MIND GAMES by Kiersten White

Mind Games
Kiersten White

Rating: A+
Release Date: 02/19/13
Synopsis:
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.

My thoughts on the book:
I'm kind of in love with Mind Games. As someone who had lukewarm feelings, at best, for the Paranormalcy series, I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. White shows that she is to be taken seriously in this dark and captivating series debut. Mind Games is nonstop action and suspense. The writing is dark and twisted, the plot is captivating and beautifully executed, and the characters have the depth that was lacking in the Paranormalcy series. I love the concept of this series, where the supernatural intersects with organized crime, creating a truly terrifying world, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. 

This book is not for the weak. It's not lighthearted and funny, like the Paranormalcy series. There are some intense and extreme mental and emotional issues being dealt with, and the plot is complicated and intricately woven. If you don't pay attention to every little nuance, things will feel broken, disjointed, and illogical. However, if you follow the story closely and you pay attention, you will be extremely rewarded at the end. 

Fia, one narrator/sister, is a complicated and mentally unstable character. She is deeply scarred and permanently broken, and that's okay. Somehow, she still manages to be strong and willing to sacrifice for others. Even though she's an assassin, she still hangs onto her humanity (although it's tattered), and she does what she has to do to protect those she loves. I really admired her vigilance in this novel. Many times her actions show who she is more so than her thoughts. White really gives the reader nothing in this installment. You have to figure everything out on your own, using your own deductive reasoning skills, and I loved it. 

Annie, the second narrator/sister, is blind. She often gives an opposing view on things, which can confuse the reader if you're not paying careful attention to the characters' actions. I feel that Annie is not only literally blind, but blind to the intentions of those around her as well. She seems to misjudge everyone she meets. I felt bad for her, but she was not my favorite character. The more she tried to help, the worse things got. 

James is pretty amazing, and oddly enough, I really loved him. Usually I hate characters named James (long story), and he seems to operate with questionable morals often. However, I really feel that he's a good guy deep down. I can't wait to learn more about him in the next installment. Adam is also an interesting character, but he was just too "soft" for my tastes. I'm looking forward to seeing what part he plays in the larger scheme of things, though.

I just can't say enough good things about this book. The ending was my favorite part of the entire thing... not because it was over, but because it was so shocking! I was surprised and impressed with how expertly White crafted the last couple of chapters of the story. It wasn't a cliffhanger and it tied up many loose ends, but left room for an awesome sequel. I cannot wait until the next book comes out!

Overall, this is a book you don't want to miss. It has assassins, spies, espionage, government corruption, two hot guys, and a touching sisterly bond. How can you not love this novel?! 

Pre-order Mind Games today!