it got better. Not sure if i will read the second one tho..
jadeeby's review
5.0
Originally published at my blog Chasing Empty Pavements
I could barely wait until today to post my review of this awesome book!!
The Good: Talk about mindjacking…I’m not entirely sure Susan Kaye Quinn didn’t jack into my mind herself to make me fall in love with this book! This book is full of awesome. Firstly, the concept was fresh and unique…we’ve all heard of “mind readers” but this is a new take on it with a twist. Quinn created a totally believable world where the norm is being able to read minds and those who can’t are the abnormal. I’m totally into the whole female-kick-ass-main-character right now and Kira, the main character in this novel is totally kick ass. She starts out thinking she is a “zero” (someone who can’t read minds) until she meets Simon, the bad buy with a good heart, who tells her she is way different than the “readers,” she is a “mind jacker.” Mind jacking…totally cool right? Wouldn’t you like to bust into someone’s mind and make them believe or do things? It would be an awesome ability, but scary too. That’s exactly the type of conflict Quinn creates in Open Minds. I liked the interaction between Kira and her Dad and I feel like there is more to his story than what Quinn allowed us to see in this book. I also feel like this book is another great example of the dominance the government could have over us. I really do think that the government is just biding their time, waiting for a catastrophic world even to happen and then they will take over everything. But that’s just me being cynical. Anyways…my point is that this book is a great example of how things could be if people started to develop abilities like mind reading and mind jacking. There’s a little bit of everything in this novel… romance, comedy, murder, dystopian-ish elements. I totally fell in love with Kira and her best friend Raf and at the end I didn’t want it to end! Of course since this book belongs in the series, I’m anxiously awaiting the next one!
The Bad: Not too much to say about this book, although I would have liked to see some relationships expanded. The relationship between Kira and her Dad is interesting and I think Quinn could have really gotten some great material out of exploring their back story.
Overall I was seriously impressed with this book and I can’t wait for the next book, Closed Hearts! I give this book and A!
*I would like to thank Susan Kaye Quinn for allowing me to read and review this novel. I was not required to write a positive review, however in this case, the book deserves such high praise!
I could barely wait until today to post my review of this awesome book!!
The Good: Talk about mindjacking…I’m not entirely sure Susan Kaye Quinn didn’t jack into my mind herself to make me fall in love with this book! This book is full of awesome. Firstly, the concept was fresh and unique…we’ve all heard of “mind readers” but this is a new take on it with a twist. Quinn created a totally believable world where the norm is being able to read minds and those who can’t are the abnormal. I’m totally into the whole female-kick-ass-main-character right now and Kira, the main character in this novel is totally kick ass. She starts out thinking she is a “zero” (someone who can’t read minds) until she meets Simon, the bad buy with a good heart, who tells her she is way different than the “readers,” she is a “mind jacker.” Mind jacking…totally cool right? Wouldn’t you like to bust into someone’s mind and make them believe or do things? It would be an awesome ability, but scary too. That’s exactly the type of conflict Quinn creates in Open Minds. I liked the interaction between Kira and her Dad and I feel like there is more to his story than what Quinn allowed us to see in this book. I also feel like this book is another great example of the dominance the government could have over us. I really do think that the government is just biding their time, waiting for a catastrophic world even to happen and then they will take over everything. But that’s just me being cynical. Anyways…my point is that this book is a great example of how things could be if people started to develop abilities like mind reading and mind jacking. There’s a little bit of everything in this novel… romance, comedy, murder, dystopian-ish elements. I totally fell in love with Kira and her best friend Raf and at the end I didn’t want it to end! Of course since this book belongs in the series, I’m anxiously awaiting the next one!
The Bad: Not too much to say about this book, although I would have liked to see some relationships expanded. The relationship between Kira and her Dad is interesting and I think Quinn could have really gotten some great material out of exploring their back story.
Overall I was seriously impressed with this book and I can’t wait for the next book, Closed Hearts! I give this book and A!
