Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on July 24, 2013 | 18 Comments


Review: Mind Games by Kiersten WhiteMind Games by Kiersten White
Series: Mind Games #1
Published by HarperTeen (2.19.2013)
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 237 pages
Source: Library
Buy on Amazon


4 Stars

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

Not gonna lie, it took me two tries to start this book. Not because I didn’t like it, but I read the first few chapters, set the book down, and didn’t pick it back up again for a couple of months. I wasn’t even really that interested in it, but I’m trying to catch up on old review copies (I’m soooo behind it’s not even funny). But, I ended up being pleasantly surprised! After seeing so many ‘meh’ reviews, I didn’t expect to enjoy this one as much as I did. I didn’t love it, but it was rather enjoyable! I’m pleased to find that for once, I was the black sheep in a good way. 

Something that really struck me about this book was that Fia is not a likable person. She’s damaged, out of control, and a bit hostile. She’s done bad things and has a dark side. She’s been into drugs and alcohol, tried to kill herself. She’s a badass fighter, but she’s not your typical heroine that you can look up to. She’s filled with bitterness, regret, anger. 

I think that was what make me like this book so much. While it was an easy read without a whole lot of depth, it wasn’t light and fluffy. The characters had a dark side and did questionable things. They hurt and betrayed each other sometimes. Fia and Annie clearly loved each other, and they tried so hard to protect each other even when their best intentions were carried out in the worst way.

Because James and I speak the same language. He has lived a lie with every move and every choice and even every thought and emotion for years now.

James! Ohh, James. Even though he was a bit manipulative and very bad news, I kind of loved him. Probably because he reminded me a bit of Warner (a very watered down version of Warner, anyway), and I think that’s what attracted me to him! And the scene at the club was SO sexy! *swoons*

I didn’t really care about Adam, and yes, there was a bit of a love triangle. Adam was sweet and all, but was too vanilla for me and I found him rather boring. Team James all the way!!!

My feet are ghosts and my heart is a ghost and my dreams? I have no dreams. I am an idiot.

Kiersten White’s writing style is very unique. It’s kind of choppy sometimes, and has a lot of run-on sentences, but it works. For me, at least. It reminds me a little of Tahereh Mafi’s style.

The ending was crazy! What Fia did was brilliant, and even though it sucked, it was the best way. The end did leave things open – not a cliffhanger, necessarily, but it left me wanting more. Which is why I went and downloaded Perfect Lies right after finishing it!

Overall Assessment

Plot: 3.5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
World-building: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5

Jessi (Geo)

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18 responses to “Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

  1. Still haven’t read this one! *pulling out hair* I noticed as well that there were some great reviews and not so great reviews out there, which has made me hesitant to pick it up. I shall get to it…eventually. Thanks for the great review!

  2. I’m SO happy that you liked this book!! I wanted to love it so much and was so sad when I didn’t. I wish I liked it the way you did! I can’t wait to read your review of Perfect Lies, because I’ve heard it’s even better than Mind Games. :)

  3. Ahh I loved James too! :D Also, I’ve seen all of the mixed reviews, too, but I seriously ended up loving it. Yeah I loved Fia, too, because she was so unlikable but it somehow just WORKED in the entire thing :D I’m really glad that you really enjoyed the entire thing, I can’t wait for the sequel now :D

  4. Yay! I’m glad you like this one too Jessi! :D
    I enjoyed it also.
    I don’t really like James though. I feel that he’s too fake and has some evil utter motives. I guess we’ll find out in the sequel right?

  5. I’m glad you liked it! I adore Keirsten White after reading her Paranormalcy trilogy, and after hearing all the choppy reviews I was kinda sad. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m so glad you didn’t hate this one. Haha. It’s kinda sad to be the black sheep when all your friends are white sheep. This book sounds very different from her other trilogy but I’m totally hoping to love it! YEEHAW!

    Don’t ask where that came from. I don’t know.
    <333 Inky

  6. o.o I’ve been wanting to read this since I saw the cover, but just never got the chance. I really want to meet Fia now!! and also James! I’m a sucker for the gray sort of characters!

  7. I’m glad you enjoyed this one. I’m still a bit wary of it myself. It’s nice to see another (more positive) opinion though!

  8. I’m so glad to see you liked this book! I’ve been wanting to read it since even before it released, but the mixed reviews kind of put me off. But maybe I’ll read it now… though I do have to get through my tottering pile of trb books :D

  9. I wanted to love this one, and at first I thought I might, but it just…didn’t work for me. It felt at times like a rip-off of Shatter Me – with the writing style patterned after Juliette, and James felt like a poor-man’s Warner. SIGH. BUT BUT. I have heard that the sequel is much better so since you liked this one, I bet you’ll really like that one, Jessi!

    I like that you shared quotes – that’s awesome. Maybe your positive review will help some people decide to read this one. :D

    • It really did! That was the only thing that bothered me, was I felt like Kiersten was trying to mimic Tahereh’s style. And characters. But I blocked that out and somehow it still worked for me!
      I’m hoping to love the second book…I have it, just need to find time to read it lol!

  10. Sam

    I’m glad you were able to like this book. I’m more on the ‘meh’ side of things. I also enjoyed the ending, but the rest of the book just kind of fell flat for me. I agree with you about White’s writing style being similar to Tahereh Mafi’s. I saw definite similarities too!

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