Review: Mind Games – Kiersten White

Mind Games by Kiersten White
Series: Mind Games #1
Published by Harper Teen on 3 December 2013
Genres: Dystopian, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 237
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Purchase
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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.

Mind Games is a great start to Kiersten White’s new series with the same name! Strange powers, dystopian society, two young girls who have to stick together to survive…

My Mind Games Review:

After their parents’ death, Fia and Annie were first taken in by their aunt, until a school came with a very tempting offer to Annie. Blind, Annie could only see when she had visions, and the first she had was of their parents crashing their car and dying. This is how the mysterious school found out about her, but they are soon even more interested by Fia, who is adamant Annie shouldn’t move in and start her education. The atmosphere was no good, and Fia’s instincts make her valuable in ways she cannot begin to imagine. Mind Games is chilling from the start, and the fact that they are being played with is apparent straight away.

When they have been in school for a while, Annie, too realizes this is not a good place to be, especially when Fia has to start training in ways neither of them can completely comprehend. One day when their class is on a field trip, Fia is told to leave a little package in a woman’s bag and then leave. Mind Games ups the ante from there on, as the package contains a bomb, and Fia understands that she is a part of something very ominous.

Mind Games continues with Fia wanting to escape, but because she has been sent to kill a young man, everything has to be put on hold. She also doesn’t want to leave her sister behind, but she finds she is unable to kill Adam, and thinks that everything will be lost. She has to continue her life with her no planning policy, so that the mind readers and the future seers cannot see what she is up to, ever. And to save her sister, she is willing to go very far.

Never knowing whom they can trust, Annie and Fia can rely only on each other. Mind Games depicts a complicated world, with a very mean man in power of the school where children with different talents end up to further his very personal agenda for more power, more money, and more children. The writing is mostly in Fia’s point of view, both in the present and in the past, and she is a very intricate character to follow. We also get some parts from Annie’s point of view, and this is when we realize how much guilt she is dealing with for getting Fia into this school she thought would save them both – when in reality they are only pawns in Keane’s game.

If you enjoy paranormal with a dystopian twist, you should pick up Mind Games and delve into this dark world where the adults have no qualms at using children and teenagers to have power, and keep their own family and loved ones safe.

Some of my favorite quotes:

Now he is more than a photo and a location. He is panting-puppy salvation He is legs that stick out at grasshopper angles as he gives the spaniel one last ear rub. Hi is shoes scuffed up and jeans worn thin and dark hair accidentally mussed.

That dumb dog has killed us all.

“Stop being so angry all the time,” she whispers. “It’s distracting.” “Why do you care?” I hiss. “I’m not mad at you!” “No, but it’s… I don’t like feeling that way. Just calm down.” Everyone here is insane. I am the insanest of the insane.

As if I don’t know the confines of my prison. As if I am not aware of every square foot of space that holds me here, where no one can get to me and where no one can get me out. These walls hold Fia, too, even though she’s not in them. I wish she could leave me. But I know she never will.

Have you read Mind Games yet? Did you enjoy it? I’d love to discuss some more about this weird world, Fia and Annie, and also James and Adam…

 

 

 

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