*I would like to thank Susan Kaye Quinn for allowing me to read and review this novel. I was not required to write a positive review, however in this case, the book deserves such high praise!
meme_too2's review
3.0
Everyone likes a storyline where the nobody becomes somebody. It was pleasant reading, but an average read. Not sure I'm interested in reading more of the trilogy, and it didn't feel necessary to me.
michalice's review
4.0
The world has evolved and now people can communicate by mindtalk. These people are also know as Readers, people without this ability are called Zeros, which is what Kira is. Soon we learn about a new group of people called Jackers, people who have the ability to 'jack' into others minds and control their thoughts and make them do things. The main protagonist is Kira, who is a Zero, but manages to get by with help from her friend Raf who is a Reader.
We are soon introduced to Simon, who is a Jacker like Kira, and he explains to her what she is and what she can do. He puts her to the test and gets her to jack into peoples minds and slowly introduces her to the Jackers. Eventually this all leads to no good and Kira, Raf and their families lives are put in danger. Thinking she is helping Kira reports the Jackers activities, but unknown to herself, they have a Jacker planted in the police force and when she is questioned and tries to escape, she is caught and thrown into camp. Kira now has toe scape, find her family and make sure they are safe, but also find a way to let people know about the camp and save everyone there.
I love how the author has created not only a new world but also new technology that has been adapted to this world, and new words like 'mesh' instead of cool. The characters are realistic and it's easy to sympathise with Kira for feeling the way she does. From the moment I met Simon I didn't like him, but to Kira he is the light at the end of the tunnel, someone who is like her, and I can understand why she did some of the things she did. Kira is an outcast in every sense of the word, but for her to go through the things she went through and still come out of it stronger and more sure of herself and have the belief that she can do something to make it right, that is something I really admire her for.
There is enough suspense and action in Open Minds to keep you captivated and wanting more, and although I didn't want the book to end, I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Closed Hearts.
We are soon introduced to Simon, who is a Jacker like Kira, and he explains to her what she is and what she can do. He puts her to the test and gets her to jack into peoples minds and slowly introduces her to the Jackers. Eventually this all leads to no good and Kira, Raf and their families lives are put in danger. Thinking she is helping Kira reports the Jackers activities, but unknown to herself, they have a Jacker planted in the police force and when she is questioned and tries to escape, she is caught and thrown into camp. Kira now has toe scape, find her family and make sure they are safe, but also find a way to let people know about the camp and save everyone there.
I love how the author has created not only a new world but also new technology that has been adapted to this world, and new words like 'mesh' instead of cool. The characters are realistic and it's easy to sympathise with Kira for feeling the way she does. From the moment I met Simon I didn't like him, but to Kira he is the light at the end of the tunnel, someone who is like her, and I can understand why she did some of the things she did. Kira is an outcast in every sense of the word, but for her to go through the things she went through and still come out of it stronger and more sure of herself and have the belief that she can do something to make it right, that is something I really admire her for.
There is enough suspense and action in Open Minds to keep you captivated and wanting more, and although I didn't want the book to end, I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Closed Hearts.
mischief_in_the_library's review
3.0
Not sure about this book. I got into it pretty quickly, but it developed into...well, it was a by weird. I didn't believe the darkness of it. Perhaps it was an issue of telling but not showing. Through the middle of the book, I found myself reading about things that had been affected by previous actions that I had somehow completely missed - like a character stumbling along because of the bullet in his arm, without me having noticed he'd gotten shot. I was in danger of abandoning the book with about an eighth left to go. Especially considering I knew it was a trilogy - the ending wouldn't be a real ending - and the book hadn't convinced me to expend effort in two more of the same. But I doggedly continued, and the ending was actually more satisfying than most of the rest of it had been.
My main issue with Kira, I think, was that she was so against using her jacking skills to manipulate people - but towards the end she was doing it to everybody, sometimes unnecessarily, or at least, with unnecessarily complex manipulations.
Overall, it started well, dragged in the substantial middle, finished well, and I'm still undecided about committing to the sequel.
My main issue with Kira, I think, was that she was so against using her jacking skills to manipulate people - but towards the end she was doing it to everybody, sometimes unnecessarily, or at least, with unnecessarily complex manipulations.
Overall, it started well, dragged in the substantial middle, finished well, and I'm still undecided about committing to the sequel.