Book Review: Mind Games

Mind Games

By: Kiersten White

Published by: Harper Teen

Release date: February 19, 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal Thriller

237 pages

Buy it at Amazon, IndieBound or Barnes & Noble

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

If all you want is another Paranormalcy, Mind Games may disappoint you. If you pick this book up for any other reason, I'm betting you'll love it. Kiersten White is a force to be reckoned with. Her characters pop from the pages, and they take you on some amazing adventures. 

Mind Games is the story of two extraordinary sisters who have been entrapped by an organization that uses them for their unusual abilities. Annie is able to see the future, which is ironic because those flashes of vision are the only vision she has- she's been blind since she was a small child. Her sister Fia doesn't see, but feels- she has incredibly good instincts, and seems to be able to always make the best, or luckiest, choice. In real life she struggles every day, because working for the organization and doing what they want her to do feels wrong all the time. It's enough to make a girl lose her mind.

While the girls love each other and would do nearly anything to protect one another, their bond is their undoing; both are coerced to do awful things by threatening the other. Another complication who gets between them is James, the boss's son. Annie knows James connects with Fia in ways that she can't, and Fia knows that James will do whatever is necessary to control her- even if it means harming Annie.  The three are consistently being watched by the Seers, so they have to carefully veil their thoughts- which makes being open and honest with each other nearly impossible.

Regarding the writing: as stated above, Kiersten White is one of the best at characterization, which is my non-negotiable. Her plot is action-packed, and takes unexpected twists and turns. The deception necessary for Fia to carry out business will keep the reader guessing, and the discovery process enhances the fun of the read.

The suspense factor in this book is pretty amped up, and could leave readers confused if they're not paying close attention, especially in the final few pages. Read carefully, friends, and join me in eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Summary from Goodreads:

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.