Mind Games (Disillusionists #1) by Carolyn Crane
Ebook purchased from Amazon
Regina’s Review: 4.5 Stars Grade A
This is such a unique series! I had so much fun reading Mind Games. It is literally laugh out loud funny. The main character, Justine, is a hypochondriac and Ms. Crane writes her in a very sensitive but undeniably amusing manner. Despite her neurosis (and this is an area where it might be a tad bit annoying to read – however it never is), Justine is likable. In Mind Games, readers get a heroine that is … well … real, she is worried about money, her boyfriend and her health. Justine is a very cute girl and likes to dress nicely. But somehow, despite these very real world characteristics, Justine gets caught up in a supernatural struggle.
The book begins with the heroine trying desperately to be normal. She hides her neurosis and her fear; she does not want others in her life to fully understand how scared she is about her health. This desire seems so relatable, despite not being a hypochondriac, who doesn’t want to bury their faults? I too want to bury my own perceived defects. Justine is pretty, Justine is weird, but she is also very honorable and this is what makes her stand out among other heroines and as a character in Mind Games.
The setting of the book is a metropolis on Lake Michigan, but the metropolis is not Chicago. Ms Crane has created a fictional city with fictional problems. The premise is so out of the ordinary that it could have utterly failed in the hands of the wrong author. Luckily, Carolyn Crane wrote this book and she really hits her mark! Being an urban fantasy fan, I have read the full range that books in this genre have to offer – vamps, were creatures, angels, demons, witches, fae, skin walkers, ancient gods, the ability to see dead people and well, if you read a lot in this genre then you know the themes. And I am not criticizing those themes, I love to read them too but it is nice to read something so new and different. So, Mind Games is none of that – not any of that; what it is, is completely unique. There are a team of people – the disillusionists – who have the power to alter the way other people feel and think simply by touching them. I do not want to spoil the details of how, because discovering the how of the supernatural power is very fun.
Having now read and completed the trilogy, I highly recommend it. It is a fun series, with an interesting cast of characters whose personalities are well developed. The dialogue between the characters is often funny and/or insightful. There is a love triangle, but it such a unique triangle and it is done in a way without jealousy, without the over bearing possessiveness and male territorial marking that is present in so many paranormal books. Once you finish this book, you will be rushing to get #2 in this series – Double Cross.
Stay Tuned! Coming Soon: Interview with Carolyn Crane author of this fabulous series!
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Regina
I am a book reader & reviewer by hobby; I read any genre, any type of fiction and non fiction. More importantly I am coffee addict, a chocoholic and a Just Dance 3 fan.
Great review Regina, I love this series. So captivating and different
Thanks Erika. I LOVE this series.
I am 100% intrigued. I adore UF, but like you say, it often feels like I’ve read all the variations out there – multiple times! The Disillusionists seem like an original, creative twist on things, and I’ll most definitely have to look into this book further. Thanks for the review!
BJ @ Dark Side of the Covers recently posted..Let’s Talk About…Embracing Excerpts (and controlling the TBR)
You’ve gotta read it BJ. Great series, but a warning, have the trilogy onhand to read the whole thing at once, because book 2 has a mammoth cliffhanger!
BJ you will LOVE this series! There is pretty much nothing in this series that feels old or overdone.
I am glutting myself on these books as we speak!! Right now, I am halfway through Head Rush –and wow! I’m so glad I started this series. I was a little worried at the beginning of this one when I didn’t click with it right away, but it grew on me so much that now I don’t want to let go.
I should have read this comment firs.t
If you are going to consume a series — this is one to do it. I found it really satisfying and fun. I just love Justine, Packard, Shelby and Simon. And I gotta admit, I have a soft spot for Otto.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one, I relly need to give it a try. I have it in my TBR pile for months I just need to have some tome now lol. But it sounds like an amazing book.
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I think you will enjoy it. It is just a fun read (I feel like I keep using that word about this series!)