Friday, May 30, 2014

CEPHALOPOD COFFEEHOUSE: OPEN MINDS, Book 1 of the Mindjack trilogy, by Susan Kaye Quinn

The monthly meeting of the Cephalopod Coffee House Book Club is here - and I have a great book recommendation for you guys. If you liked, Divergent, you need to read Susan Kaye Quinn's Mindjack series, that starts with Open Minds.
 
Open Minds, Book 1 of the Mindjack Trilogy
By Susan Kaye Quinn

Published November 2011
 
About the Book:
Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
MY TAKE:
Sixteen year old Kira Moore lives in a dystopian sort of future where talking is so yesterday. Because of chemicals spilled over centuries into our waterways, human brains have developed telepathic abilities. Mind talking is in, and if you can't tap into the mind awareness around you, you are labeled a zero and life plain sucks.
And high school is even worse.
Kira's abilities haven't developed yet, much to her dismay. Labeled a zero and dropped by almost all of her former friends, her future seems dim. The only bright spot left in her life is her best friend Raf who, despite her disability, wants to be more than friends. When he tries to kiss her in study hall, Kira's true ability rears its head.
She can't read minds, but she can jack right into other people's heads and control their thoughts and actions.
Simon, the bad boy in her math class, realizes her ability and pulls her into his secret world of mindjackers. He teaches her how to cope, how to use her abilities to her advantage, and most importantly, how to blend in. But in the process, she covers her tracks with so many lies that she decides she can't drag Raf into her web of deceit, and starts dating Simon instead, since they are the same, with the same abilities.
But Simon isn't what he seems, and Kira is different than anyone else. Not just the mind readers, but the other mind jackers as well.
This is a well told dystopian tale, with twists and turns and sizzling first kisses. Susan Kaye Quinn has a new paranormal twist on the future that seems so believable, and downright scary on so many levels. I love her world building and her characters, especially Kira who grows into her abilities and strengths as the story progresses, but retains self doubt and enough humility so that you never dislike her and keep rooting for a happy ending.
I  look forward to reading the next books in this trilogy, which are thankfully already available.
 
If you liked Divergent, you need to read Open Minds. 
Buy Open Minds on Amazon 
 
And while you're buying books - my new Cape Cod romance novel is FREE this week for Kindle! Get your copy of MY KIND OF CRAZY for FREE today or tomorrow! Click on the icon to the left of the blog to go straight to the buy page on Amazon! Because...FREE. Who can beat free? 
 
To find more of this month's book recommendations, check out the rest of the Blog Hop:
  

15 comments:

  1. OMG! I adore this book--and all works of Susan. She's actually a friend and critique partner, so I treasure her many ways.

    I hope you also love CLOSED HEARTS and FREE SOULS. They are fantastic. Set aside some time, because you will want to keep on chugging late into the night!

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  2. We saw Divergent last week...I actually liked the movie more than the book, which is odd because they were identical. I think it was because the author was one of the film's producers... Anyway, I love female-driven dystopian novels. Not a fan of the male-driven variety, and I'm not sure why. This sounds like it's right up my alley.

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  3. A great review, I read this book based on a previous recommendation a couple of months' ago, not my usual reading but I did thoroughly enjoy it and recommended it to my husband who also enjoyed it.
    Thank you for My Kind of Crazy - I have now downloaded it.





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    1. Glad you agree with me about Susan's book! And thanks for downloading my latest novel too - hope you enjoy it!

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  4. I'm getting a teensy bit burned out on trilogies, but this one sounds downright interesting. Thanks. I'll definitely snag a copy... and your book, too. You're right; it's hard to top FREE!

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  5. HA! Just goes to show ya... I already bought Susan's book last month. (duh!)

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    1. LOL! See? You already knew you wanted to read it! Happy Reading ;-)

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  6. I did enjoy Divergent...and the concept of mindjacking sounds compelling; if not a little aggressive :)

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    1. remember it's dystopian - the mind reading thing is a crazy mutation in the future and the author does it all so well.

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  7. I recently bought this book and am looking forward to reading it - more so thanks to your review! Thanks :)

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  8. A book that makes you want to read the sequels - always a strong sell.

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    1. i agree! thanks for organizing this blog hop every month - so interesting to see what others are reading.

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